OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF VOUXG CHILDREN 35 



and left, but they are not yet sure. They present the right 

 hand and touch the right ear, then correcting themselves 

 touch the left ear. 3. Finally, a third group is formed by 

 those children who, without error and without hesitation, pre- 

 sent the right hand and touch the left ear. We consider suc- 

 cessful the children of the two last groups, those who hesitate 

 and correct themselves as well as those who do not hesitate 

 m^r have to correct themselves. But it is important that the 

 experimenter watches himself and gives no suggestion ; it 

 would be very natural to do so. It is evident that if, when 

 the child touched his right ear, one said : "Are you sure of 

 it?" or even looked disapproval of the gesture, the child would 

 be led to touch the left ear, for, if it is not the one, it is the 

 other. 



II. Describes a picture. — We have seen that at three, 

 four and five years enumeration is the rule and description 

 quite unusual. At six years a very small number of children, 

 scarcely a sixth, try description. At seven years such prog- 

 ress in language has been made that description has become 

 quite general; there are very few exceptions, and this test 

 shows the enormous advance from the point of view of lan- 

 guage which takes place between six and seven years. 



III. Executes three commissions. — Among the people 

 quite young children are sent on little errands to the stores, 

 to kiiy milk, bread, to the butcher's more than all, and to 

 bring home a bottle of wine. Physicians who frequcit the 

 clinics for retarded children recognize that these children, 

 though they can be trusted to perform one commission, can 

 not be given several at the same time. The mothers often tell 

 the doctors of this interesting peculiarity. Here is the series 

 of commissions which we give with the directions given with 

 them: "Do you see this key? Go and put it on that chair, 

 there" (pointing to the chair). "Then close the door. After 

 that you will see a box on a chair near the door. Take the 

 box and bring it to me. First, put the key on the chair; then 

 close the door; then bring me the box. Do you understand? 



