The Behavior of Noddy and Sooty Terns. 



247 



As the birds get older thcv begin to fly short distances. At the end of 35 

 days^ they can cover 30 to 40 feet very rapidly by a series of flying hops. 



THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG BIRDS IN CONTROLLED SITUATIONS. 



After the young noddies and sooties had learned to eat without assistance 

 from me they were allowed to learn Porter's simple maze. A cut of this 

 maze is appended. 



In place of admitting the birds to the maze at the entrance 0, as Porter 

 did, they were put down at /-/, and allowed to come out at and walk up, 



Fit;. 2. — Ground plan of Porter's simple 

 maze. 



by means of an inclined plane, to the top of the box from which they had 

 previously been taught to feed. 



The dimensions of the maze were the same as those used by Porter. The 



' This was the most mature young bird on the island. I had taken the precaution 

 to mark the time of the appearance of the egg in several nests early in the season, in 

 order to have the reactions of the birds in the field to compare with those obtained 

 from birds in captivity. 



