lo Harry K. Wolfe, 



correctly in many instances even though no distinct percep- 

 tions of color were present. Whether the name precedes 

 or follows, the sharp discrimination in sensation doubtless 

 depends on the environment and education of the child. 

 We must carefully distinguish the ability to recognize color- 

 differences from the habitual exercise of the ability. The 

 average child will seldom make comparisons of colors unless 

 stimulated by others. And it is only by means of compar- 

 ison that the active recognition of a color's individuality 

 is awakened. If left to themselves most children will have 

 in mind more color-names than clear ideas of color. They 

 also will be able, perhaps, to apply these names better to 

 natural objects than to artificially prepared surfaces. This 

 of course indicates that the child has associated the navie of 

 the color with the object, rather than with the peculiarity of 

 the color. 



A few years ago while investigating the color-sense of the 

 children of the public schools of Lincoln, Nebraska, it 

 occurred to me that with little additional labor a test of 

 ability to name colors might also be made. The results of 

 such test are described in the following pages. 



The colors used were oil pigments on card-board previously 

 treated with a coating of common glue. Each card was five 

 and one-half centimetres square. The children were examined 

 separately out of the hearing of their fellows. The cards 

 were placed one at a time, and always in the same order, 

 before each child. As soon as one answer was given, another 

 card was placed upon the first in order to prevent comparison 

 as far as possible. The question was, " What color is that t " 

 Only in a few cases was there a desire expressed on the part 

 of the child to change his verdict after seeing other colors. 

 Generally, after a card was covered by another, he seemed to 

 forget the former and to give his whole attention to the one 

 in view. In all cases only the first name is given in the 

 tables unless the change was desired before another color 

 was seen. In this instance the child was allowed time to 

 select one name. The time given to each pupil varied 



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