INSTINCTS AND HABITS IN CHICKS 9 



sible chance of coming in contact with something Hke water 

 was afforded through deposits of waterish excrement. Even if 

 this as a stimulus were able to elicit the drinking reaction, the 

 fact that the chicks in the incubator rested on an elevated wire 

 screen lessened the probability of the occurrence of such a 

 stimulus. In the brooder the floor was constantly covered 

 with the regular litter from one to two inches deep. On Dec. 

 5 , from 3 to 5 :3o p. m. , when the chicks varied from 2.5 to 3 

 days of age, they were brought one at a time to the experiment 

 table, just as if they were to be given a pecking test, and were 

 returned to the brooder each as its drinking test was completed. 

 In front of each animal was set a clean watch glass containing 

 fresh water devoid at the start of bubbles or sediment. The 

 watch glass rested on a square piece of smooth, white, plain 

 note paper. As the observations on each chick were completed, 

 the soiled paper was replaced by a clean piece, the dish was 

 washed, the water renewed, and bits of food or drops of water 

 carefully brushed from the table. The report of the observations 

 follows in the order in which the chicks were tested. 



While no. 70 was eating on the table, the watch glass, in the 

 manner set forth above, was presented. The chick pecked grains 

 which had been scattered over the white paper and then ran 

 its bill in a forward direction along the paper in the drinking 

 reaction. This it did repeatedly. Later I helped it to find 

 the water in the dish. It seems unnecessary to state that pre- 

 caution was taken to see that the paper was dry. 



No. 72 was tried next. It pecked the plain, clean, white paper. 

 Before the water was found by no. 72, no. 70 was brought out 

 and allowed to drink in the presence of no. 72. No. 72 followed 

 no. 70 about, performing the drinking reaction along the edge 

 of the dish. One of the chicks stepped into the dish and car- 

 ried some water to the paper surrounding it. No. 72 got its 

 bill into this and forthwith responded with the drinking reac- 

 tion. Then it wandered about the table and ran its bill along 

 the black leather of my watch fob, 30 cm. distant from the 

 dish, giving the drinking reaction. This does not mean that 

 it touched the fob with its bill and then lifted its head in the 

 manner so well known. The reaction to the fob was just what 

 one sees when he watches a chick gathering water into its bill 

 and throat while the bill is inserted in the liquid. This reaction is 



