EFFECT OF LENGTH OF BLIND ALLEYS ON MAZE LEARNING 31 



likely the least complicated by the results of entering other 

 blind alleys. Table III and figure VII show comparatively the 

 rate of elimination of all entrances to this cul de sac full length 

 and shortened, 22 and 8.5 inches respectively, by the two groups 

 of rats, Mu and Nu. While the two curves start near together 

 the one, S, representing the entrances to the shortened cul de sac 

 drops rapidly after the 15th trial; the other one, L, after the 

 initial decline keeps nearly the same height to the 55th trial. 

 The percentage eliminations are shown for the long and for 

 the shortened cul de sac, respectively, by curves E and E'. 



TABLE III 



Elimination of All Entrances to Blind Alley l. Two Groups of 



Eight Rats Each. Mazes IB and IIB 



The results from cul de sac 2 are 221 entrances to the full 

 length (40 inches) and 234 to the shortened form. This would 

 appear to contradict our general conclusion. However, it must 

 be remembered that the rats for which 2 was shortened made 



3 



