THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 827.— May. 1910. 



THE FORMATION OF USELESS HABITS IN TWO 

 BRITISH NEWTS (MOLGE CRISTATA, Laur., 

 AND M. PALMATA, Schneid.), WITH OBSERVA- 

 TIONS ON THEIR GENERAL BEHAVIOUR. 



By Bruce F. Cummings. 



Part 1. 



The experiments and observations detailed below were made 

 during the past year on two of the British species of Newt 

 (Molge cristata, Laur., and M. palmata, Schneid.). In studying 

 the formation of useless habits, I employed the labyrinth 

 method, putting the Newts through a simple structure made of 

 wood, and containing several choices between right and wrong. 

 The labyrinth was submerged in a shallow water-tank, contain- 

 ing a small percentage of salt in solution (under one per cent.). 

 A pinch of salt placed on a Newt's back sends it into paroxysms, 

 ending in death, but the slight solution employed in the experi- 

 ments was found to exercise no deleterious influences, though it 

 brought about the required effect of general discomfort. In the 

 late summer and autumn, when the Newts were leaving the 

 water in preparation for the winter season, I was able to dis- 

 pense with the salt, as the water alone provided a sufficiently 

 strong stimulus to induce the animals to learn how to get out. 



In each case the exit conducted the Newt out of the water in 

 the labyrinth to the place where it had been accustomed to live, 

 Zool. 4th ser, vol. XIV., Maij, 1910. o 



