Page:American Journal of Psychology Volume 21.djvu/11

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

THE AMERICAN
Journal of Psychology
Founded by G. Stanley Hall in 1887


VOL. XXI
JANUARY, 1910
No. 1

INTELLIGENCE AND IMITATION IN BIRDS; A
CRITERION OF IMITATION


By James P. Porter
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.


I. 1
II. 6
III.
Results of Experiments
Series A. English Sparrows and Cowbirds
9
 
Series B. The Male English Sparrow and the Female Cowbird of the previous series
18
 
Series C. English Sparrows and Cowbirds with Old Form of Food-box
24
 
Series D. English Sparrows, Cowbirds and a Junco
27
 
Series E. This Junco, a White-throated Sparrow, Field Sparrows, a male English Sparrow and a young Song Sparrow
32
 
Series F. The Field Sparrows, the Junco, and the male English Sparrow of Series E.
37
 
Series G. A pair of Bluebirds and White-crowned Sparrows and two each of Juncos and Fox, Song, and Tree Sparrows
38
 
Series H. A pair of Blue Jays
43
 
Series I. Two male Baltimore Orioles, three Cowbirds and two young English Sparrows
47
 
Series J. Three Crows
55
VI. 65
VII. 69

I. Introduction

If in reply to the question "Do birds imitate one another?" the writer should answer merely in the affirmative, what would such a statement mean? To most people it would mean that birds individually seeing other birds perform a certain act, say pulling a string to open a door, copy this act more or less consciously and purposefully with a definite end in view. Such a reply would be understood to mean that all imitation is identical with that which conscious or possibly self-conscious adult human beings find in themselves. Perhaps a more schol-