THE AMERICAN
Journal of Psychology
Founded by G. Stanley Hall in 1887
INTELLIGENCE AND IMITATION IN BIRDS; A
CRITERION OF IMITATION
By James P. Porter
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
I. | 1 |
II. | 6 |
III. |
|
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-