🚀 go-pugleaf

Long ago I read a story, by Konrad Lorenz, I think, that concerned number
recognition in birds.  As I remember it, Lorenz wanted to study a certain
group of birds.  He built a blind, but no matter how long he stayed in it, the
birds knew he was in there and were distressed.  So he got the bright idea of
taking a friend along with him into the blind, and then having the friend
leave by himself.  No joy, the birds still knew he was in there.  So he
brought two friends with him.  They entered the blind together, they waited
awhile, and then the two friends left.  Still no joy.  He tried three friends
and then four friends and still no luck.  Finally, he tried five friends (or
something like that), and it worked:  the friends left and the birds were no
longer disturbed.

Does anyone know where this story is?  I looked for it in "King Solomon's Ring"
and in "On Aggression" and couldn't find it (I could have overlooked it).

Also, what else is known about number recognition in animals?  How much
"mathematics" can animals do, especially chimpanzees or gorillas?

I don't normally read this newsgroup, so I'd appreciate replies by E-mail,
though I will stay on for a while in case there is any interest in a general
discussion of the subject.

Thanks.

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| John C. Simms                    | Internet........: johns@mscs.mu.edu  |
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