ABSTRACT
The American Skinnerians, who had heard tell somewhere that there existed other birds than the eternal pigeon, tried to replace it with the great raven. In resisting the propositions of the behaviorist researchers with admirable vigor, the raven no doubt escaped years of monotonous labor in dispositives that were probably none too thrilling for beings of remarkable curiosity. Ravens also accomplish a series of acts that appear to be useless, that pertain at once to both the game and to the affirmation of skill. A raven who shares a find can count on the fact that its companions will return the favor, when the occasion presents itself. The ravens will literally recruit their researcher into what will become a passionate inquiry; they will reveal to him the resolution of an enigma the difficulty and the interest of which would be in accord with what makes them impossible to study.
