After responding to each element in varying, successive numerosity displays
, pigeons (Columba livia) had to choose, out of an array of symbols, the sy
mbol designated to correspond to the preceding number of elements. After ex
tensive training, 5 pigeons responded with significant accuracy to the nume
rosities 1 to 4, and 2 pigeons to the numerosities 1 to 5. Several tests sh
owed that feedback tones accompanying element pecks, the familiarity of ele
ment configurations, and the shape of the elements were not crucial to this
performance. One test, however, indicated that the number of pecks issued
to the elements was important for numerosities above 2. An additional test
confirmed that the birds chose the symbol that corresponded to a particular
numerosity rather than the positions that the symbols had held during trai
ning.