ANIMALS’ EYES TESTED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

ANIMALS’ EYES TESTED

Alligators and white rabbits have very poor eyesight as compared with mail or with other animals and birds, Dr. John Warkentin, of the University of Rochester, reported to the American Psychological Association at Minneapolis recently. Acuity of vision is usually expressed in degree of arc, a measure corresponding to size of type that can be read or the size of objects that can be distinquished at a standard distance. Cats, cottontail rabbits, woodchucks, chickens and pigeons have a keenness of eyesight expressed by 30 seconds of arc, a figure comparable to man’s vision. Contrasted with this the alligator’s score is 300 minute?. Since with arcs, as with time, 00 seconds make a minute, this means an enormous difference In ability to distinguish fine details. Objects must be of considerable size for an alligator to notice them. Desiiite the excellent vision of the little wild rabbit, the white (albino) rabbit tested only 100 seconds.