Lee Gabriel, age 10, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for his question:

What is meant by animal pecking order?

Pecking reminds us of barnyard chickens, scratching and picking out scraps from the dust and straw. Animals seem to sense that the one who gets the first helping gets the best of the banquet. Scientists have noticed that many animals have a pecking or¬der to settle who get first choice of the food and whose turn comes later.

People, of course, are well known for sorting themselves into groups of old and young, good and bad, higher and lower, but most of us may feel a bit shocked to learn that certain groups of animals do very much the same thing. We tend to show our ad¬miration for those we consider tops with extra respect    which is fine. Sometimes we go overboard and shower some glamorous star with much too much attention    which can be rather undignified. Animals, we are told by experts who observe their behavior, have a more practical way of demonstrating their order or rank from the highest to the lowliest member of the group.

The most practical item in life is food, and certain animals demonstrate their rank very plainly during the dinner hour. The top fellow gets the first helping while all the other members of the group stand aside and wait their turn. The top fellow's aides and lieutenants then help themselves to second and third choices. Usually the females and youngsters must wait until last and make do with the bones and crumbs. This pattern of animal behavior is called a pecking order. The name perhaps originated in the barnyard where the rooster often grabs a choice morsel from the chickens.

Researchers of animal behavior have tested the pecking order with a group of Barbary sheep living in the Bronx Zoo. They know the top sheep, the strong, dominant character who takes it for granted that he has the right to grab the first choice. A crust of bread is thrown midway between him and another sheep. The dominant sheep always, always gets it. As a rule, the other sheep stands back meekly and lets him, but once in a while a nearby sheep dares to approach the food. The dominant sheep butts him aside and shows his annoyance with angry threats.

There is a definite pecking order among a wolf pack. After a sizable game animal has been killed, all but the top wolf stand aside while he gorges on his favorite cuts of meat. Most likely he is the leader of the pack and the strongest member. Other wolves we are told, seem happy to give him first choice. While he eats, one or two of them may crouch low on the ground and grin, uttering whimpers that seem to express their desire to please. A pecking order of this sort need not last forever. The top dog grows old with time and someday a younger fellow challenges and beats him. Then the new champ takes first place in the pecking order.

Not all the members of an animal group appear to be satisfied with the pecking order. Young wolves often approach the top wolf while he is dining. This is sure to arouse his anger. He snarls and maybe stops eating to give his challenger a thrashing to put him in his place. Sometimes several dissatisfied animals in the group go off on their own. They start a new group and pretty soon they too have a pecking order from the most important down to the least important.