Chickens could not be taught to play baseball because they would chase the ball after it was batted, rather than run to first base. This was an example of because it demonstrated that the chicken's innate pattern of running after food (the ball) took precedence over running toward a stationary object (first base).

A. classical conditioning
B. an autonomic reflex
C. instinctive drift
D. operant conditioning

C. instinctive drift    

Explanation:

Instinctive drift: In psychology, the term "instinctive drift" is also referred as "instinctual drift" and is described as an animal's propensity to revert or respond towards an automatic and unconscious behavior that tends to interfere or influence a specific learned behavior related to "operant conditioning" which was proposed by B. F. Skinner.

In the question above, the given statement represents the instinctive drift.