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he only Book of the kind in the World!

ART OF

TRAINING ANIMALS.

AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS.

^raking, Coming anb fotjmtg all luitbs of J,ratrrals

INCLUDING AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HORSE BREAKIN
MANAGEMENT OF FARM ANIMALS, TRAINING OF
SPORTING DOGS; SERPENT CHARMING, CARE
AND TUITION OF TALKING, SINGING
AND PERFORMING BIRDS; AND
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
FOR TEACHING ALL

CIRCUS TRICES,

AND MANY OTHER WONDERFUL FEATS.

Jllustf^ated JVith pvEF^ jSixTY JLngravinqs.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR

GIVING FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR

NEW YORK:

EXCELS 10II PUBLISHING HOUSE,

29 ani> 31 Beekman Street..Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by

JESSE HANEY & CO.

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern
District of New York.PREFACE.

The intention of the present volume is to initiate the
reader into all the mysteries and secrets of the " Art of Train-
ing Animals/' and .to give full and clear explanations of, and
instructions in, every branch of that art. It is believed that
the reader will find it acceptable whether he desires using its in-
structions practically either for profit or as an agreeable
recreation, or as merely a curiosity to know how the feats
herein described are taught.

This is believed to be the first and only attempt made to treat
this subject fully and systematically. Fragmentary articles
have occasionally appeared, and some works, treating of one or
another of the various animals, have given a few brief though
interesting paragraphs touching their educatability or sagacity
Even combined these form but a comparatively meager collec-
tion, and the volume herewith presented has the essential part of
all this as well as a very large amount of matter which is en-
tirely new. The aim has been to make the book as complete as
possible, and to do this the author has profited by the experience
and writings of others wherever they could be made available.
He has, however, striven in all such cases to give full credit.
As far as it was possible to communicate with the parties in
question, their consent was explicitly obtained, and in no case to
the best of his knowledge (certainly not intentionally) has any
material been used contrary to the wishes of its owner, or with-
out due acknowledgment, and he would respectfully ask any
who may desire to make use of any part of his own labors to
a reasonable extent, the same courtesy of full credit to Haney's
Art of Training Animals.

To many gentlemen in the profession we are indebted for

701453PREFACE.

details of their experience, and material of various kinds.
Much of information relating to birds is derived from the works
of the celebrated German fancier Bechstein; while to Mons.
Emil de Tarade is due a portion of that about the French dogs.
To Mr. Robert Jennings, whose works on the horse, as well as
on cattle, are deservedly popular, we are also indebted; also to
Mr. Smith of the New York Courier.

While attempting to give plain practical instruction in the
art we profess to teach, we have also designed to make a read-
able book, and it is hoped that its perusal may prove pleasant
as well as profitable. That money can be made by training
animals, is unquestionably true—even a boy can make his pets
more valuable by teaching them a few simple tricks.

In conclusion we may add that to amateurs interested in the
subject, a visit to either of the really fine collections of trained
and wild animals of Van Amburgh or u Yankee" Eobinson, will
prove most thoroughly enjoyable. To the proprietors of both of
these establishments we are indebted for valuable assistance.ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

o-o^jt^oo-

CHAPTER I.

INTRODTTCTORY—GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TRAINING.

DR. KEMP thus concisely and clearly states the difference
between instinct and reason: " In the former there is an
irresistible impulse to go through a certain series of motions
after a certain fashion, without knowing why they are performed,
or what their result will be. In the latter the actions depend
upon previous mental judgments, are performed or not at will,
and the end of them is early anticipated and defined."

We beiieve the evidence is too strong to be doubted that
many animals do perceive the relation between cause and effect^
and that many of their actions, especially when the animals are
surrounded by the unnatural circumstances of a state of domes-
tication, must be ascribed to the reasoning power. There was
a dog who lived in a strict monastery where the monks dined
alone, and who, instead of asking for their meals, obtained them
by knocking at the buttery door, the cook answering by opening
the door and pushing the allowance through. The dog observed
this proceeding and accordingly knocked at the door and laid in
wait until the meal was placed outside, and the door shut, when
he ran off with it. This he repeated a number of times.

The contrast between instinct and reason is displayed in the
coursing of hares. If an old and a young grayhound be em-
ployed we have examples of both instinct and reason. The
young one instinctively pursues his game, following every turn
and winding, while the old dog, reasoning from past experience,
knows that the hare will double, and accordingly does not
exactly follow her, but goes across A similar example is
afforded by the dogs employed in hunting the deer in South
America. The newly imported dog, in approaching the deerr
flies at it in front and is often injured by the concussion. The14

ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

native dogs have learned to avoid this danger and they invariably
keep from the front, and attack from the side or rear.

Instances might be multiplied indefinitely, but our object is
only to show the distinction made between reason and instinct;
those who desire to investigate the subject more thoroughly
can do so through works specially devoted to natural history.
No doubt any'observing person can recall instances in his own
experience with animals, where their actions showed evidence of
a greater or less degree of reasoning power.

An action may be partly instinctive and partly the result of
reasoning, but a purely instinctive action never changes except
under the influence of reason. A hen sits on her eggs from an
instinctive impulse to do so. If chalk ones be substituted for
the real eggs she tends them with equal care and will not desert
them any sooner than she would the others. And yet in other
matters perhaps hens have reasoning powers.

Without the possession of these powers we believe no educa-
tion of animals would be possible; and we farther believe that
the capacity for learning is in exact proportion to the ability to
reason. A horse or dog can be readily taught things which a
hog can never learn, and in the lower scales of animal life all
attempts at education become failures. Under the tuition of
man the reasoning powers are undoubtedly developed to an
extent to which they would never attain in a state of nature,
and by judicious and persistent teaching numerous animals have
been educated to an almost startling degree. How this has
been done we shall show as we proceed.

Not only does the amount of reason vary with different species
but with different individuals of the same species, and much of
the trainer's success will depend on the judicious selection of his
pupil. Professional trainers take the utmost pains in this
selection, and they usually consider that the descendants of an
educated animal have, by inheritance, a greater aptitude for
learning than others.

The young trainer must not fall into the mistaken notion that
mere quickness in picking up a trick is the best quality in an ani-
mal. There may be such a thing as learning a lesson too rapidly,
and what is learned with but slight effort is sometimes forgotten
with equal readiness. Another thing, too much should not be
expected of one pupil. Public exhibitors are able to show a
large array of tricks because of the number of animals they
have, each, as a rule, knowing a comparatively few of these
tricks, or, in the case of some of the "sensation" tricks, perhaps
only one. Still any animal of ordinary capacity ought, with
proper tuition, to be able to learn a sufficient variety to satifsyGENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TRAINING.

15

a reasonable trainer. Judicious management on the part of the
exhibitor will often make a variety of tricks out of a single one
which the animal has been taught; an example of this is
afforded by the u educated hog."

The first essential for success in training animals is patience.
At first many lessons may be given without the slightest appa-
rent impression being made upon the mind of the pupil and an
uncommon degree of patience and good temper is required to
bear up against such discouraging results. By-and-by, how-
ever, the pupil will suddenly appear to realize what is required
cf him, and will perform his task with surprising accuracy at
the very moment his teacher is about to give up in despair.
Then each successive lesson is learned with greater ease and
rapidity than the preceding one; the weariness and disappoint-
ment of the trainer is changed to pleasure at his success, and
even the animal appears to sympathize with his master's joy,
and to take pride in his performance.

As it is impossible to explain to an animal what is required
of him he can be taught an action only by its constant repetition
until he becomes familiar with it. When he knows what you
want him to do he will in almost all cases comply with your
wishes promptly and cheerfully. For this reason punishments
seldom do any good, unless the animal is willful, which is rare*.
On the contrary they, as a general rule, interfere with the
success of the lessons. If the pupil is in constant fear of blows:
his attention will be diverted from the lesson, he will dread
making any attempt to obey for fear of failure, and he will have
a sneaking look which will detract materially from the appear-
ance of his performance. This is the case with the animals
instructed by a trainer of this city who "trains his horses ^th
a club," the animals never appearing as well as those taught by
more gentle means. But for a rare natural talent this man's
success would have been utterly defeated by his brutality. He
is the only one we know of in the profession who does not base
his tuition on kindness to the pupil. A sharp word or a slight
tap with a small switch will as effectually show your displeasure
as the most severe blows. It is both cruel and unwise to inflict
needless pain.

All trainers make use of various little tit-bits as rewards for
successful performance of tricks. These serve as a powerful
incentive to the animal as well as to show him when he has done
right. Withholding the accustomed reward when he fails or but
imperfectly performs his duty is much more effective than any
corporeal punishment. The repetition of the lesson until the
animal will himself perform the required action, and the bestowal16

ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

of these rewards whenever he obeys your order, is really the
main secret of training. Of course there are many important
details in the practical application, and many clever devices
resorted to by trainers to increase the effectiveness of tricks, as
well as skillful combinations of simple tricks to produce elabor-
ate and astonishing feats. These we shall fully explain in their
proper places.

To certain scents has sometimes been ascribed a mysterious
influence upon animals, rendering them docile and subservient
to the human will. To the use of these many persons imagine
trainers owe their success. Though some scents are relished
by certain animals, we doubt whether, as a rule, they have so
great a fondness for them as has been asserted. Certainly there
is no .general use of them in the profession, though they may
have been sold to the credulous by ignorant or unprincipled per-
sons, for this purpose. Oats are fond of catnip, and we know of
instances where kittens, displaying a violent resistance to being
carried in. a basket, have been quieted by being given some leaves
of this herb. Animals no doubt receive pleasure from the grati-
fication of their sense of smell, but there is about as much
reason in conquering an unruly school-boy by giving him a sniff
of cologne water, as in taming a colt by causing him to smell
that or any other perfume.

To the oil of rhodium is most frequently ascribed the greatest
_and most general influence over the animal kingdom, almost all
animals, according to this theory being powerfully affected by
it. This is the " horse taming secret97 sometimes sold for con-
siderable sums. There is no good reason to believe it has any
important influence over either the disposition or actions of
any animal.

The horse taming powders, composed of " a horse's corn
grated, some hairs from a black cat's tail," and like absurd in-
gredients, are too nonsensical to deserve serious notice, though
once a staple part of the veterinary art, and still, possibly, be-
lieved in by a few persons.

To a certain extent many animals are able to understand the
meaning of words. That is, if any particular word of command
be used in instructing an animal to do a particular act he will
learn to associate that word with the action, and be able to dis-
tinguish between a variety of words and apply each to the act
associated with it, without confusing them. In training animals
it is important that each word of command should be used only
in its proper place. The common habit ignorant drivers have
of using the words " back/' u whoa," and others indiscriminately
is absurd, and it is not wonderful that their horses sometimesSECRETS OF HORSE TAMING.

X7

fail to understand them. A story is told of a farmer who had
recently purchased a new yoke of oxen, and was driving them in
a cart. Slipping from his seat he fell before one of the wheels
and very naturally got run over. u Back! backI" he cried to
the oxen, meaning for them to stop, but, like many another man,
using words which meant something else. The oxen happened
to be better linguists, or else had been accustomed to obey
literally, and in this case did so by backing as ordered, running
aver the man for the second time.

CHAPTER II.

HOKSE TAMING AND HORSE TRAINING—HORSE MANAGEMENT—
WHIP TRAINING—CURING BAD HABITS, ETC.

OME few persons imagine that to possess a proper mastery
over their horses, they must maintain their authority by
brute force. This is a great mistake. More work, within the
limit of safety, can be got out of a horse by kindness than by
cruelty, and as far as managing a horse is concerned the chief
point is to teach him confidence in you. If he believes you to
be his friend he will not only strive to please you, but will have
less fear of strange objects which otherwise might startle him
and render him refractory.

The Rareys—there are two or three of them—taught the world
a most important lesson when they taught it the " power of
kindness" and u self-control" in the management of horses,
donkeys, zebras, and other animals. How often do we see
inconsiderate parents fly into a passion and, without reason or
religion, thrash the object of their displeasure. So of brutal,
heartless drivers, when the ilblinded" horses chance to misstep,
get off the track, stumble, or in the wrong place. By their
actions it would appear that they expected a horse or an ass to
reason quite as well as themselves. Employers may not look
for the same talent in their apprentices as in their foreman.
Teachers may expect every little urchin to be self-regulating
and to mind his books; but this it is his duty to teach him to do,
and he should be all patience, all kindness, affection, persever-
ance, if he would produce the best results. The same spirit is
required to subdue and manage a horse. If you say you. are
not equal to the task; if you say your child, your horse, or18

ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

your ox knows more than you, is your master, then you are
not the one to manage him, and you should resign in favor of
one who is superior to child, horse, or ox. A weak man in
intellect may indeed be outwitted by a sagacious child or horse.

There is no disguising the fact that viciousness is innate with
some horses. But far more so with some, nay, most, men,
from whom they get it. It is no doubt sometimes hereditary,
and follows some of the best strains of blood we have. That
viciousness should accompany a highly nervous organization is
not to be wondered at. Hence it causes no surprise when we
find such dispositions among the finely organized thoroughbreds
—animals of a most sensitive and nervous organization—from
which the common expression u thin skinned," as applied to a
too sensitive man, is obviously derived. The treatment horses
receive, and the moral atmosphere in which they are thrown,
have a much greater influence than most horsemen are generally
inclined to admit. The pinching, tickling, rough, boisterous
stable boy who annoys a spirited horse for the sake of enjoying
hitf futile, though almost frantic kicks and leers, is affecting the
disposition of the horse and his descendants for generations to
come, besides putting in jeopardy the lives and limbs of those
who are brought in contact with the horse so tampered with.
A horse is surely influenced by the character of the men with
whom he associates.

Sometimes, however, it is necessary to conquer a bad tempered
horse, and if possible to secure a radical conversion or change
of character which shall be lasting. No timorous man need
undertake this task 5 he will only make matters worse. A
horse tamer should be calm, cool, brave, and fearless—the horse
will know it; he should be quiet, for then the horse will be put
off his guard ,* he should be firm and give the brute no advan-
tage, but crowd him up to doing something, and that, invariably,
what the tamer wants him to do. Thus any ordinary horse
will soon give up and own man his master. The kindest treat-
ment and even petting must always follow yielding; and if
possible to help it, the horse should never be frightened by any
treatment, and above all things he should never be angered by
petty torture. His own contrariness should appear to him to
be the cause of all his trouble, and man his best friend. This
principle is at the foundation of Rarey's successful practice.

POWELL'S MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSES.

Place your horse in a small yard, or in a stable or room.
If in a stable or room, it ought to be large, in order to give him
some exercise with the halter before you lead him out. If th«5ECBETS OF HORSE TAMING.

19

horse belongs to that class which appears only to fear man, you
must introduce yourself gently into the stable, room, or yard,
where the horse is. He will naturally run from you, and fre-
quently turn his head from you; for you must walk about
extremely slow and softly, so that he can see you whenever he
turns his head toward you, which he never fails to do in a short
time, say in a quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to be
much longer without turning toward me. -

At the very moment he turns his head, hold out your hand
toward him, and stand perfectly still, keeping your eyes upon
the horse, watching his motions, if he makes any. If the
horse does not stir for ten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly
as possible, and without making the ]east noise, always holding
out your left hand, without any other ingredient in it than what
nature put in it. I have made use of certain ingredients before
people, such as the sweat under my arm, etc., to disguise the
real secret and many believed that the docility to which the
horse arrived in so short a time was owing to these ingredients;
but you see from this explanation that they were of no use
whatever. The implicit faith placed in these ingredients,
though innocent of themselves, becomes u faith without works."
And thus men always remained in doubt concerning the secret.
If the horse makes the least motion when you advance toward
him, stop, and remain perfectly still until he is quiet. Remain
a few moments in this condition, and then advance again in the
same slow and almost imperceptible manner. Take notice, if
the horse stirs, stop, without changing your position. It is
very uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you
begin to advance, yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps
his eyes steadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch
him on the forehead. When you are thus near to him, raise
your hand slowly and by degrees, and let it come in contact
with that part just above the nostrils as lightly as possible.
If the horse flinches (as many will,) repeat with great rapidity
these light strokes upon the forehead, going a little farther up
toward his ears by degrees, and descending with the same
rapidity until he will let you handle his forehead all over. Now
let the strokes be repeated with more force all over his forehead,
descending by lighter strokes to each side of his head, until you
can handle that part with equal facility. Then touch in the
same light manner, making your hands and fingers play around
the lower part of the horse's ears, coming down now and then
to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the helm that
governs all the rest.

Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance toward tho20

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

neck with the same precaution, and in the same manner) ob-
serving always to augment the force of the strokes whenever
the horse will permit it. Perform the same on both sides of
the neck, until he lets you take it in your arms without flinching.

Proceed in the same progressive manner to the sides, and
then to the back of the horse. Every time the horse shows any
nervousness, return immediately to the forehead, as the true
standard, patting him with your hands, and thence rapidly to
where you had already arrived, always gaining ground a consid-
erable distance farther on every time this happens. The htad,
ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed from the back
to the root of the tail.

This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse is never to
be depended on that is skittish about the tail. Let your hand
fall lightly and rapidly on that part next to the body a minute
or two, and then you will begin to give it a slight pull upward
every quarter of a minute. At the same time you continue this
handling of him, augment the force of the strokes as well as the
raising of the tail, until you can raise it and handle it with the
greatest ease, which commonly happens in a quarter of an hour
in most horses, in others almost immediately, and in some much
longer. It now remains to handle all his legs ; from the tail
come back again to the head, handle it well, as likewise the
ears, breast, neck, etc., speaking now and then to the horse.
Begin by degrees to descend to the legs, always ascending and
descending, gaining ground every time you descend, until you
get to his feet.

Talk to the horse while thus taming1 him ; let him hear the
sound of your voice, which at the beginning of the operation is
not quite so necessary, but which I have always done in making
him lift up his feet. " Hold up your foot," you will say ; at
the same time lifting his foot with your hand. He soon becomes
familiar with the sounds, and will hold up bis foot at command.
Then proceed to the hind feet and go on in the same manner ;
and in a short time the horse will let you lift them, and even
take them up in your arms.

All this operation is no magnetism, or galvanism ; it is merely
taking away the fear a horse generally has of a man, and famil-
iarizing the animal with his master. As the horsp. doubtless
experiences a certain pleasure from this handling, he will soon
become gentle under it, and show a very marked attachment to
his keeper.

MANAGING HORSES BY KINDNESS.

A lady visiting Egypt some years ago> gave in one of herPOWER OF GENTLENESS.

21

letters to her friends at home, an instance of the power of gen-
tleness in controlling even the most spirited of horses. She
gives the following description of her experience with tne
Arabian horses: " I fear yon may deem me rather boastful of
my horsemanship when I tell you that the two Arab horses which
threw their cavaliers did not throw me. The cause of the
exception was not in me or my skill 5 it was the very remark-
able predilietion these intelligent animals feel toward individ-
uals of the weaker sex. Let the wildest and fiercest Arabian
be mounted by a woman, and you will see him suddenly grow
mild and gentle as a lamb. I have had plenty of opportunities
to make the experiment, and in my own stables there is a beau-
tiful gray Arabian which nobody but myself dares to ride. He
knows me, anticipates my wishes, and judiciously calculates
the degree of fatigue I can bear without inconvenience. It is
curious to see how he can manage to quicken his pace without
shaking me, and the different sorts of steps he has invented to
realize those contradictory purposes. Horses being as liable to
forgetfulness as other organized beings, my incomparable gray
would allow his natural ambition to overcome his gallantry, and
if another horse threatened to pass him, would start off with the
speed of the whirlwind. Woe to me if, under these circumstances,
I were to trust to the strength of my arm or the power of the
bridle! I knew my gallant charger better. Leaving my hand
quite loose, and abandoning all thoughts of compulsion, I would
take to persuasion; pat him on the neck ; call him by his name;
beg him to be quiet and deserve the piece of sugar waiting for
him at home. Never did these gentle means fail. Instantly he
would slacken his pace, prick up his ears as if fully compre-
hending his error, and come back to a soft amble, gently neigh-
ing as if to crave pardon for his momentary offense."

This power of women over the Arabian horses is partly due,
no doubt, to the fact that when still a colt he is reared in the
back part of the tent, the movable harem of the Arab. He is
constantly petted, and it is the women who see that he is sup-
plied with food, and tenderly cared for. It is the attachment
which is by these means awakened in the horse that leads him
to so cheerfully yield obedience to the female voice. Deservedly
high as may stand the Arabian horse for docility and sagacity,
it should not be forgotten that, in the absence of all other
amusements, the education of the foal becomes a pleasure as
well as a business; it thus becomes attached to its biped com-
panions, and takes a pride in enacting all that is required of him.
If his rider falls, the horse will stand by and neigh for assist-
ance; if he lies down to sleep, the horse will watch over him22

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMAjLS,

and give notice of the approach of man or beast. Similar anec-
dotes are related of all horses kindly treated, no matter where
may be their home. We heard of one who had a drunken
master, and this horse surpassed the Arab example even in
intelligence, for he would modify his gait so as to keep his reel-
ing rider from falling off; and if this catastrophe did happen,
the horse would stand for hours, regardless of food or drink, and
with anger and determination attack man or beast that would
approach too near.

TO CURE A STUBBORN DISPOSITION.

If your horse, instead of being wild, seems to be of a stubborn
or mulish disposition ; if he lays back his ears as you approach
him, or turns his heels to kick you, he has not the regard or fear of
man that he should have to enable you to handle him quickly
and easily ; and it might be well to give him a few sharp cuts
with the whip, about the legs, pretty close to the body. It will
crack keenly as it plies around his legs, and the crack of the
whip will affect him as much as the stroke besides one sharp
cut about his legs will affect him more than two or three over
his back, the skin on the inner part of his legs or about his
flank being thinner, more tender, than on his back. But do not
whip him much—just enough to frighten him; it is not because
we want to hurt the horse that we tvhip him—we only do it to
frighten vice and stubbornness out of him. But whatever you
do, do quickly, sharply, and with a good deal of fire, but always
without anger. If you are going to frighten him at all, you
must do it at once. Never go into a pitched battle with your
horse, and whip him until he is mad and will fight you ; it would
be better not to touch him at all, for you will establish, instead
of fear and respect, feelings of resentment, hatred, and ill-will.
It will do him no good, but harm, to strike him, unless you can
frighten him; but if you can succeed in frightening him, you
can whip him without making him mad; for fear and anger
never exist together in the horse7 and as soon as one is visible,
you will find that the other has disappeared. As soon as you
have frightened him, so that he will stand up straight and pay
some attention to you, approach him again, and caress him a
good deal more than you whipped him; thus you will excite the
two controlling passions of his nature, love and fear; he will
love and fear you too ; and, as soon as he learns what you
require, will obey quickly. The stubborness once broken down,
there is seldom any farther trouble of that score, if the horse be
afterward managed with judgment and kindness. He will
appreciate your kindness and become desirous of pleasing you.MATERIALS USED IN TAMING HORSES.

23

THE CORD AND LINE WEBBING.

One of the main appliances used by horse tamers is a three
or four ply cord or rope, one of cotton being the best, such as is
used by the Indians for subduing their horses. This cord is a
powerful instrument for either good or evil, as it is properly or
improperly used. It may be prepared by any one in the man-
ner shown in the engraving :

LOOPING THE CORD.

A knot is to be tied in each end, then make a loop by doub-
ling the cord and passing the knot through as represented above.
Be careful to make the loops at such a distance from the knot
as will allow the cord to pass around the neck at one end, and
the lower jaw at the other, passing the knot through the loop
from the opposite side of the loop to where it passed through in
making the lap. The necessity for this will be seen on apply-
ing the cord. The object is to obtain steady pressure upon
the lower jaw, as well as friction in the mouth.

In addition to the cord a piece of worsted webbing, such as is
used for driving lines should be prepared in the following man-
ner : Divide it into two parts, one piece being of sufficient
length to girt the body. Make a loop in one end large enough
for the other end to pass through, so as, when adjusted it is
sufficiently long to tie. These pieces of webbing will be useful
in carrying out future directions.

TO TEACH A HORSE TO STOP.

The word " whoa " should be used only to stop a horse when
he is in motion. Never use it when you approach a horse stand-
ing quietly. Horses soon learn to distinguish any word often
addressed to them, and they should learn to associate it with
some definite and exact duty which you wish them to perform.
If any word of command is used indiscriminately, or out of its
proper place, the animal becomes confused and loses the associ-
ation between the word and the object desired.

To teach a hqrse the meaning of the word "whoa," the
arrangement shown in the accompanying illustration may be
need. Put the large web, previously described, around his24

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

near fore foot, pass it under the girth; and as the animal walks
along, pull up the foot, saying at the same instant, u Whoa.''

" WHOA."

He will be brought to a stop, and by repeating the lesson he
will soon raise the foot and stop even though the web is not
pulled upon.

TO TEACH A HORSE TO BACE:.

Put the cord upon the horse, using the small loop ; draw it
with a steady pull; this brings the horse's nose toward his
body. Keep a firm hold upon the cord until he steps back a
little, using at the same time the word il back." Then caress
him j by doing so you show him that he has done exactly as

TEACHING THE HORSE TO BACK.

you wished him to. and the caresses should be repeated everyINSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING HORSES.	25

time he obeys. The utmost gentleness must be observed in
order not to excite him, and the lesson should not be long enough
to tire him. Five to ten minutes being the best length, repeated
at intervals of a few hours. As soon as he understands whafr
you desire he will probably back promptly at command.

TO MAKE A HORSE FOLLOW YOU.

The directions make simple what have hitherto been among
the mysteries of the circus. Turn the horse into a large stable
or shed, where there is no chance to get out, with a halter or
bridle on. Go to him and gentle him a little, take hold of his
halter, and turn him toward you, at the same time touching
him lightly over the hips with a long whip. Lead him the
length of the stable, rubbing him on the neck, saying in a steady
tone of voice, " Come along, boy!" or use his name instead of
" boy," if you choose. Every time you turn, touch him slightly
with the whip, to make him step up close to you, and then caress
him with your hand. He will soon learn to hurry up to escape
the whip and be caressed, and you can make him follow you
around without taking hold of the halter. If he should stop and
turn from you, give him a few sharp cuts about the hind legs,
and he will soon turn his head toward you, when you must
always caress him. A few lessons of this kind will make him
run after you, when he sees the motion of the whip—in twenty
or thirty minutes he will follow you about the stable. After
you have given him two or three lessons in the stable, take him
out into a small field and train him; and thence you can
take him into the road and make him follow you anywhere, and
run after you.

TO STAND WITHOUT HOLDING.

To make a horse stand without holding, after you have him
well broken to follow you, place him in the center of the stable
—begin at his head to caress him, gradually working backward.
If he move give him a cut with the whip, and put him back to
the same spot from which he started. If he stands, caress him
as before, and continue gentling him in this way until you can
get round him without making him move. Keep walking around
him, increasing your pace, and only touch him occasionally.
Enlarge your circle as you walk around, and if he then moves,
give him another cut with the whip, and put him back to his
place. If he stands, go to him frequently and caress him, and
then walk around him again. Do not keep him in one position
too long at a time, but make him come to you occasionally, and
follow you around the stable. Then make him stand in another26

AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

place, and proceed as before. You should not train your horse
more than half an hour at a time.

WHIP TRAINING.

So accustomed are we to the use of bit and reins for driving
that we have got to consider them absolutely requisite for guid-
ing a horse. Horses however may, if properly taught, be driven
without either bit or reins, merely by signals with the whip.
Probably -the simplest and most concise directions for whip
training are given by Mr. Jennings in his valuable work on
training horses. Mr. Jennings says :

" To train a horse thoroughly to drive without bit or line,
under the whip, requires from four to six weeks' time; it requires
also a man of strong nerve and self-control to be a successful
trainer in this particular branch. Whip training illustrates the
beauty and power of our system of horse training. Such a feat
as driving a horse without bit or line cannot be accomplished by
any other system known to man. Having selected a horse with
a moderate share of intelligence, the next thing is to secure a
suitable place for training. An enclosure twenty-five or thirty
feet square is required. If you have it smaller, and your horse
should be disposed to kick, you would be in danger; if larger it
gives the animal too much room to get away from the whip. It
is better that you go in with the horse alone, as then the animal
will have no other object to take his attention. Turn him loose
without bridle or halter in the enclosure; take your position in
the centre, holding in your right hand a straight whip nine or
ten feet long; you crack the whip as you take your position j
this alarms the horse and causes him to run into one corner of
the enclosure; crack it several times that he may learn that you
do not intend to hurt him; now commence tapping him lightly
upon the near shoulder, but not to hurt him ; if a nervy fellow
he is all excitement for a few minutes; continue the tapping
until he turns his head toward you, which he will do in a short
time. The moment he turns it, however slight it may be, cease
the whipping; as soon as he turns it away again repeat the
tapping with the whip; in a few minutes he again turns his
head toward you; stop the motion of the whip; as he turns
away repeat the whip tapping as before; in a very short time he
turns around so that you can approach him; now gently caress
him j move away and again approach him 5 should he turn away
repeat the whipping, by this means you teach him to come to
you on the near side. After he has learned this thoroughly*
which requires about one week's training, hail an hour each day^
then proceed in the same manner upon the off side; as soon a$CURING BALKY HORSES.

he obeys the motion of the whip upon this side, take your posi-
tion behind him, and turn him by the motion of the whip to the
right or to the left j as soon as he performs nicely, put the har-
ness upon him, take the lines behind him, and, as you give him
the word to go forward, throw the whip down by his right side
without touching him, at the same time have the long web around
the near fore foot, and give it to an assistant; you want him to
stop, give him the word " Whoa," at the same time your assis-
tant pulls up the foot, turn the whip in a horizontal position
above your head—in this way you teach him that the whip in
that position means 6 Whoa.' By repeating these motions, he
learns in about four weeks to turn to the right whenever the
whip is thrown toward the right shoulder 5 to the left when
thrown toward the left shoulder; to go ahead when thrown down
by the right side; and to stop when held in a horizontal position.
You now want to teach him to back; having previously instructed
him according to our rule, put the cord, using the small loop,
in his mouth 5 take the cord in your hand with the reins, pull
upon the reins and say i Back/ at the same time keep the whip
directly over the animal's back, giving it an upward and down-
ward motion, or you may tap him gently upon the back with
the whip—this is best done in a sulky. If he starts forward,
set him back by pulling quickly upon the cord; repeat the oper-
ation until he will go back by the motion of the whip alone.
Should he make repeated efforts to go forward, bring the whip
quickly once or twice down over his nose, he will not then repeat
the operation very often 5 with this training, it is necessary to
use an open bridle, so that the animal will see the motion of
the whip; you are now prepared to hook him up for the first
drive. Take an assistant with you; have the foot strap or long
web secured upon the near fore foot; give it in charge of your
assistant 5 let the lines lie over the dash, as a matter of precau-
tion. Now commence operations with the whip ; if the animal
acts promptly, remove the foot web and begin again, having the
lines over the dash as before ; drive the animal in this way at
least two or three weeks before removing the bit from the
mouth. Your horse is now safe to drive under the whip."

The large and noble looking horses which draw the trucks of
the safe manufacturers in this city, are hitched in single file,
only the rear one having reins attached. Sometimes six or
eight horses will be required to draw the ponderous load,
and the coolness and dexterity with which they wend their way
through the confused mass of vehicles in the crowded Streets is
a truly remarkable sight. Without any guidance the leader
will press onward through the mass, deftly avoiding collisions28

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

and entanglement. Changes of route, stoppages, etc., are
effected by such orders as u Whoa," " Gee," u Haw," which
the leader promptly and intelligently obeys.

TO CURE BALKY HORSES.

From the number of " infallible recipes 77 given in the papers
for curing balky horses we should judge a little light on the
subject is called for by horsemen. The various remedies which
different correspondents describe as having proved effective in
their own experience would form a curious collection, though
some of them betray a remarkable lack of real knowledge about
the matter. One genius has discovered that stuffing a horse's
mouth and nostrils with road dust is highly successful. Another
humane individual deeply deplores the barbarous practice of
whacking balky horses over the head and legs, and suggests
that there should be substituted a system of steady, but not
very severe, pounding in one spot with a " smooth club," until
"the pain grows intolerable and he starts nervously forward."
One hero, whose valor deserves to be chronicled for the admir
ation of future ages, thus modestly relates his experience with
u one of the perverse animals," as he calls his horse :

" The first work I did with him after he came into my pos
session was to draw a load of hay from the meadow. He started
a few rods and then stood still, and no amount of urging that I
could command would induce him to budge an inch. I took the
pitchfork and sat down on the fore end of the load and 'began
to prick him about the root of his tail, inserting the tines just
through the skin. He kicked, but the load of hay was a com-
plete protection. I kept on, moderately and persistently pricking
for about five minutes, when he started for the barn. He never
attempted to balk but once after, when the mere sight of the
pitchfork was sufficient to make him draw.77

In Cecil county, Maryland, a farmer resorted to a rather novel
expedient for getting some " go77 out of a balky horse. Having
loaded his wagon rather heavily with wheat, the horses were
either unable or refused to draw it. After trying for some time
to put them in motion, he set fire to a sheaf of wheat, and a]- Yc;
the flame to one of the horses. The horse, not relishing , >
application, by a well directed kick deposited the blazing shear
in the load of wheat. This becoming ignited, was entirely con-
sumed, together with the wagon. One of the horses, also, nar-
rowly escaped perishing in the conflagration.

Many of the cases of "balkiness77 are nothing but want of
power to perform the task assigned; a necessary pause from
temporary exhaustion. A driver who understands his businessBALKINESS AND HOW TO CURE IT.

29

will give his team a breathing spell occasionally while pulling a
heavy load. Another thing, if you find your team becoming
exhausted and about to give out, it is well to stop them of your
own accord; and it is well, too, to give them a few moments
rest before encountering a peculiarly difficult part of the route.

If you have balky horses, it is your own fault, and not the
horse's, for if they do not pull true there is some cause for it?
and if you will remove the cause the effect will cease. When
your horse balks he is excited and does not know what you
want him to do. For instance, a young horse that has never
been " set" in a gully with a load before, is whipped by his
owner or driver because he does not draw the load out The
animal is willing to do what he can, but he does not know how
to draw out the load. He tries and finds that it does not move,
not knowing that a steadier and stronger pull would do it, and
when the lash comes down upon him and he hears the yells of
his driver he is frightened, and jumps and rears through fear
rather than ugliness or balkiness. No better way could pos-
sibly be devised to make a horse balky than to beat him under
such circumstances. When he gets a little excited, stop him
five or ten minutes, let him become calm; go to the balky
horse, pat him and speak gently to him, and as soon as he is
over his excitement, he will, in nine cases out of ten, pull at the
word. Aftei you have gentled him a while, and his excitement
has cooled down, take him by the bits; turn him each way a
few minutes as far as you can; gentle him a little ; unrein him;
then step before the balky horse, and let the other start first;
then you can take them anywhere you wish. A balky horse is
always high spirited and starts quick ; half the pull is out before
the other starts; by standing before him the other starts first
By close application to this rule, you can make any balky horse
pull. If a horse has been badly spoiled you should hitch him
to the empty wagon, and pull it around a while on level ground;
then put on a little load and increase it gradually, caressing as
before, and in a short time you can have a good work horse.

You might as well attempt to make a horse move a three
story building and draw it off, as to get out of a slough with a
heavy load, when the animal has never been taught by degrees
to draw a load out of such places. It is true t^at it is bad
policy to unhitch a horse from a load under such circumstances,
but it is far worse to beat him an hour and then have to do it.
Our way of teaching colts is as follows : We put on light loads,
after they are well broken to a harness, and go into bad places
Where it requires hard pulling by degrees ; and the animal learns
how to draw the load out0 He reasons as a man does, thus:30

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

" I have been here before and got out, and I can do it again,"
and out he goes. We add to the load one or two hundred
pounds, and go through the same process, then wait a day or
two and try him again, taking care that we require nothing to
be done extra except with a lighter load. This is teaching a
horse to have confidence in himself, which is the basis of all
good draught horses.

A Scotch paper describes a curious case of horse manage-
ment, and though the same treatment has been equally successful
in other instances we are inclined to believe the true secret lies
partly in gentling the animal while the preparations are being
made. The fact related is curious and may be useful, so we
reproduce it:

" On Saturday last a groom, mounted on a high mettled
hunter, entered the High street of Coldstream, and, when oppo-
site Sir John Majoribank's monument, the horse began to plunge
and rear to a fearful extent, swerving to the right and then to
the left, but go forward he would not, nor could all the exer-
tions of the groom overcome his obstinacy. The street was
filled with people expecting to see the animal destroy himself
on the spikes of the iron railing around the monument, when
Mr. McDougal, saddler, walked up to the groom, and said : ' I
think, my man, you are not taking the proper method to make
the horse go; allow me to show you a trick worth knowing.'
1 Well/ says the groom, 'if you can make him go, it's more
than I can;' when Mr. McDougal took a piece of whipcord,
which he tied with a firm knot on the end of the animal's ear,
which he bent gently down, fastening the end of the string to
the check buckle of the bridle, which done, he patted the horse's
neck once or twice, and said, L Now, let me see you go quietly
home like a good horse,' and, astonishing to relate, it moved off
as gently as if nothing had happened. Mr. McDougal says he
has seen, in London, horses which no manner of force could
make go, while this mild treatment was always successful."

HOW TO PREVENT HARNESSED HORSES FROM RUNNING AWAY.

For the following useful suggestion we are indebted to Mr.
Kobert McClure:

" It has often occured to our mind, on account of the many
and destructive runaways of horses harnessed to sleighs, that
have taken place in this city and its neighborhood the present
winter, that some mode of training might be adopted for family
or carriage horses, which would entirely prevent or at least
mitigate the violence and excitement of horses that may take
fright. A good plan, based upon our knowledge and observa-RUNAWAY HORSES.

31

tion of the excitability and nervous temperament of horses
disposed to take fright, would be to harness them with strong
harness to an old but stout carriage a few times before the
sleighing season, and have them taken slowly out of the city to
a country road, not too hard for the horses7 feet, and drive them
at a full run or gallop for a few rods at a time. Repeating this
several times during the drive will so accustom the horses to
the excitement of a run in harness and the rattle of a carriage
behind them, that it will become familiar, and when occasions
arise, as they sometime will in all large cities, to start them to
run, they can be at once brought up and kept under complete
control. The training to an occasional run has familiarized
such horses with the excitement; but conversely, once let a
team not used to it in harness, get a start and run, the excite-
ment every moment becomes greater, takes the place of animal
instinct, and all control of them is lost—till brought up against
some obstacle, with a general smash of all surroundings, and
perhaps the loss of valuable and useful life. Whether the horse
be hurt or not, they are forever of no value for family purposes,
and the groom or coachman not unfrequently loses both situa-
tion and character as a driver. To familiarize your horse to an
occasional run in harness will do them no harm; and our word
for it, much good will be done, and safety insured."

HOW TO INSTANTLY STOP RUNAWAY HORSES.

When a Canadian family party, traveling in winter over ice
covered rivers and swamps, is so unlucky as to cross a place
where the horse sinks, they save him from drowning, and them-
selves from the danger of sharing the same fate, by pulling a
rope so arranged that it chokes him. The water being thus
prevented from entering his gullet or windpipe, he floats on the
surface, and it only requires a long and firm pull to bring him
to solid ground, when the rope being relaxed he quickly recovers
his wind and is ready once more to start on his journey.

Perhaps profiting by this example, a similar means has been
adopted with success for stopping runaway and subduing infuri-
ated horses whether in riding or driving. It consists of a rein
composed partly of thread-covered cat-gut, and partly of com-
mon leather, one end of which is attached to the bridle at the
top of the horse's head, while the other rests at the pummel of
the saddle, or on the coach box, as the case may be. Running
upon the cat-gut part by means of loops, is a short cross piece
of cat-gut which rests against the windpipe of the animal, ready
to be pulled up against it by taking hold of the nearer end of
the rein. A quick and firm pull, to stop the breathing of the22

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

animal, is all that is necessary to bring, him to an instantaneous
pause. He may be in a state of panic, running off with the bit
between his teeth in spite of every ordinary means of checking
him ; but no sooner does he feel the stricture on his breathing
than he is conscious of being outwitted and nonplussed and
becomes instantly as quiet as a lamb ; at the same time h<?
keeps quite firm upon his legs—the check not being by any
means calculated to bring him down. On the contrary, from
the position in which it places the horse, his shoulders being
brought up, and being pressed back upon his haunches, the
check is. indeed, calculated to keep him up.

CHAPTER III.

ENGLISH SYSTEM OF TRAINING HUNTERS.

OWING to difference in customs of the two nations, such
horses as the English hunters are not the most desirable
for use in this country, and the system of training adopted to
suit the animals to the requirements of English gentlemen, are
seldom called into requisition here. Still, as we desire our work
to be as complete as possible, and as the method of training is
interesting, though it may prove useful to but few of our readers,
we introduce it. We take this spirited description from "A
Holiday on Horseback," from the pen of an English writer
whose name is not given:

" A light built, gaylooking thoroughbred was passing into a
paddock for a lesson in jumping over a swivel bush hurdle.
Without spur or whip, the rider—the horsebreaker's son—rode
the mare steadily at the fence, and she went over without touch-
ing a top twig, clearing nine yards in the leap. 6 The great
thing, sir, is to bring them into workmanlike ways; not to be
fussy and flurried at their fence, so as to take off at the right
spot/ Then he went on to inform us that hunters should be
carefully handled at a very early age, if they are intended to
become temperate and handy. They may be ridden gently by
a light weight with good hands, at three years old, over small
fences. At four they ought to be shown hounds, but they
should only be allowed to follow them at a distance, after the
fences are broken down, for if you put them to large leaps at that
age they are apt to get alarmed and never make steady fencersTRAINING ENGLISH HUNTERS.

33

afterward. Above all things, avoid getting them into boggy
ditches, or riding them at brooks; but they should be practiced
at leaping small ditches, if possible, with water in tliem, the
rider facing them at a brisk gallop, for this gives a horse con-
fidence and courage. The old custom of teaching colts to leap,
standing, over a bar is now obsolete, and they are taught to
become timber jumpers simply by taking timber as it comes
across the country—the present rate of hounds gives no time
for standing leaps. The circular bar, however, is not a bad
thing if in a good place and well managed. Every description
of fence that your hunter is likely to meet with should be placed
within a prescribed circle on soft ground, the man who holds
him standing on a stage in the center. Another man, following
the colt with a whip, obliges him to clear his fences at a certain
pace, and in a very short time a good tempered colt will go at
his jumps with pleasure.

" Here let me observe—for the conversation had ended—that
no matter how carefully a hunter may have been trained, until
you taste and try him in the field, it is hard to say whether the
right stuff be in him. The best judges are often deceived by
outsides and school performances. A few general rules may,
however, be given, which will be found of certain application.
In a hilly country, for instance, nothing has a chance against a
pure thoroughbred. Lengthy horses always make the best
jumpers, if they have good hind quarters, good loins and good
courage. Extraordinary things have been done by such horses.
In 1829 Dick Christian jumped thirty-three feet on King of the
Valley; and Captain Lit tier's horse, Chandler, cleared thirty-
nine feet over a brook at Leamington. The most dangerous of
all horses in the field is a star gazer. A. hunter should carry
his head low, as by so doing he is less liable to fall, and gives
his rider a firmer seat. All wild horses lower their crests in
leaping. It is, however, the peculiar excellence of going well
through dirt which decides the real value of a horse for our
best hunting counties. To find out this quality he must be
ridden fair and straight If he flinch on soft ground he is of no
use. No matter how wide a horse may be, if he is not deep in
the girth he cannot carry weight, and is very seldom a good
winded horse, even under a light man. One of the best things
that can be said of a hunter is, that at first sight he appears two
Inches lower than he really is. Short legged horses leap better
and safer than long legged cattle, and go faster and farther
under hard riders. Horses with straight hind legs never can
have good mouths. He should have well placed hind legs with
wide hips, well spread gaskins, as much as possible of the vis a34

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

lergo, well knit joints, short cannon bone, oblique pasterns and
largish feet. The bone of a hunter's hock cannot be too long.
These are the points for strength and bottom.

"6 Handsome is as handsome does/ and an old whip once
said to a nobleman who remarked that his staunch old horse
who had carried him through so many troubles had an awkward
head: ' Never mind his ;ed, my lord; I ain't a going to ride
on his 'ed.' Indeed, what is called the perfect model horse is by
no means the best. A horse's constitution may be too good.
Horses of a very hard nature, and very closely ribbed up, are
large feeders, with great barrels, and do not make brilliant
hunters. They require so much work to keep them in place
and wind that their legs suffer, and often give way when their
constitution is in its prime. Horses with moderate carcasses
last much longer, and, provided they are good feeders, are usually
bright and lasting enough, if otherwise well shaped. Finally, a
hunter should be well seasoned. Few five year old horses are
fit to carry a gentleman across country; for they cannot be suffi-
ciently experienced to take a straight line. About fifteen hands
two inches is the best hight for a hunter. His action should
be smooth, or it cannot last. The movement of the fore legs
should be round, not high; the horse should be quick on his
legs as well as fast."

CHAPTER IV,

TRICKS OF PERFORMING HORSES, AND HOW THEY ARB
TAUGHT.

HORSES may be taught many amusing tricks, some of
which are really wonderful. For teaching horses tricks the
implaments known as the Rarey straps are requisite, to teach the
animal to lie dowetn, c. The piebald or spotted horses are
generally supposed by trainers to be more tractable as well as
to possess more talent than others.

THE SHORT AND LONG STRAPS.

A common breaching strap is used to strap up the foot. For
using, open the loop, keeping the buckle on the outside, put the
loop over foot, then raise foot and pass the strap around the
fore-arm from the inside, and buckle it tight; this holds the footAPPLICATION OF THE STRAPS.

THE SHORT AND THE LONG STRAPS.

THE SHORT STRAP IN USE.

TEACHING THE HORSE TO LIE DOWN.36

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

up firmly. The long strap is the one which buckles around the
foot. To a ring in this is buckled another strap seven or eight
feet long. This is attached to the right foot and passes under
the girth, or over the back. Its use is to raise the foot when
you wish to bring the horse upon his knees.

Bend his left fore leg and slip a loop over it, so that he can-
not get it down. Then put a surcingle around his body, and
fasten one end of the long strap around the other fore leg, just

above the hoof. Place the other end under the surcingle, so as
to keep the strap in the right direction; take a short hold of it
with your right hand ; stand on the left side of the horse, grasp
the bit in your left hand, pull steadily on the strap with your
right; bear against his shoulder till you cause him to move.
As soon as he lifts his weight, your pulling will raise the other
foot, and he will come on his knees. Keep the strap tight in
your hand, so that he cannot straighten his leg if he rises up.
Hold him in this position, and turn his head toward you ; bear
against his side with your shoulder, not hard, but with a steady,
equal pressure, and in about ten minutes he will lie down. As
soon as he lies down he will be completely conquered, and yon

THE APPLICATION OF BOTH STRAPS.LESSONS WITH THE STRAPS.

37

can handle him as you please. Take off the straps, and straighten
out his legs ; rub him lightly about the face and neck with your
hand the way the hair lies 5 handle all his legs, and after he has
lain ten or twenty minutes, let him get up again. After resting
him a short time, make him lie down as before. Repeat the
operation three or four times, which will be sufficient for one
lesson. Give him two lessons a day, and when you have given
him four lessons, he will lie down on your taking hold of one foot.
As soon as he is well broken to lie down in this way, tap him
on the opposite leg with a whip when you take hold of his foot,
and in a few days he will lie down from the mere motion of the
whip.

Use great gentleness during the operation. Compel the horse
to comply with your wishes, but do not frighten or excite him.

BRINGING TIIE IIORSE TO IIIS KNEES.

PREPARING TO LIE DOWN.38

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

THE HORSE LYING DOWN.

TO TEACH A HORSE TO SIT UP.

A common winding-up of the " grand entree " which usually
commences the performances at most circuses, is for the horses
of all the riders to lie down at the word of command, and at
another command, to sit up on their haunches. The lying down
part we have already explained $ the getting up is taught by
Jennings as follows:	^

" Lay the animal down as previously directed, having a collar
upon him; place a hobble or strap, with a ring in it, around
each hind foot; take a pair of ordinary driving lines, pass the
buckle end through the collar back to the ring in the hobble,
and buckle them; pull the feet up toward the shoulders, and
carry the lines back to the hind quarters, hold them firmly in
one hand, or give them to an assistant. Have a bridle with a
long rein upon the animal; take the rein in your hand, stand
upon the tail, and pull upon the bridle rein, keeping the lines
firm at the same time ; this brings him up in front, and prevents
his getting his hind feet back far enough to rise upon them,
they being drawn forward and securely held by the lines."

KICKING AT WORD OF COMMAND.

Jennings gives the following instructions for teaching horses
a very common trick performed at circus exhibitions:

" Care must be taken in teaching this trick, that you have a
horse not predisposed to vicious propensities, or you may make
a confirmed kicker; and then you will have the habit to break
up. A horse of a mild disposition may be taught to perform
thus without the risk of his becoming a kicker. I have taught
one of my ponies to kick when I. desire him to do so, and he
cannot be made to kick unless the whip is used lightly upon hisTRICK HORSES AND THEIR TRAINING.

39

hind parts. Having selected your animal, take a pin in your
right hand, prick the near hind leg with it and say, i Kick with the
left foot f the animal soon learns to obey. Then proceed with
the opposite leg in the same manner. After the horse will kick,
with either foot, by a motion of the hand without pricking him
you will stand off a short distance, with a long whip in your
hand j touch the near hind foot and say, 6 Kick with the left foot f
then proceed in the same manner with the right foot. By pro-
ceeding thus once a day the animal will soon learn to do his part
very nicely.77

TALKING HORSES.

If neatly managed one of the most " taking77 performances
of the u arena77 is the answering of questions by the horse.
Yankee Robinson has a very fine animal, who replies to his
masters interrogations with much seeming judiciousness.
Horses may be taught to shake and nod their heads as negative
or affirmative replies, in either of two ways. The first method
of training is this: Take your position at the horse's head
with a pin in your hand. Gently prick the animal7s breast.
The horse bobs his head, just as he would had a fly alighted on
the spot. Repeat the operation several times, each time cares-
sing him, and perhaps rewarding him with a bit of apple occa-
sionally. He will soon learn to nod his head on merely having
the hand pointed toward his breast, or he may be trained to do
the same by a motion of the foot. To teach the horse to shake
his head it is only necessary to prick him slightly anywhere
along the mane or over the withers. After a little teaching he
will do so on your raising your hand to your head, a motion
whose connection with the horse7s action will scarcely be sus-
pected by the audience!

The second method is by pricking his breast at the same
moment that you say " yes,77 or any other particular word ;
and by pricking his withers at the same time you say the wTord
" no.77 He will soon learn to make the desired motion on hear-
ing the word, even though no motion whatever is made. When
exhibiting, the questions should be asked first, and immediately
after the signal given to the horse. He, of course, knows
nothing of the question, but obeys a definite command, just as
he would if ordered to " back77 or " whoa.77

Madame Tournaire, who performed her horse by the first me-
thod, had a way of coquettishly toying with her whip, and would
give the horse the requisite signals by what the public imagined
to be a mere display of feminine grace.

Where the horse obeys a ivord, that word must be incorpor-40

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

ated into the question asked, in such a way as to attract his
attention. If used too near the commencement of the sentence
he will reply before the question is out of your mouth. It is
not necessary to use the exact word that he " works " by, pro-
vided it sounds to him like it; thus, Yankee Robinson says to
his horse during the performance, " I guess you're as handsome
a fellow as these ladies and gentlemen ever saw—don't you
guess so f7 The horse nods his head at the emphasized word,
" guess," supposing it to be his command " yes." The next
question, perhaps, is, " But others know the most ?" In this
case the horse, not being posted on Webster, and being guided
by the sound, gives his head a negative shake, considering u no "
and " know synonymous.

PERFORMING PONIES.

TEACHING HORSES TO JUMP.

Colts should not be trained in jumping until at least four
years old. Until this age the muscles and sinews are too
pliable, and there is danger of the animal being strained. It is
better never to urge a horse to attempt a leap which he cannot
readily accomplish, for severe injury might result from his
striking his feet, besides any failure to perform the leap will
discourage him.

The bar should at first be placed very low and only raised
very gradually. About knee high or less will do to commence
with. Commence the instructions by letting one man lead the
colt, while another man follows with a whip. The former
walks over the bar encouraging the colt with his voice to follow.
The man with the whip is only to prevent the horse backing,
the whip should never be applied unless the animal is positively
restive. With a little coaxing he will soon go over, and having
once done so, he will readily repeat it. A few pieces of apple
may be advantageously used to induce him to leap the bar, and
to reward him for doing so. By using the word " hip " or anyTEACHING HORSES TRICKS.

41

other as he jumps, he may be taught to make the leap on hear-
ing it. This is the common method for horses in the ring.

The first lesson should be confined to the standing or walking
leap, and if the horse is led half a dozen times over in the man-
ner described this will suffice for the first day. The next day
he may be trotted up to it, or more lessons may be devoted to
teaching him to leap at command. With each succeeding les-
son the bar may be raised until it is as high as the horse's
breast, but beyond this there is no necessity with common ani-
mals intended merely for private riding. Neither should the
horse be wearied and disgusted with too long lessons. When per-
fect in his lessons a boy may be placed upon his back to ride
him over. The boy must be a good rider, for should the horse
stop suddenly at the bar and throw his rider the maneuver will
be repeated. A sack containing a couple of bushels of com is
sometimes used instead of the boy, but the boy is better.

TO MAKE A HORSE STAND ERECT.

To make a horse stand upon his hind feet it is only necessary
to compel him to rear up, and then to keep him in that position
by gently striking him with the whip either under the fore-arm
or under the chin. At first it will be necessary to allow him to
resume his natural position after standing erect for a moment or
two, but in a little while he will learn to keep his balance for a
considerable time. Care should be taken not to excite or keep

STANDING ERECT.

him in the erect position too long at first. There is also some
danger of his falling over backward if too urgently pressed.
Ponies may be placed upon their hind feet by lifting them up
by the reins, taking hold under the chin close to the bit. By42

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

giving the command, " Erect up/' when teaching the animal to
take the required position, he may be taught to do so at this
command, or he will soon learn to stand up by merely being
tapped lightly under the chin. Now give him a few pieces of
apple, and by holding out pieces of apple or other " horse"
dainties, you may teach him to follow you walking erect.

" Pirouettingconsists merely in the horse turning around
while standing erect upon his hind feet. He may be taught to
do this very easily, either by coaxing him to turn by the use of
pieces of apple, or by gentle taps upon the cheek. He soon
learns to turn at a circular sweep of the whip or at the command
to " Pirouette." This action is the same as is made use of
when a horse is supposed to " waltz."

One of the most common tricks displayed in circuses, and one
which is usually hailed with applause, is what is termed the
" pedestal" trick. A stout platform is used, to which is attached
a wooden " drum " some two feet in hight, out of which pro-

jects a wooden rod or post at a slight angle. The horse first
steps upon the platform, then places one fore foot upon the
drum, and lastly places his other fore foot upon the point of the
projecting post. In this position a handsome animal forms a
really beautiful picture, and the effect is sometimes enhanced
by having a number of men raise the platform upon their

TO "PIROUETTE."

THE PEDESTAL.

PEDESTAL TRICK.TEACHING HORSES TRICKS.

43

shoulders, and bear the horse, high up above the heads of the
spectators, like some equestrian statue, around the ring.

To teach this trick some patience is necessary but the method
is quite simple. The horse is first led upon the platform several
times, being allowed to remain a moment or more each time.
He will soon understand when brought into the vicinity of the
platform that he is to take his position upon it. Now com-
pel him to raise his foot, and as he attempts to put it down
again, guide it with your hand to the required position upon the
drum. After a few times he will place it upon the drum of his
own accord on being made to raise it. Then in the same man-
ner make him raise the other foot and place it upon the post.
This is the most difficult part of the performance on account of
the post presenting only a slight foothold, and the horse having
only limited power to guide his foot to this position; it is also
quite difficult to make the hoof retain its hold even after the right
position is gained. After the horse thoroughly understands
what is wanted of him he will go through the performance with-
out prompting, for the sight of the platform suggests to him the
desired actions. The " carrying around" part is, of course,
strictly a ring performance which few persons would care to
undertake for private amusement, but if the horse is gentle and
has been taught to have entire confidence in his master, and to
obey him implicitly, there is little difficulty in this part of the
exhibition if done with care.

TO TEACH A HORSE TO KISS.

Give the horse a few pieces of apple from your hand, the»
place a piece between your teeth, letting it project so that the
horse can readily seize it. When he has become used to tak-
ing the apple in this way, say, " Kiss," or " Kiss me," to him
each time before putting the apple in your mouth, and he will
by and by put his mouth to your lips at this command. In
every case he should be rewarded by a piece of apple, for, to
him, " kiss me " means apple, and if he is deceived in getting
it he will not so readily obey.

TO MAKE A HORSE FETCH AND CARRY.

For this purpose a small basket or some light article which
he can easily seize with his mouth, should be used. Place the
handle in his mouth and shut his mouth upon it. Should he
drop it when you remove your hand, speak sharply to him, and
replace it in his mouth. When he retains it you are to let it
remain a few moments, then remove it, pat him, speak encour-
agingly to him, and reward him. In a short time offer it to44

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

him again saying, " Take it," and he will probably do so; if not
place it his month and repeat the course already described.
When he has learned to take the basket on its being offered,
let him follow you around with it in his mouth ; then let some
one else give it to him while you stand at a distance; now call
him toward you and reward him for bringing it to you. He
will thus learn in a short time to bring you any article given
him. After this, place the basket upon the ground, call his at-
tention to it, order him to u take it/7 and he probably will obey,
if not, place it in his mouth and repeat the instruction until he
will pick it up from the ground. Then a handkerchief or other
article may be substituted for the basket, which articles he will
soon understand are to be picked up also. He will soon learn
to pick up anything you may drop in his presence, or to seize
hold of any article that may be offered him, and this latter act
may be applied to many tricks, as hereafter described.

FINDING A HIDDEN HANDKERCHIEF.

Having taught the horse to pick up any article dropped in
his presence, take a handkerchief and cover it partially with
loose earth, leaving it sufficiently exposed for him to readily
seize it. Repeat the operation, each time covering the hand-
kerchief more and more completely until it is entirely concealed.
He will by this means be led to look for it even when it is en-
tirely covered up. An assistant may now hold his hands over
the horse's eyes while the handkerchief is being concealed.
Before an audience this adds to the credit of the performance,
but as the handkerchief is hidden in nearly the same place, the
horse knows where to look for it and will soon unearth it.
Even when hidden at the option of the spectator it is easy to
indicate to the horse where to look, by a signal, or his sense of
smell will lead him to the spot. Oil of rhodium is said by some to
be employed in this trick, to guide the animal to the hidden
article. This may be true in some cases but the horse can so
easily be taught to accomplish the thing desired without its use
that we doubt its being used to any considerable extent.

Another plan adopted for teaching this trick is the following :
Spread on the sawdust a white cloth containing a liberal supply
of oats, lead the animal around the ring and let him take some of
the oats. This is lesson first; its object being to fix in the
horse's mind a connection between the cloth and the oats. The
march around the circle being once or twice repeated, he stops
at the handkerchief as a matter of course. By dint of practice,
say in a couple of weeks, he will learn to stop as readily in a
trot or a gallop as in a walk. After a time the handkerchiefTEACHING HORSES TRICKS.

45

must be doubled over and tied in a knot; the animal shakes it
to get at the grain, but not succeeding, lifts it from the ground,
which is just the thing wanted. When the horse has done
this a few times, and finds that though he can shake nothing
out he will receive a handful of oats as a reward, he may be
trusted to perform in public.

TO SELECT A CHOSEN CARD.

In performing this trick in public one of the audience is
allowed to choose a card from the pack, and this card, with
several others is thrown on the ground. The horse is then
asked by his master to select the chosen card from among them,
and to give it to the person who chose it. This sounds like
quite a difficult feat, especially, as is usually the case, if he has
had his eyes blindfolded while the selection of the card was
being made.

Having taught the horse to find and pick up the handker-
chief it is very easy to substitute any other article in its place.
If a card should be substituted it would be picked up just as any-
thing else would be. The main difficulty is to teach the horse to
pick the one desired from among the others, and that one only.
To do this, spread half a dozen cards upon the ground at inter-
vals of about ten feet. Let the horse go to one end of this line
of cards. He will naturally stop at the first one he comes to,
and, if left to himself, will pick it up. Instead of allowing him
to do this, start him ahead with the voice using the term " Get
up,77 or any other which he has been taught means " go ahead."
Do this until he reaches the card which you desire him to pick
up, at this you must remain silent unless he is about to pass it
by like the former ones, in which case you say " Whoa/7 and
keep him standing before it until he picks it up. When he
does this, reward him and speak encouragingly to him, that he
may know he has done what you wished. If you make a prac-
tice of speaking to him when he stops at the wrong cards, and of
keeping silent when he reaches the right one he will soon come
to understand that " silence gives consent," and that that is the
proper card to select. The order in which the chosen card is
placed in the row should be varied so that the horse may not
learn to select the card by its position instead of obeying your
signal. This enables you to let your auditors place the cards
in any position or order their fancy may dictate without inter-
fering at all with the successful u working77 of the horse.

After he has learned to select the desired card without hesita-
tion, he must be so taught that he will hand it to the person
who may have selected it, when he comes to perfoi'm in public.46

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

To teach him this, have an assistant stationed at some distance
from you, and when the horse comes to you with the card,
instead of taking it from him as you have been accustomed to
do, turn his head in the direction of your assistant and start
him up. He will go to the assistant if the latter holds out his
hand, and, perhaps, whistles to him. Pretty soon the whistling
may be dispensed with, and he will carry the card in any direc-
tion indicated in search of some one to receive it. When he
comos to perform in the ring he will go around the edge looking
for somebody to whom he may relinquish the card. The pro-
per person will probably hold out his hand to take it, but a
hundred others will quite as certainly do the same thing. Now
if the horse selects the right person in spite of the other claim-
ants to lead him astray, a round of applause is pretty sure to
crown his success. To insure this he should be taught to re-
linquish the card at some particular signal given by the trainer.
A cough will answer, or any word which can be incorporated into
a sentence addressed to him, without being detected by the
audience. We have given sufficient instruction on this point
in preceding pages, we believe, to enable the trainer to use his
own discretion as to the manner of associatiug the signal with
the giving-up of the card, in the horse's mind.

TO FIRE OFF A PISTOL.

In performing this trick the pistol (unloaded) should be firmly
secured to a post or some other convenient support, as high as

FIRING OFF THE PISTOL.TEACHING HORSES TRICKS.

47

the horse can conveniently reach. To the trigger attach a
small wisp of hay by a string, so arranged that by pulling at
the hay the pistol will go off. Lead the horse up to this, that
the savory morsel may attract his attention. He will probably
pull at the hay, and in his efforts to get it, will pull the trigger.
Let him eat the hay, and repeat the operation several times,
patting and speaking kindly to him each time. Now attach a
piece of rag to the trigger instead of the hay ; show it to him
and induce him to take hold of it. Every time he pulls at it,
and makes the hammer click, reward him with a piece of apple.
When he has become used to pulling the rag when it is shown
him, the pistol may be capped. The explosion of the cap may
startle him somewhat at first; but gentle treatment and a little
encouragement will soon banish his fears, especially if the noise
of the explosion be only slight, which would be desirable.
When he will snap caps without hesitation a small charge of
powder may be tried. A heavy charge only makes a nuisance
of the trick, and should only be used when displaying before
an audience; even then the desirableness of such a proceed-
ing is very questionable.

TO TEACH A HORSE TO DANCE.

A horse may be taught to dance thus: Fasten the ani-
mal with two side-reins between the posts supporting the leap-
ing bar. Take a whip, and, as the music plays, gently touch
him with it, using the "jik, jik," of the groom as you go on.
The horse being tied to the posts can move neither backward nor
forward, but he will be induced to lift his legs and thereby gain
the rudimentary movement of his lesson. After a while the
teacher must mount on his back; the horse being fastened by
the side reins. Just when he is to raise his leg, a gentle pull
must be given to the rein at the proper side to help the move-
ment. In course of time the reins must be loosened, and the
horse, if tolerably ready, will soon learn to mark time, quick or
slow, in answer merely to a slight jerk of the bridle. The rider
must then dismount, and coming before the horse, teach him to
dance or keep time, with a wave of the hand, or by a pat on the
foot which he is wanted to lift.

It may be remarked here that, though the dancing horses at
the circuses appear to keep time with the music of the band, it
is really, in most cases, the band that accommodates its music
to the movements of the horse.

TO EAT AT TABLE.

An amusing scene often enacted in the ring is to have a horse48

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

seated 011 his haunches before a table, while the clown obsequi-
ously serves him. A bell is attached to the table, so arranged
that the horse can ring it by pulling at a bit of rag, and as the
horse is almost continually ringing the bell, and the clown makes

AN EQUESTRIAN EPICURE.

apparently frantic efforts to answer this summons each time,
while bringing in plates, etc., a vast amount of laughter is
usually created. The same instructions which we have given
in previous pages relative to sitting down, firing off the pistol,
etc., will apply to this trick. It is usual, when the table is
finally set, for the clown to seat himself opposite the horse and
pretend to share his meal. As the food commonly consists of
hay pies, with brown paper crusts, the actual eating, we pre-
sume, is generally confined to the horse, but the fun is much
increased by the clown taking a huge mouthful of hay, as
though intensely hungry, and the horse then snatching it from
his mouth, and devouring it himself. This latter feat is a
mere modification of the kissing trick, where he takes the piece
of apple from the trainer's mouth.

TO TURN A HAND ORGAN.

This feat may be easily accomplished by the application of the
plan already described, which we may term the " pistol princi-
ple." After the horse has learned to take hold readily of any-
thing offered to him, which knowledge he will have acquired if
he has already learned to perform the tricks heretofore men-
tioned, the only additional instruction necessary will be toTRICK HORSES AND THEIR TRAINING.

49

initiate him into the mysteries of turning the handle. When
he has taken hold of the handle, gently move his head so as to
produce the desired motion. If, when you let go of his head,
he ceases the motion, speak sharply to him and put his head
again in motion. With almost any horse a few lessons, and
judicious rewards when he does what is required, will accom-
plish the object, and he will soon both be able and willing to

THE HAND ORGAN PERFORMANCE.

grind out Old Dog Tray, or Norma, if not in exact time at least
with as much correctness as many performers on this instru-
ment. Some time since there was a horse connected with Fran-
coni's circus in Paris, whose education had progressed finely
until the organ was reached, as it was in due course of time j
this appeared to be the stumbling block m his progress.

It seems that the horse in question had already, under the
lessons of his master, developed an unusual degree of intelli-
gence, his eyes in particular becoming so full of expression that
one could hardly doubt that he understood very much of what
was said to him. His master had great hopes of him; he had
been in training only a year, and he had already learned to lie
down and get up as ordered, to enact the dead horse, to fire a
pistol, and to give whichever of his fore hoofs was asked for.
At length the professor began the task of teaching this promis-
ing pupil to turn a barrel organ; but either this particular
species of exercise was repugnant to his tastes, or the sound of
the organ was disagreeable to his ears. Certain it was that the50

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

animal, usually so docile, was resolute in his refusal to touch
the handle of the barrel organ., His preceptor labored at this
point for a month wiihout being able to vanquish the repug-
nance of the horse for (he object so constantly presented to his
attention. Coaxing, caresses, and the whip were employed in
turn, and equally without success. On these occasions the
horse's eyes expressed as clearly as though he had spoken it
m so many words the absolute determination not to touch the
handle of the organ. The trainer, though naturally of a violent
temper, was always patient and gentle with his equine pupil.
Whenever he felt that the obstinacy of the horse was on the
point of getting the better of his apparent calmness, he would
leave the stable to give vent to his irritation out of the sight or
hearing of the animal. To those who prophesied that the horse
would never turn the handle of the organ, he replied, " He
shall turn or die." At length, perceiving that he made no pro-
gress in the work of vanquishing the animal's obstinacy, he
caused the windows of the stable to be stuffed with hay and
then boarded over, so that not a ray of light was visible, and a
couple of men, hired for the purpose, beat a drum incessantly
beside the animal's stall, relieving one another at stated inter-
vals. The struggle was continued for four days and nights,
during which the professor returned to the charge once every
hour, presenting the handle of the organ to his refractory pupil,
renewing his command to the latter to take hold of it.

The neighborhood was beginning to threaten the trainer with
a summons before the police court, to answer to the charge of
disturbing its slumbers with the perpetual beating of the hor-
rible drum, which the unfortunate horse, comprehending at last
that there was no other chance of deliverance left to him, sud-
denly seized the handle of the organ with his teeth and turned
with all the little strength that was left to him. Daylight was
at once restored to the stable, the drummers were dismissed,
all possible caresses and the finest oats were lavished on the
now docile scholar, who r^vf-r forgot the terrible lesson of his
four days struggle, but, whatever may have been the sentiments
with which he regarded the operation, never failed vigorously
to turn the handle of the barrel organ whenever the word of
command was given.

TO FEIGN LAMENESS.

To teach a horse this trick requires a greater decree of labe?
and perseverance than is necessary to instj'uct him in almost
any other. Bo wearisome is the task, and so long is the time
required in its accomplishment, that in ordinary cases it is notA CLEVER TRICK OF A CLEYER P0NEY.

51

worth attempting. We propose, however, in this little work
to tell all that there is to be told about our subject, even though
most of our readers should find many things impracticable in
their own cases; and it is well worth while to explain all these
matters though it be only to gratify the curiosity wlrt;h is very
naturally feit. An uninitiated person would probably be entirely
at a loss how to set about accomplishing this feat, and it is
doubtful whether he would succeed in discovering the secret of
it without assistance. The mystery is not such a very great
matter after all, and may be disclosed in a few words.

If you observe a really lame horse—if you haven't any in your
neighborhood just visit New York and you will find some beau-
tiful specimens of the article—you will perceive that there is a
constant jerking or bobbing of his head, caused by his lowering
it as he treads upon the lame foot and raising it as he raises the
foot again. Now the appearance of lameness is caused just as
much by the motion of the head as anything else, and a really
sound horse, if he bobbed his head as he lowered and raised
a particular foot, would appear lame : in fact he would actually
go lame with this foot because the motion of his head would
compel him to tread more lightly on that than he did on the
others, exactly as in the case of the bona fide lameness. This
is the secret, and the trainer's efforts are directed to producing
this motion of the head. To make a horse bob his head is a
trifling matter, but to make him do so every time he treads on
one particular foot, and to do so at the right moment, without
hesitation or mistake, requires many weary lessons, and a stock
of patience equal to that popularly supposed to have been pos-
sessed by the ancient Job.

Commence by taking the horse by the bridle, close to his
mouth, and walking him very slowly. Watch the foot with which
you desire him to go lame, and each .time that it comes that
foot's turn to step, press the horse's head gently upward as he
raises his foot, and downward as he again places it on the
ground. Let your motions be simultaneous with the movement
of the foot, proceeding so slowly that there is no danger of
becoming confused. By-and-by you may release your hold of
the bridle and make the motion with your hand, which he will
soon obey. You may then accompany the motion by any sound
or word of command, and he will learn finally to make the mo-
tion on hearing this sound.

A correspondent of an English journal lately described a
pony in his possession who in some way had picked up a
knowledge of this trick and applied it very acutely to his own
advantage. The gentleman thus describes the proceedings of52

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

the animal: " Whenever the pony had been turned out to
graze and was afterward brought up to be hitched into the car-
riage, it invariably turned lame after going a few yards—so lame
in fact that I frequently turned back, being ashamed to drive
an animal in such apparent pain; I say apparent, because no
sooner had the pony been relieved of its harness than it used to
canter around. The same pony when brought from the stable
Would go perfectly well as long as it wished, but when I drove
it in any direction contrary to its inclination it became lame
immediately; as soon as its head was turned homeward the
lameness entirely disappeared."

TO TEACH A HORSE TO WALK OYER YOU.

This trick is sometimes exhibited by persons desirous of dis-
playing either their own courage or the docility of their horses.
There is a natural aversion felt by horses, and indeed by most
animals, to treading on a living object. Few horses will, of
their own accord, unless they are under excitement, trample
upon a child who may chance to be in the way. Many instances
are related of horses lifting infants from their pathway and
gently putting them down on one side, where they were out oi
danger. It is therefore pretty safe to allow your horse to step
over you, while you lie upon the ground. To insure against,
accidents, however, a little preliminary training is advisable.
First, let an assistant lead the horse over your legs while yon
are seated upon the ground with those members extended.
Then, after a few repetitions, lie down at full length and let the
assistant lead the horse over you in various directions. Very
soon the horse may be entrusted to walk over you, merely
guided by the snapping of your fingers in the direction you
desire him to go.

ORDINARY CIRCUS HORSES.

The common horses ridden by circus performers require some
training before they are available in the " circle," though it is
slight compared with the instructions of the "trick" horses.
The main thing is to break them to trot evenly and steadily
around the ring. They may be taught this in an open field by
attaching a line to the nose piece of the halter, which line the
trainer holds in his left hand while in his right he has a long
whip. Starting the horse, the trainer turns slowly as the horse
goes around; the line keeps the horse from going away from
the trainer in any direction and so forces him to go in a circle;
the whip is used to keep him at the proper distance from the
man, and so preserve always the same sized circle. The whipHORSES ON THE STAGE.

53

should be held on a level with the horse?s shoulder and should
be moved so as to accompany him around. Subsequently the

line may be removed and the horse will still follow the circle
pointed out by the whip, and increase or abate his speed to
correspond with its movements. The horse is then ready for
the rehearsals of the rider, and soon learns to preserve his pace
unbroken, regard less of the movements of the man upon his back.

THEATRICAL HORSES AND THE HORSE DRAMA.

THE exact date at which horses were introduced upon the
stage we are unable to state. It is the custom with many
writers to trace everything back to the ancient Greeks or Ro-
mans and build up their subject from this classic foundation;
perhaps we might be able to do likewise were we to try, but
we prefer to be excused. Certain it is that for many years such
dramas as Mazeppa, Heme the Hunter, Putnam, and others of a
certain kind have maintained a steady popularity. At first the
characters of the heroes in these pieces were performed by
males, and their popularity depended upon the beauty and spirit
of the horse, the daring of the rider, and the general excellence
of the drama—combats, processions, and startling effects being

BREAKING HORSE FOR THE " CIRCLE."

CHAPTER V.54

THE AKT OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

always taking ingredients. By-and-by, however, an adventurous
rider of the other sex entered the lists in competition with the
gentlemen. Her success inspired others to follow her example,
until a dozen or more actresses were found performing the
various roles of the u horse drama."

In all these pieces the principal attraction, next to the lady
rider, is the performance of the horse, which, with very little
variation, is generally the same in all. At the back of the
stage, crossing and re crossing it, and rising higher and higher
at quite a steep inclination, is a plank gangway, some two or
three feet wide. This is technically termed the " run," and is
supported by stout scaffolding, which is hidden by the scen-
ery. At each turn, which is concealed by the " wings," is
a sort of platform to enable the horse to turn and to get a fair
position for making the next rush across. The scenery is
usually painted to represent mountains, and the canvas which
conceals the run is painted to resemble rocks. Ravines and
other results of the skillful scene painter's talents often add to
the seeming danger of the pass. Usually a series of different
plays are produced during the engagement of the horse and
rider, and the same run serves to represent the mountains of
Tartary in Mazeppa, the Yankee hills in Putnam, or the natural
elevations of any other portion of the world in which the scenes
of any particular play may chance to be located. At the pro-
per moment the horse dashes over precipices, rushing torrents,
or fearful mountain gorges, (all canvas of course), with his
rider astride his back, or strapped upon the " untamed steed/'
as the stage business may require. To enable the horse to
climb or descend the run without slipping, small pieces of
sharpened steel are screwed into his shoes previous to his com-
ing upon the stage. When it is a man who is strapped upon
the horse he is usually merely secured by the waist, he holding
the girth firmly with his hands. When a woman performs the
part it is customary to secure her ankles as well, mainly for the
purpose of keeping her on top of the horse should he by any
accident fall. In playing Mazeppa the rider is utterly helpless,
and without this precaution serious and even fatal injuries
might be received. The gentlemen consider their muscle suffi-
cient to enable them to dispense with this care. Bome years
ago a popular equestrian actress while performing in a western
city met with a fearful accident from having one of her feet
free in order that she might tickle the horse with her spur, to
make him prance and curvette before the audience. On leaving
the stage the horse stumbled over some stray scenery or other
obstacle, and fell. Had the rider been lashed according to cus-EQUESTRIAN DRAMAS.

55

torn on top of the horse the only danger would have been the
risk of striking against some projection, for the horse could
not fall upon his back. As it was, her leg slipped under the
horse as he fell, and his weight coming suddenly upon it, the
thigh was broken. It is said that as she was conveyed to the
boat the horse followed with every appearance of sorrow,
whinnying softly, as though striving to express his sympathy.
Many months after the accident, when the rider mounted him
for practice previous to resuming her profession, an eye-witness
related that it was really wonderful to see how gentle were all
the horse's movements, and how, of his own accord, he would
check himself whenever his motion extorted the slightest cry of
pain, almost suppressed though it was, from his rider.

In these plays very little training is required by the horse.
After the ordinary breaking he is frequently exercised in going
over the run. Owing to the restricted space it is very difficult
for the horse to display any degree of speed, and as this is the
main thing to be accomplished, he is therefore taught to start
instantly at a rate which an ordinary horse could not by any
means attain within the prescribed limits. We have seen Ma-
zeppa played where the stage was so small that while the horse's
tail was against the wall of the theater his nose was barely
prevented protruding beyond the scenes, previous to his starting
to rush before the audience, from an imaginary journey of some
score of miles. When he did come before the public it was dif-
ficult for them to see the whole of him at one time even with
the scenes run back as far as possible. How the poor animal
managed to travel over the diminutive run which was provided
we cannot imagine, and yet the sight from the body of the
theater was quite respectable.

After ascending the run the horse and rider must remain high
up in the lofty region of the " floatsuntil a change of scene
permits them to descend unobserved, or the play requires their
descent in public. A perilous, and consequently attractive,
feat has been introduced into this play by one or two unusually
reckless and daring riders, consisting of an extension of the run
around the gallery of the theatre. Over this narrow road above
the heads of the spectators, some hundred feet or more from the
ground, amid the glare or the lights, the banging of the orches-
tra, and the thunders of the multitude, dashes the horse, bearing
in triumph " the sensation rider of the world." A single mis-
step, the displacement of a single plank in that frail support,
and horse and rider would lie a mangled mass below. And this
is the very reason the house is jammed with eager throngs—not
that they wish the rider to meet the horrible death thus56

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

courted night after night, but it is certainly this possibility
which renders the performance so attractive. Playing Mazeppa
is not always the hight of felicity.

There is a story told of a horse who probably never had the
honor of figuring on either posters or play bills, which we think
may be appropriately recorded here. A traveler on a dark
night presented himself at the door of a country inn, and
demanded lodging. The landlord, after some general remarks,
suddenly turned pale and asked his guest by what road he had
come. Upon being informed he almost fainted with terror. On
examination in the morning it was found that the horse ridden by
the traveler had walked with safety the string piece of a long
bridge, and maintained his footing on the single extended tim-
ber, scarcely a foot wide. The planks of the bridge had been
torn up for repairs the day previous; a misstep of the sure
footed animal would have precipitated himself and rider into a
chasm a hundred feet below.

In Mazeppa and similar plays the horse is " worked '7 by his
trainer or master who comes on the stage attired as one of the
retinue or attendants. In other pieces the rider himself manages
the horse. These horses are seldom used for any other purpose,
as ordinary riding or driving would make their mouths hard
and render them less easily controlled upon the stage. In the
summer their shoes are taken off and they are allowed a holiday
in the country pastures. Mr. Collins, an actor of considerable
celebrity who played successfully all the range of equestrian
characters, and who trained several of the most popular " star 99
horses, had a magnificent stallion of large .size which was pro-
bably the handsomest horse in the profession. He was a trifle
too large to display his speed to the best advantage in the thea-
ter, but on the road, where Mr. C. occasionally displayed his
points, there were few animals who could contest the palm with
him for speed. He was a fiery fellow, and if annoyed would bite
liis tormentor fiercely, and few cared to excite his anger. This
was made a " point" of on the stage, Mr. 0. plaguing him a
little unnoticed by the public, and the spirit the horse displayed
always "took" with the audience. Mr. C., however, found it
necessary to keep out of reach of the animal's teeth, or even his
influence over the horse might not have preserved him from an
uncomfortable nip.

Years ago when horse dramas re'gned in the Broadway thea-
ters, as well as in the less aristc era-tie locality of the Bowery,
an enterprising manager determined to bring out Heme the
Hunter, " in the highest style of the art." A number of horses,
circus men and innumerable supernumeraries were engaged , andEQUESTRIAN DRAMAS.

57

the piece produced under the most Jiorse-piece-cious circum-
stances. The eventful night arrived, the house was crammed.
The play progressed, people came on and off the stage, talked,
raced, shouted, went through traps, climbed canvas rocks, and
indulged in all the customary motions of a grand " spectacle."
There has always been a natural feud between actors and circus
folks. The ring people despise those who can only u cackle,"
(flash term for talk), while the stage fellows say that folks who
travel on their shape, and have no brains to back them up, are
contemptible. In those days there was even less good feeling
between the two professions than at present. The supes aspir-
ing to the dignity of " the stage " were more intense in their
antipathy to the riders than were the actors themselves, and
being always ready for a lark, some of them procured a lot of a
peculiar kind of tinder which is readily lighted and could be
surreptitiously blown into a horse's nostrils without the culprit
being detected. Suddenly in the midst of the performance
the horses became restive, and in a moment became unman-
ageable. Some reared and kicked, some broke through the
stage, while others, trampling the fooi lights under foot,
plunged into the orchestra. All was confusion. An actor
advances to the foot lights and assures the audience that they
need feel no alarm—nothing of importance is amiss—it is " all
right." At this very moment two horses are murdering their
riders in the orchestra. One of the men, literally impaled upon
the spikes around the railing, presents a sickening, horrifying,
spectacle as he writhes in his death agony. Of course the play
was not concluded j the audience departed shocked at the awful
sight they had witnessed, and the supes, who had intended no
farther harm than a little amusement at the expense of the
circus men, now bitterly repented their thoughtless folly.
They did what they could to atone for trick by making up a
purse for the benefit of the families of the principal victims of
the unfortunate affair, but the horse drama had received its death
blow on Broadway.58

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTER VI.

BREAKING AND TRAINING MULES—PERFORMING AND "COMIC*

MULES.

MULES appear fated to labor under an unfavorable and
unenviable reputation. Not only has that rather objec-
tionable quality of stubbornness been supposed to exist in their
disposition to such an undue degree as to give rise to the saying,
" as stubborn as a mule," but this general reputation for intelli-
gence is by no means first rate. That the mule is by nature
inclined to be rather stubborn is undoubtedly true, but it is
very questionable whether the wonderful displays of this quality
sometimes met with, are not actually as much due to the very
measures adopted to overcome the fault as to the natural dispo-
sition of the animal. With proper treatment and a little judi-
cious training the objectionable features in a mule's disposition
might be easily remedied.

A LAZY CHRE FOR LAZINESS.HOW TO BREAK MULES.

59

There is a clever invention attributed to a certain lazy Hindoo,
for overcoming the proverbial laziness of the mule. It appears
that the man was employed to oversee a mule working one of
those primitive mills in use to this day in India. The man
peems to have been slightly inclined toward laziness himself,
and was anxious to contrive some plan which would enable him
to keep the mule in motion and monopolize all the indolence
himself. This he at last accomplished with the aid of a clever
device, shown in the accompanying illustration, which explains
itself. We give it as a curiosity in the "art of training ani-
mals," without vouching for its strict fidelity to the truth.

The following instructions are given by Mr. Riley, an experi-
enced authority, for breaking mules :

" In breaking the mule, most persons are apt to get out of
patience with him. I have got out of patience with him myself.
But patience is the great essential in breaking ; and in the use
of it you will find that you get along much better. The mule
is an unnatural animal, and hence more timid of man than the
horse; and yet he is tractable and capable of being taught to
understand what you want him to do. And when he under-
stands what you want, and has gained your confidence, you
will, if you treat him kindly, have little trouble in making him
perform his duty.

" In commencing to break the mule, take hold of him gently,
talk to him kindly. Don't spring at him, as if he were a tiger
you were in dread of. Don't yell at him ; don't jerk him ; don't
strike him with a club, as is often done 5 don't get excited at
his jumping and kicking. Approach and handle him the same
as you would an animal already broken, and through kindness
you will, in less than a week, have your mule more tractable,
better broken, and kinder than you would in a month, had you
used the whip. Mules, with very few exceptions, are born
kickers. Breed them as carefully as you will, the moment they
are able to stand up, and you put your hand on them, they will
kick. It is, indeed, their natural means of defense, and they
resort to it through the force of instinct. In commencing to
break them, then, kicking is the first thing to guard against and
overcome. The young mule kicks because he is afraid of a man.
He has seen those entrusted with their care beat and abuse the
older ones, and he very naturally fears the same treatment as
soon as a man approaches him. Most persons entrusted with
the care of these young and green mules have not had experi-
ence enough with them to know that this defect of kicking is
soonest remedied by kind treatment. Careful study of the
animal's nature, and long experience with the animal have60

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

taught me that, in breaking the mule, whipping and harsh
treatment almost invariably make him a worse kicker. They
certainly make him more timid and afraid of you. And just
as long as you fight a mule and keep him afraid of you, just
so long will you be in danger of his kicking you. You must
convince him through kindness that you are not going to hurt or
punish him. And the sooner you do this, the sooner you are
out of danger from his feet.77

Chief among circus attractions, especially in the eyes of the
boys, are the trick or u comic77 mules. A couple of these
animals are attached to nearly every troupe, and quite a variety
of tricks are performed by them. The performance usually the
most eagerly looked forward to, is that reserved for the final
part of the exhibition. The regular performances being con-
cluded, one of the mules is retained in the ring and the ring-
master invites some boy present among the audience to come
forward and take a ride—if he can. There are generally plenty
of eager respondents to this invitation, one of whom is per-
mitted to enter the ring. The ring-master leads the mule up
to the boy as though to assist him in mounting. If the boy is
u green77 he will probably be somewhat astonished, as soon as
the mule is brought near him, at having the pit of his stomach
made a target for the reception of the said mule7s heels. If he

has already seen a similar performance he will have antici-
pated this little episode, which can always be calculated upon
without fear of disappointment. After many struggles the boy
perhaps succeeds in mounting the mule and then an amusing
contest ensues between them—the boy7s efforts being directed

PERFORMING MULES.

A "COMIC" MULE.PERFORMING MULES.

to maintain his hold, and the mule's to dislodge him. Run-
ning at full speed, the animal tries to throw his rider by stopping
suddenly, and if successful in this attempt, the boy is either
thrown head first among his companions, or, if he lands in the
ring, is chased out by the mule.

It is rarely that any one succeeds in maintaining his hold for
more than a few minutes, unless he is a capital rider, in which
case he may be able to master the animal • should this result
be at all likely, the ring-master will, on some pretext, interfere
and select some less expert rider from the audience. Finally
an attache of the circus, disguised as a countryman, volunteers
to ride the mule, and after considerable caricature riding, and
ridiculous posturing, he concludes the performance.

Sometimes to enhance the interest in the affair a reward of
five dollars is offered to any one who will ride the mule three

times around the ring. This was usually done by Dan-,

a prominent circus manager. We were present on one occasion
when a big burly " rough " entered the ring at Dan's general
invitation, to compete for the prize. The mule was particularly
spunky but he was finally forced to succumb, and notwith-
standing all Dan's attempts to balk the rider, the mule was
ridden the requisite number of times around the ring. Least
any of our readers should be led to cherish the delusion that they
might thus earn a reward for displaying their mule breaking
abilities, we may mention that, in this case at least, the rider
did not receive the money. The showman assured him that
the offer was only in fun and declined to hand over the amount.
The rough thereupon " pitched in " and administered a thrash-
ing to the showman before he could be prevented. A general
fight was only averted by the exertions of the police. We
believe Dan, while he remained in that locality, did not repeat
his offer.

Very little special instruction is required for "comic mules."
The kicking part of the performance may be taught according
to the instructions given for teaching horses the same act. The
mule is allowed with strangers to give full vent to all the natu-
ral vieiousness of his nature, and is encouraged therein. To-
ward his trainer, and those connected with the establishment,
such conduct is not allowed. He soon learns from experience
that the worst conduct toward boys in the ring is meritorious,
and being annoyed by their persistent efforts to ride him, he
resorts to every possible device, without requiring any instruc-
tion, to get rid of his tormentors.

Another humorous scene sometimes enacted by the mules is
a prize fight, the principals being rigged up in costume and62*

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

furnished with boxing gloves, while two small donkeys are made
to seat themselves and hold sponges, as though personating the

AN ASININE PRIZE IIGIIT.

seconds. Sometimes this latter character is assumed by the
clown and ring-master, though it makes little difference. The
actions of the mules have a very slight resemblence to a combat
and the costumes make them look funny and satisfy the audi-
ence. The training required is merely to make them stand
erect.

Mules, though possessing less intelligence than horses, may
be taught many of the tricks which the latter perform, and the
same instructions will suffice for training them.

The sure-footedness of mules has enabled trainers to teach
them, in several cases, a very effective and showy trick—that
of walking over a number of empty bottles placed upright on a
floor or platform. This feat is always highly successful wherever
performed, and it is really an excellent one. The bottles used
are large, stout porter bottles, which will readily sustain a great
weight if placed directly on top. To teach the trick the bottles
are at first secured in a platform composed of a double thickness
of planks, in the upper one of which holes are cut. In these
holes the bottles are placed; the bottoms resting on the lower
layer of planks, while the upper one holds them securely in
place.

Before teaching this trick the animal is usually taught the
ordinary pedestal trick, as explained in a preceding chapter, as
a preparatory lesson. He will then more readily acquire the
bottle feat. He is first made to place one fore foot on top of a
bottle's neck, then, the other fore foot on another. Then the
first foot is tapped with the whip to make him raise it and
advance it to the succeeding bottle; as he does this his hind
food is struck gently to force him to place it on the vacated63

PERFORMING MULES

bottle. Six or eight bottles are sufficient to commence with,
additions being made as the animal becomes proficient. When
the trick is learned it is unnecessary to secure the bottles in any

THE PORTER BOTTLE FEAT.

way; if the mule places his foot squarely on the top, as he
should be made to do, there is no danger of either breaking or
upsetting them.

There is a trick related of a couple of English costermongers,
or perambulating vegetable dealers, which is amusing if not of~--
practica! value. These two worthies were in the habit of pas-
sing their donkey through a Devonshire toll gate, on their
return trip, free of charge, by making him walk through on his
hind legs, arm in arm with them, and taking advantage of the
twilight to represent him as a friend slightly under the influence
of liquor!

At the south, where mules are almost universally used for
many purposes for which horses are used at the north, the
negroes are in the habit of directing their movements in many
cases entirely by the voice. The animals of that section being
as a rule more gently treated, are of a better disposition than
their northern brethren. The course of training practiced by
their sable masters is by no means systematic, but the ani-
mals manage by some means to learn to understand and obey
the far from lucid commands. We have often been surprised
to see how readily the mules would detect the meaning of
what, to our ears, was entirely unintelligible. Probably prac-
tice had taught them what was required just as the mules which
convey travelers through the wild mountain passes of Spain are64

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

reported to stop immediately upon hearing the hail of any of
the banditti who infest those regions—habitual experience of
the customs of those gentry having taught them to come to
a stand still.

There is an amusing, though, possibly, not strictly authentic,
story told in connection with the performance of the pantomime
of Humpty Dumpty, some years ago, in this city. In this
spectacle a small mule was made to appear quite comically by
the dexterity of his heels. During the season the regular ani-
mal fell ill, and an amateur was substituted. When one of the
characters touched the new mule to make him kick, he began
in admirable style. He kicked off the fellow and kicked him
twice before he touched the boards. Then he ran toward
several of the other dramatis persons, and kicked them. Every
movable object on the stage, animate or inanimate, he kicked off.
Next he began on the scenery. He kicked down a whole for-
est, three good sized cottages, a picturesque cascade, a granite
prison, a robber's cave, a royal palace, the Rialto and Vesuvius
in eruption, and was about to attack the grand transformation
scene from Midsummer Night's Dream, when a rope was thrown
around his neck, and he was dragged off by the whole strength
of the company, assisted by all the able bodied supernumeraries.
The audience, many of whom supposed the obstreperous mule
part of the performance, were delighted at his energy, and
demanded with deafening plaudits, a repetition of the scene.
The uproar was so great that the manager came out and said
that an intermission of fifteen minutes would be given to enable
some of the actors to recover the breath that the active mule
had kicked out of them, and pledged his honor that the brute
should never make another appearance on the Olympic stage.
At this the audience roared louder than ever, and for nearly
half an hour the performance was suspended by the universal
guffaw. Every night afterward while the piece ran, the kicking
mule was called for, and the manager of the theater it is said,
in consequence, had to insert an advertisement in the daily
papers, stating that the animal was mysteriously knocked in
the head the same night of his highly successful debut.TRAINING FARM ANIMALS.

65

CHAPTER VII.

SOME HINTS FOR FARMERS—MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OS
ANIMALS ON THE FARM—SOME EVILS AND HOW TO
REMEDY THEM—GOOD TRAINING YS. BAD.

FARMERS would find it of great advantage to pay more
attention to the education of their domestic animals. Many
things may be taught them without any appreciable trouble,
which will prove not only convenient, but profitable in the sav-
ing of time and labor that may be effected. For instance, any
animal on the farm may be taught to come on being called,
instead of requiring to be hunted for and chased home whenever
wanted. All that is necessary is to give him some dainty as a
reward, each time, and the thing will be accomplished almost
before you are aware of it. By giving each animal a particular
name and calling him by that, you teach each individual to
come to you when wanted, and if you reward only the one you
call, the others will soon learn to come only when desired. This
custom is observed with the sheep in Greece; the shepherd has
only to call any one he wants, and the animal will instantly
leave its pasturage and its companions and run to the hand of
the shepherd, with every token of pleasure. Those which have
not learned their name are called u wild," while the others are
termed "tame"

Animals cannot associate with man without learning some-
thing. Many of those habits and tricks which farmers deplore
in their stock, are due to the unintentional training that has
been given the animals. If your stock run from you, appear to
dread your presence and can never be made to stand quietly,
perhaps this state of things may be accounted for if you reply
candidly to the question whether they have not been accustomed
to tormenting or annoyance, and so taught to be wild. No
wonder there is complaint of cows being unquiet, when the
habit is so general of pelting them with stones, or punching
them with sticks, while driving home to milk.

How often instead of attempting to teach the animals proper
behavior do we see an apparently contrary course adopted ?
The " American Stock Journal" has some sensible remarks on
this subject:

"We find many persons, when turning stock into or out of
pasture, instead of letting down all the bars, leaving two or
three of the lower rails in their place; and then, by shouting or
beating, perhaps, force the animals to leap over. This is capi-66

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

tal training, the results of which are seen in the after disposition
of animals to try their powers of jumping where a top rail hap-
pens to be off, and this accomplished, to set all fences at defiance,
and make a descent upon the corn or grain field, as their incli-
nation, ability or hunger may prompt them. Another good
lesson is to open a gate but a little way, and then, as in the case
of the bars, force the cattle forward, and by threats and blows
compel them to pass through it. The result of this teaching is
shown in the determined spirit manifested by some cattle to
make a forcible entry into the stable, yards, fields, or in fact, to
almost every place where a gate or door may, by accident, be
left slightly open. A western farmer says he makes it a rule
whenever cattle are made to pass a fence, whether through
bars or i slipgap,7 to leave one rail for them to pass under.
This gives them a downward tendency, and lessens their inclina-
tion to jump or look upward, as they are sure to do when a
lazy attendant throws down a part of the rails, and makes them
vault the rest. Cattle may be taught to go over any fence by
the careful training they often get for this end, performed as
follows: First, starve them or give them poor feed, which will
make them light and restless. As soon as they go over the
lowest part of the fence after better provender, make them jump
back again, and put on one more rail, saying, i I guess that will
keep them out.' Next day, (of course they will be in mischief
again) repeat the process, adding another rail; in a short time
they will take care of themselves, and harvest the crops without
charge."

That gentleness and good treatment will subdue even natur-
ally unamiable dispositions in animals, is shown by the example
of the bulls intended for the bull fights at Havre during the
marine exhibition in 1868. The bulls, selected for their ferocity
on the plains of the Guadalquiver, were so kindly treated by the
railway servants during their journey across Spain and France,
that, on arriving at their destination, they had become perfectly
tame and could not be induced to fight. The sight-seers were
obliged to solace themselves with a regatta in lieu of their
anticipated combat.

It may be interesting here to refer briefly to the proper
management of bulls. There has been some discussion as to
whether or not it is advisable to use bulls for purposes of
draught. The avocatesof the plan consider that a bull should
do some labor and that exercise would be beneficial. The
opponents say that the main object of keeping balls is to breed,
and that exhaustive labor would impair the vigor of the descend-
ants. Though the latter is probably the true case bulls shouldTRAINING FARM ANIMALS.

67

be exercised in the open air if it is desired to keep them in health
and vigor. They should always have a ring inserted through
the nose that they may be held in control, but they should
never be tied up by anything attached to this ring. Always
use a rope tied around the horns; a sudden jerk is very apt to
tear the ring from the nose. Never fool with bulls, and beware
of trusting yourself in their power. They are subject to sud-
den fits of fierceness, when any defenceless person is liable to be
horribly destroyed.

One of the most important duties 011 the farm is the breaking
of steers. It is best to begin with them as calves, and let the
boys play with them, and drive them tied or yoked together,
taking care they are not abused. When a pair of old steers are
to be put together and broken to the yoke, or a pair of bulls, as
not unfrequently happens, it is usually best to yoke them, and
tie their tails together, in an extempore stall, in a well fenced
yard, and then turn them loose in the yard, which should not
be large enough for them to run in and get under much head-
way. If the tails are not tied together they will frequently
turn the yoke, which is a very bad habit. After half a day's
association, the lesson of " gee up!" and " whoa F may be
inculcated—and when well learned, probably the next day,
" haw" and " gee." The daily lesson should be given after
they have stood yoked a while. They should not be taken
from the yard until they have become used to the yoke, and
are no longer wild and scary, as they are apt to be at first;"
Each day all previous lessons should be repeated. Put them
before an ox-sled or a pair of cart wheels at first, rather than
to a stone boat, as they are apt to step on the chain, and that
frightens them. All treatment should be firm but mild, and
no superfluous words should be employed.

As regards training heifers, a Pennsylvania farmer who has
trained and milked heifers for more than fifty years, and never has
any trouble about their jumping, kicking, or running, gives the
following as his secret: " When I intend to raise a heifer calf
for a milch cow. I always raise it by hand, and when feeding,
frequently handle it by rubbing it gently over the head and
neck until it becomes tame and gentle. The rubbing is begun
at the first feeding with milk, and continued until I quit feeding
it) I never afterward have any trouble about milking them/4'68

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS

CHAPTER, VIII.

DOGS IN GENERAL—WATCH DOGS—THE SHEPHERD'S DOG.

AMONG all the animals the clog seems preeminently in-
tended by nature for the companion and friend of man.
Even the instinctive passions all animals have for their own
kind appear to be in a measure sacrificed to human influence,
for the dogs often care more for the society of man than for
that of their own kind. Not only is the dog a trusty and valu-
able friend and associate of man, but the companionship between
the human and the canine races developes in the latter many of
those noble qualities not possessed under other circumstances.
The Turks look upon the dog with abhorrence, and almost uni-
versally in the East he is an outcast from human society. The
consequence is that all his good qualities are lost; he is no
longer the faithful companion, ready to defend his master with
his life, but on the contrary, he is deceitful, bloodthirsty, and as
unlike the more favered dog of other countries as it is possible
to imagine.

WATCH DOGS.

Many kinds of dogs are used as watch dogs, and where all
that is required of them is a notification of nightly intruders,
and the awakening of the household, perhaps the species used
is of comparatively little consequence. Where the dog is
intended to act as a defender as well as a sentinel, strength and
courage are important requisites. With many the bull dog is
a favorite for this purpose. Though the least intelligent of his
species his unflinching and unconquerable courage renders him
a terrible opponent. So utterly without intellect is his courage,
however, that no consideration of his foe's powers deters him
from attacking the most formidable thing that gives offense.
Striking examples of this quality are displayed in England in
what are termed " bull baits," exhibitions whose cruelty and
brutality are scarcely excelled in the customs of any other
country. In these bull baits the dog, while fastened to the
nose of some unfortunate bull, has had one leg after another cut
off with a knife to test his courage. So persistent is the dog in
maintaining his hold that the most frightful mutilation will not
compel him to relinquish it until his strength is exhausted from
loss of blood,* he has been known to die from this inhuman
hacking with his death grip firmly holding the bull.

Probably the best watch dog is the mastiff. Capable ofVARIETIES OF SHEEP DOGS.

69

great attachment to his master, he unites strength with intelli-
gence, and, while implacable toward intruders, toward members
of his master's family he is docile and gentle. His hearing is
remarkably acute, for he can detect the difference between a
familiar and a strange footstep, however light it may be.

THE SHEPHERD'S DOG.

The rapid increase in the importance of sheep husbandry
in this country will soon direct attention to the value of proper
dogs for assisting in their management and protection. There
are several different breeds used for this purpose, varying in
different countries with their several local requirements. In
Spain the Pyrenean, or St. Bernard's dogs, are found valuable
to accompany the large merino flocks on their annual migra-
tions to the mountains, as a protection against the wolves
infesting the Pyrenees. In Spain, too, the mastiff is highly
prized, an improved, large breed, with strong feet, short hair
and slightly pointed nose, being much in use.

A gentleman of Delaware gave, some years ago, the follow-
ing account of a shepherd's dog of the Spanish breed in his
possession :

" The dog is three times as large as the shepherd's dog de-
scribed by Buffon, bat is endowed with the same good qualities:
immense strength and great mildness in his usual deportment,
though ferocious toward other dogs. I can say, without exag-
geration, that at least twenty dogs have been killed in my barn-
yard, or on my farm, by my dog Montague. His dimensions
are three feet eleven inches from his eyes to the root of his tail,
and two feet eight inches high over the shoulders. He is a
fine animal, entirely white. I prefer that color in recollection
of the story of old Jacob. In fact, I had formerly a black dog,
and many of my lambs were born black. Since I have had
Montague and his mother I have very few black lambs. The
natural instinct of this animal is to guard your sheep against
wolves and dogs. No other training is required, but to keep
them constantly with your flock, the moment they are from the
litter, until they are grown."

What is commonly known as the shepherd's dog is a smaller
breed, seldom more than two feet high. Those in France are
usually black with white touches on breast, face, legs, etc.}
with sharp head and nose, and with a countenance full of alert-
ness and intelligence. In Great Britain, particularly in Scot-
land, the colors of the shepherd's dog are more mixed with shades
of red and brown ; or black dogs with sharp ears, turning down
at the tips. The Scotch breed, or colley, is a light and active one,70

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

probably the best adapted for those portions of our own country
where there is no danger from wild animals, it is pretty exten-
sively diffused in the United States and .British America, and
is very useful to the farmer, shepherd or drover.

The Mexican shepherd's dog is doubtless a descendant of the

SCOTCH COLLEY, OR SHEPHERD^ DOG.

Spanish ones introduced at the time of the conquest, and is a
marvel of fidelity and intelligence. In training these dogs the
method is to select from a multitude of pups a few of the
healthiest and finest looking, and to put them to a sucking ewe,
first depriving her of her own lamb. By force, as well as from
a natural desire she has to be relieved of the contents of her
udder, she soon learns to look upon the little interlopers with
all the affection she would manifest for her own natural offspring.
For the first few days the pups are kept in the hut, the ewe
suckling them morning and evening only ; but gradually, as she
becomes accustomed to their sight, she is allowed to run in a
small enclosure with them, until she becomes so perfectly familiar
with their appearance as to take entire charge of them. After
this they are folded with the whole flock for a fortnight or so;
they then run about during the day with the flock, which after
a while becomes so accustomed to them, as to be ahle to dis-
tinguish them from other dogs—even from those of the same
litter which have not been nursed among them. The shepherds
usually allow the slut to keep one of a litter for her own particularINTELLIGENCE OF SHEEP DOGS.

71

benefit) the balance are generally destroyed. After the pups
are weaned, they never leave the particular drove among which
they have been reared. Not even the voice of their master can
entice them beyond sight of their flock 3 nor can hunger or
thirst.

A remarkable example of the intelligence of these dogs is
displayed when two flocks approach within a few yards of each
other) their respective protectors will place themselves in the
space between them, and as is very naturally the case, if any
adventurous sheep should endeavor to cross over to visit her
neighbors, her dog protector kindly but firmly leads her back,
and as it sometimes happens, it may make a rush and succeed
in joining the other flock, the dogs under whose charge they are
go over and bring them all out, but strange to say, under such
circumstances they are never opposed by the other dogs. They
approach the strange sheep only to prevent their own from
leaving the flock, though they offer no assistance in expelling
the other sheep. But they never permit sheep not under canine
protection, nor dogs not in charge of sheep, to approach them.
Even the same dogs which are so freely permitted to enter
their flocks in search of their own are driven away with igno-
miny if they presume to approach them without that laudable
object in view.

The English sheep dog, or drover's dog, is a tailless animal,
larger, coarser, and stronger than the colley. It is very easily
trained and is very well adapted for working among cattle,
keeping the herd from straggling when on the road or the
prairie, and acting as an aid to the farmer in the management of
his flocks and herds. One of this breed was used by an Ameri-
can farmer to drive home his cows. It was only necessary to
tell him it was time to bring the cows, and ho would scour the
farm and bring them from all parts safely into the yard. On the
prairies such dogs would be of great use.

A careful, well tempered shepherd never allows his dog to
harass or worry the sheep. He walks his regular rounds quietly,
the dog following at his heels, appearing to take no notice of
the sheep, and they almost unconscious of his presence. Should
anything occur in which the aid of the dog is needed, he is at
hand to perform the will of his master. If the sheep break
through a fence into forbidden ground, one word from the shep-
herd is enough, the dog drives them back without causing much
alarm. If a sheep breaks away from the flock, the dog is not
allowed to bite it; he is taught to run before it and bark, in
order to drive it back to its place.

A dog which has been properly trained will be continually on72

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

the look out for stray sheep, and will, of his own accord, visit
those parts of the pastures where the fences are weakest, and
where ditches or ravines exist, into which the sheep may be in
danger of falling. Heavy sheep, with large fleeces, will some-
times lie on their backs for a whole day or night, being unable
to get up. When in this position, instances have occurred of
their eyes being picked out either by ravens or carrion crows.
They are all subject to the attacks of dogs and foxes. A well
trained shepherd's dog will find sheep that are in this position,
and attract attention to them.

Vfell trained dogs will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show
any signs of irritation when assaulted by the ewe for the pro-
tection of her young. They keep at a respectable distance from
quarrelsome rams, not considering it to be any part of their
business to fight with them. They are very watchful at night,
espAcially during the lambing season, guarding the lambs from
the attacks of foxes and dogs and all other intruders.

J*i training a young shepherd's dog, the services of a well
trained, experienced dog will be almost indispensable. The
ardent temperament of the young dog must be subdued, and
there is no better mode of doing so than by compelling him to
accompany a well trained dog and imitate his actions. A long
line in the hands of the trainer, attached to a collar or belt on
the neck of the young dog is generally necessary in the training
process. With the aid of this contrivance the dog may be per-
fectly subdued, and made to obey ail the commands of the
trainer. He can be taught to "go away," "come back/7
"come in front," "come behind," "bark," "lie down," "be
quiet," " get over the fence," " stop them," " bring them back,"
and every other evolution in the field exercise of the sheep dog.
The training should commence when the pup is five or six
months old. The older the animal is, the more difficult will it
it be to train him.

The shepherd's dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned,
has a natural inclination for working among sheep, but he may
be spoiled by improper management, and then he becomes an
enemy to the flock instead of a protector. A cross between the
mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the shepherd's dog, produces a
mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the blood of the sheep,
and can scarcely be restrained from destroying them. The
shepherd's dog should be full blood, anything less is worse than
useless. Dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by
neglect or mismanagement in the training. The shepherd must
himself treat the sheep with gentleness if he desires the dog to
lo so) the dog will act as his master does.MANAGEMENT OF SPORTING DOGS.

73

CHAPTER IX.

SPORTING DOGS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING.

rpHE pointer and the setter are the two universally recognized
JL dogs for hunting game birds. As to which of the two is the
better variety authorities differ, and much depends upon circum-
stances. For hot climates the pointer has more endurance than
the setter, but he is also more tender and would suffer in a cold
climate. Pointers do not require so careful training, and with
sportsmen who are, as is the case with many, loose in their
manner of training, a pointer will be a passably well behaved
dog where, with the same laxity, a setter would be utterly
worthless. As the value of a dog in hunting depends in such a
great degree upon his proper understanding of the work in hand,
and his prompt and faithful execution of the duties incumbent
upon him, too much pains cannot be taken with his training.

PRELIMINARY TRAINING.

The education of sporting dogs should begin in earliest puppy-
hood. Unless they are early taught obedience, it will be diffi-
cult to overcome this neglect by after training. His first les-
son may be given with the aid of a piece of beef placed before
him on a plate. Naturally he will evince an eagerness to obtain
it. Prevent his doing so, by gently tapping him upon the head,
at the same time cry, u toho !" By repeating this word each
time you check his eagerness, he is taught to associate the slap
with the word and to stop when the word is used. This makes
the " point." In a few moments after you must cry, " hie on,"
and allow him to seize the meat. " Steady" is the next lesson,
and consists in allowing him slowly to approach the plate as
you keep repeating the word at short intervals. When near
the plate cry, " toho," and never allow him to reach the meat
until you give the command, " hie on !" When you wish him
to break his point but not to "pitch in" to the meat, the com-
mand, " close on " should be used. Before he reaches the plate,
cry, " toho," and then, " hie on f when he has pointed, by
" close on " he must understand that he is to move cautiously,
and this he is taught by the oft repeated command of " steady."
All these commands may be taught with patience, and patience
is absolutely necessary. No harshness should he used, and no
new lesson should be attempted until the old one is fully mas-
tered. You should always feed the dog yourself.

When the preceding lessons are thoroughly acquired,74

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

" charge " may be taught. Gently force him clown as you give
the command, extend his fore paws and gently place his head
between them. Each time he moves, tap him lightly and repeat
the command. No more force should be used than is absolutely
requisite. Practice him frequently by crying, u charge—
charge," with your hand upraised, and forcing him into the
desired position. To make him rise, you should cry, "hie up,"
and gently raise him. Repeat these instructions until they are
fully understood and readily obeyed, doing a little each day,
but doing that thoroughly.

To retrieve is the next lesson to be taught. An old glove or
other soft substance should be used, and after allowing the pup
to play with it, toss it from you and he will rush to get it.
Call him to you after he has got it, and take it from him, re-
warding him with caresses and kind words. Eepeat this plan
using the command, u hie fetch," when you wish him to go, and
u come in," when you wish him to return. By using the com-
mand, " come in," on all occasions when he is a little distance
from you—when you call him to feed him—etc., he will learn
to obey it. Hooper in his excellent work* gives the following
directions for teaching a dog to retrieve : " Begin by placing
your glove within his mouth, making him retain it; if he re-
jects it, replace it, gently correcting him, crying, ' fetch! fetch V
After he understands the meaning of the word fetch you may let
Mm accompany you in a walk, in some quiet place. Whenever
he drops the glove you must gently and encouragingly replace
it, crying, 'fetch ! fetch !' If he rejects it the lash must be used,
but sparingly. If you study the disposition of your dog and
manage properly, he will soon perfectly understand you, and
gaily and happily gambol alongside of you, seldom dropping his
charge, and if he should, he will only need the words, 1 hie fetch!
fetch P to make him bound back with eagerness to regain the
lost glove. You may now take the glove, cast it from you,
and tell him to 1 hie, fetch P He will immmediaMy return
with the glove. You may now let him see you drop the glove,
walk off thirty or forty yards, wave your hand in the direction
of the glove, and cry, 6 hie, fetch P He will of course regain
the glove. After practising him at this often, you may drop
the glove unobserved by him. He will soon follow your track
for a considerable distance for a lost article, by receiving the
command, ' hie, fetch P You may now give the glove to
another person to hide, first permitting the dog to see it in his
possession, and he will be almost certain to find it, if it is at all

*Dog and Gun.—Price thirty cents, post paid. An interesting- and useful work for
every amateur sportsman.MANAGEMENT OF SPORTING DOGS*	75

accessible. In your first lessons be careful to place the glove
where your dog will be certain to find it—not too far off. "

He should also be taught to follow closely on at the sports-
man's heel when they are out together; this may be done by
saying, " back, back !" and striking him gently with the whip
When he attempts to press forward. Any hunting dog may be



THE SETTER.

taught to retrieve notwithstanding the complaints some sports-
men make to the contrary. Great patience is required to teach
the dog, but the result of careful training amply compensates
for the trouble. Hooper recommends that, after the dog has
learned the preceding lessons, he be made to practice them
often, playing with a ball.

LESSONS IN THE FIELD.

After the dog has been thoroughly drilled in the preliminary
exercises we have described, it will be necessary to teach him
their practical application. Much of the future value and use-
fulness of the dog depends upon his first day's shooting and the
manner in which he is initiated into the sport. We again avail
ourselves of Mr. Hooper's instructions for managing him the
first day he is taken out:76

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

u When you observe Dash more excited than usual, you may
reasonably expect a bevy near. They will not probably bo
far off, as he has not become accustomed to the familiar and
welcome scent that will enable him to wind them at a
distance. Now comes the trying hour for master and pupil.
The former should be perfectly cool, and should consider iho
killing of game a secondary affair—let him give his attention
to Dasli. The dog seems too eager for the scent—you cry
1 steady ! steady!—if he is apparently near the game, and you
are afraid he will flush, you cry < toho P You approach and find
the quail do not raise—you tell him to close on, which he does
by moving rather rapidly—you check him by crying i steady !
steady!7 he points, 'toho!' You now approach and flush the
bevy; be sure you bring down one bird, and it will be well that
you only fire one barrel, that you may have more time to look
after Dash, who of course scampers after the whirring bevy.
You immediately cry < toho ! come inP—on, on he goes 5 in his
wild excitement he disregards your will entirely. You now use
your whistle. By this time the birds are out of sight (but you,
of course, have marked them), and he is running helter skelter.
You must soon get hold of his collar, drag him rather roughly
back to where he pointed—lashing him slightly—and make him
1 charge/ and keep his position until you reload; after which
you will take him to where your bird has fallen—indicate the
place with your hand, crying ' hie, fetch ! fetch! fetch P From
his previous lessons he will know that you wish him to look for
something, and his nose will soon tell him what it is. Do not
let him mouth or toy with it, or he will soon get in the habit
of roughly mouthing your game, than which I scarcely know a
worse habit.

" You may now rest for a short time, that the bevy may get
over their fright; after which they will be more easily found,
for if they have been very much frightened, they will not give
out sufficient odor to enable your pupil to point well, and he may
consequently flush them, thereby doing great harm. You can-
not do better than to spend your time in repeating your house
training with the dead quail: casting it from you, telling him
to 1 close on! steady ! charge ! hie on! fetch !' Oast it some
distance unobserved—waft your hand in the proper direction,
and tell him 1 hie, fetch ! fetch ! fetch !7 After a short time
has elapsed, you may take Dash to where you have marked the
birds. When near the birds, keep Dash near you, that he may
be the more easily controlled. If he seem too eager, he only needs
the command of (steady \7 to control him. Let the command
be in rather an undertone—never get into the snobbish habit ofSPORTING DOGS IN THE FIELD.

balding at your dog. Apart from its being an ungentleman),
habit, it frightens the quail more or less, and they will not he
so well to the dog. Ha! but Dash has come down to a poiiiu
most beautifully, 'toho!' You carefully approach, flush and
shoot the bird, and immediately give your attention to the dot:,
crying 4 charge!' ina strong and emphatic tone ; if he break*-,
get hold of his collar as soon as possible and lash him, and tt
the same time drag him to his ' point7 and make him 6 charge * and
keep his position until you reload. You then cry ' hie up/ make
Mends with him, and cast him off—he soon points again. You
manage to get very near the dog, and when you fire, immediately
cry 4charge!' and it would be well to accompany 'the word
with a blow/ at this juncture. You make him charge, reload,
cry 'hie up/ indicate the point where the bird has fallen, and
command him to 1 hie fetch!7 You cast him off again, and
always manage to control him ofter you fire—never, never suffer-
ing him to break shot without feeling the lash. Remember
this is the most critical time for yourself and dog. Never suffer
yourself to become excited; do not for some time fire more
than one barrel, that you may sooner give your attention to
Dash, and you will accomplish much if you can be near enough
to Dash to give him the lash as he first springs from the point,
at the same time crying 6 charge !7 If you do not suffer your-
self to become excited, and lose sight of your dog after your
shot, you will soon have him drop at the report of the gun; but
rest assured, if you let him have his own way a few times, in
your eagerness to secure game, you will rue it for many a day
to come. You cannot have this fact too strongly impressed
upon yourself. If you control him from the first, your object
will be attained. If Dash evinces unusual perverseness in this,
it will be well to make him ' charge - while on a i point.' Even
should he see a dead bird fall, he should not retrieve without
permission."

It is a maxim in hunting never to allow a dog to run ahead
of another in a point, but either to make him back, or come in to
heel. Besides the danger of flushing your game, it would be
permitting an unfair advantage to be taken of the dog doing his
duty in the lead, of both which a dog of nice sensibility will
show himself to be conscious. It happened, some years since,
that a party was out, near Old Point Comfort in Virginia, with

a fine pointer belonging to Mr. A-. A small terrier had

accompanied them, and whenever the pointer would take his
stand, the terrier would rush by him, and put up the bird«,
Repeating this vexatious, ungentlemanly conduct several time*?,
the pointer was seen to grow impatient. At last having fnnnd78

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

another bevy, as the terrier attempted to pass him, tne pointer
seized him, and placing his fore paws on him, held him fast,
growling to keep him quiet, and maintaining his point until the
sportsmen came up.

WATER DOGS.

The Newfoundland is unquestionably the water dog par ex-
cellence, and probably the best individuals of the variety are
the celebrated dogs used for duck shooting on the margin of
Chesapeake Bay and commonly called the Chesapeake Bay
Water Dog These animals being derived from ancestors of
pure breed, and the constant training from generation to gener-
ation having caused the transmission of their excellent quali-
ties in increased measure to each successive generation, are
probably unrivalled by any other in their particular forte.
Owing to thoughtless and injudicious mixing of breeds a true
Newfoundland is rarely seen. Although the purer the breed
the better water dog he will be, yet many dogs of mixed breeds
possessing considerable Newfoundland blood, make excellent
dogs for ordinary aquatic sporting.

On breeding the water dog little need be said, for, like Dog-
berry 7s reading and writing, his education " comes by nature.7'
In his infancy he may be taught to bring a glove and lay it down
at your feet as he should do; and, by practice, the compre-
hension and fulfillment of his various duties will soon follow. He
wiil be found, with judicious encouragement and exercise of
authority, more docile than a child. They have been known at
four months old to fetch a duck, but lest the constitution be
impaired, they should not be put too early at hard service.

u Canton/7 a celebrated Newfoundland, owned by Dr.
Stewart, of Sparrow's Point—a great sportsman in his day—
was noted for a number of remarkable feats in securing " canvas
backs77 on the Chesapeake. She surpassed her species gener-
ally in unrivalled devotion to the water, and to the sport of
ducking, as carried on by the doctor7s colored man, Yarnell,
with his murderous swivel gun. Her patience and endurance
were almost incredible. She was the heroine of many desperate
encounters with wounded swans, often pursuing them for miles,
and many were her exploits among rotten and floating ice, in
pursuit of wounded ducks, sometimes, in fogs and darkness.
On one occasion she brought out twenty-two or twenty-three
ducks, all killed or wounded by Varnell at a single shot. A
good deal of time was lost in pursuing these wounded ducks,, and
at the close of this pursuit, it being then dark, Yarnell give up
the slut as lost, so many hours had she been engaged in bring-TEACHING DOGS TRICKS.

79

ing out her game; but after Varnell bad sorrowfully turned his
face homeward, she overtook him with one or two ducks in her
mouth; and the old doctor stated that he remembered Varnell
saying that at one time, when she was most fatigued, she climbcd
on a cake of floating ice, and after resting herself on it, renewed
the pursuit of the ducks.

CHAPTER X.

ORDINARY TRICKS PERFORMED BY DOGS.

EVERY dog who has the good or ill fortune to be a mem-
ber of civilized society is usually fated to undergo a more
or less systematic education " in the way he should go.'? This
education may be either in the primitive style illustrated by
the administration of a vigorous kick accompanying the com-
mand "get out," to teach the dog to leave you, or the more
elaborate training which culminates in the production of a
canine prodigy. The capacity for education in dogs varies much
with different varieties, and even with individuals of the same
variety. While some are taught with the greatest difficulty
others display a wonderful aptitude for learning, and acquire a
proficiency which is often really surprising. Whether it is pro-
posed to educate the animal as much as his capacity will admit
of, or merely to teach him the things necessary for common eon-
venience, the first thing is

TO TEACH HIM HIS NAME.

If a dog has any particular name by which he is usually ad-
dressed, he will in time learn to answer to it. With a little
system, however, lie will learn much sooner than otherwise, and
where there are several dogs it is a good plan to make each
know his own distinctive title thoroughly, and to respond
promptly to it. This will render your intercourse with,, and
your management of them, both easier and pleasanter. It may
be accomplished by a very simple process. When you feed
them, call each one by name to his food. If any of the others
come forward, send them back. By dividing the food into small
morsels and calling each dog in turn to receive his piece, always
insisting that he and no other shall receive it, considerable of a
lesson may be derived from each meal. When convenient take80

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

them out to walk, being careful to provide yourself with a
few crackers or a piece of bread. Allow the dogs to ramble
about at their pleasure, and whenever you choose call some
particular one by his name j when he comes to you reward him
with a piece of cracker. By-and-by call some other one, and
continue the plan at your discretion. At the end of ten or a
dozen lessons they will have pretty well learned their names,
and come at your call. If you have only one dog, the plan
would be about the same.

TO LEAP.

This is very a simple trick and easily taught. A line or pole
may be extended from any convenient supports, just so high
that the dog cannot step over. Take your station on one side
of this barrier with a supply of bread or cracker. By the offer
of a small piece induce him to approach as near as possible to
the line or pole, keeping the tid-bit close to his nose, but raised
a trifle above it. Now, with a sudden movement, extend your
hand beyond the barrier, crying at the same moment, " hip," or
any other quick, inspiring exclamation. Eager to get the tempting
morsel he will leap over, and the same proceeding may be
repeated once or twice, when he should be rewarded with the
bait he has been striving for. After a few repetitions he will
probably leap over at a motion of the hand and the word of
command. He should always be rewarded for obeying, and it
is well to have a light switch with which to give him a gentle
cut should he attempt to run under, which he should never be
permitted to do. The hight of the barrier may be increased
gradually from day to day, taking care never to over-task his
powers. With practice many dogs acquire the ability of making
very creditable leaps. We had an old dog who had been at-
tached to a circus in his youth, and had been rather "fast" in
his proclivities. Not being content to settle down to the quiet
peacefulness of a back-yard existence, which he probably con-
sidered rather slow, he was in the habit of leaping over a fenco
at least ten feet high and plentifully studded with spikes, that
he might indulge in a nightly canine spree with other festive
dogs of his acquaintance.

When the dog leaps readily over a bar, a hoop may be held in
the hand and the same system pursued. The hoop may bo
gradually lessened in size until the dog finally leaps through
one hardly bigger around than his own body, but to do this the
trainer must display some skill in conforming the motions of the
hoop to those of the dog as he passes through.TEACHING DOGS TRICKS.

81

TO WALK ERECT.

Hold a bone or other like temptation a little above the dog's
nose, but not so high as to lead him to jump to get it. As he
reaches for it raise ifc so as to induce him to rise up on his hind
feet, saying as you do so, "up, up!" When he reaches the
proper stand-point, let him remain there a moment or two and
then let him have the bone. Soon he will stand up on your
merely holding your hand in the position described and saying,
" up, up." Then he may be taught to walk in this position by

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WALKING ERECT.

slowly moving the bone or your hand slightly in advance. These
exercises should not be tediously prolonged, especially at first,
for the position is an unnatural and very fatiguing one to the
animal. After he thoroughly understands what is required of
him you may check any attempt he may make to regain his
natural position before you are willing, by a gentle tap under
the chin or under the fore paws.

TO DANCE.

A dog is generally considered sufficiently accomplished in
this u graceful and agreeable art" when he has learned to hop
around on his hind legs, and to keep turning completely around
at short intervals. There are several modes of arriving at this
result, the most simple of which is, probably, to take a long82

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

switch, after the clog has learned to stand erect, and to this
switch attach a piece of meat. With this you can trace out in
the air, in tempting proximity to his nose, the figures you wish
him to take, and you may depend upon his instinct leading him
to follow the motions of the switch. This may seem rather an
absurd plan for initiating your pupil into the mysteries of the
ball-room, bufc it is nevertheless one of the most effective that
can be devised. The dog should be rewarded with the meat
after he has danced enough to fairly earn it, and after a few
lessons the switch may be used without any bait attached. He
will at first follow its motions in the hope that there is some-
thing attached, and if he be rewarded for doing so, he will soon
comprehend that following the switch means meat by-and-by.
If he is dressed up in feminine apparel, as is generally done at
public exhibitions, the absurd figure he cuts, and the ridiculous
caricature of a lady " tripping the light fantastic toe " which he
presents, is extremely laughable.

TO JUMP ROPE.

After the dog has learned to leap at your command a light
rope may be substituted for the pole, one end of the rope being
attached to some stationary object while the other end is held in
your hand. Exercise the dog a few times at leaping the rope
while it is without motion, and near the ground, using the
command "hip/7 or whatever one he lias been trained to leap
with, each time. Then give the rope a slight motion and at the
proper moment give the dog the usual command and he will
obey it. By increasing the motion very gradually he will,
after many lessons, be able to jump rope very creditably. He
may be taught either to jump while standing on his full
complement of legs, or in the perpendicular fashion.

TO SIT AND LIE DOWN.

It is one thing to have your dog do a thing at his own
convenience and of his own free will, and quite another thing to
have him perform the same action at your desire, especially if
he had a little rather not do it. This applies particularly to
sitting or lying down, for it usually happens that when you
desire him to do so he feels least inclined ; but it is the trainer's
business to bend the animal's will to his own, and in this case it
may be done thus: Taking your position with the dog in front
of you, raise one hand over his head and make a motion with it
as though about to strike him on the top of his head with your
palm ; as you do so repeat the word " down" distinctly and
commandingly, with each motion of the hand. This should notSIMPLE DOG TRICKS.

83

be done as a menace, but to indicate your wishes. While you
do this, press firmly with your other hand upon his back, just
over the hips,—this pressure will assist in making him take the
desired position. When he has done so he should be patted and
made to understand that he has done right. Ilepeat until he
obeys the command readily, and then teach him to lie down,
which consists in forcing him into a recumbent posture, as you
command him to u lie down !"

TO BEG.

After the dog has learned to stand erect he may easily be
taught to beg. All that is requisite is to press him down in
the desired position; if he attempts to leave it a gentle tap on
the head with the switch will be sufficient to control him. He
may, if preferred, be taught to beg without learning to stand
erect; in this case he may be made to sit down and then, pres-
sing his haunches down to prevent his rising to his feet, tap him
under the chin till he takes the right position. Repetition is
of course necessary until he learns what is desired, and each
time you place him in position it is well to say " beg" two or
three times so he may associate the word with the act. Dogs,
like many of the human race, after they have " got the hang of
it," will beg persistently for the sake of an occasional trifling
reward.

TO GIYE HIS PAW.

There is scaicely a boy's pet dog who has not acquired this
very simple trick, though his master probably would not recol-
lect how it was taught. Perhaps it was the dog's sociable
feelings that led him to perform the kindly ceremony of "shaking
hands," or perhaps it was due to the instinctive good breeding
which is sometimes accredited to some people - and why not
also to some dogs? Whether politeness is a grace which
adorns the canine character, however, is a question we hardly
feel prepared to discuss, and it is much more probable that
Master Harry, (or James, or whatever his name may be), with
no special thought in regard to the matter, hit upon the secret
which underlies all animal training—compelling obedience to a
command until the command is obeyed without compulsion.
What was more natural for our friend Harry, when he first
gave the momentous command of " paw," and Carlo utterly in
the dark as to its signification, taking no notice of it—than to
grip Carlo's fore " limb " and give it a shake ? Nothing in the
world more natural. This is probably repeated at odd times
until Carlo learns to give his paw when Harry says " paw/' or
holds out Ms paw.84

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

If the same paw is always given, as it will be if during the
training that one be always taken, the dog may be taught to
offer the other one when you ask for the " other paw," by
merely taking it a few times when you make the request. By
using "paw" for one and "other paw" for the other—''paw"
first—the dog will seldom get them confused. It is preferable
and makes the performance seem better, while it is really no
more difficult, if the words "right7' and "left" are used in
connection with the commands. It is just as easy for a dog to
learn the difference between " right paw" and " left paw/; as
between "paw" and "other paw." It is well to lay extra
stress upon " right" and " left" while training, and these words
should be pronounced very distinctly. Should the dog offer the
wrong paw merely repeat your former command until he
changes it, then take it in your hand, call him " good dog," and
pat his head to let him know he has done right.

A little boy of our acquaintance had a very handsome New-
foundland dog, and having often heard the family physician
desire members of the family to let him feel their pulse, he
thought it would be a capital idea, and having coaxed the cook
to give him some choice bits of beef-steak, he commenced prac-
tice. "Let me feel your pulse, Bruno," says he, and taking
Bruno's paw in his fingers he imitated the doctor with a comical
childish assumption of professional gravity. He scarcely in-
tended, when he commenced, to make Bruno offer his pulse for
examination at his desire, but Bruno was an intelligent dog and
the beef-steak was very good, and before long he would stick
his paw out as nicely as could be desired. Our little friend
delighted with the result of his efforts, lost no opportunity of
showing off Bruno's accomplishment, and the dog was contin-
ually holding out his "pulse" for the examination of visitors.
The doctor calling some time after was somewhat amused at
our little friend's request to Bruno to " let the doctor feel your
pulse," and Bruno's ready compliance therewith.

We had a half-grown puppy of one of the larger breeds some
years since, which by constant training became so used to offer-
ing his paw that he would do so to visitors or others without
being ordered to. One day a strange cat intruded upon the
premises, and puppy made a rush at it with every token of
hostility. When near it, however, habit appeared to gain a
mastery, for he held out his paw as usual. The cat being
irritated by his previous threatening aspect merely struck at
him with her claws, inflicting quite a severe scratch, whereupon
puppy, perceiving politeness to be at a discount, pitched in and
routed the enemy gallantly.TEACHING DOGS TRICKS.

85

TO SNEEZE.

On a recent visit to a friend we came across a dog who would
sneeze in a most natural manner whenever his master said,
" Sneeze, Zip." This being the only example of a dog perform-
ing this trick which we had ever seen we desired our friend to
give us some particulars of the manner of teaching the trick,
which he obligingly did, to this effect: " One afternoon, having
nothing more important to do, I was amusing myself by bothering
Zip with a long feather which I poked in his face, to induce
him to snap at it. While doing this I by chance tickled his nose,
he immediately commenced sneezing. Once commenced, it
seemed as though he would never stop, and I said, rather sar-
castically, L Sneeze, Zip.' I don't suppose my words had any
effect, but he certainly did sneeze ,* this gave me the idea of
teaching him to repeat it at my bidding. Armed with my
feather I commenced operations ; tickling his nose gently each
time I repeated the command. He didn't like the feather very
well, and by-and-by, as though his imagination foreshadowed its
effects, he would sneeze on having it pointed in close proximity
to his nose. At odd times when I had a little idle time on my
hands, I repeated the exercise, and the dog in a few weeks would
sneeze very creditably when I commanded. I was in the habit
of rewarding every first rate sneeze with a butter cracker, of
which Zip was very fond. Zip has since had the reputation of
suffering from severe colds in the head."

This was the only special accomplishment which Zip pos-
sessed, and whether this was the result of peculiarly sensitive
olfactory organs or his master's training we are unable to say.
Of the merits of the latter we are not prepared to speak, having
never given the system an actual trial, but we should imagine
that such a course might succeed.

TO SPEAK FOR IT.

This may be taught either in connection with the preceding
trick, as a portion of it, or by itself. If the former, it is better
to let the dog thoroughly master the first part, begging, before
it is attempted to teacli him to u speak for it.77 Take a
piece of some article of food which he is fond of, and allowing
him to see it, command him to u speak for it!" Of course he
will not understand what you mean, and will probably only
gaze wistfully at the morsel. By-and-by he will grow impatient
and give vent to a sharp bark. The moment he has done this
give him the article, for although he has not understood you he
has done what you desired, and by rewarding him he learns that86

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

this is the case. Practice him a little at some of his old tricks
with another reward at hand to encourage him. Should he try
the experiment of barking while thus engaged no notice should
be taken of it, for it is not desired that he should bark except
he be told to, and his doing so in other cases should never be
rewarded. When you wish it, repeat the command of " speak
for it/' and when he obeys reward him. If at first he does not
show an inclination to bark he may be stimulated to do so by
your giving a " bow-wow " yourself in as doggish a manner as
you are able. This encroachment on his language will gene-
rally have the desired effect, for few dogs can resist replying to
this act which they no doubt deem an impertinent meddling
with their " mother tongue."

TO FETCH AND CARRY.

This accomplishment may often be put to great practical use,
and it is an excellent plan to teach all dogs, which are large
enough to be of any service in this manner, to carry baskets or
parcels when accompanying their masters. The mode of train-

DOG TAUGHT TO CARRY BASKET.

ing is very simple, consisting of merely placing the article in
the dog's mouth, and when he lets go of it give him a slight box
on the ear and replace the article in his mouth. Whatever is
given him to carry should be of such a form as to be graspedTRICKS TAUGHT TO DOGS.

87

easily by him without hurting his mouth or teeth. The weight
should at first be very light and never more than he can easily
carry. Most dogs will take a real pleasure in carrying articles
in this manner, and they seem to feel the responsibility attached
to their duty, for they will carry their own or their mastei's
dinner without attempting to appropriate any portion of it until
the proper time when their share shall be given ihem. In
teaching dogs to carry food, however, it is necessary to take a
little special pains to overcome their instinctive inclinations to
eat it. A good plan is to place the article in a covered basket
which they cannot open, and when the dog has learned to carry
an ordinary parcel give him this. If he attempts to get at the
food, which he readily detects by his sense of smell, box his
ears. By-and-by reward him with the food, and then try him
with a basket from which he can abstract the contents ; if he
tries to do so punish him slightly, never permitting him to steal
the food. If a dog ever deserves a reward for well doing he c( r-
tainly does in this case, for it is too bad to tantalize him with
the smell of seme dainty and then not to let him finally have
something for his good conduct.

To make a dog carry articles from one person to another it
is only necessary for two persons to take their position at some
distance from one another. One gives the dog some article
saying, " go, sir," at the same time. As the first says this let
the other person call or whistle to the dog. Now let this
one give the dog some thing and let the other one call him,
and so on back and forth until he will go from one to the
other at the command, "go, sir." The distance between
the parties may be increased from time to time, and the
trick may be varied by one of them hiding himself, this will
teach the dog to hunt for the person to whom he is to deliver
the article, which will prove useful when you by-and-by desire
to send him on an actual errand to a distance.

The extent to which any dog may be educated in this matter
depends very much upon his natural intelligence and the skill
and perseverance of his teacher. Many anecdotes are told of
dogs going on errands. In some cases they go to the post-office
for letters, in other cases to the store for groceries, etc., and we
recollect several instances cited where dogs would, on being
given a piece of money, go to the baker's and purchase cake on
their own account. The baker, in one of these instances, is said
to have one day palmed a stale bun upon a dog who had been
in the habit of coming to him regularly with pennies, and the
animal, to show he was not to ha imposed upon, transferred his
custom to a rival establishment. In none of these accounts88

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS,

have we ever seen any mention of the dogs having been sub-
jected to any special training, and it is more than likely that
they never were. Animals, like men, are creatures of habit. If
a man becomes accustomed to a certain routine it is difficult for
him to change. Many merchants, retired from business, con-
tinue to pay a daily visit to their old offices, their brokers or
lawyers, just because not to do so would make them uncomfort-
able and restless. So a dog who has become used to accom-
panying his master on any regular round of duties will often
show that he understands where it is they are going by running
ahead and stopping at the accustomed place. We call to mind
a dog belonging to a gentleman residing some miles from this
city, who will serve as an example of what we have stated,
though probably all of our readers are familiar with instances
equally, if not more, remarkable. The gentleman was accus-
tomed to walk from his residence some half mile to take the
morning train for the city, and to return by a particular train in
the evening. The dog accompanied him to the cars in the
morning, and would again meet him on the arrival of the train
at night. It took him some weeks to learn when to expect his
master, but after that he never made any mistakes.

A writer in one of the magazines mentions a poodle who was
in the habit of going to church with his master and sitting with
him in the pew during the whole service. Sometimes his
owner did not come, but the poodle was always promptly in his
place, remaining during the service and departing with the rest
of the congregation. One Sunday the dam at the head of a
lake in the neighborhood gave way, and the whole road was
inundated. The attendance at church that morning was there-
fore restricted to a few individuals who came from near by.
But by the time the clergyman had commenced, he saw our
friend the poodle coming slowly up the aisle dripping with water,
having been obliged to swim a quarter of a mile to get there.

It is not very difficult to teach a dog to go on errands. Sup-
pose you wish him to go to market for you of a morning ,• take
him with you regularly for a few mornings, letting him carry
the basket. In a few days he will understand when you start
where it is yon propose to go, and will, perhaps, run on ahead
and arrive there some minutes before you. It would be well
on all occasions before starting to give the command, il Go to
market," which will accustom him to it.

We do not vouch for the truth of the story of the dog who,
on being given—when purchasing one time on his own account,
with money given him for that purpose—a piece of meat inferior
to what he considered his due, went and brought a policeman.1 RICKS TAUGHT TO DOGS.

89

TO BRING HIS TAIL IN HIS MOUTH.

The dog having been taught to fetch and carry, an amusing
application of this knowledge can be made by having him bring
his own tail in his mouth. This trick is exceedingly funny and
is always hailed with roars of laughter. The feat is rather
difficult for while his tail is in his mouth, the dog can only
advance in something like crab fashion, or sideways, with an
almost irresistible tendency to go around in a circle without
getting ahead any. To attain success in teaching this trick the
dog must be gifted with a good deal of tail, and the trainer with
a good deal of patience. Dogs will in play grasp their tails,
and most persons have noticed while frolicking with a dog that
if the dog's tail be taken hold of with one's hand, the dog will
attempt to seize the hand with his mouth, and if his tail be now
dexterously placed in his way, he will seize that. This per.
haps first suggested the idea of the trick, and this is the initial
step of the training. When the dog takes hold of his tail praise
him, and after he has held it a little while bid him " let go/7
and reward him. Should he relinquish his hold before you
order him to, speak sharply to him and commence again. When
he has learned to retain hold of his tail until ordered to relin-
quish it, the more difficult part of his lesson may be taught—the
bringing it to the trainer. The trainer at first takes his place
a few feet from the dog in the direction in which the dog can most
easily advance, and calls the dog ; should he let go his tail to
come, he is to be scolded, and the tail replaced in his mouth.
When he comes without letting go, he should be rewarded.
Gradually the distance he is required to come may be increased,
but it would be cruel to make this distance more th n half a
dozen yards. When the tail is placed in his mouth it is well to
say, " Bring me your tail," to accustom him to the order. By-
and-by when you give this order merely hold his tail for him
to grasp, and at last let him seize it without any assistance
from you.

THE ROLLING BALL.

There are several modifications of this trick, or rather there
are several feats all performed with this instrument—a globe of
wood or other material some two feet in diameter. One of these
feats consists in the dog standing with his hind feet upon the
ground, and resting his pawTs on the ball, pushing it forward, or
up and down an inclined plane. This is easily taught, and the
only difficult part of the performance is the descent of the inclined
plane, where the ball is apt to roll away from the animal. To
teach this trick it is only requisite to place the dog's paws upon90

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

the ball and set it slowly in motion; as you do this tap his
hind legs gently from behind to urge him to step forward. It
may be necessary to hold him in position by the nape of the
neck at first, but he should very soon learn to retain his position
without this aid. When he rolls the ball readily upon a level,
substitute a wide plank very slightly inclined, up which h
should be required to roll the ball. Increase the inclination of
the plank slightly with each lesson, but the descent should only
be attempted after he has been thoroughly drilled in the pre
ceding exercises. It will be necessary to commence with a very
slight inclination and to promptly stop the ball should the dog
begin to lose control of it. The width of the plank may be
decreased eventually to some ten or twelve inches.

To stand entirely upon the ball while it is in motion, and to
propel it backward and forward, and up and down the inclined
plane, starting and stopping it as well as guiding its motions in
the desired direction—is a more difficult feat. In this the dog
must be practiced in standing upon the ball while it has no
motion ; in several lessons in this just the barest possible motion
is to be given to the ball while a slight hold upon the dog's neck
keeps him in position. The motion may be slowly increased
with each lesson, but the ball must for many lessons be held
firmly with the hand to prevent it becoming unmanageable.
When the dog becomes able to maintain his position he may be
required to manage the ball without any assistance. In all
cases where he gets down from the ball, accidentally or willfully,
he should be spoken to sharply, but the trainer should be equally
prompt to praise and reward success.

TO WALK ON STILTS.

The stilts used in this trick are about twelve or fifteen inches
in length, made to fasten to the leg just below the knee joint,
with tape or thin flexible leather straps. When four are used
there is no particular training required to make the dog walk
upon them j it being only necessary to put him " on his pins
again whenever he upsets. The tumble is sufficient punishir ent
for his failures. Walking man fashion on only two stilts is a
much more difficult task, though it has been accomplished in
some eases. The dog should be first thoroughly taught the
walking erect trick, then stilts may be put on his hind legs. A
cord attached to his collar and held in the trainer's hand will
aid in maintaining the dog's balance until he becomes accus-
tomed to his novel position. Of course the dog cannot raise
himself upon the stilts, but must be placed erect by the trainer.
The farther training is si'tv'It to that described for teachingTEACHING DOGS TRICKS.

91

him to walk erect. A story is told of a dog who actually found
a wooden leg of practical use; one having been furnished him
by a whimsical surgeon who had amputated an injured limb for
him.

TO GO UP AND DOWN A LADDER.

In teaching this trick two ladders should be provided about
six feet in length and joined together at the top ends so as to
form an angle when the other ends are placed on the ground.
The bars of these ladders should be flat and sufficiently near
together to enable the dog easily to step from one round to
another. Standing at the side of this ladder with a switch in
your right hand you whistle to the dog, or call him by name,

CLIMBING THE LADDER.

and tap the first round of the ladder with your switch to indi-
cate he is to step upon it. When he places his fore paws on
this round, tap the next in the same manner, saying, " Go on,"
to him. If he does not obey strike his hind legs lightly from
behind, while you encourage him with your voice and snap your
fingers in front of him to urge him forward. A tid-bit of some
kind held in tempting proximity to his nose may have an encour-
aging effect. After ascending one ladder he should be made to
go down the other. He will be inclined to jump to the ground
in preference to descending step by step; should he do this he
must be punished and made to commence over again. When
on the ladder if he hesitates about proceeding gently tap the
toes of the foot he should next advance. When two dogs have
been taught to go over the ladders a race may be arranged, the
dog who first goes three times over to be rewarded. The dogs92

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

will soon understand that when they are both ordered to go
over, speed is expected; the dainty given to the winner will be
an incentive to exertion. By making one dog go up to where
the ladders join, turning half around and forming an arch of his
body, the other dog can go over the ladders, passing beneath
the belly of the "arch." This is a very trifling feat but it
generally pleases an audience.

The ladder climbing forms really the principal part of the
celebrated siege scene, performed by dogs and monkeys. This
scene, we believe, was first enacted in London in the year 1753,
by a troupe of dogs and monkeys which acquired considerable
celebrity by their performances. They were owned by a lady,
who had also taught them, and went by the name of Mrs. Mid-
night's Animal Commedians. A small stage was specially fitted
up for their performances, furnished with scenery, decorations,
etc., and to these adjuncts was no doubt due much of the success
of the troupe. The performance was much like modern ones;
the tricks are all included in this chapter and the one on monk-
eys ; the famous siege being only a clever combination of the
different tricks. Each animal was taught a particular part and
merely obeyed the signals of the exhibition.

TO STAND ON HIS HEAD AND TO WALK ON HIS FORE LEGS.

The term " standing on the head" is applied to a " wrong
end up " position though the animal is actually supported by his

WALKING ON FORE LEGS.TEACHING DOGS TRICKS.

93

fore paws, his head not necessarily touching the ground. To
teach the trick, provide yourself with a switch twenty inches
in length, and moderately stout. This switch, held in your
right hand, you place under the dog's belly, and while you raise
up his hind quarters with it, you place your left hand on his
head to keep him from moving away, and to make him retain
his reversed position. As the dog rises into position the switch
should bo gradually carried along until it supports his hind feet,
This is the process for the first few lessons, until the dog under-
stands what is required ; after that it is better merely to tap
his ankles from in front with your switch, giving at the same
time whatever order you have accustomed him to in teaching
the trick. He should eventually take the position without any
hint or help from the switch.

When the preceeding trick is thoroughly mastered, the walk-
ing part may be easily added. Taking your position a little in
front of your pupil when he is in his upside-down position, you
encourage him to come to you. At the same time you must
keep your switch in handy proximity to his toes, which you tap
lightly on any signs of his relinquishing his position. By-and-by
he may be made to walk quite a distance.

TO " SING."

When a dog howls in time, wo think it fair to call his per-
formance " singing.'7 Dogs may be taught to do this; at least
they have been, and it is reasonable to presume it may be done
again. In only one case of this kind do we know positively
the mode of tuition, but it was probably pretty much the same
in all cases. This consisted in keeping the dog without food
until his appetite was quite sharp. When food was shown him,
he naturally whined for it. Now, a dog may be made to whine,
howl, or bark, if you make any of those noises yourself,- almost
any dog will imitate you, and not only that, but the pitch and
style of noise he makes will be somewhat regulated by that
made by you. The hungry dog is in prime mental condition
for this exercis?, and if rewarded when he hits pretty near upon
the right degree of noise, he will learn to follow your tones
quite accurately. If exercised in a regular scale, or in a sim-
ple tune, he will by-and-by go through it without requiring
your prompting, with sufficient accuracy to be recognized—if
the hearers know beforehand what melody to expect.

It is not pretended, of course, that dogs trained as above de-
scribed, do anything but repeat a series of noises mechanically
in a prescribed rotation. We find recorded, however, one in-
stance of a dog learning to discriminate between the different94

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

notes, and to detect false ones in a musical performance. The
story seems improbable, but may be true; however, it is worth
telling:

" Frederick Schwartz, a merchant retired from business in
Darmstadt, occupied liis leisure hours, which were many, al-
most exclusively with music. His passion for the art acquired
such an intensity that he required every one about him to fall
in with his musical predilections by either vocal or instrumental
cooperation. Poodle, the dog, was the only one unable to ren-
der any musical assistance. As worthy Herr Schwartz felt the
utter impossibility of making Poodle afford any practical aid,
he determined to train him to fill the office of critic in his own
harmonious community. He succeeded, too, by an ingenious
method. Whenever a note out of tune proceeded from a voice
or an instrument; every time that a musical fault was com-
mitted by any member of the family—and such faults were
committed purposely—the rod was applied to Poodle's back,
and he naturally began to bark and howl. He was exactly in
the position of the whipping boy, who pursued his studies with
the royal prince. Whenever the prince made a grammatical
blunder, the whipping boy had to smart for it. Before long,
simple threats were substituted for smitings of his (Poodle's)
back j afterward a look sufficed to set the creature barking;
and little by little Poodle familiarized himself with wrong notes
and other musical atrocities, until at last a mistake could not
be committed without his rebuking it either by a bark or a
growl. He thus became, as far as music was concerned, the
most impartial judge, the most conscientious critic in the whole
grand duchy of Hesse Darmstadt.

" Unfortunately, his appreciation of musical art was com-
pletely and solely negative. He bestowed no praise, but only
blame. Sing with expression, perform with talent, the dog
would remain impassive and cold; but at the slightest incor-
rectness of intonation he ground his teeth, lashed his tail,
growled, yelped, and barked aloud. So long as he flourished—
and he may flourish still—not a concert or an opera was re-
hearsed in Darmstadt without inviting Herr Frederick Schwartz
and his dog—but more especially the dog. If the prima donna
made the slightest slip, the dog looked at his master with an
air of disapprobation. If the hautboys came in too late, Poodle
pricked up his earsif the clarionet hurried the movement,
Poodle fidgeted on his bench j if the kettle-drummer broke the
time, Poodle uttered audible murmurs. In fact, no piece was
considered properly executed unless the canine connoisseur re-
mained quiet on his seat.SIMPLE DOG TRICKS.

95

" Nor must it be supposed that Poodle's instinct was limited
to forming a judgment of the execution only. His intelligence,
trained by hearing classical works, seemed to have penetrated
some of the secrets of composition. An abrupt modulation, a
false resolution, would produce symptoms of doubt on Poodle's
muzzle; consecutive fifths made him shudder, and a halting
melody set his teeth on edge. Sometimes Herr Schwartz and
his intimate friends, in the privacy of a snug little quartette
party, would amuse themselves by producing discordant sounds,
for the sake of tormenting the sensitive animal. On such occa-
sions Poodle lost all self-command; his hair stood on end, his
eyes became bloodshot, and frightful howlings answered to the
discord produced by the fiddles of the mystificators. Moreover,
they were obliged to keep within certain bounds. Poodle pos-
sessed only a limited stock of forbearance. If the cacophony
was too intense or too prolonged, Poodle, carrying out his sense
of duty, upset everything. Music-stands, music-stools, and in-
struments, were strewed in confusion about the room."

THE LUMP OF SUGAR TRICK.

This consists in placing a lump of sugar on the dog's nose,
and having him toss it up and catch it in his mouth. It is not
essential that sugar should be used; any other dainty will do
as well, indeed a piece of meat will answer better in teaching
the trick. In teaching, hold your switch under the dog's chin,
and tap him whenever he tries to lower his head to let the meat
drop. If he does not presently jerk his head up, and so throw
the morsel into the air, you should strike him under the chin a
pretty smart rap to make him do so. When it leaves his nose
there will be no instruction required to make him seize it
promptly before it has a chance to reach the ground; should it,
however, touch the ground, it is well to take it from him, and
make him toss it again.

TO FEIGN DEATH.

A dog may be placed on his back or in almost any other
posture, and by speaking sharply to him and threatening him
with your forefinger, you can prevent his changing his position.
In this manner the trick of feigning death is taught. It a
special word of command be used when placing him, he wil*
learn to take the position on hearing that command.96

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTER XI.

WONDERFUL FEATS PERFORMED BY DOGS—MOST CELEBRATED
DOGS OF THE WORLD—LEARNING THE ALPHABET—TO
PLAY CARDS AND DOMINOES—TO SELECT ANY ARTI-
CLE DESIRED AND PUT IT ANYWHERE DIRECTED.

OUH last chapter gave a wide range of tricks performed by-
dogs, most of which can be taught by the amateur trainer.
There is another class of tricks, requiring great intelligence on
the part of the dog, and rare skill and patience on the part of the
trainer, for their successful mastery. Though these may be
beyond the abilities of ordinary dogs and ordinary trainers—for
such feats are very rare, even in public exhibitions, and when
performed, are looked upon almost as miracles—they cannot
fail to prove interesting to our readers, and it is barely possible
that some reader of this book may yet astonish the world with
some equally proficient animal, to rival those whose deeds are
herein recorded.

The French trainers have probably brought the education of
the dog to a point achieved in no other country, and several of
these canine celebrities have become subjects of history. Emil
de Tarade gives a very interesting account of two of these, the
principal part of which account we translate, as follows :

"In 1840 I was acquainted with M. Leonard, of Lisle, (an
inspector of the revenue) who possessed two well taught dogs.
Braque and Philax, as they were named, were two grayhounds,
with large brown ears. Their eyes alone would tell you how
much intelligence had been developed in these interesting ani-
mals. Words were fixed in their memory with a positive
meaning. These dogs knew as well as we do the meaning of
i above/ ' below/ ' before/ < behind/ etc. They made a proper
application of the name of a color, of a number up to a certain
point; knew what was meant by 1 parlor/ 1 corridor/ i stairs /
knew the furniture, utensils, small objects of the pocket and
toilet j and when one bade these dogs perform in the absence of
their master, one was seized with astonishment and admira-
tion.

If you said to one: 1 Go sit down in front of the lady in
the rose-colored dress/ the dog went immediately to seek the
lady so designated, seated himself upon his haunches, wagging
his tail, and regarding the lady with a very expressive look.
1 Ask the lady for her thimble.' The lady offered successively
her handkerchief, gloves, ctc., but the animal did not move.WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS.

97

As soon as she presented the thimble, he ran off, making a
thousand gambols at having obtained it. After this he passed
gravely about the room, as if to say : ' What shall 1 do with
it V On saying to him : L Go to the sofa in front of the fire-
place—there is a hat upon it—put the thimble in the hat, and
carry it to the lady in blue/ the dog would strictly carry out
the order.

" Placing a piece of meat on a piece of bread, and putting
the whole into a corner of the room, you might say to either of
these dogs: 6 Seek it! Seize it P The animal would run
toward the object in question, but on nearing it, he would face
about, seat himself before you with a pleasant air, as if to say :
' I only eat what my master gives me—is Mons. Leonard pres-
ent V The latter would say : 1 Leave the meat—put it on the
ground—eat the bread.' The order would be executed.

"Both these dogs knew how to play dominoes, and this is the
method in which it was done: One dog was made to seat
himself upon a chair before a table on which were placed the
dominoes, and opposite a human player. It was necessary to
give the dog only four dominoes, which were laid out in a row,
the faces toward him. If he had a double six he played it at
once, placing it in the middle of the table. If he had not, he
waited for his opponent to play. Then, if he had a domino
proper to play, be did not fail to do it, though he never ad-
justed it nicely—contenting himself with placing it at the end
to which it belonged. If you attempted to cheat, by placing a
two, for instance, where a six belonged, he contented himself
(if it was a lady) with returning the wrong domino; but if it
was a gentleman, he accompanied the correction with a growl,
as if to say : i Do not revoke, sir.? These feats were performed
by these dogs either in the presence or absence of their master.

" One day, walking in the country, I asked M. Leonard to
order the dogs to go over a fence right and left. He did so by
command only, Philax going over on our left, and Braque on
the right, as they were ordered. Then he ordered them to kiss
each other; they pushed muzzle to muzzle in quite an amus-
ing way. Another thing, the dogs were frequently sent to the
butcher, baker, or grocer, with a basket and written message,
and on these occasions it was only necessary to say: < Go to
the butcher P ' Go to the baker !' or, 1 Go to the grocer P and
the command was always obeyed without fail. On these occa-
sions, one would carry the basket, and the other would act as
guard.

" One may see from this that if the grayhound, the least in-
telligent of his kind, is capable of such instruction, all dogs are98

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

capable of being taught to do things which seem apparently
impossible."

Still another French celebrity of the canine kind is described
by a writer in Le Siecle, a Paris journal. Mile. Bianca, as she
was called, one of the pug breed, created quite a sensation
among amusement seekers at the time she was exhibited, and
her wonderful feats were witnessed by large audiences. We;
did not see her performance, but have been assured by persons
who did, that the following, though perhaps a little highly
colored—as is the habit of most French writers—is yet sub-
stantially an accurate description of the dog's feats. Le Siecle's
reporter says :

" As most of the Parisian papers have mentioned this little
phenomenon, who reminds the public of the genius of the illus-
trious Munito, I, in turn, wished to make Mile. Bianca's ac-
quaintance. She did me the honor to accord a private audience
to me, for which I am extremely grateful. To see artists on
the theater of their exploits is doubtless very agreeable, but to
be introduced into their intimate circle of friendship, is still
more precious. If these lines should fail under Mile. Bianca's
eyes—as it is not improbable, for artists generally do not dis-
dain to read newspapers where their merits are vaunted—she
may see that, though I am only a man, may liert is no stranger
to every sentiment of gratitude. Let me say, in the first place,
in praise of my heroine, that her modesty exceeds even that of
male and female literary people, who are, as everybody knows,
a most modest race. V anity, that horrible fault which some
observers have insisted they were able to detect in some men
and women—fortunately extremely rare—is no canine vice;
and great as are Mile. Bianca's talents, she remains what na-
ture made her—simple and good natured, and as sprightly as
beautiful.

" She reads fluently, writes in her way, corrects faults of or-
thography, takes part in a game of ecarte, forms a bouquet by
the names of flowers or their colors, and barks, or at least is
familiar with, nineteen languages. Even if we admit the nat-
ural affection which Mile. Bianca's professor has for his excellent
pupil has betrayed him into exaggerating the talents of Mile.
Bianca some fifteen more tongues than she really possesses,
nevertheless she will still be a most distinguished polyglotist.
This I can affirm. I gave her the English word 1 God' to
translate into Latin. She instantly, and without hesitation,
composed the word {Deus.? This is her modus operandi: She
i& placed on a table sufficiently large to allow her to move
easily in every direction. She is in the center of the table. AllWONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS.

99

around her are small bits of pasteboard, bearing each a letter
of the alphabet. When a spectator gives a word, or asks for a
translation, Mile. Bianca seems to think a moment, half closes
her eyes, like a poet hunting for a rhyme, and moves around
the table, taking pasteboard, letter after letter, until she com-
pletes the word. She does this quietly, easily, without ever
being betrayed into hurry. The word formed, she gravely takes
her seat and gives one bark, as a printer places a period at the
end of a sentence. She plays cards, and forms nosegays in the
same way. While this intellectual animal is at work, her mas-
ter stands motionless, some three or four paces from the table,
but does not say a word. He sometimes disappears entirely =
behind a door, and Mile. Bianca works wonders as effectually as
when he is present. I said to her tutor : 6 So your dog really
reads and understands what is said to her V

u 6 How can you doubt it, as you see she does so as well
when I am absent as when I am by her side f

u i She really is the worthy peer of Munito, the Newton of
the canine race/

" 'Munito V quickly exclaimed Mile. Bianca's tutor, his lip
curling with contempt as he spoke. ' Munito was a miserable
humbug; one of those dogs who abuse the public credulity.7
" ' What % Munito a humbug 1 You astound me P
u £ Yes, sir; and were Munito here, I should tell him so to
his face. Impostors and dogs of real talents should not be con-
founded. Munito did not know B from a bull's foot, while Bi-
anca has learned by rule. What she knows, she knows thor-
oughly/

"i Is it possible Munito knew nothing, and merely concerted
with his master to appear learned f
a 1 You have hit the nail on the head/

u i Do you mean to tell me there are pseudo savants among
dogs ? I thought men had a monopoly of that plague.7
u 1 Dogs don't escape it/

"1 Good heavens! can a fellow trust neither man nor dog ?
Do enter into particulars ; and since I am doomed, it seems, to
lose one more illusion, let the loss, at least, turn to the profit
of my knowledge/

" i I, too, was a dupe to Munito's merits ; but one fine morn-
ing the scales fell from my eyes, and I discovered the truth. Like
my Bianca—forgive me the odious comparison, dear !—Munito
stood in the center of a circle formed of bits of pasteboard
bearing letters, or figures, or colors. I grant you, Munito had
a good deal of brains; he was no fool, I admit, and his ear was
exquisitely delicate. Had he been trained by a good method,100

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

he would have attained high rank ; but his master, who was an
Italian, preferred turning his delicacy of hearing to profit,
rather than bringing him up by rule.'

" ' Ah ! Munito was no classic. But, pray tell me, did he
then belong to the romantic school T

"'Not a bit more than he belonged to the cassical school.
All his talents lay in obeying his master's signals. Munito
walked gravely around the table, assuming the airs of a mem-
ber of the French academy; but incapable as he was of read*
ing or distinguishing colors, he never stopped to pick up the
bit of pasteboard except when his master gave him the signal.
Munito's master stood with his hand in his breeches pocket.
He would snap a finger nail or a tooth pick, and this click,
though so slight as to escape the attention of the spectators,
was caught by the dog's ear, and who instantly received the
reward of his criminal comedy. He was given a bonbon. Do
you know of what that so-called bonbon was made ? 'Twas
nothing but bread and meat hashed fine and rolled in the shape
of a ball 5 but there was no more sugar in it than there is in a
black draught. Such cheating really deserves the brand of
history. If you think I speak harshly of Munito, my excuse is,
he is dead. We owe nothing but truth to dead dogs as well as
dead men.'"

The reader will perceive that, for the best results, a sys-
tematic course of education is necessary rather than the teach-
ing of a mere trick, to be performed at a recognized signal from
the trainer. Presuming that the dog has been taught to fetch
and carry, as described in the preceding chapter, and may
thereby be considered to be well up in the rudiments of canine
education, the following, which may be termed the " classical"
course, would be the system of instruct ion—it is, indeed, the
same as was pursued with Braque and Philax:

Having taught your dog the meaning of the words, "go
fetch it," u bring it," " drop it," " bring it back/7 you will next
teach him the names of different articles. Let us first take a
handkerchief, and placing it upon the ground, order him to
u bring the handkerchief," until the name is impressed on his
memory. Now we will add a glove, and direct the dog to
" bring the glove." Should he bring the handkerchief instead,
we scold him, but should he bring the glove, we reward him.
When he has thoroughly learned to distinguish these articles
by name, a key may be added, and the same method of teaching
continued. One by one other articles may be added, until the num-
ber is sufficiently large to make the trick entertaining. When
he has been exercised in picking out on command the desired ar-WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS.

10 i

tide from those placed on the ground, hide one of them, and,
calling the hidden article by name, order him to bring it. If,
after examining the objects before him, he shows by hi8 dis-
tressed looks that he knows the article required is not among
the others, you may be assured he has thoroughly acquired his
lesson. If he brings a wrong article, it is certain that either he
is careless, or not sufficiently drilled.

Differences of color come next. Take, for example, a red,
white, or blue handkerchief, and placing it on the ground, di-
rect the dog to bring it, calling it by color as well as name. At
first he will bring it, because he knows what the word " hand-
kerchief" means, and without giving consideration to the color;
but when you add a handkerchief of a different color, still order-
ing him to bring the former one, he will remember the new
word and its application to the right handkerchief. Supposing
you have commenced with the red one, and have added the
white, should he bring the white, you say sternly, "No! the
red handkerchief/' making him replace the white, and bring the
red. Now repeat the lesson, calling at will for first one and
then the other, until he makes no mistakes. Then add the blue
handkerchief, and repeat the lesson. Glovep ji various colors
may then be added, one by one, in all cases naming the color as
well as the article when directing him to bring it. The number
of objects may be increased to whatever extent the patience of
the trainer and the capacity of the pupil will admit of. "

After that it will be found convenient to teach him the names
of the more common articles of furniture. Pointing to a table,
you will say to him : " Go to the table." The motion of your
hand will probably direct him to the designated spot; and by
repeating the lesson, he will learn to associate the name of
" table " with that article. Of course, " chair," " sofa," and
other objects may be added as he progresses.

Then he may be taught to distinguish between the meanings
of such words as " on," " under," etc. This is done by empha-
sizing the prepositions as : " Put the glove on the chair f " Put
the handkerchief under the table," etc., in each case repeating
the order until he obeys correctly. If all preceding lessons
have been thorough, he will readily comprehend all of the or-
der but the new part, and as his attention will only be required
by that, he will soon learn it. Then the titles of individuals, as
" lady," "gentleman," and "child," may be taught in the same
manner, reproving his failures and rewarding his successful at-
tempts.

To secure a valuable dog against accidental or malicious in-
jury from poisonous or improper food_, it is well to accustom102

THE ART 0* TRAINING ANIMALS.

him to take his food from the hand of his master, or some other
trustworthy person, and never to eat anything unless it be so
given. This is the foundation of several tricks spoken of in a pre-
ceding page. After the dog's intelligence has been so cultivated
that he quickly understands your wishes, and has become ac
customed to rendering implicit obedience thereto, place within
his reach a piece of meat, or a saucer of milk, and order him not
to touch it. Then retire to a short distance, but be ready to
check any attempt to seize the food, by repeating the command,
" Don't touch it," and by force if necessary. Do not tantalize
him too long, but soon give him some tid-bit as a reward for his
self-control, and repeat the lesson. By-and-by he may be left
alone, at first only for a few minutes, then for a longer and
longer time.

It is possible—and, indeed, it is the common method—to
teach a dog to pick out any desired letters from a number of
printed cards, in obedience to signals given by the exhibitor.
This method of training is essentially the same as that adopted
with the u educated hog f so it is unnecessary to describe it
here. But dogs, as in the case of those described in the pre-
ceding pages, may be taught to know the letters, and to recog-
nize them when named ; so that the performance can be con-
ducted more openly, and without risk of the clap-trap of signals
being detected.

But how is this to be taught ? Why, very much as a child
is taught—by constant drilling until the name and looks of each
letter are perfectly associated together. Pieces of pasteboard
should be provided, on each of which one letter is marked large
and plain. Placing the A and B cards side by side, tell the
dog to bring you the A. If he brings the B, scold him ; make
him return it to its place, and again order him to bring the A.
As soon as he does so, pat him, speak encouragingly to him,
and repeat the lesson, not calling the letters in any regular ro-
tation, but at random. Add letter by letter each day as the dog
learns thoroughly those already given him, until he can select
without hesitation any letter of the alphabet that may be failed
for. lie may then be made to spell words by your calling the
letters composing them. If thoroughly trained, he will bring
the proper letters when shown a card on which the word you
desire him to spell is printed. Of course, only capitals should
be used in these exercises, for otherwise the labor of teaching
would be doubled, besides confusing the dog between capitals
and small letters, without gaining anything.

Ob the same principle the dog may be taught what, with a
little license, may be called playing cards. Pieces of paste-WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS.

103

board several times the size of ordinary playing cards should be
provided, one side of each being printed to represent one card.
As with the letters, these cards are to be placed on the floor, at
first only two, then three, increasing the number as the dog
learns those already shown him. Suppose the ace of clubs and
the ace of hearts be used to commence with: direct the dog to
bring the ace of clubs; if he does so, reward him, but if he
brings the heart, scold him, and order him to return it 5 again
directing him to bring the ace of clubs. So on with each les-
son until he can distinguish between all the cards, and bring any
one desired. After this, cards a little smaller may be substi-
tuted for those at first used, and then smaller and smaller ones
until the customary playing cards are used. We give this feat
on the authority of M. de Tarade, never having personally seen
it performed, but it is really not so difficult as might at first be
imagined ; the dog, even to know the whole pack, needing only
to learn the thirteen values of the cards, and to then distinguish
between the four suits.*

The " playing;; part consists in the trainer directing the dog
to bring the particular card required ; wherever it is pretended
that the dog of his own accord selects the proper card for tak-
ing a trick, there is really deception; the dog in such a case
must be secretly directed by signals which he has been taught
to obey.

To teach a dog to play dominoes, provide some pieces of
board or thick card, some eight or ten inches long, on which
paint conspicuously in black the required dots. Having pro-
vided two sets in this manner, spread one set upon the floor,
and taking in your hand the blank domino of the other set, you
say: " Bring the white." Being familiar, from his previous
training, with the color, he will doubtless select the correct
domino. Then you show him the one spot, directing him to
"bring the one." Should he hesitate, repeat the command,
showing him the spot on the domino in your hand. As soon as
he has learned this difference, cease your instruction for the
day, as it is unwise to attempt to go too fast. On the next
day the two, three, and four may be included in the lesson ;
and so on each day, adding two or three, until the whole are
learned. Having learned so much, the dog is prepared to play

*Even this would be a greater feat of intelligence than we have ever seen exhibited by
a dog-, and we are inclined to think there war some aid afforded in thit, case of the French
dogs, by arranging the cards systematically, or by some other means. It is harder to
count (or to distinguish between) the number of dots, than to distinguish between a blue
handkerchief and a red stocking. The dog who is described as playing dominoes, it
should be remembered, used only four pieces at onetime. Possibly the dog recognized
the cards by the general appearance ol each, not the number of spots thereon.104

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

a game of dominoes, for the game consists merely in matching
certain pieces.

Munito, the dog to whom reference is made in a preceding
page, was a French poodle, very handsome, with a fine silky,
white, woolly coat, half shaved. A gentleman who saw him
exhibited in Piccadilly, London, nearly fifty years ago, thus
describes his performance, disclosing at the same time the se-
crets thereof:

" He performed many curious feats, answering questions,
telling the hour of the day, the day of the week, or date of the
month, and picking out any cards called for from a pack spread
on the ground. At the corner of the room was a screen, behind
which the dog and his master disappeared bet ween each feat for
a short time. We watched him narrowly; but it was not until
after our second visit that the mystery was solved. There
were packs of ordinary cards, and other cards with figures, and
others with single letters. One of the spectators was requested
to name a card—say the queen of clubs—the pack was spread
on the floor in a circle, faces upward. Munito went around the
circle, came to the queen of clubs, pounced upon it, and brought
it in his mouth to his master. The same process was repeated
with the cards with figures, when he brought the exact num-
bers which answered the questions put as to dates, or days, or
hours; in the same way with the letter cards, when he picked
out the necessary letters to spell any short word called for, al-
ways making a full circle of the whole of the cards for each let-
ter, or for each number, and never taking up two letters or two
numbers consecutively, though they might chance to lie close
together. This fact we made out at the first visit, but nothing
more. On the second occasion we watched more narrowly, and
with that object took a side seat, so that we had a partial view
behind the screen. We then noticed that between each feat the
master gave the dog some small bits of some sort of food, and
that there was a faint smell of aniseed from that corner of the
room. We noticed that the dog, as he passed around the circle
of cards, with his nose down, and his eyes directed to the ground,
never pounced on the right card as his eyes covered it, but
turned back and picked it out. It was clear that he chose it by
the smell, and not by the sense of sight. We recalled that, each
time before the dog began his circuit, the master arranged and
settled the cards, and we then found that he pressed the fleshy
part of his thumb on the particular card the dog was to draw,
which thumb he previously put into his waistcoat pocket for an
instant; and as he passed close to us, his waistcoat had ah ani-
seed scent."WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS.

lOf

Dogs have been made to take part in stage representations,
their performances being but applications of simple tricks taught
in our tenth chapter. The good dog who recognizes the mur-
derer of his master and seizes him by the throat; the other
good dog who prevents an assassination by flying at the would-
b'j assassin, and having a scuffle; and the still other good dog
yAio rescues the child from drowning, or some other impending
danger, are all " worked " by signals, or obey understood com-
mands—the actor's " cueserving as well as any other word.

An amusing story is told of an accident which befell a penu-
rious manager of a minor play-house, in endeavoring to avoid
an engagement with the owner of the wonderful dogs, when
their services and not his were to constitute the principal at-
traction. The owner persisted; it must be his dogs and him-
self, or no dogs at all; the sagacious animals would perform
their marvels with no one else. The huckstering manager
doubted this, and craved permission to try whether, by running
across the room, and using the words repeated by the owner in
the play, one of the animals would not seize him by the coat
collar as well, without doing him any injury. The master con-
sented, but the experiment failed entirely. The dog remained
doggedly motionless. " It strikes me/7 said the disappointed
manager, " that if you were to say, 1 Go, sir I7 in a harsh tone,
when I repeat the words, that he would at once perform the
feat." "Very well, sir/7 replied the owner, "we will try the
experiment, if you wish it." The preliminaries were again
gone through with; and the master said, " Go, sir I" The gi-
gantic dog did go with a vengeance. He dashed off like an
arrow 5 seized the manager by the nape of his neck, threw him
violently on the floor, and giving two or three tremendous
growls, seemed on the point of making mince-meat of his prey,
who, petrified with fright, was glad enough to be rescued, and
to permit the master to perform with his dogs, and on his own
terms. He never was quite satisfied, however, that there was
not some peculiarity in the " Go, sir/? used on that particular
occasion.106

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTEK XII.

TAMING AND TRAINING ELEPHANTS—CAPTURE AND TREATMENT

—ELEPHANTS AS LABORERS AND AS CIRCUS PERFORMERS.

TINT telling how elephants are trained, so interwoven is our
-L subject with that of the capture of the animals, that pei*-
haps our best plan will be to take a hint from Mrs. Glass's re-
cipe for cooking the hare, viz., catch him first—and commence
with the capture of the animals. Although authentic instances
are on record of elephants breeding in captivity, it is of very
rare occurrence, so that, practically, it may be said that the en-
tire supply of domesticated elephants has been obtained by
conversion from a wild state.

The device of taking them in pitfalls still prevails in India,
but tiiis is a laborious operation, often unsuccessful, owing to
the caution of the animal,* besides this, if caught, the great
weight of the elephant, and the inability of his legs to withstand
any severe direct shock, too frequently cause so much injury to
the game as to render this mode of capture unprofitable. A
writer on Ceylon, nearly two hundred years ago, describes an-
other method which is still practiced. Describing the captures
of elephants for the stud of the king of Kandy, he says:

" After discovering the retreat of such as have tusks, unto
these they drive some she elephants, which they bring with
them for the purpose, which, when once the males have got a
sight of they will never leave, but follow them wheresoever
they go 5 and the females are so used to it, that they will do
whatsoever, either by word or beck, their keepers bid them.
And so they delude them along through towns and countries,
and through the streets of the city, even to the very gates of
the king's palace, where sometimes they seize them by snares,
and sometimes by driving them into a kind of pound, they catch
them."

Throughout the China-Indian peninsula the natives use fe-
male elephants in approaching males detached from the herd,
or selected as desired captives on account of their beauty—the
capture being effected by casting a noose over the foot of the
victim. Probably, however, the Moormen of Ceylon are unex-
celled in daring or adroitness in this vocation. So fearless are
these professional catchers, or panickeas as they are termed,
that two will, without aid or attendants, attempt the capture of
the largest sized elephant. Their only weapon is a flexible
rope of deer's or buffalo's hide. Stealing behind the animalCAPTURING ELEPHANTS.

107

when at rest, or stealthily following in his footsteps if in mo-
tion, they attach this rope to his hind legs. When at rest the
elephant has a habit of swinging his hind feet, which aids the
catchers in slipping the noose over the leg. Should the
noosing be effected in open ground where there is no tree to
which to secure the prize, one man allows himself to be pur-
sued by the enraged elephant, and thus entices him to a more
favorable locality, where the other man seizes the trailing rope
and winds it around some convenient tree. The animal now
turns upon his new assailant, but the first provokes him with
gesticulations and taunting shouts of "dah! dah !" of which
word the animal has a remarkable dislike. Meanwhile, the
man's comrade has secured the first noose, entangles one foot
after the other until all are secured, and the capture complete.

Then a shelter of branches is put up for the men, and day
and night they remain encamped before their prisoner. The
elephant, in a few days at the farthest, becomes submissive,
subdued by exhaustion and hunger, the terror of the fire which
he dreads, and the smoke which he detests. Then an abund-
ance of plantains and other dainties are given him, he is sup-
plied with plenty of water, of which he is very fond, and grad-
ually he becomes reconciled to his keepers, and finally they
venture to start with their huge prisoner for their own village,
generally many miles away, with forests and jungles interven-
ing. Still too morose to permit his captors to ride him, and
too powerful to be led or driven, this forced march taxes the
ingenuity of the hunters to the utmost. Alternately vexing
and eluding him, they keep his attention constantly attracted,
and so induce him to move in the desired direction. The rope
with which the capture was effected is of some assistance, be-
sides being used to tie up the animal at night, and this is never
removed from his leg until he is sufficiently tame to be entrusted
with partial liberty.

Frequently a whole herd, numbering from thirty to one hun-
dred individuals, is captured at once, but in this case a different
plan from the foregoing is adopted. The custom in Bengal is
to construct a strong enclosure (called a keddah) in the heart
of the forest, formed of the trunks of trees firmly secured by
transverse beams and buttresses, and leaving a gate for the en-
trance of the elephants. A second enclosure, opening from the
first, contains water (if possible a rivulet;) this again commu-
nicates with a third, which terminates in a funnel-shaped pas-
sage, too narrow to admit of an elephant turning, and within
this the captives being driven in line, are secured with ropes
introduced from the outside, and led away in custody of tamed108

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

ones trained for the purpose. The keddah being prepared, the
first operation is to drive the elephants toward it, for which
purpose vast bodies of men fetch a compass in the forest around

the haunts of the herds, contracting it by degrees till they com-

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GROUND PLAN OF A CORRAL.

plete the enclosure of a certain area, round which they kindle
fires, and cut footpaths through the jungle, to enable the watch-
ers to communicate and combine. All this is performed in cau-
tious silence and by slow approaches, to avoid alarming the
herd. A fresh circle nearer to the keddah is then formed in the

METHOD OF FENCING A CORRAL.

same way, and into this the elephants are admitted from the
first one, the hunters following from behind, and lighting new
fires around the newly enclosed space. Day after day the pro-
cess is repeated; till the drove having been brought sufficiently
close to mqke the final rush, the whole party close in from allCAPTURE OF ELEPHANTS.

109

sides, and with drums, guns, shouts, and flambeaux, force the
terrified animals to enter the fatal enclosure, when the passage
is barred behind them, and retreat rendered impossible. Their
efforts to escape are repressed by the crowd, who drive them
back from the stockade with spears and flaming torches; and
at last compel them to pass on into the second enclosure.
Here tbey are detained for a short time, and their feverish ex-
haustion relieved by free access to water—until at last, being
tempted by food, or otherwise induced to trust themselves in
the narrow outlet, they are one after another made fast by ropes,
passed in through the palisade, and picketed in the adjoining
woods to enter on their course of systematic training. These
arrangements vary in different districts of Bengal; and the
method adopted in Ceylon differs in many essential particulars
from them all; the keddah, or, as it is here called, the corral or
korahl (from the Portuguese curral, a " cattle-pen,") consists
of but one enclosure instead of three. A stream or watering
place is not uniformly enclosed within it, because, although wa-
ter is indispensable after the long thirst and exhaustion of the
captives, it has been found that a pond or rivulet within the
corral itself adds to the difficulty of leading them out, and in-
creases their reluctance to leave it; besides which, the smaller
ones are often smothered by the others in their eagerness to
crowd into the water. The funnel-shaped outlet is also dis-
pensed with, as the animals are liable to bruise and injure them-
selves within the narrow stockade; and should one of them die
in it, as is too often the case in the midst of the struggle, the —
difficulty of removing so great a carcass is extreme. The
noosing and securing them, therefore, takes place in Ceylon
within the area of the first enclosure into which they enter, and
the dexterity and daring displayed in this portion of the work
far surpasses that of merely attaching the rope through the
openings of the paling, as in an Indian keddah, and affords a
much more exciting sport.

In Ceylon, in former times, the work connected with these
hunts was performed by forced labor extorted from the natives
by their sovereigns as a part of the feudal service termed "raja-
kariya,"; and this labor was in succession demanded by the Por-
tuguese, Dutch and English, as the island passed successively
into their possession. Since the abolition of this compul-
sory duty, there has been no difficulty in securing all required
assistance voluntarily. From fifteen hundred to two thousand
men are required to construct the corral, drive in the elephants,
maintain the cordon of watch-fires and watchers, and attend to
other duties. Many weeks are occupied in putting up the110

THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

stockades, cutting paths through the jungle, and surrounding
and driving in the elephants.

In selecting the scene for an elephant hunt a position is
chosen which lies on some old and frequented route of the ani-
mals, in their periodical migrations in search of forage and wa-
ter ; and the vicinity of a stream is indispensable, not only for
the supply of the elephants during the time spent in inducing
them to approach the enclosure, but to enable them to bathe
and cool themselves throughout the process of training after
capture. In constructing the corral itself, care is taken to avoid

POSITION OFTEN TAKING IN ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE ROPE.

disturbing the trees or the brushwood within the included space,
and especially on the side by which the elephants are to ap-
proach, where it is essential to conceal the stockade as much as
possible by the density of the foliage. The trees used in the
structure are from ten to twelve inches in diameter; and are
sunk about three feet in the earth, so as to leave a length of
from twelve to fifteen feet above ground; with spaccs between
each stanchion sufficiently wide to permit a man to glide
through. The uprights are made fast by transverse beams, to
which they are lashed securely by ratans and flexible climbing
plants, or as they are called, " jungle ropes," and the whole is
steadied by means of forked supports which grasp the tie beams,
and prevent the work from being driven outward by the rusb
of the wild elephants.CAPTURING ELEPHANTS.

Ill

The space enclosed varies, but 500 feet in length by 250
wide is a fair average. At one end an entrance is left open,
fitted with sliding bars, so prepared as to be capable of being
instantly shut; and from each angle of the end by which the
elephants were to approach, two lines of the same strong fenc-
ing were continued, and cautiously concealed by the trees, so
that the animals would be prevented from making their escape
at the sides while being forced forward to the entrance of the
corral.

The corral being prepared, the beaters address themselves to
driving in the elephants. For this purpose it is often necessary
to make a circuit cf many miles in order to surround a sufficient
number, and the caution to be observed involves patience and
delay; as it is essential to avoid alarming the animals, who
might otherwise escape. Their disposition being essentially
peaceful, and their only impulse to browse in solitude and se-
curity, they withdraw instinctively before the slightest intru-
sion, and advantage is taken of this timidity and love of seclu-
sion to cause only just such an amount of disturbance as will
induce them to retire slowly in the direction which it is desired
they should take. Several herds are by this means concentra-
ted within such an area as will admit of their being completely
surrounded by the watchers ; and day after day, by slow de-
grees, they are moved gradually onward toward the immediate
confines of the corral. When their suspicions become awak-
ened and they exhibit restlessness and alarm, bolder measures
are adopted for preventing their escape. Fires are kept burn-
ing at ten paces apart, night and day, along the circumference
of the area within which they are detained. At last the ele-
phants are forced onward so close to the enclosure, that the
investing cordon is united at either end with the wings of the
corral, the whole forming a circuit of about two miles, within
which the herd is detained to await the signal for the final
drive.

Suddenly the signal is gi^en, and the silence is broken by
shouts from the guard, the banging of drums and tom-toms, and
ihe discharge of muskets. Amid this noise the elephants are
driven forward to and through the gate, which is instantly
closed to cut off their retreat. In a moment more they rush
wildly about the enclosure, trampling the brushwood beneath
their ponderous tread, and charge against the palisades, scream-
ing with rage at each unsuccessful effort. By degrees their
efforts slacken, and in about an hour the whole herd, exhausted
and stupified, stand motionless.

The next operation is to introduce the tame elephants into112

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

the corral to aid in securing the captives. Cautiously the bars
which secure the entrance are let down, and the trained ele-
phants, each mounted by its mahout and one attendant, enter
the corral. Around the elephant's neck h a strong collar com-
posed of ropes of coconu t fiber, from which hangs on either side
cords of elk's hide prepared with a ready noose. Gradually
each trained animal approaches one of the wild ones, until be-
ing sufficiently near, the nooser watching his opportunity, slips

SECURING CAPTURED ELEPHANTS WITH THE AID OF THE TAME ONES.

the noose over one of its legs. Immediately the tame elephant
retires with its riders, drawing the rope tight, and hauling the
captive toward some large tree. In this the other tame ani-
mals lend assistance, pushing with their heads and shoulders.
The first tame one now winds the rope around the tree, and
the others crowd up to the wild animal, and keep him in posi-
tion while his other legs are being secured. The tame elephants
in all these proceedings appear to feel a sportsman's interest,
and are as eager to secure the victim as are their human as-
sistants. Of their own accord they will perform any act which
reason would naturally suggest for overcoming any difficulty
that arises, or which seems necessary under any given circum-
stances. Thus Major Skinner relates an instance where a wildDECOY ELEPHANTS.

113

elephant raised with her trunk the rope which had been at-
tached to her foot, succeeded in carrying it to her mouth, and
would have bitten it through and escaped, but was prevented
by a tame elephant placing his foot 011 the rope, and pressing it
downward out of her jaws. On another occasion, the Same au-
thority says a tame animal watched her opportunity, and placed
her foot under that of the wild one as he raised it, so as to pre-
vent his replacing it upon the ground, enabling the nooser to
attach the rope.

In all this though the tame elephants bend all their energies
to securing the captives, and seem to really enjoy what is going
on, they show no malignity, carefully avoid doing any injury to
the prisoners, and even when it is necessary in binding new ani-
mals to walk over those already secured—usually sprawling
on the ground struggling to get free—they take the utmost
pains not to tread on them.

When first secured, the elephant struggles fiercely to break
his bonds, writhing in a manner one would think impossible for
so bulky and unwieldly an animal. Failing in this, he seems
to give way to despair, and utters the most pitiable moans.
Food is now placed within their reach, which at first they spurn
indignantly, the older ones frequently trampling it under foot.
The milder ones, as tjiey become composed, allow themselves
to be tempted by the delicacies before them, and commence list-
lessly chewing the juicy morsels. The mellow notes of a kan-
dyan flute sometimes aid in soothing and composing the cap-
tives. It may be remarked that elephants are greatly influenced
by music, being soothed and quieted by soft plaintive melodies,
while it is ftiso recorded that in the old wars in which they were
used, their courage in battle was excited by the martial strains.

The last operation of the corral is to slacken the ropes and
march each captive elephant down to the river between two
tame ones. Both of the tame elephants are furnished with
strong collars, and a similar collar is formed on the neok of the
wild one, who stands between them, by successive coils of coco-
nut ; then these collars are connected, and the prisoner made
secure between his guards. Then the nooses which have con-
fined his feet are removed, and the three animals march to the
river, where they are allowed to bathe. After the bath the
captive elephant is made fast to some tree in the forest, keepers
are assigned to him, as well as a retinue of leaf-cutters, whose
duty it is to keep him supplied with such food as he most rel-
ishes. These arrangements being made, he is left to the care
of his new masters, who will see that he is trained up in the
way he should go.114

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

THE WAY THAT ELEPHANTS ARE TRAINED.

It is a very general impression that the training of these
huge and powerful animals is a work of great difficulty and
tediousness. This is a mistake. Elephants are naturally of a
mild and docile nature, although hunters and travelers, to add
luster to their own exploits, have represented them otherwise.
Even the notorious " rogues"are not such wholly bad fel-
lows as has been asserted by some of these writers, and the
Mayne Reid style of natural history must be taken with consid-
erable allowance. In their wild state it is very seldom that
they attack any person or animal, unless provoked or assailed,
and even when some heroic hunter sneaks up to shoot them un-
awares, or from some secure position peppers them with his
rifle, the animals usually appear only anxious to escape from
their aggressor.f

Most readers are familiar with the term " rogue " as applied to elephants, but proba-
bly some are not aware of its exact meaning. A herd, of elephants is a family, and not a
group collected by accident or attachment. The usual number of individuals in a herd
is from ten to twenty, though the latter number is sometimes exceeded. In their visits to
water-courses and migrations, alliances are formed between members of different herds,
thus introducing new blood into the family. If an individual becomes separated from his
he.d, however, he is not permitted to introduce himself into another. He may browse in
their vicinity, or resort to the same stream to bathe or drink, but farther than this no ac-
quaintance is alio we .I. An elephant who has lost his herd, and is by this habit of exclu-
siveness made an outcast, is a "rogue,"and this ban under which he suffers tends to
excite that moroseness and savageness for which rogues are noted. Another conjecture
is, that as rogues are almost always males, the death or capture of particular females has
led them to leave their herds to seek new alliances. A tame elephant escaping from cap-
tivity, unable to find his former companions, beconles of necessity a rogue.

t We could never experience any other feelings than disgust atthe cruelty, and pity for
the animals, at reading the sickening details with which, with a slaughter-house gusto,
certain heroes have graced the naratives of their exploits. Gordon Cummings, gives an ac-
count of his pursuit of a wounded elephant which he had lamed by lodging a ball in its
shoulder'blade. It limped slowly toward a tree, against which it leaned itself in helpless
agony, whilst its pursuer seated himself in front of it, in safety, to boil his coffee, and ob-
serve its sufferings. The story is continued as follows: "Having admired him for a
considerable time, I resolved to make experiments on vulnerable points; and approach-
ing very near I fired several bullets at different parts of his enormous skull. He only ac-
knowledged the shots by a sal-iam-like movement of his trunk, with the point of which
he gently touched the wounds with a striking and peculiar action. Surprisedand shocked
at finding that I was only prolonging the sufferings of the noble beast, which bore its
trials with such dignified composure, I resolved to finish the proceeding with all possible
despatch, and accordingly opened fire upon him from the left side, aiming at the shoulder.
I first fired six shots with the two-grooved rifle, which must have eventually proved mor-
tal. After which I fired six shots at the same part with the Dutch six-pounder. Large
tears now trickled from his eyes, which he slowly shut and opened, his colossal frame
shivered convulsively, and falling on his side, he expired."

In another place, after detailing the manner in which he assailed a poor animal, he says:
" I was loading and firing as fast as could be, sometimes at the head, sometimes behind
the shoulder, until my elephant's forequarter was a mass of gore; notwithstanding which
he continued to hold on, leaving the grass and branches of the forest scarlet in his wake.
* * * * * Having fired thirty-five rounds with my two-grooved rifle, I opened upon
him with the Dutch six-pounder, and when forty bullets perforated his hide, he began for
the first time to evince signs of a dilapidated constitution." The disgusting description
is closed thus: "Throughout the charge he repeatedly cooled his person with large
quantities of water, which he ejected from his trunk over his sides and back, and just ag
the pangs of death came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorn tree, and
kept pouring water into his bloody mouth until he died, when he pitched heavily forwardTHE DISPOSITION OP THE ELEPHANT.	115

The training is simple, and the intelligence and obedience of
the pupil are developed with remarkable rapidity. For the first
three clays, or until they will eat freely, which they seldom do
in a shorter time, the newly captured elephants are allowed to
remain perfectly quiet; and if practicable, a tame elephant is
tied near them to give the wild ones confidence. Where many
elephants are being trained at once, it is customary to put each
new captive between the stalls of half-tamed ones, thereby in-
ducing it to more readily take to its food. The next stage of
the training process is commenced by placing a tame elephant
on each side of the pupil, with the " cooroowe vidahn," or head
of the stables, standing in front, holding a long stick with a
sharp iron point. Two men are then stationed one on either
side, each holding an iron instrument furnished with both a
sharp point and a hook. This is called a " hendoo " in Ceylon,
and a u hawkus n in Bengal, and is the principal weapon used
in guiding and controlling elephants, as it has been from very
ancient times. This instrument is held toward the animal's
trunk, while one or two assistants rub their hands over his
back, keeping up while doing so a soothing and plaintive chant,
interspersed with endearing epit hets, such as, " ho ! my son," or
"ho! my father," or "my mother," as may be applicable to the
age and sex of the captive. At first the elephant is furious, and
strikes in all directions with his trunk; but the men in front
receiving these blows on the points of their weapons, the ex-
tremity of the trunk becomes so sore that
the animal curls it up close, and seldom
afterward attempts to use it offensively.
The first dread of man's power being thus
established, the process of taking him to
bathe between two tame elephants is greatly
facilitated, and by lengthening the neck
rope, and drawing the feet together as close
as possible, the process of laying him down
Mudret'rlsmltation''<>f an"i*1 the water is finally accomplished by the
ancient hendoo. keepers pressing the sharp points of their
hendoos over the backbone.

For many days the roaring and resistance which attend the

with the whole weight of his fore-quarters resting on the points of his tusks. The strain
was fair, and the tusks did not yield; but the portion of his head in which the tusks were
imbedded, extending a long way above the ej-e, yielded and burst with a muffled crash."

" Sport" is noble, but a butcher is not necessarily a sportsman, and a useless destruc-
ton of life, where no more danger is incurred than in a butcher's shambles, is not an abso-
lute proof of courage or heroism, and the "noble hunters " have not the butcher's excuse
for the bloodshed. Whatever of heroism there is in these encounters, we cannot help
thinking, is displayed by the elephants, and not by their aggressors. For a hunter to put
such achievements as we have just quoted on record merely displays the egotism and
cruelty of the man.116

THE AKT OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

operation are considerable, and it often requires the sagacious
interference of the tame elephants to control the refractory wild
ones. It soo~	------

decoy. This step lasts, under ordinary treatment, for about
three weeks, when an elephant may be taken alone with his
legs hobbled, and a man walking backward in front with the
point of the hendoo always presented to the elephant's head,
and a keeper with an iron crook at each ear. On getting into
the water, the fear of being pricked on his tender back induces
him to lie down immediately on the crook being held over him
in terrorem. Once this point has been achieved, the farther
process of taming is dependent upon the disposition of the
creature.

The greatest care is requisite, and daily medicines are ap-
plied to heal the fearful wounds on the legs which even the
softest ropes occasion. This is the great difficulty of training ;
for the wounds fester grievously, and months and sometimes
years will elapse before an elephant will allow his feet to be
touched without indications of alarm and anger.

The observation has been frequently made that the elephants
most vicious and troublesome to tame, and the most worthless
when tamed, are those distinguished by a thin trunk and flabby
pendulous ears. The period of tuition does not appear to be in-
fluenced by the size or strength of the animals: some of the
smallest give the greatest amount of trouble5 whereas, in the
instance of the two largest that have been taken in Ceylon
within the last thirty years, both were docile in a remarkable
degree. One in particular, fed from the hand the first night it
was secured, and in a very few days evinced pleasure on being
patted on the head. The males are generally more unmanage-
ble than the females, and in both an inclination to lie down to
rest is regarded as a favorable symptom of approaching tracta-
bility, some of the most resolute having been known to stand
for months together, even during sleep. Those which are the
most obstinate and violent at first are the soonest and most
effectually subdued, and generally prove permanently docile
and submissive. But those which are sullen or morose, al-
though they may not provoke chastisement by their viciousness,
are always slower in being trained, and are rarely to be trusted
in after life.

But whatever may be his natural gentleness and docility, the
temper of an elephant is seldom to be implicitly relied on in a

practicable

alone, only taking xnem to ana
from the stall by the aid of a

€TRAINING ELEPHANTS.

117

state of captivity and coercion. The most amenable are sub-
ject to occasional fits of stubborness; and even after years of
submission, irritability and resentment will sometimes unac-
countably manifest themselves. It may be that the restraints
and severer discipline of training have not been entirely forgot-
ten ; or that incidents which in ordinary health would be pro-
ductive of no demonstration whatever, may lead, in moments
of temporary illness, to fret-fulness and anger.

In his native country the first employment to which an ele-
phant is put is treading clay in a brick-field, or to draw a wagon
in double harness with a tame elephant. Afier this he is pro-
moted to moving heavy stones or other material, or in piling
lumber. In these occupations he has an opportunity to display
that natural sagacity for which he is noted. It is only neces-
sary to make him understand the object desired to be accom-
plished, and he will himself devise means to attain that result.
In the detail of the work it is seldom necessary to prompt him,
and he will even resent an attempt to compel him to adopt a
different plan from the one he has selected. His trunk is the
instrument on which he principally relies for moving timber
and masses of rock) his tusks, if he possess them, are also of
service. Most persons entertain an exaggerated opinion of the
elephant's strength. It is currently believed that with but
slight exertion he can uproot forest trees, and is in the habit of
doing so as a species of mild recreation. It is true he is of
considerable service in clearing paths through the jungle, but
the removal of even a small tree is a matter of both time and
labor. Another common error is the assumption that elephants
are so thoroughly creatures of habit, that their movements are
purely mechanical, and that any deviation from accustomed
ways is excessively annoying and disconcerting to them. The
best informed authorities assert that changes of treatment, or
of hours of occupation, are as easily made as with a horse.
Still another mistake, derived no doubt from the intelligence
and earnestness he displays in work, is the idea that he actually
enjoys his labor, and will perform his task as faithfully in the
absence of his keeper as when he is present The elephant,
however, loves his ease, and unless his attendant has a watch-
ful eye upon him, he will, on completing the task immediately
in hand, stroll off to browse, or to enjoy the luxury of blowing
dust over his back.

The impulse of obedience is very strikingly manifested in
the patience with which, at the command of his keeper, he will
swallow the nauseating medicines of the native elephant doc-
tors. The fortitude with which he submits to excruciating118

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

surgical operations for the relief of ulcers, would indicate that
he comprehends in a measure the purpose of them. Obedience
to his keeper's orders is not in all cases proof of a perception of
the object to be attained by compliance. This is shown in the
touching incident which took place at the slaughter of the ele-
phant at Exeter, England, when after receiving fully one
hundred and twenty balls in various parts of his body, and these
proving ineffectual to end his existence, he turned his face to
his assailants on hearing the voice of his keeper, and kneeled
down at the accustomed word of command, so as to bring his
forehead within view of the rifles.

The affection for his keeper is a great incentive to obedience
on the part of the elephant, but although this attachment is
often great, there is not that unwillingness to transfer his affec-
tion and obedience to a new keeper, which has been very fre-
quently asserted. If treated with equal kindness he will obey
readily and acquire an affection for a new attendant as soon as
he becomes familiar with his voice. He no doubt often remem-
bers an old friend and many of the anecdotes told of elephants
recognizing an old keeper from whom they have long been
parted, and being rejoiced thereat, are doubtless true. Founded
on very good authority is the story of an animal of particularly
stubborn disposition who, on the death of his keeper, refused to
obey any other, until some attendants bethought them of a boy
some twelve years old in a distant village where the elephant
had been formerly picketed, and to whom it had displayed con-
siderable attachment. The child was sent for, and on his arrival
was immediately recognized with many manifestations of pleasure
and to him the elephant yielded obedience, until by degrees he
became reconciled to a new keeper.

HOW 11 HUNTING ELEPHANTS" ARE TRAINED.

Probably all readers are familiar with the fact that, in their
native countries, elephants are not only used to aid in the cap-
ture of their own species, but also in the pursuit of various wild
beasts of the jungle. In tiger hunting especially is this the
case, and this sport furnishes one of the chief and most exciting
amusements of the English troops in India. In this sport the
elephant is rather an unwilling participant. In his wild state
there is no occasion for any conflict between himself and other
dwellers of the forest. Living entirely on vegetable food, and
so under no necessity of preying upon other animals; too
peaceful to molest others, and too powerful to be molested by
them, in a state of nature each seems anxious to avoid rather
than to provoke any encounter. Should a tiger and an elephantELEPHANTS HUNTING TIGERS.

119

meet in the jungle each would probably be only anxious to get
out of the other's way as quickly as possible.

The principal difficulty in training elephants for hunting is to
overcome the excessive antipathy, and even dread, they enter-
tain toward tigers. To accomplish this a tiger's skin is stuffed
and placed partially concealed among the undergrowth skirting
some road. Along the road the elephant is then conducted;
always observant, he quickly detects the unwelcome neighbor
and considerable urging is required to induce him to pass it.
After passing it several times he becomes more indiferent to its
presence and may be gradually induced to approach it. Then
he is made to turn it over and get thoroughly familiar with it;
this accustoms him to the tiger in a state of quietude. Then
the stuffed figure is thrown toward him and he is taught to
receive it upon his tusks. The next lesson may be to drive his
tusks into the body. The last operation is to teach the elephant
to allow the stuffed tiger to be placed upon his back; this is the
most difficult part of all.

When the elephant is properly trained and ready for service
the hunter takes his place in the hondah—a sort of box-seat
fastened on the animal's back—while the mahout sits astride the
neck. Behind the hunter, in the hondah, rides the shikaree, or
native gun carrier, whose duty it is to " play second fiddle " in
the expedition. A number of natives are also usually employed
as " beaters;; to start the game. These men go on foot, seek-
ing safety, in case of danger, by climbing trees or by being
lifted up by the elephant upon his back. The elephants are
now formed in line and the jungle beaten, in all parts if a small
one, or if very extensive in those portions only which appear
most likely to contain game. As soon as a tiger is started the
line advances upon him, each hunter watching for an opportu-
nity so fire as his elephant charges. Notwithstanding the most
careful training instinct often proves an overmatch for the ele-
phant's education and, he takes to flight in spite of all the dri-
ver's efforts to prevent him One hunter relates an incident of
his elephant being seized with a panic and dumping hunter,
driver and all upon his back, into the very midst of a number
of tigers which the party were in pursuit of.

In taking a doad tiger home the elephant lies on his side
until the body is fastened to him, and then rises with it.

The liability to be seized with a panic at trifling circumstances
is probably due in a measure to the elephant's limited range of
vision, the short neck preventing his looking much above the
level of his head. An anecdote illustrative of this is told by
Sir J. E. Tennent: "In 1841 an officer was chased by an120

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

elephant that he had slightly wounded. Seizing him near the
dry bed of a river, the animal had his fore-foot already raised
to crush him; but its forehead being touched at the same
instant by the tendrils of a climbing plant which had suspended
itself from the branches above, it suddenly turned and fled,
leaving him bodily hurt, but with no limbs broken."

Elephants seldom use their tusks as weapons unless they have
been trained to do so ; their vertical position, ane the structure
of the neck preventing their being effective unless the object of
attack being directly below them. The stories told of the
execution of criminals by elephants when Ceylon was under the
rule of native kings, generally describe the elephant as killing
the victim by running its tusks through his body. An eye
witness of one of these executions, however, says the animal
never used his tusks at all, but placed his foot upon the pros-
trate man and tore off his limbs in succession by a sudden
movement of the trunk. Hunters have frequently described
their escape from elephants when the latter might easily have
killed them by a thrust of their tusks, but apparently did not
even know how to use them for that purpose.

The elephant's dependence is really upon his trunk and his
ponderous feet. It is related that in an encounter between two
elephants, one a tusker and the other without tusks, the latter
proved the victor, breaking off one of the former's tusks with
his trunk.

PERFORMING ELEPHANTS.

From very early times elephants have not only been used in
war, in industrial pursuits, and to add to the pomp and display
of powerful rulers, but ages ago they were made to amuse the
multitude by performances not very dissimilar to those witnessed
in our modern circuses. An old Roman writer describes a
number of elephants exhibited in Rome by a nephew of the
emperor Tiberius, who were taught " to twist their limbs and to
bend them like a stage dancer/'—Roman stage dancers could
not have been remarkable for grace or agility we should fancy—
u the whole troop came forward from this and that side of the
theater, and divided themselves into parties; they advanced
walking with a mincing gait, and exhibiting in their whole bodies
and persons the manners of a beau, clothed in the flowery dres-
ses of dancers ; and on the ballet master giving a signal with
his voice they fell into line and went round in a circle, and if it
were necessary to display they did so. They ornamented the
floor of the stage by throwing flowers upon it, and beat a mea-
sure with their feet and keep time together." Another featureCAPTURING ELEPHANTS.

121

of the entertainment was a banquet prepared for the ele-
phants ; " tables were placed then of sweet smelling wood and
ivory very superb/7 with goblets " very expensive, and bowls
of gold and silver.77 When all was ready the banqueters came
forward, six male and an equal number of female elephants,-
the former had on a male dress and the latter a female; and on
the signal being given they stretched forward their trunks in a
subdued manner, and took their food in great moderation.'7
The last exploit of these animals related by an old Roman was
writing on tablets with their trunks, u neither looking awry or
turning aside. The hand, however, of the teacher was placed

so as to be a guide in the formation of the letters ; and while it
was writing the animal kept its eye fixed down in an accom-
plished and scholarlike manner.77

In addition to the training elephants receive immediately after
their capture, and which we have described, very little instruc-
tion is required to prepare them for those performances which
delight circus-goers. The performances in question consist
usually of lying down, walking on their legs, standing on the
head, walking up an inclined plane formed of a narrow plank,
standing on a pedestal, holding a rope for a dancer or acrobat
to perform upon, and similar feats. These are nearly all but
modifications of his labors when a captive in his native country-
Holding a line for a gymnast is not very different to the elephant
from doing the same thing to draw a load or raise a weight.

In compelling the elephant to perform these acts advantage
is taken of the fact that the feet of the elephant are peculiarly
sensitive and he dreads any injury to them. While a spear held

PERFOR MING ELE PIIANT.122

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

at his head will cause him little uneasiness, if the same be
directed toward his feet it will cause him to display evident
symptoms of anxiety. So by threatened attacks he may be
induced to move in any desired direction. By tapping them
gently from below he may be made to raise themj and by
persevering he is made to raise both hind feet—lowering his head
as a natural result of this rear movement—and thus is accom-
plished the feat of standing on his head. In the pedestal per-
formance the pedestal is comparatively low, and with the upper
surface of just sufficient area to accommodate the elephants
four feet, placed close together. He is first made to place one

PERFORMING ELEPHANT.

for© foot upon this, then the other, and then in succession
the two hind feet. The trainer must be watchful and prevent
the elephant's very natural attempt to replace his fore feet on
the ground when he places his hind one on the pedestal. This
is done by striking his toes whenever he makes the attempt.

The delicacy of touch possessed by the elephant's trunk
enables him to use it for many purposes with as much dexterity
as a human being would his hands. Thus he easily performs
the amusing trick of opening and drinking a bottle of soda
water; holding the bottle with his feet while he removes the
cork with liis trunk and then lifting the bottle in his trunk and
pouring the contents down his throat. Similar tricks are read-
ily acquired by the elephant without any particular training,
all that is necessary in the soda-water trick is to let him know
there is something in the bottle and his ingenuity may be
depended upon to get at the contents. We some years ago
witnessed a novel feat at a circns. A small table was broughtAMATEUR ELEPHANT TRAINING.

123

into the ring and the clown seated himself on one side of it.
On the other side the elephant who had been performing squatted
on his haunches. The "supes77 then brought in plates of
apples, bread, etc., and arranged them on the table. A large
two-pronged fork was now handed to the elephant, and with this
he dexterously " speared77 his provender and conveyed it to his
mouth. This appeared quite wonderful, and was hailed with
rounds of applause, but it was a trick very easily taught. The
animal had been first given apples on a fork, and not being
allowed to eat them except on taking them off the fork with Ids
mouth he soon learned to do so. Then he was given the fork,
and the apples placed before him, his trunk was guided by his
trainer's hand to strike the fork into the apple and then he was
allowed to carry it to his mouth. If the apples be good ones
he will soon learn to do all this without prompting, and will
very willingly perform the trick for the sake of the " perquisites."

We do not imagine that many of our readers will have occa-
sion to train an elephant; still there is often an opportunity
afforded at traveling exhibitions, should you desire it, to make
an elephant go through a little performance for you, such as pick-
ing up your hat, catching apples or nuts thrown him, etc. A
judicious outlay in ginger-bread and like delicacies will induce
his elephantship to be quite obliging, and if your stock of edi-
bles be purchased at the stand in the tent, probably the pro-
prietors will offer no objection to your feeding their elephant
with them.

Speaking of amateur elephant exhibitors recalls an adventure
of our own youthful days. Visiting a menagerie early one
afternoon when comparatively few visitors were present, and
anxious to " show of77 before some less venturesome youths, we
had, at the expense of all our pocket money, caused one of the
elephants to pick up our cap when thrown down and hand it
back to us, to insert his trunk in our pockets after cake, and
finally, as a crowning feat, to take bits of cake from between our
lips. Had we been contented with these achievements our per-
formance would have been a triumph; but, alas, our ambition
was not satisfied, and we thought it would be a still greater
display to make the elephant take the cake from the inside of
our mouth. So a piece was a placed therein and the mouth
held invitingly open. Mr. Elephant unhesitatingly inserted his
proboscis, but unfortunately our supply of cake had been well
nigh exhausted, and the piece used for the experiment was very
small, so either from inability to find it, a mistake in the article,
or as a punishment for reducing the rations, he got hold of our
tongue, and the first thing we knew he was attempting to pull it124

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

out. Luckily his keeper came to our rescue at this critical
moment, and we retired uninjured but rather crestfallen.

CHAPTER XIII.

LIONS, TIGERS, LEOPARDS AND PANTHERS.

"TTNQUESTIONABLY the lion in his native wilds, with his
LJ appetite keen from forced fasts, is a fierce and formidable
adversary to meet with, and well worthy the title of u king of
beasts." But it is well established by travelers and hunters
that when his appetite is satisfied he will seldom attack a man
unprovoked, often passing harmlessly by; and will even permit
his best relished prey, the antelope, to come to bis neighbor-
hood for water, without molestation. He is comparatively
gentle in a state of captivity, more to be depended upon, and
less treacherous, than the tiger, and has been preferred to the
tiger by tamers in all ages.

When taken young he is tamed with little difficulty, and,
while a cub, may be handled and caressed like a great kitten.
As he grows larger he becomes so rough in his play that he is
liable unintentionally to inflict injury. Hunters who capture a
family of cubs generally sell them to individuals who make a
business of buying up young animals in their native countries,
to be forwarded to correspondents in various parts of the
world. This is the way in which nearly all the wild animals on
exhibition are procured.

When an animal " on the road "—which is the technical term
for moving with a traveling exhibition—is so unmindful of the
interests of his owners as to die, the showman telegraphs to a
dealer in wild animals, and often within twenty-four hours
another is on his way to supply the vacant place. Sometimes,
if the dead animal has acquired a reputation, the new one
assumes his name as well as his duties, and the public never
suspects there has been any change.

Until bought by the exhibitor lions are considered merely as
articles of merchandise, to be kept in good condition, and, when
ordered, to be packed and forwarded with due care and despatch.
The dealer in wild animals does nothing in respect to taming
them, though a second-hand animal which has been tamed
sometimes comes into his hands. If it is desired to tame aLION TAMING.

125

lion for the exhibition of the " lion king " he is bought when
young j if merely for ordinary exhibition this is not essential.

The taming is accomplished mainly by mild measures. The
young lion is regularly and plentifully fed, his food being given
to him by the tamer. As we before remarked a cub may be
handled with as much freedom as a kitten, and if this be kept
up regularly, the animal becomes so accustomed to it as not to
resent it when he grows older. Besides, all animals of the cat
kind are fond of having their heads scratched and their fur
stroked, and even such a trifling matter as this aids the tamer
in soothing and gaining the good will of the animal. Being fed
immediately after these familiarities the lion soon hails them

THE " LION KING " PERFORMING.

with pleasure, as the precursor of his meal. Any misbehavior,
such as scratching, biting, or defiance of the tamer is punished
with a blow from the butt of a heavy whip, and in extreme cases
by the deprivation of his supper.

It is sometimes necessary to reduce an old lion to submission
or to inspire with more awe one which does not entertain suffi-
cient respect for the tamer. The animal is usually well fed ;
this dulls his anger at the tamers intrusion, as well as makes
his resistance more easily overcome. Armed with a club, the
tamer enters the cage, and standing in such a position as to pre-
vent the lion approaching from the rear, he waits the animals
onset, This is always a ticklish position, requiring a cool head
and steady nerves, but the captive animal with a full stomach126

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

is not like a wild one ravenous for food, and he is pretty sure
to submit sooner or later. Watching the animal's eye steadily,
the tamer can ordinarily detect his intention to spring, and he
prepared to receive him with a blow from the club. This he
repeats at each approach of the animal until the latter slinks
to the farther end of the cage and ceases his attacks. This is
enough for one lesson; the next day the animal will probably
only gaze sullenly on the tamer upon his entering the cage.
As he becomes accustomed to the man's presence he will permit
him to handle him, but these are not the ones in whose mouths
the tamer places his head. To place your head in the mouth of
a lion who bears you ill-will is a dangerous proceeding, and
there is a probability that he would seize such a favorable
opportunity to pay off old scores.

Burning torches and heated irons are sometimes resorted to
as aids in subduing unaimiable and obstinate animals. These
are used more frequently for tigers than for lions. More
reliance may be placed upon a lion's affection than a tiger's;
the tiger must be made to fear the tamer so much that he will
not dare to commit any overt act.

The training of an animal of course adds very greatly to his
value, therefore great pains are taken with the lion's education.
The lion, if gentle means have been adopted, often becomes
attached to the tamer, and will go through his performance with
even a sort of pleasure. This performance usually consists in
the "lion king* entering the cage, caressing the lions, and
then proceeding to show the audience what he dares to do with
the animals. Opening the mouth, showing the teeth and tongue,
pulling out claws, and the more startling feat of putting his
head in the lion's mouth, are the customary performances.
Taking the lion by the tail is a familiarity occasionally, though
seldom, indulged in.

When the man places his head in the lion's mouth it will be
noticed that he holds the jaws with his hands. This is generally,
but erroneously, supposed to be done to prevent the animal clos-
ing his mouth; should he feel so inclined, the man's strength
would avail but little against the powerful muscles of the ani-
mal's jaws; his real object in holding the jaws is to prevent
the exceedingly rough tongue of the lion coming in contact with
and lacerating his face. When this feat is performed in private
it is usual to protect the face with a sort of hood of stout cloth.
Most of the injuries, to lion tamers, which occur in the perfor-
mance of this feat, we believe to be purely accidental. An
incipient cough, a tickling in the throat or some other trifle is
liable to cause a spasmodic closing of the jaws, and the crushingTHE WILD BEAST TRADE.

127

of the tamer's head before he or the lion has any idea of what is
going to happen.

Some lions will permit strangers to enter their cages in com-
pany with the tamer. Some will even permit little familiarities
from visitors under the protection of the tamer. Nero, a lion
of peculiarly gentle disposition belonging to a menagerie travel-
ing in Scotland, seemed even pleased to receive visits from per-
sons whom his master saw fit to introduce into his cage, and
would treat them very graciously. When last in Edinburgh a
nightly exhibition was given of visitors riding and sitting on his
back, Nero the while preserving a look of magnanimous com-
posure, only slowly looking around at the entrance of a new
visitor. Another lion, in Amsterdam, would jump through a
hoop and barrel; then through the same covered with paper;
and finally through hoop and barrel with the paper set on fire.
This last part he evidently disliked, but with some coaxing would
do it. When given meat in public he would show his forbear-
ance by allowing some of it to be taken from him, submitting
with only a short clutch and a growl; but his countenance lost
its serene expression, and he would probably not long have sub-
mitted to this tampering.

A keeper of wild beasts in New York had provided himself
with a fur cap on the approach of winter. The novelty of this
costume attracted the attention of the lion who made a sudden
grab at it, as the man passed the cage, and pulled it off his head.
As soon, however, as he discovered it was the keeper's he
relinquished the cap and laid down meekly on the bottom of his
cage. The same animal hearing a noise under his cage put his
paw through the bars and hauled up the keeper, who was clean-
ing beneath. Seeing it was his master he had thus ill-used, he
immediately laid down upon his back in an attitude of complete
submission.

The temper of the female is generally milder than that of the
male previous to her having young. No sooner, however, does
she become a mother than the ferocity of her disposition becomes
ten-fold more vigorous, and though she will sometimes permit
the keeper to enter the cage and attend to her wants, too near
an approach, or any interference with the cubs would prove ex-
tremely dangerous. When disturbed by visitors the lioness
displays great anxiety for her young, carrying the cubs in her
mouth, apparently desirous of hiding them. This anxiety be-
gins to diminish when the young ones reach the age of about
five months. Lions are quite frequently born in captivity, but
few of these reach maturity, many dying at the time of shedding
their milk teeth128

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

There was at one time in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, a
lioness which permitted a dog to live in her den, and to which
she became strongly attached. The dog was equally fond of

her, gamboling with and caressing her in the highest possible
spirit. The lioness was most attentive to all his wants, and
when the keeper let the little creature out for exercise she seem-
ed exceedingly unhappy till he returned.TAME LIONS.

129

A lioness kept in the Tower of London in 1773 had for a
considerable time been so attached to a little dog who was kept
in her den that she would not eat till the dog was first satisfied.
When the lioness was near her time of whelping, it was thought
advisable to take the dog away; but shortly after, when the
keepers were cleaning the den, the dog by some means got into
it and approached the lioness with his wonted fondness, while
she was playing with her cubs. She made a sudden spring at
him, and seizing the poor little animal in her mouth, seemed on
the point of tearing him to pieces; then, as if suddenly recol-
lecting her former kindness, she carried him to the door of the
den and allowed him to be taken out unharmed.

One of the most interesting cages in the Zoological Garden,
London, is that containing a family party consisting of a mastiff
with a lion and his mate. They were brought up together from
cubhood, and agree marvelously well, though the dog would
prove little more than a mouthful for either of his noble com-
panions. Visitors express much sympathy for him, and fancy
that the lion is only saving him up, as the giant did Jack, for a
future feast. But this sympathy seems uncalled for, as Lion
(so the dog is named) has always maintained the ascendancy he
assumed as a pup, and any rough handling on the part of his
huge playfellows is immediately resented by his flying at their
noses. Although the dog is allowed to come out of the den
every morning, he shows a great disinclination to leave his old
friends. It is, however, thought advisable to separate them at
feeding time.

The taming of wild beasts has not been confined to modern
times. In the palmy days of the Eoman empire they were
trained and led in the triumphal processions so common at the
time when Kome was almost master of the world. Lions were
even made, occasionally, to draw the chariots of some victorious
general, symbolical of his prowess. For many generations,
various powerful Indian sovereigns have had beasts of prey
tamed and kept near the throne on state occasions. More fre-
quently, however, they were employed in the execution of crim-
inals or persons who had offended the despot. King Theo-
dore of Abyssinia possessed quite a number of tamed lions. Of
his four special favorites, one named Kuara was the most docile
and intelligent. When the king received an embassy he gave
audience to the messengers surrounded by a court of lions in-
stead of a crowd of courtiers and a guard of soldiers.

The couguar, or American lion, is one of the gentlest of the
species, easily tamed, becoming harmless and even affection-
ate, even toward comparative strangers. This animal is130

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

frequently met with in menageries, his docility and the ease with
which he may be taught to leap and climb, rendering him a fa-
vorite for these collections. He is much pleased with the society
of those persons to whom he is accustomed; lies down on his
back between their feet, toys with their garments, and acts very
much like a playful kitten. He has a great predilection for water,
and, if provided with a tub of that liquid, will jump in, souse
around in it, and jump out again highly delighted.

Tigers being more treacherous and less influenced by kind
treatment than lions, tamers generally prefer to have as little to
do with as possible. This rule, however, is not without an
exception; the natives of India tame tigers more frequently
than lions, and the tame tigers of the fakirs, the celebrated
" royal tigers,'' natives of Hindoostan, naturally the most pow-
erful and ferocious in the world, exhibit great gentleness and
confidence—attributable doubtless to the ample way in which
they are fed. In this country tigers are principally kept merely
as objects of curiosity and few efforts are made to tame them.
When taming is deemed desirable, resort is generally had to in-
timidation. An old tiger can seldom be subdued except by
brute force ; a crowbar is more effective with him than kindness,
though when once rendered tractable, kindness succeeds severity
in his treatment.

Tigers are not, however, entirely destitute of affection, and this
is sometimes manifested toward the person who has reared them.
An example of this kind, a tigress in the town of London, may
be familiar to the reader. This animal on its arrival in London
grew very irascible and dangerous, from the annoyance of visi-
tors and the bustle on the Thames. After she had been here
some time her old keeper visited the tower and desired to enter
the cage. So sulky and savage had the beast become that the
superintendent feared to grant this request, but was finally pre-
vailed on to do so. No sooner, however, did the animal catch
sight of her old friend than she exhibited the utmost joy and on
his entering her cage, fawned upon and caressed him, showing
extravagant signs of pleasure, and at his departure cried and
whined for the remainder of the day.

The cowardice of the tiger is well known. This characteris-
tic is illustrated in the contests between buffaloes and tigers
exhibited in India. The tiger seems to menace the spectators,
swelling his fur, displaying his teeth, and occasionally snarling
and lashing his sides with his tail. As soon as the buffalo en-
ters the enclosure, the tiger " sinks into the most contemptible
despondency, sneaking along under the palisade, crouching and
turning on his back, to avoid the buffalo's charge. He* triesCHARACTER OF TIGERS.

131

every device his situation will admit, and often suffers himself
to be gored, or to be lifted from his pusillanimous attitude by
the buffalo's horn before he can be induced to act on the defen-
sive. When, however, he really does summon up courage to
oppose his antagonist, he displays wonderful vigor and activity,
although he is generally conquered."

Perhaps the cowardice of the tiger in the above instance is
due to the consciousness of his inability to cope successfully
with his adversary, and may be a specimen of " discretion being
the better part of valor/7 but the following incident related of a
tiger kept at the British residency in Calcutta, gives an amus-
ing example of absurd terror from a most insignificant cause:
" What annoyed him far more than our poking him up with a
stick, or tantalizing him with shins of beef or legs of mutton,
was introducing a mouse into his cage. No fine lady ever ex-
hibited more terror at the sight of a spider than this magnificent
royal tiger betrayed on seeing a mouse. Our mischievous plan
was to tie the little animal by a string to the end of a long pole,
and thrust it close to the tiger's nose. The moment he saw it
he leaped to the opposite side 5 and, when the mouse was made
to run near him, he jammed himself into a corner, and stood
trembling and roaring in such an ecstasy of fear that we were -
always obliged to desist in pity to the poor brute. Sometimes
we insisted on his passing over the spot where the unconscious
little mouse ran backward and forward. For a long time, how-
ever, we could not get him to move, till, at length, I believe, by
the help of a squib, we obliged him to start 5 but, instead of
pacing leisurely across his den, or making a detour to avoid the
object of his alarm, he generally took a kind of flying leap, so
high as nearly to bring his back in contact with the roof of his
cage."

Tigers will not submit like lions to the intrusion of idle
strangers into the cages, but any professional trainer can
ordinarily enter the cage and exhibit any properly broken
tigers without special risk. There are men ready to accept en-
gagements for performing with animals whom they may never
have seen before the day of exhibition ; fear being the controlling
influence with the beasts, it is only requisite that the man shall
show no timidity, and compel obedience by whatever severity
may be necessary. The statement that belladonna or the leaves
of datura stramonium are put in the food of tigers to act on their
nervous system and create hallucination and terror, is, we believe,
unfounded ; no hallucination equals the simple reality of a heavy
iron bar.

The tiger's cage is not altogether without its dangers. A132

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

story told of Tom Nathan, once well known in connection with
circus exhibitions, gives one illustration of the feelings attend-
ant upon non-success. He began public life as clown. In his
later years his hair was snowy white, but he relates that it be-
came so, not in consequence of his years, but from an alarming
accident which befel him during his career in the saw-dust.
There was a tiger in the show with which he was connected,
and the man who bearded the tiger in his den having, on one
occasion, struck for higher wages, Nathan volunteered to take
his place. Boldly he entered the cage, but as soon as he did so,
the animal resented the intrusion and seized him by the fleshy
part of the body immediately below the small of the back. The
fear of being chewed, the pain of the laceration of his flesh, and
disappointed ambition combined, blanched his hair in a mo-
ment. He went into the cage a fair haired youth, and was taken
out, as soon as he could be secured, a white headed old man.

The following is a bit of experience, related to an English cor-
respondent, by an old English tamer named Norwood, long
employed by Jamrach, an extensive animal owner of London:

" Whenever I 'ave a few words with Mr. Jamrach, which I
had a few not many weeks ago, I takes to the show business,
and am allers ready to go in. This 'ere scar " (baring an arm
and showing a deep flesh wound, recently cicatrized) " I got on
the Kingsland road, on the 20th of this monih. A Bengal tiger
it was, and I was a-performing with the same beast as was at
the Crystal Palace a short time arterwards. Me and Mr. Jam-
rach 'ad 'ad a few words, we 'ad, and I took up with the perform-
ing, which Fd been accustomed to. Well, I see the tiger for
the first time at four in the arternoon ; and I goes into her den,
and puts her through her anky-panky at eight. As a matter
o'course I 'ad to giv' her the whip a bit, and she not knowing
my voice, don't you see, got fidgety and didn't like it. To make
matters worse moresumever, this tiger bein' fond of jumpin',
vhey went and shortened the cage, so that when I giv' the word
she fell short of her reg'lar jump, and came upon me. I don't
believe she meant mischief; I only fancy she got timid like, and
not being accustomed to what she 'ad under 'er, she makes a
grab and does wot you see. The company got scared like; the
ladies screamed, and the performance was stopped for a time.
What did I do U—why, directly they came in with iron bars and
made her loose her hold, I jest giv' her the whip agen, and made
her go through the jump till she got more satisfied like ; but she
was timid, very timid, to the last, and tore off the flesh right to
the elbow here. No, sir, I never stopped the performance after
the first time, though I was being mauled above a bit, while theA TAMER'S EXPERIENCE.

133

people was a clapping their ?ands, and 'ollering 6 angcore.' It
don't do with beasts to let 'em think you're uneasy, so each time
she tore me with her claws; I justgiv' her the whip, till she saw
it wouldn' do."

Leopards and panthers, although sometimes confounded even
by naturalists, are strictly different animals, though so near
alike that any statements in regard to the training of one will
be equally applicable to the other. They are both quite com-
mon in menageries, and are often among the dwellers in the
u den of beasts." Leopards—and what we say of the leopard's
character or training applies equally to the panther—are of a
comparatively gentle disposition, and, unless hungry or annoyed,
is generally harmless. E ven in a wild state a person may come
across them without being harmed, though it is said they are
more dreaded at the Oape of Good Hope, than the lion, for they
steal silently and treacherously upon their prey while he gives
warning of his approach by terrific roarings.

Illustrative of the leopard's peaceful disposition an amusing
story is told of a Oape farmer who once surprised a group of
seven leopards reposing on a clump of scattered rocks. In the
excitement of the moment, with scarcely a thought as to the
probable consequences, he fired his single-barreled gun at them.
Instead of returning this attack, the leopards seemed more sur-
prised than angry at the report of the gun, and instead of turn-
ing their attention to the imprudent intruder some of them
leaped on their hind legs, and pawed the air as if trying to catch,
the bullet which had gone whistling by their ears.

The leopard is tamed easily, and is usually the animal
selected to perform the leaping and similar feats which form a
prominent portion of the "lion king's" exhibition. Care is
taken to select an individual who sh ws an inclination and aptness
for these exercises. In this case the training is a mere trifle;
the tamer corners the leopard up in one end of the cage, and
holding his whip in a horizontal position close to the floor, he
gently stirs the animal with his foot, giving at the same time
the command, " up !'; or " hi!" To escape the annoyance tho
leopard will spring over the whip, and the lesson is repeated
until he does so promptly, on its being placed in position and
the order given. Then the tamer may raise one of his legs and
hold the whip at its side, and the leopard will leap over the leg.
The same plan may be adopted with other articles such as poles,
banners, etc., or even the trainer's own head. Jumping through
a hoop is the next lesson j the hoop to be held in one hand while
the other hand holds the whip, with which the lower part of tho
hoop is to be tapped when the command " up!" or u hi!" is134

THE ART OF TfiAIMtfG ANIMALS.

given. The hoop is at first held low down and close to the
animal, but it may be gradually elevated as the lessons continue
until the leap is as high as the cage will permit. Covering
the hoop with paper adds a little to the attractiveness of
this feat, and, of course, the leopard experiences no difficulty in
going through a single thickness of paper.

It is a harder task to induce the animal to jump through a
hoop in which a number of small lights arc arranged so as to
form a fiery circle. The animal's natural dread of fire makes
him dislike anything of which fire forms a part, but if the hoop
be at first of large size and the lights few, he will, if persever-
ingly urged, by-and-by venture. Experiencing no harm he will
gradually become bolder, and the size of the hoop may be
decreased and the lights increased until a wreath of fire is
formed barely large enough for him to pass through; the
rapidity of his passage will prevent his being hurt by the flames.
A similar mode is adopted for teaching lions, though they are
less frequently taught these tricks.

The large cage in which the tamer's public exhibitions take
place is divided into several compartments by iron gates; each
animal has his allotted division and the gates prevent any in-
trusion by the other animals. It is only when the tamer is in
the cage that these-gates are opened; then they swing back
against the sides, forming one large cage. The animals are
very jealous of any encroachment of the others, upon their ac-
customed space, and the tamer must be watchful to prevent
quarrels when they are thus all thrown together. It is easier
to make the beasts submit to a man's presence than to the
presence of one another. It is seldom that the tamer is assailed,
but many a time has one of the animals been killed during these
performances, without the spectators having any suspicion of
the fact. A sudden bite at the back of the neck crushes the
spine and the victim sinks upon the floor without a sound, dead.
The audience suppose he has lain down because his part of tho
performance is over—and so it is.

Wild animals kept in confinement are subject to spells of
sulkiness, at which times their management requires great judg-
ment and care on the part of the tamer. These sulky moods
are premonitions to the tamer of danger, and he makes it a point
whenever passing the cages to glance at the animals' eyes to
detect any suspicious looks. It is during these fits that most of
the casualties occur.

Women have in several instances ventured to assume the role
of u lion queens." Some years ago one of these was traveling
with a show, through the country, whose husband, we haveCHILDREN IN THE CAGES.

135

been told, had been a lion tamer, and had been killed by one of
the animals. Before his death this man had sometimes allowed
his wife to enter the cage with him, thus accustoming the ani-
mals to her presence—though with no thought, probably, of her
ever performing them professionally. Exactly how it came
about we cannot tell, but probably she saw no other means of
support; at any rate, in the very cage in which her husband met
his death she set out to win her daily bread. We cannot vouch
for the story; we cannot now even recall the name of our inform-
ant ; but for all that it may be true. We only remember that
she was harsher toward her animals than are most masculine
members ot the profession, and it is possible she was meting out
to them a sort of " poetic justicefor the murder of her
husband.

Children have at times been introduced into these cages to
make the exhibition appeal more strongly to the sympathies of
the audience. The public always flock to see these scenes, how-
ever they may cry out against the barbarity of exposing a child
to the danger of being torn to pieces by wild beasts. In one or
two cases a little girl has entered the cage entirely alone and
performed the animals 5 but animals are often more tractable
with children than with grown persons, as probably many of
our readers have witnessed in the case of savage dogs. Mrs.
Bowdich says of a panther kept at Cape Coast, Africa, as the
pet of an officer, that he was particularly gentle with children,
lying by them as they slept. Even the infant shared his ca-
resses without the slightest attempt on the animal's part to in-
jure the child. Besides this docility with children the tamer is
always near at hand, sometimes in the guise of an attendant,
keeping a watchful eye upon the animals, and ready to lend
prompt assistance should it be required.

In Persia the leopard is trained to hunt gazelles just as a fal-
con will hunt herons. The huntsman provides the leopard with
a hood, which can be drawn over his face and mouth, and seats
him on his saddle-bow. The moment a deer or gazelle is sight-
ed the leopard's head is uncovered, and he is let down from the
horse. In one or two bounds, according to the distance, the
leopard springs upon the back of his prey and seizing it by the
neck brings it to the ground. The huntsman then comes up,
and after caressing the leopard, who has already begun to feast
upon the prey, he gives him a piece of meat to divert his atten-
tion, and slipping on the hood restores him to his place upon the
saddle-bow. When the leopard fails to bring down the prey,
which rarely happens, he hides himself and lies down, and can
only be prevailed on to renew the chase by repeated caresses.136

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTER XIV.

TAMING "WILD ANIMALS IN GENERAL—SQUIRRELS—BEARS-
BUFFALOES—WOLYES—HYENAS—RHINOCEROSES-
HIPPOPOTAMI—CROCODILES—ALLIGATORS.

ALL our present domestic animals having sprung from
wild stock, it is not very remarkable that many other ani-
mals now found in a state of nature, may be rendered equally
gentle and obedient under proper treatment. As the taming of
these animals answers no purpose save the gratification of pub-
lic curiosity, the number is comparatively small, for as soon as a
tame bear or buffalo ceases to be a novelty the most profitable
thing for his owner to do is to chop him up into steaks. What-
ever may be the ferocity of an animal that has reached maturity,
this characteristic is almost wholly lacking in his infancy,
consequently most of the tamed animals have been captured
young, and accustomed for the principal part of their lifetime to
captivity.

All wild animals when captured, after they have reached an
adult age, display at first a passionate resistance to confinement
and all efforts to soothe them. While this lasts it is usual to
keep them without food. The exhaustion induced by this de-
privation greatly aids in quelling their rage, besides teaching
them the hopelessness of resistance. With cubs this is scarcely
ever necessary; though they sometimes display anger, they are
so easily overpowered or restrained from mischief, that it is
hardly worth while needlessly to make them suffer hunger. As
soon as the old ones become quiet they are fed by the tamer,
who thus lays the foundation of their future good will. Animals
in menageries are, as a rule, fed one full meal each day, with
the exception of Sunday, on which day they get nothing to eat.
This fast is intended to keep them in health, and to rest their
digestive organs, and is nothing to animals who can go for days
or even weeks without food if necessary.

Small animals, such as squirrels, etc., may be tamed without
difficulty, even if captured when arrived at a considerable age.
Gentle treatment, the avoidance of any teasing or aggravating,
and a gradual increase of the tamer's familiarity with the captive,
will be all that is requisite in most cases. When tamed, the
animals may be taught tricks of various kinds in the same man-
ner that we have elsewhere described for teaching the same
performances to other animals.TAMING SMALL ANIMALS.

137

A squirrel, if captured when moderately young, can be tamed
in a couple of days by merely carrying him in your pocket.
The warmth of the pocket will be pleasant to him, and by giv-
ing him a nut occasionally you will convince him that you
mean well toward him, and so gain his confidence. At first,
care must be taken to prevent his escape, but by-and-by he may
be allowed to come out and go in at his pleasure, and he will
run about your lap with the greatest familiarity. With flying
squirrels this method of training is particularly successful.

Squirrels and many of the small wild animals can be made
tame by any boy who is willing to devote sufficient time and
patience to the object. In some cases it is not necessary to cap-
ture the animal. We have known instances of animals, partic-
ularly squirrels, being made so tame that they would of their
own accord come to the tamer on hearing his voice. There was
no great mystery in their docility; food had been at first placed
in places frequented by them, the person so placing it retiring
to a distance. By-and-by the animal would come and eat the
food, perhaps glancing suspiciously at the distant figure, but if
the person made no motion to startle him, he would continue
his meal.

This placing of food would require long continuance, the per-
son each time remaining a little nearer than before, until, in
time, the animal would have no fear even in his immediate
vicinity. Then bits of food may be gently dropped down for
him, and if the tamer stands quietly they will probably be pick-
ed up. Then the tamer may step backward and again drop a
morsel; the animal will advance to get it, and at last he may
even become so familiar as to eat from the hand. A squirrel
who has been so far tamed may then easily be taught to climb
over the tamer's person by enticing him forward with some
dainty. We have seen a squirrel induced to go through quite a
variety of little performances, stand' ig erect, leaping, and climb-
ing wherever desired, lured on by a kernel of corn at the end of
a piece of string.

Of the larger animals, bears have always been favorite sub-
jects with trainers. Considerable difficulty and danger is
encountered in securing the cubs, owing to the ferocity and
eourage with which the mother bear defends her young. The
old bear is in most cases killed before the capture of the young
ones can be accomplished. During the infancy of the cubs the
old he-bear ungallantly deserts the partner of his bosom, and
takes up his quarters at a distance, to avoid annoyance by the
cries of his progeny ; so the hunter often escapes trouble with
the head of the family. Bears are born blind, like puppies, and138

THE ART OP TRAINING ANIMALS.

remain so for about eight or nine days. With care they can bo
raised even if taken when only four or five days old. The black
bear attains his full size when eight or nine years old.

Bears like many other animals have been called upon to lend
their aid in theatrical displays. A frightful scene occurred
some twenty years ago at the theater of Czerny, in Bohemia,
during the performance of a melo-drama, called the " Bear of
the Mountains/7 the principal performer in which was a bruin
of such wonderful docility and dramatic talent, that for a long
succession of nights he attracted overflowing audiences. On
this occasion, however, something had put this star out of hu-
mor, and he was observed to be wanting in those brilliant dis-
plays of the histrionic art which had previously overwhelmed him
with applause. In the third act, instead of coming down the
mountains by a winding path, with the slow and solemn step, as
set down in the prompter's book, he alighted on the stage at one
bound.

On his return behind the scenes he received reproofs, which,
instead of improving, made his temper still more sullen ; and it
was with difficulty he could be prevailed on to go through his
part. In the last scene he was induced to commence a waltz
with a young and beautiful peasant girl, and seemed to take so
much enjoyment in the dance, that the whole audience were
raised from their seats, and, standing on the benches, drowned
the sounds of a powerful orchestra with their acclamations of
praise and delight.

In a moment, however, the joyous spectacle was changed in-
to one of horror ; a piercing shriek was heard above all the
combination of noises; the stage was one moment in the utmost
confusion, and the next was clear of every performer except the
bear, who appeared with his muzzle unfastened, and hanging
around his neck; and after making a wide display of his tremen-
dous gullet, leaped into the orchestra, which, as may be easily
imagined, was as vacant as the stage. The flight of the audi-
cnce was equally as quick, but the consequences more serious.
Numbers were severely crushed and bruised in the struggle at
the doors, and several were dreadfully injured by being thrown
down and trampled upon. After a pause, a platoon of soldiers
went into the pit with fixed bayonets and loaded barrels, and
ordered to bring out the cause of all the evil, dead or alive; but
they found him, like other great actors who have performed
their parts and become exhausted by their exertions, taking his
repose on one of the benches, and incapable or unwilling to
make any resistance.

The performances of bears consist almost entirely of naturalPERFORMING BEARS.

139

actions, such as walking erect, climbing, leaping, and the like.
These are arranged to form a variety of feats 5 that of a bear
riding around the ring, in a gig drawn by a pony, is very sim-
ple, the bear being only required to set erect, and hold the reins
in his paws. Carrying articles, as when acting waiter, is natural.
Standing on their heads and turning somersaults are probably
feats not commonly indulged in in a state of freedom 5 they are
taught by rapping the hind legs until the animals take the de-
sired position or make the desired turn-over. The most preten-
tious bear show within our knowledge was that of " Old Grizzly
Adams,77 a hunter who managed to collect quite a number and
variety of bears, which were exhibited some years ago. Laugh-
ing, crying, singing, and other bears were advertised as belong-

DANCING BEARS IN COSTUME.

ing to this collection; but the laughing, crying and singing were
the mere natural voices of the bears, and all so nearly alike that
only a vivid imagination enabled the hearer to distinguish
between the laughing, crying, and singing. Some gaudy cos-
tumes tickled with their ridiculousness the fancy of the audience,
and the exhibibition gave very fair satisfaction.

Little bears are intensely amusing, and they display a great
fondness for romping and playing. We have known of hunters
bringing cubs home, and adopting them, as it were, into their
families, the bears becoming exceedingly familiar, sleeping with
the children, and eating from their bowls of bread and milk,
climbing into the hunter's lap and licking his face, and, in fact,
making themselves perfectly at home. As they grow old, how-
ever, they are liable to become enraged at teasing or other pro-
vocation and to be dangerous.

Bears sometimes acquire a fondness for liquor, and this article140

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

is in some cases used by trainers as ail inducement or reward for
performing. Cake, candy, and like treats are also powerful in-
centives with bears. A writer in one of the magazines describes
a huge bear whose acquaintance he made in New Orleans, belong-
ing to a Spaniard who kept a public house in the vicinity of that

PERFORMING BEARS.

city. This bear had contracted so great a liking for whiskey
and sugar, that he became troublesome unless he had his liquor
and his spree, and no one could mistake the cause of his conduct
when " fuddled." He rolled from side to side, leered ridiculous-
ly and smiled foolishly, and was loving and savage by turns.
He would wrap his great paw around the tumbler containing
" the poison/7 go through the ceremony of touching glasses with

BEAK AND PONY ACT.

the gentleman wlio paid for the treat, and then pour the contents
down his capacious throat with a gusto that made old topers
^love that animal like one of themselves."

Buffaloes have also been drafted into the service of the circus,
but their performances are in no way remarkable—except^per-
haps, for the very absence of anything remarkable. The fierce
monster who, with steaming nostrils and flaming eyes, is repre-BUFFALO TRAINING.

141

sented on the circus posters as recklessly dashing over palisade-
iike fences, is usually found in sober fact to be a dejected looking
animal of very moderate proportions, requiring vigorous punch-
ing to induce him to trot around the ring and leap the low
u hurdles " the " general utility " men hold for him. His great-
est aim in life appears to be to avoid hurting his shins while
going over these barriers.

Buffalo training is nothing but reducing the animal to sub-
mission, which a few applications of the horse taming straps will
usually accomplish. Then he is driven around the ring until
he learns to keep up a steady trot, after which the hurdles are
placed in his way and he made to leap over, by the trainer's
assistants standing so as to cut off his retreat, and the trainer

THE IDEAL BUFFALO OF THE POSTEliS.

goading him forward. In obstinate cases a ring is attached to
the animal's nose in the same manner as with bulls.

There are occasional examples recorded of the taming of
wolves and hyenas. A story, we believe well a uthenticated, of
a pet wolf, is related by M. Frederick Cuvier, and shows
that even animals not usually considered affectionate, are not
without gratitude to their benefactors, nor insensible of kind
treatment. The wolf, who is the hero of this story, had been
brought up like a dog, and became familiar with every one he
was in the habit of seeing. He would follow his master, seemed
to suffer from his absence, evinced entire submission, and differed
not in manners from the tamest domestic dog. The master
being obliged to travel, made a present of him to the Eoyal
Menagerie at Paris. Here, shut up in his compartment, the
animal remained for sever..! weeks moody and discontented, and142

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

almost without eating. He gradually however, recovered, at-
tached himself to his keeper, and seemed to have forgotten all
his old affection. His master returned after an absence of eigh-
teen months. At the very first word which he pronounced, the
wolf, who did not see him in the crowd, instantly recognized
him, and testified his joy by his antics and his cries. Being set
at liberty, he overwhelmed his old friend with caresses, just as
the most attached dog would have done after a separation of a
few days. Unhappily, his master was obliged to leave him a
second time, and this absence was again to the poor wolf the
cause of profound regret, but time alelayd his grief. Three
years elapsed, and the wolf was living very comfortably with a
young dog that had been given him as a companion. After this
space of time, sufficient to make any dog forget his master, the
gentleman returned again. It was evening, and all was shut

THE REAL BUFFALO OF 'i HE LING.

up, and the eyes of the animal could be of no use to him, but
the voice of his beloved master was not yet effaced from his
memory; the moment he heard it he knew it, and answered by
cries expressive of the most impatient desire, and on the obstacle
which separated them being removed, his cries redoubled. The
animal rushed forward, placed his fore feet on the shoulders of
his friend, licked every part of his face, and threatened with his
teeth those very keepers to whom he had so recently testified
the warmest affection.

A French nobleman was some years ago famous for having
several tame wolves ; his method of taming being to confine each
animal in a kennel by himself until he became docile. The
wolves were never struck, but if when, little by little, they had
become accustomed to the tamer's presence, they made any at-RHINOCEROS AND HIPPOPOTAMUS.

143

tempt to bite, they were seized by the neck and a rough stick or
knotty cane rubbed hard over their gums, which gave them a great
disinclination to ever again use their teeth in an offensive manner.

The rhinoceros is frequently tamed in the east, the plan
being to confine the animal in a pen built around a small pond
of water, and to keep him without food until reduced by hunger.
Food is eventually supplied, and withheld again whenever any
symptoms of fierceness are manifested. Those in captivity have
been captured, in most cases, when young.

As early as 1685 a live specimen was carried to England
from the East Indies, while a few years later another was ex-
hibited extensively in Europe. Since then others of the species
have been brought to Europe and America. Their behavior is
very like a huge docile pig, and they obey some simple orders of
their keepers, such as walking around the room on command
and exhibiting themselves to spectators, opening and shutting
their mouths as directed, and the like.

One of these animals, still young, habitually indicated a very
mild disposition, being very obedient to his keeper, whose ca-
resses he received with much satisfaction. He was subject,
however, to violent fits of passion, and at such times it was
dangerous to approach him. He then made prodigious efforts to
break his chains and escape from his bondage; but the offer of
bread and fruits seldom failed to soothe his most terrible con-
vulsions.

Those persons found the most favor with him who ministered
the most to his gormandizing appetites; and, when they ap-
peared, he exhibited his satisfaction by opening his mouth and
extending to them his long upper lip. The narrow limits of the
cage in which he was shut up did not allow him to manifest much
intelligence. The object of the keeper was to make him for-
get his strength, or forego its exercise; hence, nothing calculated
to awaken his consciousness of power was required of him. To
open his mouth, to move his head to the right or left, or to lift
his leg were the usual acts by which he was required to testify
his obedience. His strength, and the fear that in one of his pas-
sions he might break his cage, insured to him the most mild and
soothing treatment, and he was scrupulously rewarded for the
least thing he was required to do. The distinction he made of
persons, and the great attention he paid to everything which
passed around, demonstrated that, in more favorable circum-
stances, his intelligence might have been more strikingly nlani-
fested.

Akin to the rhinoceros is the hippopotamus, a very fine
specimen of which was exhibited in this country some years144

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

since, and realized for his Arab keeper quite a handsome sum,
the Arab bringing him here on speculation and hiring him out
to museum and circus managers. Between Hamet, the keeper,
and Obaysch, the hippopotamus, considerable affection existed,
probably even more on the animal's part than on the man's.
Side by side they slept in Cairo, and during the first week of
their voyage to Southampton. But as the weather grew warm-
er, and Obaysch larger and larger—he was quite young when
captured and grew with the rapidity of all members of the
swinish race—Harriet had a hammock slung from the beams im-
mediately over the place where he had been accustomed to
sleep; just over, in fact, his side of the bed, his position being
raised some two or three feet. Assuring Obaysch, not only by
words but by extending one arm over the side so as to touch
him, Hamet got into his hammock and fell asleep, when he was
suddenly awakened by a jerk and a hoist, only to find himself
close by the side of his u compagnon du voyage." Another
experiment at separate sleeping was attended by the same suc-
cessful movements on the part of Obaysch, and, till they arrived
at Southampton, Hamet desisted from any farther trial, as he
avoided in all ways any irritation of the animal. On the voy-
age to this country he slept with his huge charge, who at sea
especially, seemed more content, and to feel safer, when his
keeper was at his side.

Another anecdote is related of this huge beast:

One morning during the voyage, Hamet, from some cause or
other, absented himself from Obaysch a little longer than usual,
wThen he ran through his octave of cries, from the most plaintive
to the most violent, and then was profoundly silent. " Hamet,"
says the narrator, " thought his freedom was achieved, and then,
with the air of an emancipated serf, he opened his wicket, and
condescended to return to his tyrant—tyrant no longer, as he
hoped. Hippo awaited him with a twinkle of his infant eye—
that curious, prominent, versatile eye, which looks everywhere
at once—as he floated in the tank, so as to command the inter-
ior of his home. Hamet, in his great fidelity, used to keep part
of his wardrobe in an angle of the roof, for convenience of mak-
ing his toilet without annoying his charge by unnecessary
absence. The bundle in which these choice vestments were
secured had been pushed down by the revengeful infant, rubbed
open with his blunt nose during that ominous silence, and final-
ly left in such a state, that neither Hamet, nor any other being,
Mohammedan or Christian, could ever don them again. Hamet
is a well-conducted Mussulman, and not given to indulging in
profane language, bat he addressed Hippo in terms of theCROCODILE TAMING.

145

strongest reprehension. Hippo twinkled his eye and shook his
head, blew a little trumpet through his nostrils, and smiled in
triumphant malevolence.7'

Nothing among modern shows can compare with the old am-
phitheatrical exhibitions of the Romans. For these, large
numbers of animals were collected from the shores of Africa and
India; in the contests of the arena they were slaughtered by
wholesale. Eutropius states, and his assertion is corroborated
by other writers, that 5,000 wild beasts of all kinds were slain at
the dedication of the ampitheater of Titus. Pompey, at the open-
ing of his theater, exhibited a variety of games and battles with
wild beasts in which 500 lions were killed in five days ; and in
another exhibition the tragedy consisted in " the massacre of
100 lions and an equal number of lionesses, 200 leopards, and
300 bears." Even if public taste at the present day would tol-
erate such butchery, it would be rather too expensive with lions
costing from $2,000 to $4,000 each. In those days, of course,
the cost was much less ; in fact, the price of wild beasts in this
country is usually ten times their price in their native regions.
This profit is necessary to cover the great cost of transportation,
feeding and the risks of death or accidents on the passage. In-
surance companies consider them too risky to insure. Prices,
however, fluctuate greatly, according to the demand, and an
animal worth to-day $1,000 may be worth only $200 next month,
though he be in equally good condition.

In the days when " ordeals 79 were used to prove the guilt or
innocence of accused persons, the Brahmin priests of Hindoostan
made use of crocodiles for this purpose. The accused was com-
pelled to swim across a river infested with these animals and
his fate decided the question of his guilt or innocence. There
is good reason to believe that there was trickery in these tests;
that crocodiles were tamed and kept in one part of the river
while those of the other portions of the stream remained in their
savage state. The Brahmins could thus predetermine the fate
of the persons submitting to the ordeal, and doubtless had those
whom they desired to favor cross among the tame animals, while
others whom they feared or hated were placed at the mercy of
the wild ones. Tame crocodiles are by no means rarities; the
Egyptian priests after rendering them docile, placed bracelets
upon their forefeet, and hung rings and precious stones in the
opercula of their ears, which were bored for the purpose, and
then presented them for adoration of the people.

The means used in taming the crocodile seem to have been
principally kind treatment and tempting food. This plan is
pursued even to the present day in Egypt, India, and other coun-146

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

tries. Several individual cases are on record giving details of
the taming process. Mr. Laing saw at the house of the king of
the Soulimas—a negro race occupying the country near the
river Joliba, on the coast of Sierra Leone—a tamed crocodile as
gentle as a dog, but this animal was confined a prisoner in a
pond in the palace. The Soheik of Suakem—a seaport in Nu-
bia, on the west coast of the Eed Sea—having caught a young
crocodile, tamed it, and kept it in a pond near the sea. The
animal grew very large, but did not lose his docility. The
prince placed himself upon the animal's back, and was carried a
distance of more than three hundred steps. In the island of
Sumatra, in the year 1823, an immense crocodile established
himself at the mouth of the Beanjang ; he had chased away all
the other crocodiles and devoured all of them who ventured to
return. The inhabitants rendered him divine homage, and re-
spectfully supplied him with food. " Pass," said they to the
English missionaries who relate the fact, and who were afraid
to approach the formidable creature; " pass on, our god is mer-
ciful." In fact he peacefully regarded the Europeans and their
boat, without giving any signs either of anger, fear, or a desire
to attack them.

The following account is given of a tame crocodile, in a
private letter, quoted in a review of the Erpetologie General e,
and affords corroborative proof of the foregoing statements.
The writer, having ridden a considerable distance to a village
about eight miles from Kurachee, in Scinde, and feeling thirsty,
went to a pool to procure some water. " When I got to the
edge," says he, "the guide who was with me pointed out some-
thing in the water, which I had myself taken to be the stump
of a tree ; and although I had my glasses on, I looked at it for
some time before I found that I was standing within three feet
of an immense alligator. I then perceived that the swamp was
crowded with them, although they were all lying in the mud so
perfectly motionless that a hundred people might have passed
without observing them. The guide laughed at the start I
gave, and told me that they were quite harmless, having been
tamed by a saint, a man of great piety, whose tomb was to be
seen on a hill close by ; and that they continued to obey the
orders of a number of fakirs, who lived around the tomb. I pro-
ceeded to the village immediately, and got some of the fakirs to
come down to the water with a sheep. One of them then went
close to the water with a Ion<2: stick, with which he struck the
ground, and called to the alligators, which immediately came
crawling out of the water, great and small together, and lay
down on the bank all around him. The sheep was then killedTAME CROCODILES.

147

and quartered; and while this was going on, the reptiles contin-
ued crawling until they had made a complete ring around us.
The fakir kept walking about within the circle, and if any one
attempted to encroach, he rapped it unmercifully on the snout
with his stick, and drove it backward. Not one of them at-
tempted to touch him, although they showed rows of teeth that
seemed able to snap him in two at a bite. The quarters of the
sheep wrere then thrown to them, and the scene that followed was
so indescribable that I shall not attempt it; but I think that if
you will turn to Milton, and read his account of the transforma-
tion of Satan and his crew in Pandemonium, you may form some
faint idea 6 how dreadful was the din.' In what manner these
monsters were first tamed I cannot say. The natives, of course,
ascribe it to the piety of the saint, who is called Miegger Pier,
or Saint Crocodile."

The alligators of this country, though seldom tamed even for
public exhibition, might readily be, as they do not differ in any
important respect from the crocodiles.

CHAPTER XV.

EDUCATION OF CATS AND GOATS.

CATS do not appear to be favorite subjects of the trainer's
art, and it is rare that they are met with among performing
animals. Perhaps their sly, treacherous nature inspires a pre-
judice, or perhaps their capacity for learning is underrated.
Certainly with proper and patient training they may be taught
nearly all of the simpler tricks performed by dogs, and some
which dogs cannot, from lack of equal agility. That cats pos-
sess considerable intelligence is shown by the many well authen-
ticated stories related of them. A specimen is that told by Mr.
Crouch, of a cat who learned to unlock a door of her own accord.
u There was," writes this gentleman, " within my knowledge, in
the house of my parentage, a small cupboard in which were
kept milk, butter, and other requisites for the tea table, and the
door was confined by a lock, which from age and frequent use
could easily be made to open. To save trouble the key was
always kept in the lock, in which it revolved on a very slight
impulse. It was often a subject of remark, that the door of this
cupboard was found wide open, and the milk or butter greatly148

THE ART OP TRAINING ANIMALS.

diminished without any imaginable reason, and notwithstanding
the persuasion that the door had certainly been regularly locked.
On watching carefully, the cat was seen to seat herself on the
table, and by repeated pulling on the side of the bow of the key,
it was at last made to turn, when a slight pull of the door caused
it to move on its hinges. It had proved a fortunate discovery
for puss, for a long time before she was taken in the act."

Cats may easily be taught to jump through hoops, climb poles,
fetch and carry, and many similar performances, by adopting
pretty nearly the same means as for instructing dogs. As cats
are passionately fond of fish, this article will be found a valuable
incentive to induce them to comply with your wishes. A small
morsel should be given as a reward for each instance of obedi-
ence, while refractory conduct may be punished by a slight box
on the ear.

Cats may be taught to turn the handles of little organs—
either real or mere silent imitations—or music boxes, to turn a
little spinning wheel, to pull a bell-rope, to fire a pistol and a
multitude of similar tricks. These are all, indeed, but modifi-
cations of one another. To instruct the cat, it is well to
commence by teaching her to give her paw, like a dog. When
this is learned, place the paw on the handle of the organ, which
may have a loop of tape or ribbon attached to keep the paw in
place, and give it a few turns. Let go, but continue the circu-
lar movement of your hand near her paw, as an encouragement
for her to move her paw in the same manner. Should she not
do so after a few moments, take hold of her paw again and re-
peat the movement as before. As soon as she turns the handle
even in the slightest degree without your holding her paw, re-
ward her. It will not be long before she makes a more percep-
tible turn, and will be more prompt to do so. Eventually she
need only to be shown the organ to understand what is desired
of her.

When she turns the organ satisfactorily other articles may
be substituted, such as a miniature model of a spinning-wheel,
and a single lesson will be sufficient to show her that her duties
are the same as with the organ.

To ring a bell, a pulling instead of a circular movement is re-
quired, but this is easier to teach. A bit of cloth may be
attached to the string communicating with the bell, to afford the
cat something convenient to seize hold of. It will be easy to
induce her to seize it by holding it near her, or by aggravating
her a little with it. When she does so, and causes the bell to
ring, reward her. She will soon learn that the ringing of the
bell is a signal for her to be fed, and that pulling the stringINSTRUCTION OF CATS.

149

causes that signal. Should you wish her to ring the bell only when
ordered to do so, you should call her away, after she fully un-
derstands pulling the string, and then order her to " ring the
bell." If necessary, take hold of the string to show your mean-
ing. When she has pulled it, reward her, call her away again,
repeat the order, and so on until she understands your command.
Should she ring then without orders, call her away and wait a
few minutes before you again order her to ring.

Firing off a pistol may follow this, taught in the same way, a
piece of cloth being attached to the trigger, and the pistol being
secured in a stationary position. Merely snapping the trigger
will do at first, then caps may be used, and finally powder.

A story is recorded of Oecco d'Ascoli and Dante on the sub-
ject of natural and acquired genius. Cecco maintained that
nature was more potent than art, while Dante asserted the con-
trary. To prove his principle, the great Italian bard referred
to his cat, whom, by repeated practice, he had taught to hold a
candle in her paw while he supped or read. Oecco desired to
witness the experiment and came not unprepared for his par-
pose. When Dante's cat was performing her part, Cecco lifted
up the lid of a pot which he had filled with mice. The creature
of art instantly showed the weakness of a talent merely acquired,
and dropping the candle, immediately flew on the mice with all
her instinctive propensity. Dante was himself disconcerted, and
it was adjudged that the advocate for the occult principle of
native faculties liad gained the cause.

To make a cat a good ratter she must not be handled by
children, or any other person ; must be fed rather sparingly at
regular times, and as much as possible on fresh meat, and usu-
ally by the same person. She will soon become accustomed to
such circumstances, will answer the call of this person who can
change her about to different parts of the house, as a night in
the cellar, and so on. When treated in this way she will become
shy and wild, but will soon be a terror to rats.

Valmont de Bomare saw at the fair of St. Germain cats
turned musicians ; their performance being announced as the
" mewing concert." In the center was an ape beating time,
and some cats were arranged on each side of him, with music
before them on the stalls. At a signal from the ape, they
regulated their mewing to sad or lively strains. Mons. Bisset
having procured three kittens, commenced their education, with
his usual patience. He at length taught these miniature tigers
to strike their paws in such directions on the dulcimer as to pro-
duce several regular tunes, having music-books before them, and
squalling at the same time in different keys or tones, first, sec-150

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

<ond, and third, by way of concert. He was afterward induced
to make a public exhibition of his animals, and the well known
4'cats' opera" in which they performed, was advertised in the
Haymarket theater. His horse, dog and monkeys, together with
these cats, went through their parts with uncommon applause
to crowded houses ; and in a few days Bisset found himself pos-
sessed of nearly a thousand pounds to reward his ingenuity and
perseverance.

Another story of a cat we cannot refrain from giving: A lady

who had a tame bird was in the habit of letting it out every day,
and had taught a favorite cat not to touch it 5 but one morning
as it was picking up crumbs from the carpet, the cat seized it
on a sudden and jumped with it in her mouth upon the table.
The lady was much alarmed for the safety of her favorite, but
on turning about, instantly discovered the cause. The door
had been left open, and a strange cat had just come into the
room. After the lady had turned the strange cat out, her own
cat came down from her place of safety, and dropped the bird,
without doing it any injury.

GOAT TRICK OF HINDOO JUGGLERS.EDUCATED HOGS.

151

Goats may be taught many tricks heretofore described. It is
best to commence their instruction when they are quite young, as
when older they are apt to develop an obstinate disposition, be-
sides not being so apt pupils as when young. Goats not being
very fastidious as to what they eat—asparagus or brown paper
being devoured with about the same apparent relish—almost
anything in the shape of fruit, vegetables, or bread, will do as
a reward for good conduct. Harshness seems only to arouse
their obstinacy or increase their stupidity, and we doubt whether
it ever does any good. If we did not really believe severity
would only defeat the aims of the trainer, we should almost be
tempted to leave goats to take their own chances for kind
treatment; for ever since a venerable specimen of the ani-
mal butted us, in our youth, down a steep bank, merely be-
cause in stooping to pick up something, we furnished a tempta-
tion too strong for him to resist, we have felt an unconquerable
prejudice against the whole tribe. But after all the trainer
will find bribes better than blows.

Many of the common tricks taught horses and dogs can be
taught goats. As we have fully described the methods of
teaching those animals it would be merely repetition to give
minute details here; the method is substantially the same with
goats as with horses or dogs, for the same tricks.

The Hindoo jugglers use the goat in dexterous feats of balanc-
ing. The sure-footedness of the animal enables him to stand
on the end of a section of bamboo cane whose surface barely
alfords room for his four feet. Sometimes this stick is placed
upright, the lower end being secured in the ground. At other
times the bamboo stick, with the goat standing on its end, is
balanced on the hand, chin or nose of the juggler.

CHAPTER XVI.

EDUCATED HOGS AND THEIR TRAINING.

HOGS are not very intellectual animals, but, fortunately
for the trainer, what they lack in intelligence is made up
in appetite, and by appealing to their stomachs their education
is accomplished. " Learned pigs " and " educated hogs " are
more common in England than in this country, though, proba-
bly, like the opera, they will in time become an acclimated152

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

institution. We had the pleasure of seeing the performance of
quite an excellent artist in the pork line, who was traveling
through the eastern states under the title of " Wicked Will/'
as a side show to a circus.

Will traveled in a cage very similar to those used in mena-
geries, except that it was smaller. This cage at the exhibitions
was placed upon a platform with the grated part facing toward
the audience. It was rather higher than was necessary to
accommodate the hog, the upper part containing a number of
compartments about six inches in depth, in which were kept
corn, curry-combs, and other toilet articles. The exhibitor
lifts the lid which covers these receptacles, takes a few grains
of corn in his hand and drops them quietly on the carpet ; then
he opens a door at one of the small ends of the cage and Will
emerges, grunting and sniffing around. The cage door is now
shut, and while Will hunts for kernels of corn that have been

EDUCATED IIOG.

scattered around, the exhibitor gives a little dose of natural his-
tory, hog characteristics, etc.

The performance commences by the exhibitor placing ten
cards, on which the numerals from one to naught are printed, in
regular order across the front of the platform. Then he asks
Will a number of questions, such as the number of days in a
week, in a month, in a year—it is of no consequence what, so
long as the answers can be given in numbers. The hog goes
slowly from card to card, with his nose down, commencing at
the figare 1. When he comes to the right number he takes
it in his mouth and brings it to his master.

" Now," says the exhibitor, " if any lady or gentleman will
tell the hog the year they were born in, he'll tell them their age."

Somebody in the crowd gives the date of his birth, and at his
master's command Will selects the figures showing the man's
age. This is repeated a number of times for different individ-
uals, to the wonder of the crowd. Then a watch is borrowed
and the hog tells, in the same manner, the hour and minutes.LEARNED HOGS.

153

A suit of thirteen cards are substituted for the numbers, and
the hog selects them as required to reply to various questions.
After these have served their turn they are replaced by a num-
ber of cards on each of which is printed a single word in large
type. Then the exhibitor continues in something like this
manner:

" Now, Will, I suppose you are very much obliged to these
ladies and gentlemen for their attendance this evening; [Will
selects cards, on which is printed Yes; and now, Will, I want
you to tell these ladies and gentlemen what day this is [hog
does soj; and what are you going to give the ladies that come to
see you ? [Kiss.] Well, that's very gallant! And what reward
do you want for amusing these people? [Corn.] And what
induces me to exhibit you ? [Money.] Bo you think I am fond
of money, do you? [Yes.] And I wonder if there is anything
else Fm fond of ? [fium J And what happens when I get a
little too mucli of that article ] [Drunk.]"

And so on with a multitude of other questions which would
be tiresome to repeat, but which it is quite amusing to see the
hog answer. The card in each case would be brought to the
exhibitor, who in all cases where the correct card was selected,
dropped a few kernels of corn as a reward. Occasionally a wrong
one would be brought, in which case a sly kick, or hit on the nose,
was administered. Sometimes the hog seemed in doubt and
would pick up a card and replace it, taking another; once or
twice he stopped midway between two cards, turning his nose
first toward one and then toward the other, squealing dismally,
a very picture of perplexity. He had sense enough to know
what he would get in case of a mistake. His mistakes, however,
were very few.

The whole performance really consists in the hog selecting
the card under the direction of his master. If the latter be
watched narrowly, it will be seen that he changes his position
from time to time, as the hog passes from one card to another,
If the hog stops before he reaches the proper card the trainer
moves his foot in the direction in which the hog should go ; if
he passes it the foot is moved in the other direction. When no
movement is made the hog knows he is before the right card
and picks it up. When the hog becomes confused and fright-
ened this movement of the foot is quite obvious to a close obser-
ver, for at such times the hog does not so readily take the cue.
This signaling is the secret of the performance; but before the
hog can understand these signals, or will pick up the cards, a
regular system of training must be pursued.

The pig—for the education begins when the animal is young154

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

—is first taught to come to the trainer when called. This is
readily done by rewarding him when he obeys and thrashing
him when he fails to do so. He is then taught to pick up arti-
cles in pretty much the same manner as in teaching dogs, and
which we have already fully described. During the lessons the
pig is rewarded with corn for obeying, and he is also fed imme-
diately after his lesson, being kept a trifle hungry at other times.
At first an ear of corn may be used in teaching him to pick up
articles. He will naturally pick this up when placed on the
ground. Instead of letting him keep it, however, call him to
you, and on taking it away recompense him with some kernels of
corn. He will soon learn that it pays better to bring you the
ear over and over again, and be rewarded each time, than keep
it himself. Then a cob without corn may be substituted. By-
and-by cobs may be arranged in a row some foot or two apart,
and the pig required to bring some one of them you have in mind.
This is the difficult part; the pig will be inclined to pick up
whichever comes handiest. This must be prevented by gently
hitting his snout, and ordering him to " go on.,; Always start
him at the left of the line; you will be able thus to guide him bet-
ter than when he goes hap-hazard. Keep on his left side, mov-
ing your foot toward him to keep him moving in the direction of
the desired article. Avoid coming between him and the article.
When he comes to it make no movement. If he picks it up,
call him to you, take it from his mouth, reward him with corn,
apple, or some other dainty, and replace the article in the row.
If, however, he passes by it, change your position to his right
side, and move your foot to urge him back.

These movements of the foot, during tuition, are, of course,
more vigorous than those used at public exhibitions. At first
they merely threaten him and drive him in the required direc-
tion, but by-and-by he learns to observe them and to understand
and profit by them. It is possible sometimes during the lessons
to help the pig's selection by pointing out the card or article,
but this is not desirable, as it is of course unavailable in public,
and the trainer must compel the animal to do his duty so soon
as he is out of the tl rudiments," with no more help than can
be used in public.

Pigs are very fond of having their backs scratched, and this
will * ften attach them to their instructor, make them more
docile, and consequently more easily instructed. They are not
very apt pupils, and though they may be taught several tricks
performed by dogs, it is very seldom their education extends
beyond what we have described. We have known an exhibitor
advertise a hog who would "go through the multiplicationEDUCATED HOGS.

155

table/' but this proved to be a catch; a hoop being covered
with paper on which the multiplication table was printed, the
hog was made to jump through it. The humor of the " selln
saved the exhibitor from the indignation his deception might
otherwise have aroused.

In Holland, quite a number of years ago, a hog ran a race
against a fast trotting horse. The training adopted to prepare
the hog for this novel contest was a good illustration of "educa-
ting through the stomach," and the performance sufficiently cu-
rious, we think, to warrant insertion here. Somewhat condensed
the story is substantially this :

A member of a sporting club at the Hague was bragging of
the speed of a certain horse possessed by him. Another mem-
ber asserted that he had a hog which he should not fear to
match against him, and this proposal, though at first laughed at
as a jest, ended in a match of six English miles, for one thousand
guilders; fourteen days being allowed the owner of Nero, the
hog, for training; and the horse to carry two persons. The
course selected was the avenue leading from the Hague to the
sea shore at Scheveningen; the hour, eleven o'clock.

The first day's training consisted in giving Nero nothing to
eat. On the second day, at eleven o'clock, his master appeared,
and fastening a rope securely to one of Nero's hind trotters,
drove him, with many a kick and forcible persuasion all the
way over the course of Scheveningen. Here Nero received
two herrings, which he ravenously devoured. It is said that
hogs—or at least Dutch hogs—prefer fish to any other food.
On this scanty meal Nero had to tramp home.

The third day the hog was ravenous, but had to bide his
time till, at eleven o'clock, his master presented himself for
another trip to the course. After a liberal and energetic appli-
cation to the booted foot, and a little loud and angry discussion
between the two parties, they arrived at their journey's end,
where Nero was regaled with three herrings, being one extra,
which he dispatched voraciously in double quick time, looking
for more, but in vain. He was then, with much coaxing and
kicking, persuaded to resume the return trip homeward, and
which was safely accomplished, although not without consider-
able opposition, accompanied by vigorous squealing and deter-
mined grunting on the part of Nero.

On the fourth day, when his master presented himself, Nero
seemed to understand somewhat the object of his calling; he
walked off, not only without compulsion, but with considerable
alacrity, at a good round pace to get to his journey's end, where
his master regaled him not alone with his coveted dinner of156

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

three herrings, but, as a reward, yet another herring extra.
On the fifth day Nero was fully up to the game, and his
master experienced considerable difficulty to keep up with him.
At Scheveningen the usual allowance—now of four herrings-
was placed at his disposal, and disposed of by him in short
meter.

On the days following, and up to the time of the race, his
master had no farther difficulty with Nero, but to keep up with
him, Nero invariably taking the lead, although on the return
trips the same difficulties always recurred. A vigorous appli-
cation of boots was in such cases the only convincing argument
with Nero, who never could see the point nor comprehend the
necessity, of this back-track movement, and ever obstreperously
squealed or grunted his objections. On the ninth day Nero, had
become perfectly trained, and having grown extremely thin upon
his scanty meals, he now ran like a race-horse, invariably dis-
tancing his master, who followed with a fast trotting horse in
harness. Both exercise and spare diet were, however, strictly
adhered to up to the day preceding the one on which the race
was to come off. On that, the thirteenth day, as on the first
day, poor Nero was again starved. At the usual hour of eleven
his master appeared, but Nero was doomed to disappointment
—no trot, no herrings on that day. With eager eye and impa-
tient grunt he signified his desire to be released from his pen ;
but, alas, it was not to be.

On the fourteenth day both horse and hog appeared at the
starting post, eager for the race. It was a beautiful day, and
the road was lined the entire distance, on both sides, with anx-
ious and delighted spectators eager to see the sport. Punctually
at eleven o'clock, at tap of drum olf they started, amidst the
shouts and hurrahs of the multitude. The first two miles were
closely contested—it was emphatically a neck and neck race;
but Nero, light as feather, and having in his mind's eye, probably,
his delectable meal, now fairly flew over the course, gradually
leaving the horse behind, keeping the lead the entire distance.
Amidst shouts and hurrahs, the waving of handkerchiefs, and
the wildest excitement, he reached the winning post, beating the
horse by half a mile, and winning the race triumphantly.

For this extraordinary performance, Nero was rewarded with
a pailful of herrings, which, having feasted upon to his heart's
content, he waddled back to the Hague, in the care of his mas-
ter, " the admired of all admirers." His master, pocketing the
purse of one thousand guilders, generously spent one hundred
guilders for Nero's portrait, which is now preserved at the
sportsman's club at the Hague.PERFORMING MONKEYS.

157

It is said that hogs may be taught to destroy thistles. Th<b
tuition consists only in trampling them down, mashing the buds,
and sprinkling salt thereon. The hogs eat these at first on ac-
count of the salt, but in so doing they acquire a relish for the
tnistles themselves, and this taste once acquired the thistles are
eagerly sought for and devoured. It is claimed that one hog
that has been taught in this way will teach all others in the
drove. Possibly seeing him eat they imagine they are losing
a treat and so eat too. If this statement proves true, the hint
may be useful to farmers.

CHAPTER XYII.

PERFORMING MONKEYS—MONKEY EQUESTRIANS—THE "WON-
DERFUL CYNOCEPHALUS"—MONKEY ACTORS, ETC.

IN training performing monkeys the instructor is greatly aided
by that imitative faculty which is a characteristic of the
whole monkey family. The intense passion a monkey has for
mimicking the actions of persons is well known, and to such an
excessive degree is this passion sometimes possessed that several
instances are on record of their cutting their own throats while
attempting to shave themselves, having observed some man per-
forming that operation. It is this imitative instinct which is
taken advantage of in preparing monkeys for public exhibition.
Indeed, their instruction consists mainly in the teacher perform-
ing the act himself, for the monkey to copy. This is the case
with such tricks as taking off the hat, fencing with a little tin
sword, sweeping with a little broom, and the like.

During his instruction the pupil has a small leather belt
around his body, to which is attached a cord several yards in
length, which the trainer holds. The first thing taught is usu-
ally standing on the hind legs ; this is done by holding the cord
taut and the gentle application of a switch under the chin.
This is not a natural position, still the animal can maintain it
with comparative ease. Walking the tight rope is also easily
accomplished, and furnished with a light balancing pole, he will
go back and forth under the guidance of the "leading string"
before mentioned. Jumping barriers or leaping through hoops
held in the trainer's hand, is taught by jerking the string and
giving the monkey a slight cut with the whip. Hoops covered158

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMAL&

with tissue paper, or balloons, as they are technically called, may
be substituted for the open ones after a few lessons, and add to
the attractiveness of the performance.

Dressed in male or female apparel, the monkey's naturally
comical appearance is greatly hightened. Thus, one may be
dressed to represent a lady of fashion, while another personates
her footman, who, dressed in gorgeous livery, supports her train.
This is elaborated into quite a little scene at some exhibitions.
A little barouche, drawn by a team of dogs, is driven on the stage,
a monkey driving while a monkey footman sits solemn and erect
upon his perch behind. A monkey lady and gentleman are
seated inside, she with a fan and parasol, and he with a stove-
pipe hat. Around the stage several times the equipage is driv-

en, until by-and-by one of the wheels comes off and a sudden
stop results. Down the footman comes, opens the carriage door,
assists gentleman to hand out lady—who has fainted in gentle-
man's arms just as she ought under these trying circumstances,
and in a style that would do credit to any belle in a similar
accident at Central Park—gets chair from side of stage for her
to sit in, while gentleman fans her till she gradually recovers.
Coachman meantime gets down and goes after the lost wheel,
which he rolls to the vehicle and places therein; then mounting
his box, drives off, for repairs it is presumed. By this time the
lady has recovered, takes the arm of her escort and follows after
the carriage, while the footman brings up the rear, carrying the
chair.

This is apparently quite a complicated performance, but is not
particularly difficult. Each performer is taught what he is to
do, the most intelligent monkey being generally assigned the
footman's character. The dogs are taught to run around until

MONKEY " MUSICIANS."MONKEY ACTORS.	159

the wheel comes off; this is their signal to stop. In teaching
the monkeys their parts a portion only of the scene is taught at
first; thus some days may be consumed in merely making the
actors occupy their appointed positions properly—such slight
improprieties as the footman jumping down upon the heads of
the lady and gentleman, or the gentleman pulling the driver off
his seat by the tail, or the lady banging her cavalier over the
head with her parasol, and like exhibitions of playfulness, being
checked by applications of the whip. Gradually the " business"
of the scene is built up—each lesson including all performed up
to that time and a little in advance 5 nuts, bread and an occasion-
al bit of candy, being the rewards for success, and whip for fail-
ure therein. Each monkey knowing his name, and being called
upon by name when his turn comes, he by-and-by learns the
proper time to perform his assigned work without any prompting.

The equestrian performances on pony or dog-back, styled
" steeple chases,?? and like tricks usually exhibited, scarcely re-
quire notice here. However amusing they may be it can hardly
be said that the monkey's part of the exhibition requires much 0!
either intelligence or training, as he is usually strapped upon his
steed and cannot very well help staying there. Sometimes,
however, instead of tying the monkey in the saddle, a perch is
erected on the fore part of the saddle, to which he clings fran-
tically as the dog or pony rushes around the ring. This is no
great improvement upon the strap, and the only training the
monkey gets is a cut from the whip whenever he permits him-
self to be dislodged. For a trainer to break a monkey so as to
ride a horse, carry a miniature flag, and hold on by the reins, is
commonly considered a remarkable achievement. Occasionally
though a monkey rider has been exhibited who has really per-
formed in a manner not merely absurd. The most notable
example of this kind was a huge ape of the cynocephalus or
dog face family, exhibited in the winter of 1867-8 at Lent's New
York Circus, under the title of the "Wonderful Cynocephalus."

Monsieur Olivier, a French circus manager, had taken a
troupe to India on speculation a short time previous to the
Sepoy mutiny, on the breaking out of which his company
disbanded, many joining the English troops. The manager
then wandered in search of an opening for professional specula-
tion, and while so doing attempted the training of several
varieties of the monkey tribe. His success was by no means
encouraging until, after years of failure, he came across the indi-
vidual who is the subject of this sketch. The Cynocephalus
was captured in Zanzibar, on the east cost of Africa, and from
the first exhibited unusual intelligence, and after many months160

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

of patient training he was prepared to shine among equestrian
stars. Ilis debut was made at the Cirque Napoleon, where he
immediately achieved celebrity. His performances afterward
repeated in New York were equally successful, and a brilliant
career was anticipated for him. Preparations had been made
for his exhibition throughout the country, with the circus
to which he was attached, but a week or two previous to
starting on the summer tour the Cynocephalus was attacked
with inflammation of the bowels, and though he rallied, and

THE " WONDERFUL C YiNOCRPri ALUS."

hopes were entertained of his recovery, lie died some days before
the time appointed for the skirt.

Of his achievements in the ring it is only necessary to say
that he went through all the feats usually displayed by a
circus-rider, jumping upon the horse, standing on one leg, then
holding the other in his hand, then standing on his head,
following this by somersets, and finishing off with the customary
vaulting through balloons and over banners. There was all the
while a gravity of demeanor and seriousness of countenanceTHE u WONDERFUL CYNOCEPHALUS."	1C1

contrasting favorably with the self-satisfied smirks and mean-
ingless grins of his human compeers.

As regards his tuition, each act had been taught separately,
the ape with a cord attached to a collar around his neck and
the other end held by his master, being placed in the required
position, the horse was then started, and in each instance
where the ape quitted his position before the horse was stopped,
a cut irom the whip was administered; every time the ape
retained the position till the horse had gone a certain number of
times around the circle, he was reawarded with a sweetmeat.
Each time a change of position was to be made, which was
always after a particular number of "rounds," the horse was
stopped and the ape made to take the new posture. These
attitudes followed one another in regular sequence, and soon a
mere change in the music was substituted for the stoppage each
time the horse had been around the customary number of times.
A hint from the whip was sufficient to remind the ape that he
was to make a change. The banner and balloon tricks were
readily taught by making him first leap them, when offered, while
the horse was standing still, and afterward when in motion.
The system of reward or punishment for success or failure was
always kept up, and in his public performances a close observer
would have noticed at any failure a frightened look from the
ape and a sly cut of the whip, while after each successful feat a
little sweetmeat was received from the pocket of the ring-
master.

A very popular scene at exhibitions of performing animals is
that in which a number of monkeys are seated around a table,
spread for a feast. Two or three monkeys personate waiters
and bring in, first candles, and then in succession the various
courses, really consisting of things suited to monkey stomachs,
but considered by theatrical license to be the customary viands
of a grand feast. Bottles of water-wine conclude the repast.
This is actually one of the simplest things for the trainer to
accomplish. The guests being tied in their high chairs, their
little bibs pinned around their necks, the only farther trouble
with them is to keep them from fighting or stealing each other's
rations. The waiters bringing in the things, especially the
lighted candles, look very pretty and very intelligent. This
part is taught by having two strings attached to the monkey.
The end of one of these strings is held by the trainer, the
end of the other by an assistant off the stage. The assistant
places an article in the monkey's paw and slacks up his line,
while the trainer hauls in on his, and by this very simple
arrangement, first cne and then the other hauling, the monkey162

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

learns to make the passage to and from the stage. Should
he drop his load before reaching the person to whom he
is traveling, a long whip-lash reminds him of his mistake,
and the article is replaced in his hand, or he kept by it until
he picks it up. It doesn't take long to teach him that when he
is given an article by one of his " workers" he is to take it
to the other, and then the strings may be dispensed with,
though a fine but strong twine is sometimes used even in public
exhibitions, and we recall one occasion at a New York theater
where the waiter got the twine entangled in some impediment
and was held mid-way till released by the exhibitor. Though
the twine could not be seen by the audience, the cause of
the difficulty was too obvious to be mistaken, and some rather
sarcastic applause was bestowed. On another occasion, in
a neighboring city, we witnessed a squabble among the monkey
guests, a general clawing and biting, ending with the upsetting
of the chairs and the scampering off of the monkeys with
chairs u hitched on behind."

The " drill exercise," performed with a little musket, which
the monkey fires ofF at the close, is a common but always
popular exhibition. Any one who has seen a green recruit
u put through" by the drill-sergeant can form a pretty correct
idea of the method of training pursued in the case of the
monkey. The instructor takes the required positions himself,
using his whip in lieu of a musket, giving the word of command
as he does so. Until the monkey understands these orders
the trainer places his musket in the right position for him
whenever he fails to do it himself. In case of willful disobed-
ience or obstinacy, the whip is restored to its primary use, while
good conduct is rewarded with equal promptness.

Sham fights are sometimes arranged for a number of monkeys.
In this performance each monkey is taught his particular part,
and rehearses it with the trainer till thoroughly familiar with it;
then each monkey rehearses with the one with whom he is to act,
until, as all become perfect in their parts, the whole act together.
In rehearsing the monkeys perform each action at the word
of command, being called by name. The mimicry natural in
monkeys has here to be checked, otherwise the performance
would be thrown into confusion by each copying the other's acts.
The monkeys are, therefore, punished for any movement
without orders, or for responding when another's name is
called.

To be trained successfully, monkeys must be taken when
young, and the degree of docility and intelligence varies greatly
with different species. The entellus monkey, a slender andMONKEY INGENUITY.

163

graceful native of the Indian Archipelago, whose light fur
makes a strong contrast with its black face and extremities,
exhibits great gentleness and playfulness when young, but
these traits change, as it becomes older, to distrust and listless
apathy, and, finally, it becomes as mischievous as others who
have never displayed any particular indications of good
temper.

Some varieties seem to possess the ability to actually plan
and carry out quite complicated operations, which, in a state of
nature, are as remarkable as any of their performances in captivi-
ty. The mottled baboons display this in their robberies of the
orchards of their native country. A part enter the enclosure,
while one is set to watch, and the remainder of the party form
a line outside the fence, reaching from their companions within
to their rendezvous in the neighboring woods. The plunderers
in the orchard throw the fruit to the first member of this line,
who throws it to the next, and so it is passed along until
it reaches headquarters, where it is safely concealed. All
the time this is being done the utmost silence is maintained,
and their sentinel keeps a sharp look-out. Should any one
approach he gives a loud cry, at which signal the whole com-
pany scamper off, though always taking a load of fruit in their
retreat, if possible, in their mouths, under their arms, and
in their hands. If hotly pursued this is dropped piecemeal,
but only when absolutely necessary to enable them to escape.

As the disposition varies with different species, so also must
the system of training. While one will require considerable
severity, another can be made to perform only by being well
treated and liberally rewarded. Once at the old Broadway
theater, in New York, a very celebrated monkey stopped in the
middle of a tight-rope performance and refused to continue.
His master threatened, scolded, and finally flogged him very
thoroughly, but he only jabbered and howled, and could not
be made to finish his performance; his master ending by taking
him in his arms and carrying him off the stage.

Many monkeys have a great liking for strong drink, and
this weakness is frequently taken advantage of by other train-
ers to induce them to perform ; a bribe of a little liquor often
proving a more powerful incentive than anything else. A
mandril, who, at one time, created considerable excitement in
London, where he was exhibited under the title of "Happy
Jerry," was a remarkable example of monkey devotedness to
the rosy god. Gin and water was his besetting weakness, and
to obtain it he would make any sacrifice or perform anything
within the bounds of possibility. In some instances sugar164

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

brandy-drops are used in public exhibitions as rewards, though
this is done sparingly.

Besides these weaknesses of appetite, to which their trainers
appeal, monkeys have a fondness for petting. Jardine men-
tions one of the shooloch species who was particularly pleased
with caresses. He would lie down and allow Lis head to be
combed and the long hair of his arms to be brushed, and seemed
delighted with the tickling sensation produced by the brush on

BABOON FINDING WATER HOOFS

his belly and legs. Turning from side to side, he would first
hold out one limb and then the other.

It is rare that any of the monkey tribe have been made
available for any really useful purpose. Occasionally, we
believe, they have been made to turn spits, and one case is
recorded of a monkey on shipboard who was taught to wash
dishes and perform several other of the minor duties of the
culinary department, under the supervision of the cook. Among
the Kaffirs of Africa a particular species of baboon, the chacma,
is trained for a somewhat novel purpose. These chacmas
will eat anything a man will, and torment the natives grievous-
ly by pillaging their gardens. The tables are, however, inMONKEYS UTILIZED.

165

some cases turned, and the chacmas made to provide food for
the Kaffirs instead of deriving it from them.

The ordinary food of the chacma is a plant called babiana,
from the use which the baboons make of it. It is a subter-
ranean root, which has the property of being always full of
watery juice in the driest weather, so that it is of incalculable
value to travelers who have not a large supply of water with
them, or who find that the regular fountains are dried up.
Many Kaffirs have tame chacmas which they have captured
when very young, and which have scarcely seen any of their
own kind. These animals are very useful to the Kaffirs, for if
they come upon a plant or a fruit- which they do not know they
offer it to the baboon, and if he eats it they know that it is
suitable for human consumption.

On their journeys the same animal is very useful in discover-
ing water, or, at all events, the babiana roots, which supply a
modicum of moisture to the system, and serve to support life
until water is reached. Under these circumstances, the baboon
takes the lead of the party, being attached to a long rope, and
allowed to run about as he likes. When he comes to a root of
babiana he is held back until the precious vegetable can be taken
entire out of the ground, but, in order to stimulate the animal
to farther exertions, he is allowed to eat a root now and then.

The search for water is conducted in a similar manner. The
wretched baboon is intentionally kept without drink until he is
half mad with thirst, and he is then led by a cord as before men-
tioned. He proceeds with great caution, standing occasionally
on his hind legs to sniff the breeze, and looking at and smelling
every tuft of grass. By what signs the animal is guided no one
can even conjecture; but if water is in the neighborhood the
baboon is sure to find it. So, although this animal is an invet-
erate foe of the field and garden, ho is not without his uses to
man when his energies are rightly directed.166

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTER XVIII.

RATS—-MICE—FROGS—TOADS—FLEAS, ETC.

EATS generally are not favorites. There seems to be
born in the human race a natural antipathy to these ani-
mals, and the preference with most persons would be rather
to exterminate them than to attempt to tame them. Still rats
may be tamed, though it must be confessed they are rather
unattractive subjects, their odor being disgusting and their
bite poisonous, probably from particles of putrid flesh adhering
to their teeth —in many recorded eases fatally so.

Probably most readers have heard the story of the French-
man, we forget his name, who was doomed to expiate some
political offense in a dungeon cell j and liow7 to relieve the
dreary loneliness and torturing monotony of his solitary exis-
tence, he strove to win the confidence of a rat which stole
timidly forth from some crevice to pick up the crumbs dropped
by the prisoner from his frugal meals. By slow degrees he
labored to achieve his purpose, dropping a few crumbs on the
floor an(J waiting motionless till the animal had come from his
retreat and taken them ; then, as the rat's timidity gave way
under the influence of this kindness, the man enticed him to eat
from his hand, to climb up his leg into his lap, and by-and-by
to permit himself to be handled, until at last the rat would
nestle in the man's bosom, come at his call, and in many ways
display his affections for his master.

Mice are less ferocious than rats, more easily managed, and
also make better performers, if it is desired to teach them tricks.
The process of training is the same with both. In securing
your captive, a trap which does it no injury should be used. To
say nothing of the cruelty, an animal that is partially disabled
or suffering pain, is not in a condition to learn well. The best
traps are those in which wires are so arranged as to permit an
easy entrance while they present an array of sharp points to
prevent an exit.

The first thing after the capture is to tie a piece of fine but
strong twine to the captive's tail. This may be done without
removing from the trap, or a wire or tin cage; he should be
kept until so far tamed that he will not attempt to gnaw the
string and escape when taken from his prison. During this
time he should be well treated, supplied with food and water,
and in no way irritated or alarmed. At the end of a day or so
he may be allowed to come out upon a table, while the stringRAT AND MOUSE TRAINING

167

which retains him is held securely. He will, probably, run
around to examine the locality and then make an attempt to
escape. At this point he must be gently but firmly drawn
back, and we would advise that the first lesson consist merely
in teaching him the uselessness of these attempts. At the next
lesson a light wand, of willow or other wood, about twenty
inches long, should be provided. Shortening the confining
string so as to have your animal " well in hand," you make
him travel back and forth across the table in a straight line
several times, guiding him by placing your wand in his way
whenever he swerves from the correct course. Then make him
go in a circle, then along a piece of board, or books laid on an
edge, and any other convenient exercises to habituate him to
follow your guidance. Remember, in doing this, that your ob-
ject is to teach him—not to torment him. This wand is the
real key to the performances of rats and mice. Though, these
animals, doubtless, possess considerable sagacity, nearly all the
tricks we have ever seen them perform have been mere obedience
to the guidance of the exhibitor 5 so that when your pupil will
go in the desired direction at the slightest hint with your wand,
the main part of his training is accomplished, and you have only
to arrange various little tricks in which the obedience will come
in play.

By placing an obstacle in his way of such a shape as he can-
not readily climb over, and urging him forward, he may be
taught to leap 5 soon little hoops of wire or wood may be held
for him to jump through, and these may be raised gradually
with successive lessons until he will spring a considerable dis-
tance into the air to go through them. During all the time of
training it should be your object to tame your pupil and inspire
him with confidence in you j this will enable you eventually to
remove the string which secures him, and so add to the credit
of your exhibition. He should also be accustomed to take food
from your hand or from the point of a bit of stick. This will
serve as the foundation of many amusing tricks. Thus a small
piece of cheese may be placed on the end of a string or wire so
arranged that the removal of the cheese will cause a little bell
to ring or produce some other pleasing effect. After the first
few lessons with this arrangement, in which the mouse will have
become accustomed to securing his food in this way, the cheese
may be simply rubbed on sufficiently to induce him to bite at it.
He should at first be guided up to it with the wand and tapped
gently under his chin to induce him to rise and seize it. A
variation of this is the trick of carrying articles in his mouth.
First give him some article throughly smeared with cheese; the168

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

desire to secure the cheese will make him take it 5 then by
urging and guiding him with your wand you can make him
carry it about ; being loth to relinquish the cheese, he will
retain the whole. The amount of this bait used may be gradu-
ally diminished. By-and-by he may be made to convey little
articles to and fro between two persons seated at opposite sides
of the table. To do this, as well as for general convenience, it
is well to accustom your pupil to come to you at some particu-
lar sound. This may be either the snapping of the finger nails
or some slight noise of the mouth. It is easily done by making
the noise, and, at the same time, pulling him toward you by the
string attached to his tail. When he reaches you reward him
with a morsel of cheese or bread, and repeat from day to day
until he will come upon hearing the call.

Rats or mice may be used as motive powers to operate little
models of machinery. This requires no training, as they are

RAT AS A MOTIVE POWER.

merely placed in a tread-mill contrivance, and being kept there
their weight causes the works to move and compels the animal
to keep up the motion.

A little performance, a la Blondin, may be arranged for your
mouse by stretching a piece of wire sufficiently stout to alford
him a firm foothold, from two posts, about a foot in hight,
fastened into a board. The ends of the wire may be at an
angle, and also be secured to the board. Being guided by your
wand up the slanting wire upon the main one, the dexterity
with which he will run about upon it is quite surprising. If he
has been already taught to hold things in his mouth he may be
given a piece of wood, about the thickness of an ordinary friction
match and twice its length, to represent a balancing pole, andPERFORMING RATS AND FROGS.

169

this may be adorned at each end by a balancing flag or bit of
ribbon. The real " balancer," however, is the animal's tail,
which he will wriggle from side to side to preserve his equilibrium.

In the summer of 1867 one of the most attractive of the out-
door shows exhibited in Paris was that of " the man of rats,"
well known to the inhabitants of the Quartier Mont Parnasse,
where he has held his headquarters for the last thirty years.
The name of this Harey of the rat race is Antoine Leonard. If
the former succeeded in breaking in the worst tempered brute
ever created, Leonard in three weeks certainly accomplished
the difficult task of cultivating habits of obedience in the biggest
rats that ever ran. His favorite scenes of action are some cross
alleys in the 14th and 15th Arondissement. His sole theater is
a sort of perch which he sticks into the ground, and then he
takes his corps de ballet out of his pocket. At his word of
command the rats run up and down the perch, hang on three
legs, then on two, stand on their heads, and in fact go through
a series of gymnastic exercises that would put Blondin himself
to the blush. His crack actor is a gray rat that he has had in his
troupe for eleven years. This old fellow not only obeys Leon-
ard, but is personally attached to him. It is a most curious
sight to see Leonard put him on the ground, and then walk
away. The creature runs after him, and invariably catches him
however many turns he may make to avoid him. An English-
man offered fifty francs for him about two years ago, but Leonard
would not separate from his old and attached friend.

Some time ago, in passing through Beekman street, in this
city, our attention was attracted by quite a large crowd gazing
intensely at the telegraph wires which pass through the street.
Following the example of the rest, we at last discerned, high
up on the topmost wire, a mouse, that was running along evi-
dently in search of some safe descent from his novel position.
It seems that some boy had caught him, and the fact that the
wires in that vicinity pass close to the windows of the buildings,
had, doubtless, suggested the idea of placing him thereon.
Whether the mouse would have persevered and traveled on to
Albany, thus furnishing an example of sending articles by tele-
graph, it is impossible to say, for some person at a window
within reach of the wire, by vigorous shaking, succeeded in dis-
lodging him, and he fell to the ground among a crowd of boys
who were eagerly waiting to receive him. In the scramble that
followed he was captured, and borne off in triumph by a news-
boy.

A shrewd dodge is related by a New York paper of a
certain saloon keeper, who has been greatly annoyed by per-170

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

sons who sit about in chairs to sleep off the effects of bad
whiskey. He has caught and tamed several rats, and trained
them to run across the floor. A sitter wakes up and sees the
rats running, and calls attention to the fact, when he is told
there are no rats there. This frightens the man, who thinks he
has got the tremens, and he quickly disappears from the saloon.

Frogs are made pets of in some countries. In Vienna may
be seen gilt cages containing small frogs of a pretty green color,
which are kept in drawing rooms, and amuse by their gambols.
Curious stories are told of the domestication of the tree-frog,
which is a native of warm countries. It is said of Dr. Town-
son, that he had two pet frogs of this variety. He kept them
in a window, and appropriated to their use a bowl of water, in
which they lived. They grew quite tame; and to two which he
had in his possession for a considerable time, and wTere particu-
lar favorites, the doctor gave the names of Damon and Musi-
dora. In the evening they seldom failed to go into the water,
unless the weather was cold and damp; in which case they
would sometimes abstain from entering it for a couple of days.
When they came out of the water, if a few drops were thrown
upon the boards they always applied their bodies as close to it
as they could; and from this absorption through the skin, though
they were flaccid before, they soon again appeared plump. A
tree-frog, that had not been in the water during the night, was
Weighed and then immersed 5 after it had remained half an hour
in the bowl, it came oat, and was found to have absorbed nearly
half its own weight of water. From other experiments, it was
discovered that these animals frequently absorbed nearly their
whole weight of water, and that, as was clearly proved, by the
under surface only of the body. They will even absorb water
from wetted blotting-paper. Sometimes they will eject water
with considerable force from their bodies, to the quantity of a
fourth part or more of their weight. Before the flies had disap-
peared in the autumn, the doctor collected for his favorite tree-
frog, Musidora, a great quantity as winter provision. When he
laid any of them before her she took no notice of them, but the
moment he moved them with his breath she sprang upon and
ate them. Once, when flies were scarce, the doctor cut some
flesh of a tortoise into small pieces, and moved them by the
same means; she seized them, but the instant afterward rejected
them from her tongue. After he had obtained her confidence
she ate from his fingers dead as well as living flies. Frogs will
leap at the moving of any small object 5 and, like toads, they
will also become sufficiently familiar to sit on the hand, and
submit to be carried from one side of a room to the other, toTAME FROGS

171

catch flies as they settle on the wall. This gentleman, accord-
ingly, made them his guards for keeping the flies from his dessert
of fruit, and they performed their task highly to his satisfaction.

Another, yet more remarkable frog, is told of by a Virginia
gentleman: "Concerning this frog," says he, "it has lived
many years with us and is a great favorite, and the greatest
curiosity is its becoming so remarkably tame. It had fre-
quented our door steps before our hall door some years before
my acquaintance commenced with it. My father had admitted it
for years on account of its size and color, and he visited it every
evening, when it would come forth at his summons, and by con-
stant feeding he brought it to be so tame that it would come to
him and look up as if expecting to be taken up and brought to
the table and fed on insects of all sorts. On presenting living
insects it fixes its eyes intently and remains motionless for a
while as if preparing for a strike, which is an instantaneous
throwing of its tongue to a great distance, upon which the
insect sticks fast to the tip by a glutinous matter. I can't say
how long my father had been acquainted with it; from my
earliest recollection he spoke of it as 1 Old Tom/ 6 the old frog.'
I have known it for a great number of years—I can answer for
fifty-seven years. It makes its appearance (always a welcome
visitor) with warm weather and remains with us till fall, appear-
ing morning and evening to our great amusement, having been
trained to do many things, such as leaping, turning somersaults
holding alternately by its feet and hands to a small rope, swing-
ing and whirling, after the manner of a slack rope performer,
marching erect on its hind legs, and at the word of command
going through the manual exercise. It seems perfectly good
natured, and never shows temper, but is dreadfully afraid of a
cat, on whose approach it will often leap four feet from the
floor, with the utmost precision, plump into the mouth of a
large stone water pitcher, and thus secure a safe retreat. Yet
it is in no wise alarmed or disturbed by the presence of dogs,
of which we have many about the premises. They all seem
to regard it as one of the household and a c privileged char-
acter.7 "

Were not this story apparently well attested we might doubt
some of the details, as our own experience has shown that, while
frogs are easily tamed, and may be taught quite readily to per-
form such simple feats as leaping, clinging to a string while
swinging, and the like, they yet seem to possess no aptitude for
learning any more elaborate feats. Some of our readers may,
perhaps, be as successful as this gentleman was, and in that
case we should be pleased to have them let us know of it.172

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

It may easily be imagined that the capture and training of
fleas would require a patience almost rivaling Job's, and a skill
which, in its particular way, might almost be called a triumph
of genius. Yet that has been done, and some years ago a man
gave exhibitions of what he termed "educated fleas," which
were quite popular and successful. This man was a German,
who, at the time we speak of, was somewhat more than sixty
years of age, and had been, with true Teutonic steadfastness,
about twenty years engaged in his strange vocation. Fortu-
nately he was endowed with a sharp pair of eyes, which not only
enabled him to keep track of his little performers, over three
score in number, but also to make the minute "properties"
used in the exhibition.

This "artist in fleas" took considerable pains to secure
choice specimens for his collection, and had arrangements
whereby they were forwarded to him by mail, carefully packed
in cotton, from localities noted for their superior breeds. When
not in use the fleas are packed away in pill-boxes between lay-
ers of cotton. They are fed twice each day; the manner of
feeding being to allow each to suck one drop of blood from the
trainer's bare arm. This would be an ordeal few of our readers
would probably care to submit to, but the hero of the sixty fleas
had become so accustomed to it that he didn't mind it in the
least, and, for aught we know, rather enjoyed it.

The intelligence of fleas is not of a very high order, and their
"education" is really very limited; the seeming marvels they
perform being mainly clever management on the part of their
exhibitor. When first received they are secured with a halter
of the finest imaginable silk to prevent escape. The first
thing they are taught is not to jump. For this purpose
the end of the halter is secured to a pin in the table, and
each jump naturally results in the prisoner being upset
with a sudden jerk, with, no doubt, a rather unpleasant sensa-
tion about the neck. Sometimes a sharp pressure upon certain
muscles is resorted to for checking this jumping propensity.
Being well fed and well treated, when it behaves itself, even a
flea will become tame. Punishment, too, for rebellious conduct
is also practiced. As fleas are not well adapted for being flogged
a new device is resorted to, a piece of burning charcoal, or
heated wire, is held over them until they are subdued.

The usual performances consist in little coaches being drawn
about by fleas harnessed up, while others of the troupe person-
ate riders, coachmen and footmen. Then there is the ball-room
scene, where fleas waltz around to the imaginary music of an
orchestra of fleas, furnished with minute imitations of variousPERFORMING FLEAS.

173

instruments. There are also quite a variety of other tricks,
but they are all pretty much the same in principle. The main
secret in these performances is a piece of very thin wire, some
ten or so inches in length, which the exhibitor holds in his hand
during the entertainment. The end of this wire is greased with
butter, which appears to possess a strong influence upon the
fleas, for they will eagerly follow the wire in whatever direction
it is moved. The audience, ignorant of this fact, attach no im-
portance to the exhibitor's directing with it the movement of
his performers, and may even consider their following it a proof
of superior training. By this means the fleas may easily be
made to go through the desired movements.

Where the fleas occupy a stationary position a trick is resort-
ed to which if on a large scale would be clumsy, but which in
this instance defies the sharpest eyes to detect. The insects
are fastened in their positions. Aided by the costumes with
which they are encumbered, this is not difficult to accomplish.
Natural movements are also made to pass for seemingly won-
derful effects. Thus the performance of the musicians is nothing
but the customary wriggling of the fleas. Any insect in a con-
fined position will seize hold of a light article whether it be
shaped like a fiddle or not, and twirl it about. With the fleas
it is impossible for the spectator to distinguish exactly what
the motion is—it is so rapid and everything is so small—and
imagination makes up for a good many deficiencies.

We have seen boys amusing themselves impaling a fly, belly
upward, upon the poini of a pin, the head of which was inserted
in a cork standard, and giving him a little dumb-bell composed
of pieces of cork connected by a piece of hog's bristle. The fly
would grasp this in his ageny, and his convulsive movements
would have a very exact resemblance to a dumb-bell perfor-
mance, and be irresistibly ludicrous, however much one might
sympathise with the victim's suffering. It almost rivaled the
professor and his fleas.

Once upon a time this troupe of fleas were exhibited at Ber-
lin before the king and queen. The professor was suddenly
seen to exhibit signs of great consternation. "What is the
matter, Herr Professor?" inquired his majesty, on seeing that
the performance had come to a stand still. " Sire, I perceive
that one of my very best performers, the great N apoleon, has
got loose and disappeared." " Let search be made at once for
the great Napoleon," replied the king, good humoredly. " La-
dies and gentlemen, let the Herr Professor have your best help
in recapturing the great Napoleon. In what direction, Herr
Professor, do you imagine the runaway to have gone ?" " If I174

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

may venture, sire, to reply frankly/' returned that personage,
" I suspect the great Napoleon to have secreted himself about

the person of her serene highness, the Princess F-The

" highness " thus named, feeling anything but u serene" at the
thought of affording quarters to such an intruder, made a hasty
retirement to her own apartments, whence, after a brief retire-
ment with her cameriste, she smilingly returned to the royal
presence, bringing some object held delicately between her
thumb and finger, which she cautiously made over to the pro-
fessor. " Alas! siiv," exclaimed the latter, after a moment's
glance at what he thought was his discovered treasure, " this
is a wild flea and not the great Napoleon !" And the exhibi-
tion was brought to an ignominious conclusion.

We once heard of a performance somewhat akin to our pro-
fessor's. At a certain boarding school that we attended years ago,
we noticed our room-mate one morning examining the bed in a
manner to indicate beyond doubt that he was in search of an
insect which is not usually a subject of conversation in polite
society. Fortunately for the credit of the school he found
none. In answer to our expression of surprise at his evident
disappointment at there being none, he explained that he wanted
to show us a splendid trick he had invented at home ; and he
went on to describe how he had often amused himself by gluing
one end of a string to the back of an unfortunate bug, while to
the other end was hitched a miniature model of a cart, made of
paper. This, he said, was capital sport, especially when he made
two of these teams race, and pricked the steeds with a needle to
make them lively. This is the only example of bed-bug train-
ing we are able to record.

A very useful thing for farmers is the power of handling bees
without liability to be stung. Many persons imagine this to be
some gift or mysterious influence possessed by the successful
operator, while others suppose it to be derived from some won-
derful secret possessed by him. Though this "secret" is
really quite a simple matter, the fact that a speculator has
been selling it to bee keepers at the modest price of ten dollars,
shows that it is an interesting subject, and we propose to give
it to the reader without exacting any fee.

Let us suppose you have a particularly irritable colony in one
of the modern hives, from which you desire to obtain the honey.
The treatment must vary a trifle according to the particular
design and arrangement of the hive, but the following direc-
tions, with very slight modifications, will answer for all. First
confine the bees in the hive, and rap on the side of it with the
palms of your hands or a small stick. The first efforts of theHAPPY FAMILIES.

175

bees will be to escape from the hive; finding this impossible
they will rush to their stores and fill themselves with honey.
Should the rapping prove insufficient to frighten them and
cause them to fill themselves with honey, smoke from rotten
wood, which is the best, cotton rags, or tobacco, may be made
to enter the hive which will have the desired effect. Bees will
never sting of their own accord when gorged with food, and in
this condition may be handled with impunity.

When swarming, or out of the hive for any reason, they may
be "tamed" by placing water well sweetened with sugar within
their reach. Bees can never resist the temptation and after
they have gorged themselves with this preparation they are as
harmless as when their sacks are filled with honey.

CHAPTER XIX.

"HAPPY FAMILIES"—ENEMIES BY NATURE MADE FRIENDS

BY ART.

ONE of the most entertaining and popular features of Bar-
num's Museum, during the many years of its existence,
was that miscellaneous collection of minor birds, beasts, and
reptiles, denominated the Happy Family. Here in a huge cage
are mingled many varieties of the animal kingdom which are, in
a state of nature, deadly enemies to one another. Exhibitions
of this kind are very rare in this country, though more common
in Europe. Probably the first one ever seen here was that
imported by Barnum in 1847, and which was the foundation of
the present collection; though, like the boy's jack-knife which
first had a new blade and then a new handle, and then a new
blade again, it would be difficult to find any of the original
importation in the collection of the present day. It seems that
Barnum, at about the date we have mentioned, was in Scotland
" working" Tom Thumb, who was then on a grand exhibition
tour. In the neighborhood of Edinburgh he accidentally stumbled
across the Happy Family, which was then, though an excellent
collection of animals, a rather one-horse affair as an exhibition
by itself. The shrewd showman, ever on the lookout for novel-
ties or curiosities, genuine or otherwise, fancied he saw a good
speculation and bought the whole concern for $2,500, and
brought it in triumph to his museum in New York.176

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

Curious and wonderful as this peaceable living together of
animals of such diverse natures appears, there is really very little
mystery in it. Many persons, noticing the sleepy and listless
appearance of most of the animals, have quite naturally come to
the conclusion that they were under the influence of some drug,
which stupefied them and rendered them harmless. We believe
that in no case is this the fact, because it is not necessary. The
main secret is to feed the animals to satiety ; never allowing them
to feel the pangs of hunger, the great incentive for preying upon
other animals is taken away. Animals, unlike men, will never
eat unless they are really hungry. We have frequently
observed boa constrictors at public exhibitions, in whose cages
rabbits or pigeons had been placed to gratify the public with

THE "HAPPY FAMILY" AT BARNUM'S OLD MUSEUM.

the sight of the huge snake swallowing his food alive. Unless
the snake is hungry the miserable little victims remain for days
cooped up with the hideous monsters without the latter taking
the slightest notice of them. It is a well known fact that cats
which are fed plentifully cease to be good mousers, however ex-
cellent in that respect they have previously been, and will permit
a house to be overrun with these pests without molesting them.
Besides the plentiful feeding there is one other thing requisite
to make the animals live together peaceably. Many animals
have an instinctive desire to worry or kill others which are
smaller or weaker than themselves. Between many particular
animals a kind of natural antipathy exists. So natural does it
seem that a dog should torment a cat that " a cat and dog life *HAPPY FAMILIES.

177

has become typical of a very uncomfortable state of existence.
There is on the part of all animals a feeling of suspicion and
antagonism toward strange animals, even if they are of their own
species. We are almost every day witnesses of exhibitions 011
a smaller scale a] most as wonderful as the Happy Family, were
it not that their frequency renders them common place. In
thousands of households cats and dogs live together, not only
without quarreling but on really friendly terms. Frequently
have we seen cats and dogs feeding from the same dish, and
recollect one instance where a diminutive kitten, in the inno-
cence of feline infancy, seized upon one end of a bone which a
monstrous watch dog was busily gnawing, without being mo-
lested by the dog. It is just as natural for cats to devour birds
as for any beast or bird of prey to devour its victims, and yet
we have been familiar with more than one instance of canary
birds being allowed to fly around a room in which was the
household cat, without tha cat showing the least disposition to
attack them. Had a strange bird came within hor reach we
doubt not that same cat would have indulged in a feast at his
expense without hesitation. City dogs would make sad havoc
among the inhabitants of any poultry yard if allowed admission
therein, but let any one of those same dogs become a resident on
a farm, let him understand that chickens and turkeys are sacred
from his touch and he will soon walk among them as uncon-
ciously as though there were no such things in existence. An
instance is on record of a cat who had been deprived of her kit-
tens, capturing a brood of young rats and suckling them with
all the tenderness of a mother. In this case, however, it would
appear that affection for the baby rats was not the motive for
this strange act, for as soon as the cat was eased of the incon-
venience of her milk, she disposed <. f her adopted family in a
pleasant and effective manner—she ate them up.

In preparing animals for Happy Families it is usual to keep
them in small cages, in the vicinity of each other. Occasionally
two animals of different dispositions are placed together, the
keeper preventing any fighting and punishing any symptoms of
it. When the keeper thinks they may be safely left together
he retires to a short distance to wait results. On the least
sign of a quarrel he is down upon them, poking and punching
and stirring them up generally. If they show no disposition to
quarrel they are treated kindly, fed plentifully and permitted
to enjoy themselves as much as their restricted quarters will
permit. When an animal has thus learned to keep within the
bounds of politeness and good breeding he is introduced into
the large cage with the grand collection. In this large cage178

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

the principal disturbing elements are the monkeys, who fre-
quently obstinately insist upon not being happy, and slinging
the mice around by their tails, pulling out the birds7 feathers
and other little acts of playfulness. The stout wire very soon
reduces them to quietness, and it very seldom happens that any
serious disturbance occurs. Doves and vultures roost calmly
side by side, mice nestle confidingly in the cat's soft, warm fur,
and so natural does it all seem, that, for a moment one scarcely
realizes of what incongruous elements the whole is made up.

The origin of this novel idea of tha Happy Family was pro-
bably this: Francesco Michelo was the only son of a carpenter
who resided in Tempio, a town in the island of Sardinia. He
had two sisters younger than himself, and he had only attained
his tenth year when a fire reduced his father's house to ruins,
and at the same time caused the death of the carpenter himself.
The family were thus reduced to beggary, and the boy in order
to provide for the necessities of his mother and sisters took up
the occupation of catching birds for sale. Constructing a cage
of considerable dimensions from laths he proceeded to the woods
to secure the nests of young birds. Being active and industrious
he succeeded tolerably well, but the prices he obtained were
not adequate to the maintenance of the family. In this dilemma
the boy conceived a new and original method for increasing his
income $ necessity is the mother of invention, and he meditated
no less a project than to train a young Angora cat to live harm-
lessly in the midst of his favorite songsters. Such is the force
of habit, such the power of education, that by slow degrees he
taught the martial enemy of his winged pets to live, to eat, to
drink, and to sleep in the midst of his little charges without
once attempting to devour or injure them. The cat, whom he
called Bianca, suffered the little birds to play all manner of
tricks with her; and never did she extend her talons or harm
them in any way.

He went even farther, and taught the cat and the birds to
play a kind of game, in which each had to learn its own part.
Puss was instructed to curl herself into a circle, with her head
between her paws, as though asleep. The cage was then opened
and the birds rushed out upon her and endeavored to awaken
her with repeated strokes of their beaks; then dividing into
two parties they attacked her head and her whiskers, without
the gentle animal appearing to take the least notice of their
gambols. At other times she would seat herself in the middle
of the cage, and begin to smooth her fur 5 the birds would then
settle upon her back, or sit like a crown upon her head, chirrup-
ing and singing as if in all the security of a shady wood.HAPPY FAMILIES.

179

The sight of a sleek and beautiful cat seated calmly in the
midst of a cage of birds was so new and unexpected that when
Francesco produced them at the fair of Sussari he was sur-
rounded instantly by a crowd of admiring spectators. Their
astonishment scarcely knew bounds when they heard him call
each feathered favorite by its name, and saw it fly toward him
with alacrity, till all were perched on his head, his arms, and
his fingers. Delighted with his ingenuity the spectators re-
warded him liberally, and the boy returned joyfully to his home
with sufficient money to last the family many months.

Not only do animals sometimes lose many of their natural
characteristics by association with human beings or with other
animals, but they even in some cases have been known to acquire
the habits of animals of an entirely different species from them-
selves. One of the most remarkable instances of this was ob-
served by La Malle. This gentleman had a kitten which had
attained the age of six months when his live stock was increased
by the arrival of a terrier pup, Fox, that was only two months
old. The dog and the cat were brought up together, and for
two years Fox had no association with other dogs, but received
all his education from the three daughters of the porter, and
from the cat. The two animals were continually together and
acquired a great affection for one another; the cat, however, as
the senior taking the lead. Soon Fox began to bound like a
cat, and to roll a mouse or a ball with his fore paws after the
feline fashion. He also licked his paw and rubbed it over his
ear as he saw the cat do ; nevertheless, owing to his native in-
stinct, if a strange cat came into the garden he chased it away.
La Malle brought a strange dog into the house, who manifested
the utmost contempt and indignation for all Fox's habits. M.
Andouin, too, had a dog which acquired all the habits of a cat.

It has probably been remarked also, by most readers, that
domestic animals almost always imbibe something of the dispo-
sition of their masters or mistresses. Thus, a plodding easy-
going man will have a horse of much the same characteristics
if it has been long in his service, whatever may have been the
horse's original disposition. Many similar instances will no
doubt suggest themselves to the reader. It would seem that
even mankind is not exempt from this influence, and that when
men have not the energy or mental force to exert this molding
power over the minds of their brute companions, the animals
will exert it over them. At the risk of wandering from our
subject it may interest some to have attention called to the tes-
timony to this assertion, afforded by all uncivilized countries.
Dr. Virey, who has given considerable attention to this rather180

THE ART OF TBAINING ANIMALS.

queer subject, remarks: " Behold those men who pass their lives
among animals, as cowherds, shepherds, swineherds, grooms,
and poachers, they always acquire something of the nature of
the animals with which they associate. It is thus that man be-
comes heavy and rude with the ox, filthy and a glutton with the
pig, simple with the sheep, courageous and an adept hunter
with the dog. In like manner the Arab is sober with his camel,
the Tartar rough and blunt as his horses, the Laplander timid
as his reindeer, the mountaineer active as the goat, the Hindoo
somber as his elephant, because it is man's fate to take the na-
ture of his animals when ha cannot form their nature to his."
Without recommending the adoption of this writer's opinions
entirely, for much that he has stated is no doubt due to climate
and local causes, his theory is worthy of consideration by those
who have a fancy for this kind of speculation.

A correspondent of the Agriculturist relates an amusing in-
stance of a sort of " happy family " originated by the animals
themselves: "About a month since two cats had a 6 family7
within a few days of each other. All the kittens were drowned
except two of each set, which with their respective mammas
were snugly settled in a couple of boxes in the same room. On
the following day both families entire—or rather what remained
of them—were found coiled up together in the same box. They
were not disturbed and thenceforward the two mothers ceased
to recognize any difference between the two pairs of kittens.
They would alternately nurse the whole lot, or both affectionate-
ly entwined together divide this < labor of love' just as the kit-
tens, lying snugly between them, would happen to turn to the
one or the other. But this is not all. Eddie brought a couple
of young squirrels from the woods, which soon became very
gentle. In less than two days both were found in the box among
the cats and kittens, drawing from either or both the maternal
fonts, upon a like footing of equality and community with that
previously enjoyed by the kittens. The old cats seemed to
acquiesce fully in the arrangement, and so it proceeded for a
couple of weeks, until one of the squirrels was accidentally killed.
The other having the freedom of the house is now a romping
playmate of both cats and kittens, who continue uniformly to
treat him as 6 one of the family.'"THE LEARNED SEAL.

181

CHAPTER XX.

EDUCATED SEALS—TAME FISH, ETC.

AT the Zoological Gardens in London, and at several places
J-jL on the continent, seals have been exhibited which had
been taught to perform a number of tricks. The first " learned
seal?? which appeared in this country was one exhibited first at
Barnum'e old Museum, on the corner of Broadway and Ann
street, and afterward in various parts of the country. Ned, as
he was called, was quite a philosopher in his way, and submit-
ted gracefully to the change from his secluded haunts on the
icy shores of Greenland, to the excitements of a public life.

Seals are naturally docile and intelligent, but skill in grinding
a hand-organ is scarcely a gift which comes by nature, and even
in the case of Ned it was necessary to stimulate his musical
taste before he became an adept on that instrument. This stim-
ulus was the same as that to which we owe the curb-stone per-
formances of modern Eomans—hunger.

He had before this learned of his own accord to come up out
of the water on the appearance of his keeper. He was kept in
a large tank, or box, one half of which held the water, while the
other half was floored over forming a platform on which he was
exhibited. From this platform an inclined plane, formed of
planks, led down into the water. Around the edge of the tank
and platform a wooden railing extended, and in one corner of
this enclosure was kept a tin box containing the fish with which
the seal was fed. When the seal was first exhibited his keeper
was in the habit of taking a fish from this box at each half-hourly
exhibition, and tossing it to the seal who would come partly
out of the water and open his mouth to catch it when he saw it
in the keeper's hand. This box had a lid to prevent Ned helping
himself, and the seal soon learned that the noise of opening the
box was followed by his getting a fish ; so before long it was
only necessary to tap on the lid to make him come up on the
platform.

There was one trick which Ned invented himself, and used to
perform to his own great satisfaction. He always liked to
be able to see his keeper, but visitors often crowded around the
tank so much as to obstruct his view. When this happened,
Ned had a way of beating vigorously about in the water and
splashing the offending spectators so that they were glad to
withdraw to a more respectful distance. This afforded consid-
erable fun to the attaches of the museum, who had discovered182

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

Ned's little game, while, we believe, visitors never suspected
that their ducking was anything more than mere accident.

The first feat he was taught was to sit up on his hind quart-
ers. This was easily accomplished by holding a fish in the air
as an encouragement for the seal to keep an erect position.
More difficulty was experienced in teaching him to play the
organ. Day after day his paw was placed on the handle, while
the trainer industriously turned the crank and held Ned's paw
in position at the same time. Ever and anon the man would
remove his hand to see if the seal continued the motion, but
down would flop Ned's paw and he would gaze vacantly at the
instrument without the least apparent consciousness of what was
to be done. But by-and-by there was a little hesitation in the
paw and it did not drop quite so promptly on the trainer's hand

NED, THE "LEARNED SEAL'

being removed. Then Ned got a little fish. The next time the
paw lingered quite perceptibly on the handle, and there was
just the faintest movement toward turning the crank. Then
Ned got a bigger fish, which he undoubtedly relished exceeding-
ly, for all this time he had been on short allowance. So it
went on, the seal grinding a few notes, increasing their number
each time and being rewarded with fish, until he had learned to
roll out the full supply of tunes the instrument afforded, though
his u time " would have puzzled a musician, his efforts being to
grind at the greatest possible speed, and we feel safe in assert-
ing that his " Old Hundred " was the fastest thing on record.
After every exhibition he was rewarded with fish.

Quite a number of instances are recorded where seals have
been tamed without any design of public exhibition. A writer
in the London Field gives some curious details of his own ex-
periment. He says:

" When a boy, I was presented by some fishermen with oneTAME SEALS.

183

apparently not more than a fortnight old, which in a few weeks
became perfectly tame arid domesticated, would follow me
about, eat from my hand, and showed unmistakable signs of
recognition and attachment whenever I approached. It was
fond of heat, and would lie for hours at the kitchen fire, raising
its head to look at every new comer, but never attempting to
bite, and would nestle close to the dogs, who soon became quite
reconciled to their new friend. Unfortunately the winter after
I obtained it was unusually rough and stormy. Upon that wild
coast boats could seldom put to sea, and the supply of fish be-
came scanty and precarious. We were obliged to substitute
milk in its place, of which the seal consumed large quantities,
and as the scarcity of other food still continued, it was deter-
mined, in a family council, that it should be consigned to its
own element, to shift for itself. Accompanied by a clergyman,
who took a great interest in my pet, I rowed out for a couple of
miles to sea, and dropped it quietly overboard. Very much to
our astonishment, however, we found that it was not so easy to
shake it off. Fast as we pulled away it swam still faster after
the boat, crying all the time so loudly that it might easily have
been heard a mile away, and so pitifully that we were obliged
to take it in again and bring it home."

A somewhat similar story is told in Maxwell's Wild Sports of
the West, where may be found a very interesting and touching
narrative of a tamed seal, which lived for several years with a
family, and which, although it was repeatedly taken out to sea
in a boat and thrown overboard, always found its way back
again to the house which it loved, even contriving to creep
through an open window and to gain access to the warm fireside.

In the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, there was, for some time,
a specimen of the marbled seal. Two little dogs, in the same
enclosure, amused themselves by mounting on its back, barking,
and even biting it—all of which the seal took in good part.
Sometimes it would pat them with its paw; but this seemed
intended more to encourage than to repress their gambols. In
cold weather, they warmed one another by huddling together.
If the dogs snatched a fish from the seal's mouth, it bore the
loss patiently ; but it generally had a fight with another seal,
the sharer of its mess, until the weaker one sounded a retreat.

Some few years ago a " talking fish " was profitably exhibi-
ted in London and the principal provincial towns, at a shilling a
head. The fish was a species of seal, and the " talking " con-
sisted of a free translation of its natural cry into the words
ma-ma, or pa-pa, according to the fancy of the showman at
spectator.184

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

Gold and silver fish are frequently kept as ornaments in glass
globes or aquaria; those vessels which present the largest surface
to the air being preferable. Fish kept in the flask shaped, or
narrow mouth globes, so often used by thoughtless persons, can
never be kept healthy, and their spasmodic efforts to get breath
are a sufficient indication of their sufferings.

These fishes may be easily tamed. Gentleness is the all-es-
sential requisite. They can be taught to eat from their owner's
hand by first dropping morsels of food in the water while your
finger is placed on the outside as near it as possible. For a lit-
tle while they will be afraid to approach the food, restrained by
the sight of the finger, but by-and-by they will approach and
seize it. After they have ceased to fear your fingers on the out-
side, attach a bit of the food to your finger and cautiously in-
sert it in the water; if hungry they will presently muster cour-
age to come and take it, and in due time will take their food in
that manner as a matter of course. If fed at stated hours they
will learn to distinguish the approach of the customary feeding
time and will signify the fact by floating up to the surface shak-
ing their fins, and sticking their heads out of the water. In this
same manner they recognize their master or mistress and ex-
press their pleasure at his or her approach.

A lady writer thus describes some fish kept in her family as
pets : " They knew a wonderful deal more did these little fishes.
They would come to the top of the water to be fed and take
their food from my fingers. When they wanted fresh water
they could call for it by making an odd, clicking noise. They
would remain perfectly still wThile being talked to, and wink
with evident satisfaction at the compliments lavished upon them.
When, after a prolonged absence, their lawful owners returned
to them, these little fishes would wriggle about and indulge in
wonderful demonstrations of joy and welcome. Oh, the learned
seal was nothing in comparison to them."

It is not alone gold and silver fish that admit of being tamed.
A correspondent writing from Franklin, Indiana, says of the
fishes in a pond on his grounds that they will approach on hear-
ing his whistle, eat from his hands, and allow him to take them
from the water. A little girl in one of the New England states
rendered some trout, which inhabited a brook near her father's
house, so exceedingly tame, that, when feeding them, she was
obliged to check the impetuosity of the more voracious ones by
a little stick armed at the point with a needle.

Mr. 0. L. Vallandigham, of Ohio, is our authority for the fol-
lowing story : " While upon the Island of Bermuda, in travel-
ing from one portion of the island to the other, I passed by aTAME FISH.

185

stone enclosure, perhaps a hundred feet in diameter. The
islands are coral in their formation. There was a pool of water
full of fish inside the enclosure. I paid an English shilling for
admission inside, where I saw perhaps a hundred fish, thor-
oughly tamed, each one having a name, and each one answering
to the name by which he was called. One of them, I recollect,

THE HIPPOCAMPUS.

was called Dick I spoke to him as I would to a dog, and he
came and lifted up his head and allowed me to rub his back,
just as you would a cat. Now, as I told you, if any body else
had told me that I wouldn't have believed it. But it is neverthe-
less true. There is just such a pool there, and they are so in-
telligent that they recognize their names.77

Possibly some of our readers remember the queer little fishes
Barnum exhibited some years ago, and which he called u sea-
horses 77 on account of the great resemblance of the heads to
those of miniature horses. These were labeled as coming from
the Grillf of Mexico, though in reality caught in New York Bay.
They were what are known to naturalists as the short-nosed
hippocampus, and being peculiar we give an illustration which
will convey a better idea of their appearance than any mere de-
scription. They are commonly about five inches in length, and186

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

are to be found on many parts of our coast. When swimming
about they maintain a vertical position, but the tail is ready to
grasp whatever it meets in the water, and this i$ the means by
which the creature appears to obtain rest. The tail will quick-
ly entwine in any direction around weeds, or other supports 5
and when fixed the animal watches the surrounding objects in-
tently and darts at his prey with great dexterity. They raise
themselves to higher positions on their supports by the aid of
the hinder part of their cheeks, or chins, when the tail entwines
itself afresh. We do not think those at the museum performed
in public but their keeper to while away leisure time made them
very tame and taught them several little tricks, among others
to perch in a row on his finger. The four little fellows, each
only about four inches in length, presented a most comical ap-
pearance. The system of training in this case was very similar
to that which we have described as having been practiced in the
case of the " learned seal."

We cannot say that we ever had any personal experience
with oysters in the capacity of pupils, but in at least one case
has a bivalve been made subject to the tamer's art. In an
English paper of 1840 we find a curious account of a gentleman
at Christ Church. Salisbury, England, who kept a pet oyster
of the largest and finest breed then known. It was fed on oat
meal, for which it regularly opened its shell, and was occasion-
ally treated to a dip in its native element ; but the most extra-
ordinary trait in the history of this amphibious was that it
proved itself an excellent mouser, having killed at least five
mice, by crushing the heads of such as, tempted by the lucious
meal, had the temerity to intrude their noses within its bivalvu-
lar clutches. On one occasion two of these little intruders
suffered together.PRINCIPLES OF TAMING BIRDS

187

CHAPTER XXI.

THE ART OF TAMING BIRDS,

ALTHOUGH birds are naturally of a timid disposition,
very easily alarmed, and from their delicate structure
unable to endure any but the most gentle handling, they may
be made very tame and become quite attached to their trainei*.
We propose to tell our readers how to tame their birds, but to
make these instructions successful they must be carried out
with the greatest gentleness and patience. The utmost pains
should be observed not to frighten the bird, as a single fright
may render him so shy as to defeat all your efforts to gain his
confidence. The following plan is the simplest and most uni-
formly successful that we have seen tried : The trainer opens
the door of the cage and teases the bird gently with a soft fea-
ther. This he does till the bird pecks at the feather, then at
his finger, and at last comes out of the cage and perches upon
his hand. He then smooths his feathers down, caresses it, and
offers it some favorite article of food, which it soon learns to
take from his hand. He then begins to accustom the bird to a,
particular call or whistle; carries it upon his hand or shoulder
from room to room, in which all the windows are carefully
closed, lets it fly and calls it back. As soon as the bird becomes
obedient to the call in the presence of other persons and animals,
the same experiment is cautiously repeated in the open air, till
at last it is rewarded with complete success. This process is
well suited for nearly all young cage birds, especially linnets,
bullfinches, and canaries, but it is dangerous to take these
tame birds into the open air during pairing time, as they are
liable to be enticed by the cries of wild birds.

Birds that are caught in winter often take to the cage more
kindly than would be expected, but after their capture some
days should be allowed them to become accustomed to their
new situation, before expecting them to respond to your kind-
ness. Newly caught birds should be put into a quiet place,
shaded with a green woolen cover, so that the inmate may not
see persons moving about the room, and it should be supplied
with abundance of whatever is supposed to be its favorite food.
Hemp seed generally fulfills this requirement. It is an im-
mense advantage to have a large cage made like the " trap?? or
store cages in which canaries are generally sold. Tke wooden
bars are less liable to hurt new comers than those made of
wire.188

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

Whatever the cage, the food and the shading are essential
points; and the bird will often become familiar with his mistress'
voice before the cover is removed, and he able to see her. After
the first day or two do not leave the seed tin always in the cage,
but take it away after each meal for a little while, taking the
opportunity of having a talk with the bird when you give it back,
and gradually bring the cage a little nearer to you as it gets
more tame. The water, of course, is always in the cage, and
this must not be understood to imply a starving system, the
only object in taking away the seed is to obtain the chance to
talk with him and make friends when you bring it back. A
single bird in a cage tames more quickly than when there are
two or three.

A New York paper, speaking about the importation of canary
birds from Germany, says the following sight was seen in Flor-
ence, Italy, in 1861, by a lady and gentleman belonging in New
York. In walking in the principal Street they overtook a man
with a long whip in his hand, which he was moving from one
side to the other in what they thought a strange manner. When
they came up with him they found he was driving a flock of
canary birds, as in England they drive a flock of turkeys. A
carriage came along, and the man waved his whip in a peculiar
manner, when the little birds all went to the sidewalk until the
carriage passed, when they took the street again. A woman
wanted to buy one, when the man sprinkled some canary seed at
his feet and half a dozen of them came to him, when he took one
up in his hand and delivered it to the woman, who paid him one
franc. The man then went on again.

Elihu Burritt, the learned blacksmith, gives an account of
Mr. Fox, of Tregedna, near Falmouth, England, who, by perse-
vering kindness, has won the affection of a large number of birds
—so much so that they fly to meet him when he calls them, and
hop about him, eating the crumbs with which his pockets are
well filled. When digging in his garden it is no common sight
to see little birds hopping on the handle of the spade or rake used
by the gentleman, thus showing their confidence in him. Some-
times they enter his bedroom early in the morning, through the
window, and in their way call out, " It is time to get up.77 On
Sunday, when Mr. Fox goes to his place of worship, some of the
birds are frequently seen to accompany him along the road chirp-
ing and singing all the way.

The following is a new and approved method where it is
desired to tame birds in a very short time, and is applicable to
all kinds of cage birds, proving efficacious in one or two hours :
A portion—larger or smaller in proportion to the wildness of theBIRD TAMING.

189

bird—is cut off from the inner plume of the pen feathers, so that
the bird cannot hurt itself if it attempts to leave the hand, and
the external appearance of the wing is not impaired. The nos-
trils of the bird are then touched with bergamot or any other
odDrous oil, by which it is for the time so stupified as to perch
quietly on the finger or to hop from one finger to another. It
may attempt to fly away once or twice, but this is not often re-
peated, especially if the experiment be conducted in a dark
place—for example, behind a, curtain, which offers the further
advantage that if the bird fall it is not likely to hurt itself.
As soon as it sits quietly on any one finger another must be
placed in such a position as to cause the bird to step upon it.
As soon as it is accustomed to hop quietly from one finger to
another the main difficulty is overcome, for if when the bird is
gradually aroused from its state of stupefaction it perceives
that its teacher does not use it roughly, it may by degrees be
taught to manifest perfect obedience to his commands. To
teach it to eat from its master's mouth it should be kept in the
cage without food for some time. If it be then taken upon the
finger and its favorite food be presented to it on the outstretched
tongue hunger will soon teach it to feed. A story is told of a
favorite magpie that had been accustomed to receive dainty bits
from the mouth of its mistress. One day it perched as usual
on her shoulder and inserted its beak between her lips, not, as
it proved, to receive, for as one good turn deserves another, the
grateful bird dropped an immense fat green caterpillar into the
lady's mouth.

Birds tamed by the preceding process may be taught to sing
while perched upon the hand. To effect this it is only neces-
sary to coax them by chirping to them and using encouraging
tones. The chaffinch maybe made to sing by whistling "yach !
yach!" and stroking it on the neck; and the bullfinch by speak-
ing to it in a friendly manner, accompanied by a backward and
forward motion of the hand.*90

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

CHAPTER XXII.

SONG BIRDS—THEIR MANAGEMENT AND TUITION.

HAT is called the song of birds is always expressive either
of love or happiness ; thus the nightingale sings only dur-
ing the pairing season, and the period of incubation, and becomes
silent as soon as required to feed its young ; while on the con-
trary the canary and others sing except when dejected by molt-
ing. The males are usually the best singers, in fact the females
of several varieties have hardly what could be called a song.
Female canaries, bullfinches, robins, and some others may be
made to sing to a considerable extent by keeping them in cages
by themselves and paying attention to their food and manage-
ment. All birds should be kept clean, their cages washed out
often enough to prevent the accumulation of filth, a supply of
sea or river sand furnished, and also fresh water for bathing and
drinking. The food uf each species varies, but the following
will be found adapted to nearly all cage birds :

" Universal Pastes."—Number One.—Thoroughly soak in
cold water a well baked stale loaf of wheaten bread ; press the
water out and pour milk over the bread, Sufficient to moisten
thoroughly j then mix with it two-thirds of its own weight of
barley or wheat meal, ground fine and sifted.

Number Two.—Grate a carrot and mix it with a moderate
sized slice of bread which has been thoroughly soaked in water
and the water carefully pressed out. While mixing add two
handfuls of the above mentioned barely or wheat meal. The
whole is then to be pounded in a mortar.

The above quantities are sufficient for quite a number of
birds and must be reduced to suit requirements, as no more than
one day's supply should be prepared at one time. Careful wash-
ing of all utensils employed is of course essential to prevent
sourness. Canaries should be furnished with a mixture of
canary, summer rape, and crushed hemp seed. Goldfinches
like poppy seed, with the addition occasionally of a little crushed
hemp*seed. They also eat thistle seed. Linnets and bullfinches
rape seed alone. A little green food, as chick-weed, lettuce,
cabbage or water-cress, is desirable about once a week. Quails
are fond of bread crumbs and wheat. Larks prefer barley meal
mixed with finely cut cabbage, or poppy seed and crumbs of
bread, and oats in winter.

Varying the food of song birds has a tendency to make them
sing. The very common practice of giving pet birds cake,CANARIES.

191

sweetmeats, or sugar, is unadvisable; they prefer more simple
food, and their health and musical qualities are impaired by
this kindly meant but really unkind practice. A bit of cuttle
fish bone is the best dainty. Too much hemp seed is injurious
to all birds in confinement, often producing blindness, loss of
voice, and pulmonary disease.

The songs of cage birds are of two kinds, the natural and the
artificial. The natural song is peculiar in each species. The
artificial is that which the bird acquires by association with
other birds, or which is purposely taught it. A bird is said to
"warble" or u quaver" when it always repeats the passages
or single notes of its song in precisely the same order. It
" sings " when it utters the chirping or twittering interspersed
with distinct notes without observing any regular succession.
It " whistles" or " pipes " when its song consists of distinct
round flute-like notes. Birds to sing well must enjoy good
health, be well fed and be placed in a bright, cheerful, situation.
The glaring rays of a hot sun can, however, be endured by but
few birds. Birds are naturally endowed with a spirit of rivalry,
and if placed where they can hear the song of other birds, will
often sing better than they otherwise would. Varying their
food slightly will often encourage them to sing. A German
writer gives the following rules for canaries by which a good
singer may be secured: " The first and chief thing is that
while young the bird should hear none but a good song, and so
not be tempted to intermix the notes of other birds with his own.
Care must be taken to attain this object, not only at first, but
at the first and second molting seasons, as the bird is then
obliged to re-learn his song, and might introduce into it some
foreign admixture. It should also be noted whether the bird
prefers to sing alone or in company. Many birds are so self-
willed as never to sing except they can display their vocal
powers alone, while the song of others is always soft and low
except when excited to rivalry by hearing the performance of a
neighbor. Another very important particular to be attended to
not only in the case of canaries but of all cage birds, is to give
them their allotted portion of food every day, for if too much be
given them at once they pick out the best at first and leave the
rest for another day, which impairs their vocal powers."

The canary is a very imitative bird, indeed its song is mainly
artificial, being derived from the birds with which it has associ-
ated, many of the original stock of the Canary Isles not singing
at all. This fact renders its tuition comparatively easy. If
several notes are repeated in succession on any instrument, and
this is continued perseveringly, the bird will gradually try to192	THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

copy them, and will finally succeed if both teacher and pupil
possess the requisite talent. Canaries are capable of learning
two or more distinct tunes. The tunes must be taught bit by
bit and each piece thoroughly mastered before advancing farther.
A flute is the best musical instrument to use. If desired that
the bird should learn the song of another bird, a good singer of
that variety may be placed near its cage. The weavers of
Cheshire, England, are noted for possessing canaries of rare mu-
sical ability, who are the descendants of birds originally taught
by a nightingale ; the young birds of each successive genera-
tion learning the song of their parents. Loss of voice, which
in the male is sometimes the consequence of molting, may be
cured by feeding with a little lettuce seed.

Borne years ago, for several days a pure canary attracted
considerable attention while hanging in the publication office of
the New York Tribune, on account of his singing Hail Colum-
bia, and other patriotic airs, without mistake or loss of a single
note.

If it is desired to teach a canary to whistle, it should be re-
moved from its companion when about two weeks old, at which
time it will be able to feed and also to begin to twitter. The
pupil is put in a small cage, which should be at first covered
with a linen cloth, and afterward with something thicker. A
short air should then be either whistled or played on a flute or
bird organ within its hearing, five or six times a day, especially
in the morning and evening, and repeated on each occasion half
a dozen times. In from two to six months, according to the
memory and docility of the bird, it will have acquired its lesson
perfectly. Unless this training is commenced when the bird is
very young it is likely to mar its performance by intermixing
parts it has learned from the parent bird.

Though the natural song of the bullfinch, including both
sexes, is harsh and disagreeable, very much like the creaking of
a door or wh3elbarrow, they may be taught to whistle many airs
and songs in a soft, pure, flute-like tone, and are capable of re-
membering two or three different tunes. They are best in-
structed by means of a flute or by the whistling of the teacher,
Slow learners do not, during the molting season, lose so quickly
what they have acquired as those who learn more readily.
The bullfinch will also learn the songs of other birds, but usu
ally this is not considered desirable.

In G-ermany great attention is paid to the training of these
birds, which is made a regular profession. We are indebted to
Dr. Stanley for the following description of the mode pursued:

"No school can be more diligently attended by its master,A MUSICAL DUCK.

193

and no scholars more effectually trained to their own calling,
than a seminary of bullfinches. As a general rule they are
formed into classes of about six in each, and kept in a dark room,
where food and music are administered at the same time, so that
when the meal is ended if the birds feel inclined to tune up, they
are naturally inclined to copy the rounds which are so familiar
to them. As soon as they begin to imitate a few notes the light
is admitted into the room, which still farther exhilarates their
spirits, and inclines them to sing. In some establishments the
starving system is adopted and the birds are not allowed food
or light until they sing. When they have been under this
course of instruction in classes for some time, they are commit-
ted singly to the care of boys whose sole business is to go on
with their education. Each boy assiduously plays his organ*
from morning till night for the instruction of the bird committed
to his care, while the class teacher goes his regular rounds,
superintending the progress of his feathered pupils, and scold-
ing or rewarding them in a manner which they perfectly under-
stand, and strictly in accordance with the attention or the dis-
regard they have shown to the instructions of the monitor.
This round of teaching goes on unintermittingly for no less a
period than nine months, by which time the bird has acquired
firmness, and is less likely to forget or spoil the air by leaving
out passages, or giving them in the wrong place. At the time
of molting the best instructed birds are liable to lose the recol-
lection of their tunes, and therefore require to have them fre-
quently reepated at that time, otherwise all the previous labor
will have been thrown away."

The goldfinch is a handsome, lively bird, uttering his sonor-
ous song at all periods except when molting. It consists, in
addition to several intricate and twittering notes, of certain
tones which resemble those of the harp, and it is valued in pro-
portion to the number of times the syllable u fink v recurs. The
goldfinch may also be taught to whistle certain airs and to re-
peat the song of other birds, though in this respect it is not so
docile as the canary.

Ducks are not commonly numbered among song birds, but a
French paper, La France Chorale, gravely relates that an old
trumpeter living in the department of the Meuse, knowing that
it was possible to teach speech and music to parrots, starlings,
blackbirds, magpies, and others of the feathered tribe, operated
lately on a duck in his court. He obtained his pupil when a
duckling, adopting it, and set about its education. In a

*A small barrel organ, called a bird organ, made for this purpose.194

THE AKT OP TRAINING ANIMALS.

secluded corner he would sing to it an air a hundred times over,
till the intelligent biped had grasped the melody. Soon the in-
teresting creature commenced to quack little tunes, and at the
end of six months could correctly repeat a considerable portion
of the " Eemme a Barbe." The owner of the feathered songster
is going to Paris to exhibit his bird.

Mocking birds are valued highly for their power of acquiring
the notes of almost every other bird, imitating various sounds
and even learning to talk. They should be taken when very
young; birds old enough to be caught in traps either never sing
at all, or only in an inferior manner. Their tuition consists
merely in giving them the opportunity to hear whatever it is
desired to have them learned. They usually begin to sing
when two months old, and some bird fanciers think they im-
prove in strength and fullness of tone when kept some years.
It is less difficult to keep mocking birds than is generally sup-
posed. A correspondent of Haney's Journal gives the follow-
ing as the best method of capturing and rearing these birds :

" Take the trouble about the first of May to take a tramp
through the woods and along the hedges until you find a nest,
and be sure it is the right kind. Do not touch the nest, but
visit it every few days, and when the young are hatched and
can open their eyes and mouths, take the nest and birds home
with you and set them in a cage. You then prepare some corn
meal very soft, by scalding, and feed them every half hour by
putting it in their mouths $ when hungry they will open their
mouths and cry if you approach them, then is the time to feed
them ; when they become strong enough to hop about the cage
you may then put water and the meal in the cage and they will
soon learn to feed themselves. The cage should be cleaned out
at least every other morning, and fresh dry clean sand put on
the floor. The regular feed of the birds should be corn meal
and hard boiled eggs mashed together with a little water;
scalded fresh beef is very fine for them, also a few polk berries
occasionally, all kinds of fruits, bread that is not < short/ meat
not salt; never give them anything sweet. I nearly lost a fine
bird by allowing it to get some sour molasses. The best medi-
cine for the mocking bird is two or three spiders. Be sure to
put a pan of fresh water in the cage every day, and as he is a
great washer and invariably sings better if you give him plenty
of water and spiders. The bird should never be let out of the
cage, and he then does not know what liberty is. I now have
one five years old, who will not come out of the cage if the door
be left open all day; he can not be bought for $100. He has
been reared according to the above method, and, besides this, ITRAINING TALKING BIRDS.

195

guarantee it to be the easiest and unsurpassed. So soon as they
are old enough those which do not sing should be turned out
that they may gain their living before the winter comes on.
Never keep two in one cage after they commence to sing; they
will fight until one dies. Summary: plenty of water, clean
cage, no sweet or salt food, fresh meats, flies, grasshoppers and
house spiders as medicine; polk berries as a cathartic; don't
expect them to sing during molting period."

CHAPTER XXIII.

TALKING BIRDS AND THEIR TRAINING.

MANY of the larger beaked birds may be taught to speak
words or even sentences, or will learn them of their own
accord from overhearing them. This power is principally pos-
sessed by the even tailed parrots, in which the tongue is large,
broad, and fleshy at the tip. Their articulation does not pos-
sess that accuracy and exactness of modulation characteristic
of the human voice, but to a certain extent this is mimicked.
Usually there is a harshness and crudeness in their speech,
though in this respect they greatly vary.

All birds possessing the power of learning to talk are gifted
with a great imitative faculty, and therein lies the secret of
their tuition. Parrots will often pick up words, or odds and
ends of sentences, but usually it is desired that they shall learn
some particular phrases, to suit the fancy of their owner. In
this case a little drilling is required. The trainer should take
the bird alone where there will be nothing to distract his atten-
tion; caress and pet him a little, then repeat the word in a dis-
tinct tone, and repeat at intervals of a few moments. Soon the
parrot will a1 tempt to repeat the word; caress him and reward
him with a bit of cracker. Repeat this until he has learned the
word thoroughly ; when he has done so an alteration may be
made in the method of training. On all occasions when he de-
sires anything, make him repeat his lesson before his wishes are
gratified. Gradually his lesson may be increased in length, new
words or phrases being added. A lady relative of the writer
possessed, some years ago, a parrot which was always anxious
to be allowed to come from the hall, where he was usually kept,
into the sitting room. Before he was permitted to enter he was1?6

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

always made to repeat a long string of nonsense, something
like the following: "Pretty little, darling, sweet, beautiful,
adorable Polly wants to come in." This task he was rather
inclined to shirk, and would commence with : " Pretty Polly
wants to come in," in hopes that would suffice. The door
remaining closed, however, he would in a minute or two com-
mence with : u Pretty little Polly wants to come in," and so on,
each time going away back to the commencement, and each time
adding one of the previously omitted words until the whole were
given and the door opened to admit him.

Usually there is no sense in a parrot's expression ; he " Polly
wants a cracker " on all occasions, however inappropriate. He
may be taught to use his language in a manner which is almost
startling to one uninitiated into the secret of the matter, so ap-
parently is it the action of reasoning powers. We have shown
above how the bird can be taught to repeat any required set of
words (within reasonable limits) to accomplish a desired result.
The bird knows nothing about any meaning to these words, he
only knows that by making certain sounds he receives a reward.
Ordinarily a parrot will persistently assert that " Polly wants
a cracker " when Polly doesn't want anything of the kind, but
does want a drink of water. The owner does not take the par-
rot's statement as the expression of the actual want expressed,
but merely that the bird wants something. The parrot conse-
quently uses any phrase he has learned to express any desire.
He is capable of associating certain phrases with certain
results, without knowing anything of the meaning of the phrase.
Thus, if he be taught the phrases : " Polly wants a cracker,"
and " Polly wants a drink," he will be just as apt to express
either one by either phrase as he will to do so correctly$ but
if he receives cracker only when he asks for it, and a drink only
when he asks for that, he will learn to associate the different
sounds with the different results. This may be extended be-
yond this simple illustration as much as individual ability is
capable of.

A story is told of a dweller in some eastern country who
trained a parrot for sale. The bird's education comprised only
one phrase : " There can be no doubt of that!" To market the
parrot was taken, and exposed for sale. Attracted by his beau-
tiful plumage a certain rich man inquired the price. u One
hundred sequins," replied the owner. " Is he really worth all
that!" inquired the customer; whereupon the bird exclaims,
u There can be no doubt of that." Charmed by the appropri-
ateness of the reply the man buys the bird and takes him home
in triumph, which triumph is changed to a disgust when thePARROTS.

19?

limited powers of his prize are discovered. Enraged at having x
paid so extravagant a price for so poor a talker the man one
day exclaimed in the presence of the bird : " What a fool I was
to buy such a stupid thing F' Again the parrot's single sen-
tence comes in quite appropiiate as he repeats, " There can be
no doubt of that !"

A bird show was held at a museum in New York several
years since, to whicbra parrot was sent that had been taught
to repeat the Lord's Prayer. This was advertised extensively,
and hundreds of persons went to hear the wonder, but to their
disappointment and the vexation of the owner, Poll would not
utter a word during the exhibition, although fully able to do
what had been expected. After the show, the parrot was taken
home, and upon reaching its place it exclaimed—probably an
accustomed phrase—" I suppose 1 can talk now/' and became
as voluble as ever.

The bird's silence was not remarkable, as song-birds will sel-
dom sing freely for some time after being taken to a new place ;
the speech on going home certainly seemed to indicate intelli-
gence. A gentleman had taught his parrot to say, "Get
your gun, John," which was well remembered one night
by the bird, for burglars entered the house, and Poll, hearing a
noise, screamed out at the top of her voice, "Get your gun,
John," awakening her owner, and at the same time putting the
robbers to flight.

An Englishman describing another wonderful parrot hanging
in a cage from the window of a house which he often passed,
said: u It cries 1 Stop thief' so naturally that every time I
hear it I always stop."

It is very essential that the trainer should be on good
terms with the parrot, in order to secure success, as they will
not readily learn for one for whom they entertain any dislike.
Under favorable circumstances not only do they copy the
word3 of their trainer but even his peculiarities of voice. Buf-
fon mentions a gray parrot which was taught to speak by a
sailor during a voyage from Guinea, and acquired so exactly his
harsh voice and cough as to be frequently mistaken for him.
It was afterward instructed by a young man, and although it
then heard no voice but that of its new teacher, the former les-
sons were never forgotten, and it often amused the bystanders
by suddenly passing from a soft and agreeable voice to its old
hoarse sea tone.

Not only do parrots learn to imitate the human voice but
also that of animals. This is more difficult to teach owing to the
difficulty of securing the sounds for the bird to copy. A bird198

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

of good powers will usually pick up this knowledge if it has an
opportunity of frequently hearing the animals. The blue and
yellow macaw, though it does not readily learn words (except
" Jacob/') seems to have a talent for imitating the bleating of
sheep, the mewing of cats, and the barking of dogs, with great
exactness.

It not only has the power of learning but often shows a de-
sire to do so. It continually repeats the syllables which it has
heard, and in order not to be misled in memory, endeavors to
cry down all sounds which disturb it. So deep an impression
do its lessons make that sometimes it dreams aloud. When
young its memory is so good as to retain whole verses and sen-
tences. Rhodiginus mentions a gray parrot which could repeat
the Apostles7 Creed without a slip, and was on that account
bought by a cardinal for a hundred crowns.

In Scotland a species of parrot is employed to call the names
of the stations on the railway. Each bird is taught the name
of the station at which it is placed, and this name it shouts on
the approach of the train.

Several birds besides parrots possess the power of talking.
Magpies are taught in Germany to imitate not only the human
voice but many striking sounds. They are taken from the nest
when quite young, otherwise this cannot be accomplished. A
clergyman in Paris is said to have had two sparrows which
Were able to repeat the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh com-
mandments. It produced a highly comic effect when, in their
quarrels over their food, one of them would gravely admonish
the other—" Thou shalt not steal."

Ravens often talk with considerable fluency. In Thugaingia
the traveler on entering an inn is frequently saluted with the
appellations, " thief, rascal," uttered by one of these birds.
Some trainers with a view to facilitate the utterance of articulate
sounds, are accustomed to cut what is called the string of the
tongue, an operation which certainly attains its end in some
measure, though ravens often speak on which it has not been
performed.TEACHING BIRDS TRICKS.

199

CHAPTER XXIV.

PERFORMING BIRDS—THEIR TRICKS AND THEIR TRAINING.
IE.DS may be taught a number of amusing feats, although

some we shall explain require so much time, labor, and skill,
as to render them rather more difficult than most amateurs will
care to undertake, but there are many which any suitable bird
may be taught, with reasonable pains. A person with a faculty
for invention can arrange various little mechanical contrivances
in the cages of his birds, more or less elaborate according to the
skill and fancy of the inventor. A very neat arrangement con-
sists of an inclined plane outside the cage upon which a little
wagon may run, or a little tray slide, containing bird seed. To
this vessel is attached one end of a siring, the other end leading
up the plane and being secured inside the cage. This is so ar-
ranged that when the string is pulled the vessel is drawn up to
an opening in the cage suffiicently large for the bird to secure
the seed, but not large enough to permit his escape. To teach
the bird to draw this vessel up he must be kept without food
until he becomes quite hungry. When hungry he will peck at
anything in his cage.

The string should be so arranged that he can seize it without
trouble, and the apparatus should work smoothly and require
little strength. The seed vessel should be in sight of the bird
bo that he may be tempted by the seed. At first he will peck at
the string as he would at anything else, and will naturally pull
it without any idea of the result. When he sees this result al-
most every bird will persevere until he brings his " commissary
department" within his reach, and instinct will teach him to
retain it in place and prevent its sliding back by placing his foot
on the string while he eats.

Houdin, the French conjuror, when a youth, was employed as
errand boy in a lawyer's office. In this office was a large cage
of birds, the care of which was one of his duties. This afforded
him an opportunity for exercising that talent which he in after
years applied so successfully to the manufacture of automata
and conjuring apparatus. He thus describes his labors : u I
began by setting up in this cage a number of mechanical tricks
I had invented at college under similar circumstances. I
gradually added fresh ones and ended by making the cage a
work of art and curiosity, affording considerable attraction to
our visitors. At one spot was a perch near which the sugar
and seed-glass displayed their attractions, but no sooner had the200

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

innocent canary placed its foot on the fatal perch than a circu-
lar cage encompassed it, and it was kept a prisoner until an-
other bird, perching on an adjoining piece of wood set loose
a spring which delivered the captive. At another place were
baths and pumps; further on was a small trough, so arranged
that the nearer the bird seemed to draw to it the further off it
really was. Lastly, each denizen of the cage was obliged to
earn its food by drawing forward with its beak small paste-
board carts."

We have known the following arrangement to be used for
bullfinches, which might be applied to other birds: The appa-
ratus for drawing up its food and water consisted of a band of
soft leather one-sixth of an inch in breadth, in which were
pierced four holes, through which the feet and wings of the
bird were put, and the ends united to a ring on the belly. To
this ring was attached a small chain fastened at the other end
to the seed and water vessel. When the bird is hungry it pulls
the chain up a little way with his beak, puts his foot on it to re-
tain the length already gained, then pulls again, and so con-
tinues. Sometimes the two vessels are attached to a pulley in
such a manner that when one descends the other rises, so that
the bird has to pull up each as he wants it-

Canaries may be taught to come and go at command. To
accomplish this the cage should be provided with doors which
open only inward, and which close of themselves. When the
male and female have been paired the former is let fly in some
garden where there are trees; the cage is then hung outside
the window, that his mate may lure him back. This is repeated
five or six days, always letting the male go again without touching
him, so he may not be terrified. After a time the female too
may be set at liberty, the door of the cage being left perma-
nently open that they may go and return at will.

The European sparrow, which is becoming acclimated here,
and will no doubt soon become as common here as there, is often
taught to leave home and return at call. All that is necessary
is to keep it a month in a large cage at the window, plentifully
supplied with good food, such as millet, bread, etc. Win-
ter is the best time for this purpose. An inmate of the Hotel des
Invalides, at Paris, is said to have made a sparrow so tame as
to leave it perfectly at liberty without any fear of losing it. It
was ornamented with a small bell fastened by a ribbon around
its neck. It would not allow itself to be touched by any one
but its owner, and was so fond of him that it could not
be induced to leave him when at last he became bed-ridden. On
one occasion it was caught and deprived of its bell. It was,BIED ACTORS.

201

however, melancholy and refused to eat until another bell had
been provided.

It is said that crushed hemp seed fed to linnets takes away
their love of liberty, and that it may be used advantageously
when it is desired to teach them to come in through the open
window without danger of their flying away. It is advised that
they should be confined in a large cage placed in a window
looking into a garden, for a considerable time before they are

TAMED BIRDS PERFORMING VARIOUS FEATS.

allowed to go out. Robins are often permitted to go away
during the summer, and instances are often reported of their
returning to take up winter quarters in the warm dwelling-
house.

Several individuals have made a regular profession of exhib-
iting performing birds. Uniting a peculiar skill and an ex-
haustless patience, these men labor ceaselessly in instructing
their charges, and the result is that the'birds learn to perform
many surprising tricks. They are even taught to perform little
dramatic scenes together; representing, for instance, the trial,
condemnation and execution of a spy, in which the characters202

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

are all maintained by birds, and the action of the scene very
cleverly represented. There is however a little trickery in this,
the birds, although apparently acting without human agency,
are in reality constantly under the direction of their trainer,
who is usually concealed from the audience. Each bird is care-
fully instructed in his particular duties, and performs his pari
at certain signals or particular commands. While performing,
the trainer carefully " works n the performers, keeps them up
to their duties, and thus makes everything pass off smoothly in
its regular order.

The method of training is merely an elaboration of what we
have already given. The birds are first made perfectly tame,
and then gradually encouraged to perform such little tricks as
jumping over the trainer's finger, seizing articles presented to
them with their beak or claw, and other trifles. By-and-by the
bird will wheel a little pasteboard wheelbarrow with the aid cf
a string attached to the handles, which he takes in his beak.
Another bird is taught to take things in his claw by first hav-
ing articles of food presented to him which he is only allowed
to have when he takes them in that manner. Then some other
article is offered him and when he takes that in like manner he
is rewarded. When he will take an article at the command of
the trainer all that is required for his performance is that the
article desired should be offered him$ thus the bird will take a
miniature basket, gun, or any other article with equal readiness.
A small lighted candle may even be used if managed carefully.

When a bird has learned to pull a string, or seize with his
beak what is presented to his notice, this accomplishment may
be applied to many tricks, apparently very different. He may
be made to fire off a pistol by pulling a string attached to the
trigger; to draw a little bucket from a diminutive well; to ring
bells; and an almost unlimited number of like actions. Walk-
ing on a tight rope, or wire, and carrying a little flag is readily
accomplished after the foregoing training. The bird is either
lifted or guided upon the rope, and the flag then given him.
Many tricks consist in the bird merely retaining a position
given him, as in a little swing, cradle or at a little table. A
very tame bird may be placed in an upright ring, around the
margin of which are candles or jets of fire. There was a
sparrow at one exhibition which performed the seemingly won-
derful feat of selecting from a shuffled pack, a card previously
chosen by any of the audience. A dirty pack of cards was
handed to one of the company, who selected a card, and gave
it back to the exhibitor, who shuffled the pack after replacing
the card; he then put the pack upright, in a kind of card-case,A CLEVER CANARY.

203

which so held them as to leave about half an inch above the
brim. The Java sparrow hopped on one of the cards, and
finally drew the identical one that had been drawn. The ex-
planation became easy on examining the cards. At one end,
each card had a thin layer of sweet-wafer paste 5 the selected
card was taken by the exhibitor and placed in the pack ; all the
rest of the cards had the paste end downward, while the card
alone was placed back in the pack with the opposite end up-
ward. And the bird naturally looked at the end.

The greatest humbug in Vienna is a school of trained
goldfinches, which a woman has taught to draw numbers from
a bowl, without, however, selecting any particular one, but
merely taking them hap-hazard. All the superstitious lottery
ticket buyers go thither for an augury^ and the owner of the
finches is reaping a rich harvest.

In a work entitled Pratt's Gleanings, for many years out of
print, and now almost out of existence, we find the following
description of an exhibition given by a bird tamer at a fair in
the town of Cleves :

" The canary was produced, and the owner harrangued him in
the following manner, placing him upon his forefinger: 1 Bijou,
jewel, you are now in the presence of persons of great sagacity
and honortake heed you do not disappoint the expectations
they have conceived of you from the world's report You have
got laurels ; beware, then, of erring.'

" All this time the bird seemed to listen, and indeed placed
himself in the true attitude of attention, by sloping his head
to the ear of the man, and then distinctly nodding twice when
his master left off speaking.

"'That's good/ said the master, pulling off his hat to the
bird. 6 Now, then, let us see if you are a canary of honor,
Give us a tune.' The canary sang,

" ' Pshaw! that's too harsh ,• 'tis the note of a raven, with
a hoarseness upon him: something pathetic.' The canary
whistled as if his little throat was changed to a lute.

" ' Faster,' says the man—' slower—very well—what a
plague is this foot about, and this little head ? No wonder you
are out, Mr. Bijou, when you forget your time. That's a
jewel—bravo! bravo! my little man1.'

" All that he was ordered or reminded of did he do to admi-
ration. His head and foot beat time—humored the variations
of both tone and movement.

"' Bravo! bravo!' re-echoed from all parts of the room.
The musicians declared the canary was a greater master of
music than any of their band.204

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

"4 And do you not show your sense of this civility, sir ?'
cried the bird catcher with an angry air. The canary bowed
most respectfully, to the delight of the company.

" His next achievement was that of going through the martial
exercise with a straw gun, after which, 6 My poor Bijou/ says
the owner, i thou hast had hard work and must be a little weary;
a few performances more and thou shalt repose. Show the la-
dies how to make a curtsey.7 The bird here crossed his taper
legs and sank and rose with an ease and grace that would have
put half the belles to the blush.

"'That will do, my bird; and now a bow, head and foot cor-
responding.7 Here the striplings for ten miles around London
might have blushed also.

u<Let us finish with a hornpipe, my brave little fellow;
that's it, keep it up, keep it up.7

" The activity, glee, spirit, and accuracy with which this
last order was obeyed, wound up the applause to the highest
pitch of admiration. Bijou himself seemed to feel the sacred
thirst of fame, and shook his little plumes and carolled an
" Io paean77 that sounded like the conscious notes of victory.77
A curious trick is performed by a particular kind of pigeon,
quite common in India. These birds are called tumbling
pigeons77 from their peculiarity which consists of tumbling on
the ground, instead of in the air. When required to tumble they
are taken in the hand, and the head slightly rubbed or " fillip-
ed77 with the finger, and then they are put on the ground,
when they continue to tumble until taken up. They are not
left on the ground until their tumblings are completed, being in-
variably taken up after they have tumbled about a dozen times ,*
probably they would injure or exhaust themselves, if left longer.
The pigeons are always white, and though their wings are long
and pointed, they seem to have small powers of flight.SNAKE CHARMING.

205

CHAPTER XXV.

SNAKE CHARMING AND SNAKE CHARMER.

ON the subject of snake charming, a wide diversity of
opinion seems to exist. While it is vouched for by many
apparently creditable and honest citizens, that the exhibitions of
the East Indian snake charmers show that they really do pos-
sess some mysterious power over the reptiles to which they owe
their safety in freely handling the most venomous serpents,
on the other hand, persons apparently qualified to express an
opinion, declare the whole system of snake charming to be but
some clever impositions. There is said to exist a species of
snake of large size, and so closely resembling the deadly cobra,
as to be easily mistaken for it by ordinary observers, but which
is perfectly harmless. May not this be used in some of these
performances ? Again, snakes of really poisonous species ap-
pear, on good authority, in many instances, to have been tam-
pered with by the charmers by having their fangs removed, or
by being made to strike them into cloth or other substances un-
til the present supply of poison was exhausted. Where this
has been done, and new fangs have grown, or more poison
secreted, numerous charmers have lost their lives by their
ignorance or carelessness of the fact. An officer in a French
regiment stationed in Africa, relates that what were represented
by an Arab juggler to be scorpions, were actually nothing but
harmless lizards, and that the man's feat of thrusting his naked
hand into the bag containing them was no feat at all. Upon
the officer offering to do the same act, the juggler slunk away.

Music is often referred to as a probable secret of snake
charming. This may be, in a small measure, the case, as snakes
appear to like music. A. story is told by the Gipps Land (Aus-
tralia) Guardian, which may be entirely true, or, probably,
f founded on truth :

" We have all heard of the charms of music," says the paper,
" and many have, no doubt, been treated to stories which de-
scribed its influence when brought to bear upon snakes; but we
are informed of an occurrence during the past season which sur-
passes all that we heard before. When Mr. S-was one

day coming from Traralgon towards Rosedale, he was indulging
himself in whistling a melodious air, while his horse was taking
it easy at a walk. At no great distance in front he espied a
good sized snake, with its head elevated about twelve inches
from the ground, as if listening to the tune of the equestrian,. -206

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

Upon seeing it Mr. S-was about to dismount to arm him-
self with a weapon to dispatch it, but presently he bethought
himself that it might be under the influence of his sweet notes,
and accordingly resolved to discover. He, keeping in his sad-
dle, continued as before, and when he neared the admiring rep-
tile it set its sinuous form in motion, and moved along rapidly

SNAKE CHARMER PERFORMING.

till it got a considerable way ahead of the pipes. Then it
halted, and again raised the region of its intellect to sip in the
strains of the harmony in its rear. After a repetition of this

scene for several times Mr. S-determined on pushing his

experiment further, and for this purpose set out in a slow trot,
when, to his astonishment, the snake went double quick, still
keeping ahead of the music, and regulating its pace by Mr.

S-'s pace, 1 pulled up? whenever he pulled up. At length

Mr. S--ceased his melody, and the snake, finding that theSNAKE CHARMING.

207

Btrain was ended, wound its way off into the forest. We may as
well add that the tune which is reported to have thus charmed was
no other than 'Patrick's Day,' whistled by a son of the sod."

The fact that many spectators of the exhibitions of the snake
charmer failed to detect any deception does not prove that there
was no deception. While the detection of imposition by others,
in similar performances; would seem to argue the probable exis-
tence of it in the other cases. Even poisonous snakes can, by
kindness and ample food, undoubtedly be rendered sufficiently
tame to permit handling, and where charmers pretend to operate
on strange serpents, it is suspected that the reptiles used are
really tame ones, surreptitiously introduced beforehand into the
places whence the charmer proposes to bring them forth by his
charms. One case is recorded where a strange snake happened
to be in the place so chosen ; he destroyed the tame snake, and,
on emerging, being mistaken by the charmer for his own snake,
struck his fangs into the man when he attempted his usual
jugglery with it, causing his speedy death.

That dexterity and coolness enable men who, in eastern
countries, make a profession of capturing dangerous snakes,
which often intrude into dwellings, to capture these reptiles
seems unquestionable; but the familiarities described by travel-
ers, we believe to be attempted only with snakes which the
performer has tamed and trained, or else rendered harmless, for
the purpose. We will, however, give the opponents of this
theory a chance to be heard, and so present a splendid account,
which is given by an English officer in India, of the capture,
by one of their professional snake catchers, of a cobra which
had found its way into the room of a sick fellow-officer, and
was discovered by the narrator on paying his friend a visit.
After the alarm had been given, the usual confusion outside the
door, and the various expedients proposed for expelling the un-
welcome " squatter,7' the narrative goes on to describe the ar-
rival and doings of the snake catcher:

" He came, a tall, muscular native, a slip of cloth around
the waist, his hair long and matted, except on the centre of his
head, which was shaved close in a circle, and a turban covering
it, bearing over his shoulders two baskets and a musical instru-
ment made out of a gourd, with a single bamboo pipe coming
from its upper end, and two smaller ones from its lower, like a
flute, whilst the breath is blown through the upper and single
one. Before he was allowed to enter the room he was searched,
and his baskets and instruments taken from him. Nothing
could have been concealed, for his clothing was reduced to its
minimum, and he carried a short iron rod.208

THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

" He was shown a hole in which we supposed the snake to
be, for the reptile had disappeared. He lay down on the floor,
and placing his face close to the hole, exclaimed, ' Burra sap ;
sabit babut burra.7 (Big snake, your honor, very big.) With-
out any more preparation, he commenced digging around the
hole, and removed some of the brickwork. In a few minutes
he showed the tail of the reptile, and with sundry incantations
in Hindostanee and curious contortions of his body, seized hold
of the tail, and gradually drew forth the snake. It proved to be
a fine specimen of the cobra—a black, shining, wriggling, hiss-
ing, deadly cobra, about five feet long, at the thickest part
eight inches round, with a hood measuring, when extended, five
inches across. The reptile he handled freely, whilst it was
hissing and darting its tongue out every second. Taking it in
the yard or ' compound,7 he released it. The brute wriggled
itself toward him, and when within a foot or so reared itself up,
spread out the enormous hood, and prepared itself to strike at
its captor. But the charmer was not to be wounded. He
seized his primitive instrument, and commenced very slowly to
produce low and soft tones, very harmonious, but unconnected.
The snake seemed astonished; his hood gradually collapsed,
his head and about a foot of his body that was raised from the
ground commenced to sway from side to side in perfect harmony
with the music, and slower and quicker as the time was de-
creased or increased. As the man played louder, the snake got
more excited, until the rapid and unusual movements had quite
exhausted it, and it subsided.

(t Again the charmer seized it, and quick as lightning ran his
hand up its body, holding it firmly by the throat. By pressing
on its back the cobra's mouth opened, and he disclosed the
fangs, poison bags, and apparatus complete, thus proving be-
yond a doubt that it was not a trained or tame reptile he had
been treating like a plaything. Doubts still arose in my mind,
however, about the genuineness of the performance, for I could
not bring myself to believe that a man would willingly place
himself in such close proximity to certain death.

u A fowl was obtained and placed about a foot from the rep-
tile, which was again set free. With the same movements it
raised itself a foot from the ground, spread out its hood, and
with a loud hiss, apparently of satisfaction, darted upon and
seized the fowl by the back of the neck. Hanging there for a
few seconds it let go its hold, and the man at the same instant
seized it, as he had formerly done, by the head. The fowl al-
most instantaneously became drowsy, its head falling forward,
s»vd the beak striking with considerable force into the ground.SNAKE CHARMING.

209

The convulsive movement lasted ten seconds, and then the bird
lay down as if completely comatose and powerless. In fifteen
seconds it gave a sudden start and fell back quite dead.

" As no deception could have been practised in this instance,
I was most anxious to see the reptile killed; but the charmer
said he would not have it destroyed; that if it were injured
the power he had over snakes would be interfered with, and
the next one would no doubt bite and kill him. He accounted
for his easy capture by saying this was a great holiday for the
snakes, and that they had been enjoying themselves. i This
one/ said he, 4 is not living in this house. He has come from
his home visiting, and has lost his way. On this account he
got down a wrong hole, and I was enabled to pull him out.
Nasty neighbors, and abominable visitors, these cobras! I
will take this snake home, and feed him and make him tame.'

" However, we insisted upon having the animal made harm-
less, or comparatively so, and directed the man to remove the
fangs. This he agreed to do, and performed it in this manner—
a piece of wood was cut an inch square, and held by the charmer
to the head of the snake. The reptile seized it as he had done
the fowl, and with a dexterous twist of the hand, the most
primitive performance of dentistry was accomplished. The
four fangs sticking into the wood were extracted by the roots
and given to me. I have them now, and look upon them as
more suicidally pleasant than a pint of prussic acid or a cask
of white arsenic.

" Another fowl was brought and attacked by the snake as
before, but without any effect ; it shook itself, rustled its feathers,
and walked away consequentially. It is alive still, unless some
enterprising culinary agent has converted it into curry or devil.
So it was proved beyond any doubt that an Indian snake
charmer was not a humbug and a swindler, as many suppose,
but a strong-minded, quick-eyed, active, courageous man. The
cool determination and heroism of the charmer in the present
instance was rewarded by the sum of two rupees (two shillings,
sterling), and he left the compound with an extra snake in his
basket, thankful to the preservers of his children, as he styled
us, and to whom, he said, he owed his life and existence."

The snakes used in performances at circus or " side shows v
m this country are not poisonous, though their bite causes a
painful wound, which it is very difficult to heal. The snakes
are fed to satiety, and the only thing necessary to constitute a
u snake charmer " of this kind is the overcoming of the natural
repugnance to these reptiles. What was exhibited as a won-
derful example of affection between a child and a snake some21P	THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS.

years ago, was a hideous humbug. The story told by the ex-
hibitors of the little girl meeting the snake, sharing her bread
and milk with it, and becoming violently attached to it (which
attachment was claimed to be returned), before the child's
parents knew of it at all, and how these strong friends refused
to be parted, was a tissue of lies. The snake had been caught
and tamed, and the little girl then compelled by her unnatural
parents to fondle the repulsive thing, from which she instinctive-
ly shrunk, and these stories were started in the papers about
this wonderful " love." When curiosity had been aroused, pub-
lic exhibitions were given, but we believe the enterprises proved
a deserved failure, as few persons could endure to witness this
outrage on nature, though many, doubtless, believed the story
told.

v

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COPLEY'S PLAIN AND ORNAMENTAL

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BOOK OF JAPANESE ORNAMENT A-

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THE STANDARD HOYLE. —A new and reliable

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without question, the most complete on the subject, containing in ad-
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DE VERE'S WIT, HUMOR, PATHOS, AND PARO-

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in the field of wit, humor, and pathos. These beautiful selections have
been delivered by some of the great " stars " of the •" profession,"" anil no
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THE COMPLETE DEB ATE R.-Containing Debates, Out-
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DUNBAR'S COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF ETI-

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P*>EMSQFC*?0. R C|MS, author of " The Life Boat," " Ostler
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Workhouse," "Billy's Rose," etc, etc. The Poems of Mr. Sims are
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1/aniillo a ritual of the first three

K II11 nil IB ^ Degrees of Masonry, being an authentic and

iinifiviw^ reliable work of the Entered Apprentice, Fellow
Craft, and Master Mason's Degrees, and their Ceremonies, Lectures, etc.,
etc., compiled from the works of Pythagoras, Herodotus and Plato, and
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false shuffle, to palm a card, to ruffle the cards, to change a card, to get;
sight of a drawn card, to slip a card, to draw back a card, to turn over
the pack, to spring the cards from one hand to the other, to throw a'card.
Large octavo volume containing 142 pages, with handsome paper cover.
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album of fancy alphabets.-A practical work for sign
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copley's plain and ornamental alpha-

bets*—With examples m every style. Also, the Mechanical and
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under the auroras. —A marvellous tale of the Interior World
by W. J. Shaw, author of 44 Solomon's Story," " Caught to a Corner,*
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jenny june's practical cook BOOK.-An

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EXCELSIOR PUBLISHING HOUSE,

• Q and 31 Ra^lc in an Street. New Yorlc- N. Y.This book is a preservation facsimile produced for
the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
It is made in compliance with copyright law
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