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HANET'e 
 
 ART OF 
 
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 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1869, by Jessk 
 
 Haney & Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the 
 
 United States, for the Southern District of New York. 
 
 Saney's Art of Traininsf Animals, 
 
 Electrotyped by 
 Smith & Jtfc^ougaty 
 
 82 and 84 Beekman Street, N. Y. 
 
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 dim 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 
 f[uestion, 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 wc are indebted for 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 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 Bechstem -, 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 j also to 
 Mr. Smith of the New York* Courier. 
 
 While attempting to give plam 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 '^ Yankee'^ Robinson, will 
 prove most thoroughly enjoyable. To the proprietors of both of 
 these establishments we are indebted for valuable assistance. 
 
ART OF TRAmma ANIMALS, 
 
 CHAPTEH L 
 
 INTEODTTCTOIIY— CLNLHAL rniNCIPLES OF TRAINING. 
 
 DR. KEMP thus conc;sj]j and dearly wtatefi the difference 
 between instinct aud reason : ^^ In the furmer tkere is an 
 irresistible impalse to go tiirough a certain ^eii..s of motions 
 after a certain fashion, without Imowing why they are performed, 
 or what their result will be. In the latter the actions depend 
 upon previous mental judgmentSj are performed or not at will, 
 and the end of them is early anticipated and defined." 
 
 We believe the evidence is too strong to be doubted that 
 many animals do perceive the relation between cause and effort, 
 and that many of their actions, especially when the animals are 
 surrounded by the unnatural circumstaiaces of a state of domes- 
 tication, must be ascribed to the reasoning power. 'There was 
 a dog who Tived 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 ha 76 examples of both instinct and reason. The 
 young one instincfvely pursues his game, following every turn 
 and winding, Avhile 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 impoi*ted dog, in approaching the deer, 
 flies at it in front and is often injured by the concussion. The 
 
14 ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 native dogs have learned to avoid this danger and they invariably 
 l:eep from the front, and attack from the side or rear. 
 
 Instances might be multiplied indefinitely, but our object is 
 ( nly to show the distinction made between reason and instinct ; 
 those who desire to investigate the subject more thoroughly 
 can do so through works speciall}^ devoted to natural history. 
 No doubt any observing person caii recall instances in his own 
 ex[)eriencewith 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, 
 .nnd what is learned with but slight effort is sometimes forgotten 
 v;ith 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 satifsy 
 
GENERAL 'PRINCirLES 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 
 wliich the animal has been taught j an example of this is 
 afforded by the ^' 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 
 of 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 disappouit- 
 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 famiiiar 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 
 makin,^- 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 with 
 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 pimishracnt. The repetition of the lesson until the 
 animal will himself perform the required action, and the bestowal 
 
16 AKT OF TRAINING ANIMALS, 
 
 of these rewards whenever lie 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 um*uly 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 mfluence over the animal kingdom^ almost all 
 animals, according to this theory being powerfully affected by 
 it. This is the ^^ horse taming secret " sometimes sold for con- 
 siderable sums. There is no good reason to believe it has any 
 i aportant influence over either the disposition or actions of 
 .my animal. 
 
 The horse taming powders, composed of " a horse's com 
 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 
 ijf using the words "back," " whoa," and others indiscriminately 
 'o absurd, and it is not wonderful that their horses sometimes 
 
SECRETS OF UORSE TAMING. 17 
 
 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. ■^'Bapk! back!" 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 
 ever the man for the second time. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HORSE TAMING AND HORSE TRAINING HORSE MAJN^AGEMENT — 
 
 WHIP TRAINING — CURING BAD HABITS, ETC. 
 
 SOME 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 kmdness than by 
 cruelty, and as far as inanaging 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 threeof them — taught the world 
 ^ most important lesson when they taught it the " power of 
 kindness" and '' 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 '' blinded '^ horses chance to misstep, 
 get ofi" 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, or 
 
is ART OF TRAINING AXIiiAJLg. 
 
 your ox knows more than you, is j^our 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 \Yeak man Wi 
 intellect may indeed be outwitted by a sagacious child or horsr. 
 
 There is no disguising the fact that viciousness is innate wit?) 
 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 i?* 
 not to be wondered at. Hence it causes no surprise when we 
 find such dispositions amiong the finely organized thoroughbreds 
 — animals of a most sensitive and nervous organization — from 
 which the common expression "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 
 his 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 arc brought in contact with the horse so tampered with. 
 A horse is surely influenced by the character of the m.en 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. Ko timorous man need 
 undertake this taskj he will only make matters -^orse. A 
 I.orse tamer should be calm, cool, brave, and fearless — the horse 
 will know it j he should be quiet, for then the horse will be put 
 off his guard j 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 hcrse 
 will soon give up and own man his master. The kindest treat- 
 ment and even pcttmg 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 cwu 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 hcrso 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 tlie 
 
oECRETS 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 least noise, always holding 
 out your left hand, without any other ingredient in ft 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 ^' 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 mouiL^nts 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 bo repeated with more force all over his forehead, 
 descending by lighter strokes to each side of his Jiead, 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 
 goveiTiS all the rest. 
 
 Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance toward the 
 
20 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 iha 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 taming him 5 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 hi« 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 j it is merely 
 taking away the fear a horse generally has of a man, and famil- 
 iarizing the animal with his master. As the horse doubtless 
 experiences a certain pleasure from this handling, he will soon 
 become gentle under it, and show a very marked attaohrapnt to 
 his keeper. 
 
 MANAGING HORSES BY KINDNESS. 
 
 A lady visiting Egypt some years ago, gave in one of her 
 
POWER 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 the 
 Arabian horses : " I fear yau may deem me rather boastful of 
 my horsemanship when I tell you that the two Arab horses which 
 tlu-ew their cavaliers did not throw me. The cause of the 
 exception was not in me or my skill -, it was the very remark- 
 able prediliction 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 overcom.e 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 J pat him on the neck 5 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 fhe 
 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 fallsj the horse will stand by and neigh for assist- 
 ance 3 if he lies down to sleep, the horse will watch over him 
 
^2 THE ART OF TILVIXIKG AlS'iMALS. 
 
 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 Ms 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 CDable 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 5 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 
 fiank being thhnier, 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 u-e whip Jtiin-^'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 msid-, for fear and anger 
 never exist together in the horse, 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 HOESES. 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 cr 
 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. ^N'ever 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 hors'^ the meaning of the word "whoa," the 
 arrangement shown in the accompanying illustration may be 
 used. Put the large web, previously described^ around his 
 
24 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 uear fore foot, pass it under the girth ; and as the animal walks 
 along, pull up the foot, saying at the same instant, ^' Whoa." 
 
 WIIOA 
 
 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 BACK. 
 
 Put the cord upon the horse, using the smiall loop ; draw it 
 with a steady pull ; this brings the horse's nose toward his 
 body. Keep a firm hold upon the cord urtil he steps back a 
 little, using at the same time the word ^^ 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 every 
 
INSTRUCTIONS 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 what 
 you desire he will probably back promptly at command. 
 
 TO mae:e 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 another 
 
26 ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 place, and proceed as before. You should not train your horse 
 Jiiore than half an hour at a time. 
 
 WHIP TRAIXING. 
 
 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 du-ections 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 ahorse 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 m 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 ; 
 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 5 if a nervy fellow 
 he is all excitement for a few minutes 5 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 ; move away and again approach him ; 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, half an hour each day, 
 then proceed in the same manner upon the off side j as soon as 
 
CURING BALKY HORSES. 27 
 
 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 ^ 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; 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 ; take the cord in your hand with the reins, pull 
 upon the reins and say ' 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 ; 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 ; let the lines lie over the dash, as a matter of precau- 
 tion. Now commence operations with the whip j if the animal 
 acts promptly, remove the foot web and begin again, having the 
 Imes 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 m^ 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 collisions 
 
28 THE ART OF TRAIKIXG ANlilALS. 
 
 and entanglement. Changes of route, stoppages, etc., are 
 effected by such orders as " Whoa/' '' Gee," '' Haw/' which 
 the leader promptly and intelligently obeys. 
 
 TO CURE BALKY HORSES. 
 
 From.the number of " infallible recipes " 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 havmg 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 no^rils 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 ^ith 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 
 " 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 afl 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 iiay was a com- 
 plete protection. I kept on, moderately and persistently pricking 
 for about five minutes, when he started for the bara. He never 
 attempted to balk but once after, when the mere sight of the 
 pitchfork was sufficient to make him draw." 
 
 In Cecil county, Maryland, a farmer resorted to a rather novel 
 expedient for getting some " go" 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 applied 
 the flame to one of the horses. The horse, not relishing the 
 application, by a well directed kick deposited the blazing sheaf 
 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 "balkiness" are nothing but want of 
 power to perform the task assigned ; a necessary pause from 
 temporary exhaustion. A driver who understands his business 
 
BALKINESS AND HOW TO CURB 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 j 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 di-iver 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 knownig 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 uglhiess 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 
 liorse, pat hun 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 d horse move a three 
 story building and draw it off, as to get out of a slough with a 
 heavy load, vdien 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 fi\r 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 learas 
 how to draw the load out. He reasons as a man does, thus : 
 
30 THE ART or 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, bnt go forward he would not, nor could all the exer- 
 tions cf the groom overcome his obstinacy. The street was 
 filled with people expecting to see the 'animal destroy himself 
 on the spikes of the iron railmg 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.' 
 ' 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 hridle, which done, he patted the horse's 
 neck once or twice, and said, '■ Now, let me see you go quietly 
 home like a good horse,' and, astonishmg 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 AlVAY. 
 
 For the following useful suggestion we are indebted to Mr. 
 Robert 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 HOESES. 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 caj-riage 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 horses' 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 HOESES. 
 
 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 enteruig 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 takmg hold of the nearer end of 
 the rein. A quick and firm pull, to stop the breathing of the 
 
32 THE ART OF TEAINING AOTMALS. 
 
 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 he 
 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. ' 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 fencers 
 
TRAINING ENGLISH HUNTERS. 33 
 
 afterward. Above all things, avoid getting them into boggy 
 ditches, or riding them at brooks ; but they sholild be practiced 
 at leaping small ditches, if possible, with water in them, the 
 rider facing them at a brisk gallop, for this gives a horse con- 
 fidence and courage. The old custom of teaching colts to lear*, 
 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 cu*c1q 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 stuif 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 j and Captain Littler^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 gaskms, as much as possible of the vis a 
 
34 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS, 
 
 Jergo^ 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. 
 
 " ' 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 j I am'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 m 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 ARE 
 TAUGHT. 
 
 HORSES may be taught many amusing tricks, some of 
 which are really wonderful. For teaching horses tricks the 
 implements 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 j this holds the foot 
 
APPLICATION OF THE STRAPS, 
 
 35 
 
 THE SHORT AND THE LONG STRAPS. 
 
 THE SHORT STRAP IN USE- 
 
 TEACHING THE HORSE TO LIE DOWN. 
 
^Q THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 up firmly. The Jor^g 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 
 
 THE APPLICATION OF BOTH STRAPS. 
 
 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 you 
 
LESSOlfS WITH THE STRAPS. 
 
 37 
 
 can handle liim 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 ; 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 thre-e 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 THK HORSE TO HIS 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 j 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 hmd 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 gettmg 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 his 
 
TRICK 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, ^ Kick with the 
 left foot J- 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 oflf a short distance, with a long whip in your 
 hand j touch the near hind foot and say, ^ Kick with the left foot j' 
 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." 
 
 TALKING HORSES. 
 
 If neatly managed one of the most "taking'^ performances 
 of the '' arena " is the answering of questions by the horse, 
 Yankee Robinson has a very fine animal, who replies to his 
 master^s 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 animal's 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 iDit 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 horse's 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," or any other particular word ; 
 and by pricking his withers at the same time you say the word 
 " no." 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 coui-se, knows 
 nothing of the question, but obeys a definite command, just as 
 he would if ordered to " back " or " whoa." 
 
 Madame Toumaire, 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 wordj that word must be incorpor- 
 
40 
 
 THE ART OF TllAINIXG AXIMALS. 
 
 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 ihe 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 f 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 f In this 
 case the horse, not being posted on Webster, and being guided 
 by the sound, gives his head a negative shake, considering ^'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 failm-e to perfonn 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 tiie 
 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 
 lestive. With a little coaxing he will soon go over, and having 
 once done so, he will readily repeat it. A few pieces of apple 
 niay be advantageously used to induce him to leap the bar, and 
 10 reward him for doing so. By using the word " hip " or any 
 
TEACHING 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 liftmg them up 
 by the reins, taking hold under the chm close to the bit. By 
 
42 THE ART OF TEAIXIXG 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 walkmg erect. 
 
 TO "PIROUETTE." 
 
 " Pirouetting '^ consists 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." 
 
 THE PEDESTAL. 
 
 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- 
 
 PEDESTAL TRICK. 
 
 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 
 
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, then 
 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 m 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 to 
 
44 THE ART OF THAINIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 him again saying, " Take it/' and lie will probably do so ; if not 
 place it his mouth 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 j 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 ^' take it," 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 HANDKEECHIEF. 
 
 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 desked 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 handkerchief 
 
TEACHING 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,'' 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," 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 ^' working " 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 
 vho may have selected it, when he comes to perform in public 
 
46 
 
 THE ART OF TEAIXIXG AXIMALS. 
 
 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 
 comes 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 associating 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 OPF 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 desu*ableness 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 commg 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 horse 
 
48 
 
 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 seated on 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 devcsiring it himself. This latter feat is a 
 mere modification of the kissmg 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 to 
 
TRICK 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 bead 
 agam in motion. With almost any horse a few lessons, aiyJ. 
 judicious rewards when he does what is required, will accoii;- 
 plish the object, and he will soon both be able and willing tu 
 
 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 ; 
 this appeared to be the stumbling block in 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 the 
 
50 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 without being able to vanquish the repug- 
 nance of the horse for the 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 
 in 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 tm'u 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 pei-petual beating of the hor- 
 rible di'um, 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. ]5aylight 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 never 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 labor 
 and perseverance than is necessary to instruct him in almost 
 any other. So wearisome is the task, and so long is the time 
 requu*ed in its accomplishment, that in ordinary cases it is not 
 
A CLEYER TRICK OF A CLEYER PONEY. 51 
 
 worth attempting. We propose, howeYer, in this little work 
 to tell all that there is to be told about our subject, eYen though 
 most of our readers should find many things impracticable in 
 their own cases f and it is well worth while to explain all these 
 matters though it be only to gratify the curiosity which is Yery 
 naturally felt. 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 discoYcring the secret of 
 it without assistance. The mystery is not such a Yery 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 laiqge 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 efl"orts 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 
 Boon 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 hearine: 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 proceedmgs of 
 
52 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 gomg 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 then* 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 thej^ 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 you 
 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 varioug 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 CIRCTTS 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 tlie 
 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 whip 
 
HORSES 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 
 
 BREAKING HORSE FOR THE " CIRCLE. 
 
 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. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 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 j 
 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 tke 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 
 
54 THE ART OF TEAINING 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 " 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 scaffoldmg, 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 makmg the next rush across. The scenery is 
 usually painted to represent mountains, and the canvas which 
 conceals the run is painted to resemble rocks. Kavines 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. . Some 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 accordmg 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 ccmveyed 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 " floats '^ until 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 thus 
 
56 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 courted night after night, but it is certainly this possihilif^ 
 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 lodgmg. 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 strmg piece of a long 
 bridge, and maintained his footing on the smgle extended tim- 
 ber, scarcely a foot wide. The planks of the bridge had been 
 torn up for repairs the day previous j 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 ■ ' 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 \\\q stage. In the 
 summer their shoes are taken ofi* 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 " 
 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 b'est advantage in the thea- 
 ter, but on the road, where Mr. 0. 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 
 his tormentor fiercely, and few cared to excite his anger. This 
 was made a "point" of on the stage, Mr. C. 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 Ms 
 influence over the horse might not have preserved him from an 
 uncomfortable nip. 
 
 Years ago when horse dramas reigned in the Broadway thea- 
 ters, as well as in the less aristocratic 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, and 
 
EQUESTRIAN DRAMAS. 57 
 
 the piece produced under the most horse-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 " 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 foot 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 ; 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 ta 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 dispositioE 
 might be easily remedied. 
 
 A LAZY CURE FOR LAZINESS. 
 
HOAY 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 ii^ use to this day in India. The man 
 ?eems 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 sti'ict fidelity to the truth. 
 
 The following instructions are given by ]^ir. 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 malting 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 V\^ith a club, as is often done^ 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, inde^, 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 guai-d 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 have 
 
GO 
 
 THE AET 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 \dm 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." 
 
 PERFORMING MTJLES. 
 
 Chief among circus attractions, especially in the eyes of the 
 l)oys, are the trick or " comic " 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 mountmg. If the boy is 
 " green '^ 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 mule^s heels. If he 
 
 COMIC MULE. 
 
 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 boy's efforts being directed 
 
:performing mules. 61 
 
 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-ma-ster 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 
 spunliy but he was finally forced to succumb, and notwith- 
 standmg 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 viciousness of his nature, and is encouraged therein. To- 
 ward his trainer, and those connected w^ith 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, ha 
 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 and 
 
G2 THE ART OF TEAtN'lNG AOTMALS. 
 
 furnished with boxing gloves, while two small donkeys are made 
 to scat themselves and bold sponges, as though personating the 
 
 AN ASININE PRIZE FIGHT. 
 
 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 tbem 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 
 cf planks, in the upper one of which holes are cut. In these 
 holes the bottles are placed f 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 
 ordmary 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 vacated 
 
PERFORMING MULES G3 
 
 bottle. Six or eight bottles are sufficient to commence witli^ 
 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 miile places his foot squarely on the top, as he 
 should be made to do, there is no danger of cither breaking or 
 upsetting them. 
 
 There is a trick related of a couple of English costermcngers, 
 or perambulating vegetable dealers, which is amusing if not of 
 practical value. These two worthies were in the habit of pas- 
 sing theu' donkey thi-ough 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 are 
 
G4 THE AET OF TRARflXG AKIMALS. 
 
 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 
 cf 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 personse, 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 robberis cave, a royal palace, the Rialto and Vesuvius 
 in eruption, and was about to attack the grand transformation 
 scene from Midsummer Isight's Dream, when a rope was thrown 
 around his neck, and he was di-agged 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 
 dsmanded with deafening plaudits, a repetition of the scene. 
 The uproar was so great that the manager came out and said 
 that an mtermission of fifteen minutes would be given to enable 
 fjcme of the actors to recover the breath that the active mule 
 had kicked out of them, and pledged his honor that the brute 
 jhould 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 
 iiiule 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 
 .he head the same night of his highly successful debut, 
 
TRAINING FARM ANIMALS. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SOME HINTS FOR FARMERS — MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OP 
 
 ANIMALS ON THE FARM — SOME EYILS AND ROW 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 tbe 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 " 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 
 beatmg, perhaps, force the animals to leap over. This is cap!- 
 
(j6 the art of TRAI2s^XG antmal^. 
 
 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 agate but a little way, and then, as in the case 
 of the bars, force the eat^ 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 ta 
 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 ' slipgap,' 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 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 a vocates of 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 bulls is to breed, 
 and that exhaustive labor would impair the vigor of the descend- 
 .ajts. Though the latter is probably the true case bulls should 
 
TRAINING 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 on 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 tui'n 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 I" and " whoa !" 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 
 foliowuag 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.*^ 
 
68 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DOGS IN GENERAL — WATCH DOGS — THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 
 
 AMONG all the animals the dog 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 fi-iend 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. Tiiough 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 of 
 
VARIETIES OF SHEEP DOGS. 69 
 
 great attachment to his master, he unites strength with intelli- 
 gence, and, while implacable toward intruders, toward members 
 of his masters 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 requhements. 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 agamst 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 bom 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 coUey, is a light and active one. 
 
70 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 probably the best adapted for those portions of our own country 
 where there is no danger Irom wild animals. It is pretty exten- 
 sively diliused in the United States and British America;^ and 
 is very useful to the farmer^ shepherd or di'over. 
 
 The Mexican shepherd's dog is doubtless a descendant of the 
 
 SCOTCH COLLEY, OR SHEPHERD'S 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, 
 hrst 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 
 
 ^1 +?' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^'^^'^^ *^ ^^^^ ^Po^ *^® li**l® interlopers with 
 all the affection she would manifest for her own natural offspring. 
 ± or the first few days the pups are kept m the hut, the ewe 
 sucklmg 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 able 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 particular 
 
INTELLIGENCE OF SHEEP DOGS. 71 
 
 benefit j 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 j nor can hunger or 
 thu'st. 
 
 A remarkable example of the intelligence of these dogs is 
 displayed when two flocks approach within a few yards of each 
 other y 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 kmdly but firmly leads her back, 
 and as it sometities happens, it may make a rush and succeed 
 in joining the other flock, the dogs under whose charge they sere 
 go over and bring them all out, but strange to say, under such 
 circumstances they are never opposed Ijy the other dogs. They 
 approach the strange sheep only to prevent then* 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 he would scour the 
 farm and bring them from all parts safely mto 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 folio wmg* 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 befor.e it and bark, in 
 order to drive it back to its place. 
 
 A dog which has been properly trained will be continually on 
 
78 THE ART OP TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 i]\i\ look oui for Hl.ray Hhcep, and will, of his own accord, visit 
 iljoK(5 partH of the ])aHiurcs where iiic fcnccH arc wcakcKt, and 
 where (lilclK^H or ravincH exist, into which the Hh(!ep may be in 
 danger of falling. Heavy hIiccjJ), with lar^^c fl(M;(;eH, will Konie- 
 timcB lio on iluiir backw for a whole day or ni^ht, beirif^ unable 
 to got u\). When in MiIh powition, inHianccH have o(;curred of 
 Ihiiir eycH bein^ i)i(;ked out either by ravens or carrion crown. 
 They an^ all subject to the; atta(;kH of dogs and foxes. A well 
 trained shepherd's dog will find sheep that arc in this position, 
 and attract attention to th(;ui. 
 
 Vfell trained doga will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show 
 any signs of irritation when assaulted by the (^e for the pro- 
 tect 'on of her young. 'Vlwy k(;e|) at a respe(;table distance Irom 
 qua-re>lsonie rams, not considering it to be any part of tlieir 
 busMiess to fight with th(un. They are very watcldul at night, 
 (^sp'M'Jally during th(i hunbing season, guanling the lambs from 
 the attacks of foxes and dogs and all otJier intruders. 
 
 Ui training a y(Ming sh('-|)hcrd's dog, the services of a well 
 trained, exp(u-i(5n<!(Ml dog will be almost indispensable. I'he 
 ard^jnt tcmixiraiiKiid, of the young dog must be subdued, and 
 thor(^ is no \n){.U'r nnnh of doing so than by comy)elling him to 
 accompany a W(5ll trained dog and imitate his actions. A long 
 line in tin; hands of the trainer, attached to a collar or belt on 
 the ijcck of th(^ young dog is generally necessary in the training 
 j>roc(iss. With tlui aid of this contrivan(;(5 the dog may be per- 
 fectly su])dued, and nvdda to obey all the commands of the 
 train(5r. Jle can be taught to ^'go away," '^come back," 
 ^'conn^ in front,," "come behind," "bark," "lio down," "be 
 quiet," "get over iho fence;," "stop them," "bring them back," 
 and (;very other evolution in the field exercise of the shec;]) dog. 
 'JMie training should commence when the ])U]) is five or six 
 months old. The older the animal is, the more diflicult will it 
 it b(^ to train him. 
 
 T\w, sheplK^rd's dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned, 
 has a natural inclinati(m for working among sheep, but h(; may 
 bo spoiled by improper manngement, and then he Ix^comes an 
 enemy to tlie flock histead of a prot(M'tor.. A cross between the 
 mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the sh('i»herd's dog, ]>roduces a 
 mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the blood oi' tlie sheep, 
 and can scarcely be n^straincd from destroying tlicm. The 
 sheijlierd's do^ sliould be full blood, anything less is worse than 
 useless. Dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by 
 neglect or mismamigement, in tlie t raining. The she])lierd must 
 himself treat, the shec]) with gentleness if he desires the dog to 
 lo so J the dog will act as his master docs. 
 
MANAGEMENT OF SPORTING DOGS. 73 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SPORTING DOGS AND TliKIR MANAGKMKNT AM) 'JP.AINf.VG. 
 
 THE poiriU^r and the. HcMcr aro th(; two univorHally rccoi/iim'A] 
 dogH for hiiiit.in^f ^^arnc. hird.s. Ah to which of the two is tho 
 better variety authorilieHdiflerj and niiicfi (h'^cudn upon circum- 
 BtanceH. For hot olimatcH the pointer han rnon- enrJuranee than 
 the setter, hut he in alHo more tender and would Hufler in a eohj 
 climat^i. PointerH do not require ho careful trainin^f, and with 
 HportHrnen who an;, as in the case with many, Ioohc in their 
 manner of training', a pointer will he a pannahly well hehaved 
 dog where, with the nanje laxity, a setter woiild he ntUtrly 
 worthlcHH. Ah the value of a dog in hunting depe^nds in Huch a 
 great degree upon hin proper underntanding of the work in hand, 
 and his jirornpt and faithful exf^eution of the dutie.H ineurnhent 
 upon him, Ujo much pains cannot he taken with his training. 
 
 PK i;LJM I \A liY TRAINING. 
 
 The education of sporting dogs should begin in eaj-liest pupf^y- 
 hood. L'nIeHH they are early taught obedience, it will f>e diffi- 
 cult to overcome this neglect by after training. JJis first Ich- 
 Hon may be given with the aid <A' a piece ef beef placed hefore 
 him on a plate. Naturally he will evince an eagerness to obtain 
 it. Prevent his doing ho, by gently tapping him upon the hea/3, 
 at the same time cry, '' toho !" iiy repeating this word each 
 time you check hiH eagerness, he is taught t^j aHSociate the slap 
 with the word and to stop when the word is uhcA. 'J'his makcH 
 the '' point." In a few moments after you must cry, '^ hie on," 
 and allow him t/> seize the meat. " Steady "is the next lesson, 
 and consists in allov/ing 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, tfie com- 
 mand, " close on " should be used. Hefore he reaches the plate, 
 cry, " toho," and then, " hie on ;" 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 p'di'M-.ncAt 
 is abs^ilutely necessary. No harshness should he used, and no 
 new leH8^>n sliould be attempt/^d until the old one is fiilly maH- 
 tered. You should always feed the dog yourself. 
 
 When the j^recedlng Ichsotjs are thoroughly acquired, 
 
74 THE AET OF TRAINING AJSTMALS. 
 
 *' charge " may be taught. Gently force him doYrn 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, '^ charge — 
 charge/^ with your hand upraised, and forcing him into the 
 desired position. To make him rise, you should cry, ^^lie up," 
 and gently raise him. Repeat these instructions until they are 
 fully understood and readily obeyed, domg 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, ''hie fetch,'' when you wish him to go, and 
 " 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 
 du'ections 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 !' 
 After he understands the meaning of the word fetch you may let 
 him 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, ' hie fetch ! 
 fetch !' 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 ' hie, fetch !' He will immmediately 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 dhection 
 of the glove, and cry, ' hie, fetch !' 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 !' You may now give the glove to 
 another person to hide, first permittmg the dog to see it in his 
 possession, and he will be almost certain to find it, if it is at all 
 
 *Dor, AXT) Gttn. — ^Price tMrty 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 tbe glove 
 where your dog will be certain to find it — not too far ofi". " 
 
 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 huntmg dog may be 
 
 is/ ^'5 
 
 
 
 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 di-illed in the preliminary 
 exercises we have described, it will be necessary to teach him 
 their practical application. Much of the ftiture 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 TRAIXIXG AXIMALS, 
 
 '* When you observe Dash more excited than usual, you may 
 reasonably expect a bevy near. They will not probably be 
 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 the 
 killing of game a secondary affair — ^let him give his attention 
 to Dash. The dog seems too eager for the scent — you cry 
 ^ steady ! steady !' — if he is apparently near the game, and you 
 are afraid he will flush, you cry ^ toho !^ 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 ^ steady ! 
 steady!' he points, ^iohoV You now approach and flush the 
 bevy j be sure you bring down one bird, and it will he 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 in !' — on, on he goes ; 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 belter skelter. 
 You must soon get hold of his collar, drag him rather roughly 
 back to where he pointed — ^lashing him slightly — and make him 
 ^ charge,' and keep his position until you reload ; after which 
 you will take him to where your bu'd has fallen — indicate the 
 place with your hand, crying ^ hie, fetch ! fetch ! fetch !' 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 m^ay 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 ' close on ! steady ! charge ! hie on ! fetch !' Cast it some 
 distance unobserved — waft your hand in the proper direction, 
 and tell him ' hie, fetch ! fetch ! fetch !' 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 \ ' to control him. Let the command 
 be in rather an undertone — never get into the snobbish habit of 
 
SPORTING DOGS IN THE FIELD, 77 
 
 "bawling at your dog. Apart from its being an ungentlemanly 
 habit, it frightens the quail more or less, and they will not lie 
 so well to the dog. Ha ! but Dash has come down to a point 
 most beautiftilly, Hoho!' You carefrilly approach, flush and 
 shoot the bird, and immediately give your attention to the dog, 
 crying * charge ! ' in a strong and emphatic tone ; if he breaks, 
 get hold of his collar as soon as possible and lash him, and at 
 the same time drag him to his ^ point' and make him ^ charge ^ and 
 keep his position until you reload. You then cry '■ hie up,' make 
 friends with him, and cast him off — he soon points again. You 
 manage to get very near the dog, and when you fire, immediately 
 cry ' charge ! ' 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 'hie fetch!' You cast him off again, and 
 alivays^ manage to control him offcer 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 j do not for some time fire more 
 than one barrel, tha* 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 ' charge ! ' 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 
 wiU be attained. If Dash evinces unusual perverseness in this, 
 it will be well to make him ' charge' while on a '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 birds. 
 Kepeating this vexatious, ungentlemanly conduct several time*?, 
 the pointer was seen to grow impatient. At last having found 
 
78 THE ART OF TEAINIXG 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 th.e transmission of their excellent quali- 
 ties in increased measure to each successive generation, are 
 probably unrivalled by any other in their particular forte. 
 Owmg 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 flogs 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's reading and writing, his education " comes by nature." 
 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 
 will 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. 
 
 " Canton," 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 
 backs " 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 doctor's colored man, Varnell, 
 with his murderous swivel gun. Her patience and endurance 
 were almost incredible. She was the heroine of many desperate 
 encounters with wounded swans, often pursumg 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 tim.ewas lost in pursuing these wounded ducks^ and 
 at the close of this pursuit, it being then dark, Varnell 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 had sorrowfully turned his 
 face homeward, she overtook him with one or two ducks in her 
 mouth; and the old doctor stated that he remembered Varne]I 
 saying that at one time, when she was most fatigued, she climbed 
 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 liis capacity will admit 
 of, or merely to teach him the things necessary for common con- 
 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, he 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 c'onvenicnt take 
 
8a THE AET 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 ; 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. IT you have only one dog, the plan 
 v7ould 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 bight 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 m 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 be 
 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 THICKS. 
 
 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 ho 
 reaches for it raise it so as to induce him to rise up on his hind 
 feet, saying as you do so, '^up, up!" When he reaches tho 
 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 bo taught to walk in this position by 
 
 WALKING ICRECT. 
 
 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 " graceful and agreeable art " when he has learned to hop 
 around on his hind legs, and to keep tuniing completely around 
 at short intervals. There are several modes of arriving at this 
 result, the most simple of which is, probably, to take a long 
 
82 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS, 
 
 switch^ after the clog has learned to stand erect, and to this 
 fAvitch 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 hastinct 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, but it is nevertheless one of the most eifective that 
 can J3e devised. The dog should be rewarded with the meat 
 after he has danced enough to faii'ly 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 'Gripping 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," or whatever one he has 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 animals 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 not 
 
SIMPLE 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. Repeat 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 ^^ 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 conti'ol 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 
 nnder the chin till he takes the right position. Repetition is 
 of course necessary until he learns what is desired, and each 
 time ydu 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 GIVE HIS PAW. 
 
 There Is scaicely a boy's pet dog who has not acquired this 
 Tery 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 xhQ 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 \hQ momentous command of *' paw,'' and €arlo 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 
 Jholds out Jus paw. 
 
-64 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 "right" 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 
 p,hould 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 
 j^at 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 qfcr 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 fi'iend 
 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 
 iiTitated 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. 
 
REACHING 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 u.s some particulars of the manner of teaching the trick, 
 which he obligingly did, to this effect : " One afternoon, havhag 
 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, ' Sneeze, Zip.' I don't suppose my words had any 
 effect, but he certainly did sneeze ) this gave me- the idea of 
 teaching hi;n to repeat it at my bidding. Armed with my 
 feather I commenced operations ; tickling his nose gently each 
 thiie 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 speciaf accomplishment which Zip pos- 
 sessed, and whether this was the result of peculiarly sensitive 
 olfactory organs or his master's training we are unabte 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 teach him to '^ speak for it." "Take a 
 piece of some article of food which he is fond of, and allowing 
 him to see it, command him to '^ 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 nioment 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 that 
 
86 
 
 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 eases 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 stimi'lated 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 desu-ed 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. 
 
 mg 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 grasped 
 
TRICKS TAUGHT To DOGS. 87 
 
 easily by him without hurting his mouth or teeth. The weight 
 should at first be eery 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 theh- own or th^ir master's 
 dmner without attempting to appropriate any portion of it unti^ 
 the proper time when their share shall be given them. In 
 teaching dogs to carry food, however, it is necessary to take a 
 littk special pains to overcome their instinctive inclinations to 
 eat it. A good plan is to place the article m 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 fcod, 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 cer- 
 tainly does in this case, for it is too bad to tantalize him with 
 the smell of some 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 som« 
 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 teacber. Many anecdot'Cs 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 w€ 
 recollect several instances cited where dogs ^ould, 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 be imposed upon, transferred his 
 custom to a rival establishment In none of these accounts 
 
88 THE ART OF TRAIXING 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 lie 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, remainmg 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 ouf 
 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 you propose to go, and will, perhaps, run on ahead 
 and arrive therS some minutes before you. It would be well 
 on all occasions before starting to give the command, '^ Go to 
 market," which will accustom him to it. 
 
 We do nor 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 
 tQ ^hat he considered his due, went aiid brought a policeman. 
 
IRICKS 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 he 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 
 gettmg 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," 
 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 than 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 paws 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 upor 
 
CO THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 the ball and set it slowly in motion 5 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 
 necli 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 planli very slightly inclined, up which he 
 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 5 it being only necessary to put him "on his pins" 
 again whenever he upsets. The tumble is sufficient punishment 
 for his failures. Walking man fashion on only two stilts is a 
 much more difficult task, though it has been accomplished in 
 some cases. 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 
 liimself upon the stilts, but must be placed erect by the trainer. 
 The farther training is sim.ilar to that described for teachmg 
 
TEACHIXG 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 A>^D 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 t^o 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 be 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 dogs 
 
92 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 JDelly 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 
 celebrat^ed 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. The}- 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 
 he-ad to keep him from moving away, and to make him retain 
 his reversed position. As the dog rises into position the switch 
 should be 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. 13y-and-by 
 he may be made to walk quite a distance. 
 
 TO " SING." 
 
 When a dog howls in time, we think it fair to call his per- 
 formance '^ singing.'' 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, 
 bowl, 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 exercise, 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- 
 htance of a dog learning to discriminate between the different 
 
94 THE AET OF TRALNiXG AXIMALS. 
 
 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 his 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 aflPord any practical aid, 
 he determined to train him to till 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 j every time that a musical fault was com- 
 mitted by any member of the family — and such fliults were 
 committed purposely — the rod was applied to Poodle's back, 
 and he naturally began to bark <ind howl. He was exactly in 
 the position of the whipping boy, who pursued his studies with 
 the royal prince. AVhenever 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 5 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 ears; if the clarionet hurried the movement, 
 Poodle fidgeted on his bench ; 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 5 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 bowlings 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 FEIG:N' 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. 
 
 IVONDERFUL FEATS PERFORMED BY DOGS — MOST CELEBRATED 
 DOGS OF THE WORLD — LEARNING THE ALPHABET — TO 
 PLAT CARDS AND DOMINOES— TO SELECT ANY ARTI- 
 CLE DESIRED AND PUT IT ANYWHERE DIRECTED. 
 
 OUR 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 theii- 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 
 ' 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 ' parlor,' ^ corridor,' ^ stairs ;' 
 knew the furniture, utensils, small objects of the pocket and 
 toilet J and when one bade these dogs perform in the ahscnce of 
 their master, one was seized with astonishment and admira- 
 tion. 
 
 '^ If you said to one : ' 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. 
 ^ Ask the lady for her thimble.' The lady offered successively 
 her handkerchief; gloves^ etc.; but the animal did not move. 
 
WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS. 97 
 
 As soon as she presented the thimble, he ran off, maldng a 
 thousand gambols at having obtained it. After this he passed 
 gravely about the room, as if to say : ' What shall I do with 
 it f On saying to him : ^ Go to the sofa in front of the tire- 
 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 : ^ Seek it ! Seize it !' 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 : ' 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, he did not fail to do it, though he never ad- 
 justed it nicely — contenting himself with placing it at the end 
 to which it l3elouged. 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 : ' 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 : ^ G-o to 
 the butcher !' ' Go to the baker !' or, ^ Go to the grocer !' and 
 the command was always obej^ed 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 are. 
 
98 THE ART OF TRAimNG 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 followmg, though perhaps a little highly 
 colored — as is the habit of most French writers — is yet sub- 
 stantially an accm'ate 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 Imes should fall 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 hert 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. Vanity, 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 ^ God ' to 
 translate into Latin. She instantly, and without hesitation, 
 composed the word ^ Deus.' This is her modus operandi : She 
 is placed on a table sufficiently large to allow her to move 
 easily in every direction. She is in the center of the table. All 
 
WONDERFtrL 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 : ^ So your dog really 
 reads and understands what is said to her V 
 
 "^ How can you doubt it, as you see she does so as well 
 when I am absent as when I am by her side V 
 
 " ^ She really is the worthy peer of Munito, the Newton of 
 the canine race.' 
 
 " ^Munito P 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.' 
 
 " ^ What ? Munito a humbug ? You astound me !' 
 
 " < 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.' 
 
 " ^ Is it possible Munito knew nothing, and merely concerted 
 with his master to appear learned V 
 
 " ^ You have hit the nail on the head.' 
 
 *' * Do you mean to tell me there are pseudo savants among 
 dogs ? I thought men had a monopoly of that plague.' 
 
 '^ ^ Dogs don't escape it.' 
 
 " ^ 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, 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 oclious 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 j 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 turaing 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 V 
 
 '" 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;, but there was no more sugar in it than there is in a 
 black draught. Such cheating really deserves the brand of 
 histor}^ If you think I speak harshly of Munito, my excuse is, 
 he is dead. We owe nothmg 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 tip in the rudiments of canine 
 education, the following, which may be termed the ^^ classical " 
 course, would be the system of instruction — it is, indeed, the 
 same as was pursued with Braque and Philax : 
 
 Having taught your dog the meaning of the words, "go 
 fetch it," " bring it," " drop it," " bring it back," you will next 
 teach him the names of difierent articles. Let us first take a 
 handkerchief, and placing it upon the ground, order him to 
 " 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. 101 
 
 tide from those- placed on the ground, hide one of thcni, and, 
 calling the hidden article hy name, order him to bring it. If, 
 after examining the objects before him, he shows by his; 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 tvrong 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 woud " hand- 
 kerchief" means, and without giving consideration to the color j 
 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. Gloves of 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 admiit 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 ow the chair ;" ^' Put 
 the handkerchief under the table," etc., in each case repeating 
 the order until he obeys coiTcctly. 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 accustom 
 
102 THE ART 0.- TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 him to take his food from the hand of his master, or some othei 
 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 '' educated hog ;" 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 lool^s 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 5 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 called 
 for. He 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 usf^d in these exercises, for otherwise the labor of teaching 
 would be doubled, besides confusing the dog between capitals 
 and small letters, without gaining anything. 
 
 On the same principle the dog may be taught what, with « 
 little license, may be called playing cards. Pieces of paste- 
 
WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS. 103 
 
 board several times the size of ordinary playing cards shoiiid bo 
 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 j if he does so, reward him, but if he 
 brings the heart, scold him, and order him to return it -, agam 
 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 diflBcult as might at iirst 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 p/eces of 
 board or thick card, some eight or ten inches long, on which 
 paint eonspicuously 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. Havmg learned so much, the dog is prepared to play 
 
 ♦Even this would be a greater feat of mtellig-ence than we have ever seen exhibited by 
 a dog, and we are inclined to think there was some aid afforded in this, case ot 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 one time. Possibly the dog recognized 
 tiie cards by the general appearance ol each, not the number of spots thereon. 
 
104: THE ART OF TEAIKING AKIMALS, 
 
 a game of dominoes, for the game consists merely in matching 
 certain pieces. 
 
 Muiiito, the dog to whom reference is made in a preceding 
 page, was a French poodle, \Gvy handsome, with a fine silky, 
 white, woolly coat, half shaved. A gentleman who saw him 
 exhibited in Ticcadilly, London, nearly fifty years ago, thus 
 describes his performance, disclosmg at the same time the se- 
 crets thereof: 
 
 " He performed many eurions 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 between each feat for 
 a sbort time. We watched him narrowly 5 but it was not until 
 after our second yisit 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 fl^oor in a circle, faces upward. Munito went around the 
 cu'cle, came to the queen of clubs, pounced upon it, and brought 
 it in his mouth to his master. The same process was rej eated 
 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 cipcuit, 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 an ani- 
 seed scent." 
 
WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS. 105 
 
 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- 
 be assassin, and having a scuffle j and the still other good dog 
 who rescues the child from drowning, or some other impending 
 danger, are all " worked " by signals, or obey understood com- 
 mands — ^the actor's ^' cue '^ serving 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 j 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 hiiu 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," said the disappointed 
 manager, " that if you were to say, ' Go, sir !' in a harsh tone, 
 when I repeat the words, that he would at once perform the 
 feat." " Very well, sir," replied the owner, " we will try the 
 experiment, if you wish it;" The preliminaries were again 
 gone through with 5 and the master said, " Go, sir !" The gi- 
 gantic dog did go with a vengeance. He dashed off like an 
 arrow ; 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, sk," used on that particular 
 occasion. 
 
lf/6 THE ART OF TRAIIHNG ANIMALS. 
 
 CHAPTEK XII. 
 
 TAMING AND TRAINING ELEPHANTS — CAPTURE AND TREATMENT 
 — ELEPHANTS AS LABORERS AND AS CIRCUS PERFORMERS. 
 
 IK telling how elephants are trained, so interwoven is our 
 subject with that of the capture of the animals, that per- 
 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 tnis 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 r 
 
 " 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 ; 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 animal 
 
CAPTURING 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 nouse over the leg. Should the 
 noosing be eflfected in open ground where there is no free 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 
 favoraJDle 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 ^'dahl dah I" 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 efi'ected 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 heai-t 
 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 turaing, and within 
 this the captives being driven in line, are secured with ropes 
 introduced from the outside, and led away in custody of tamed 
 
108 
 
 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 r.nes trained for the purpose. The keddah being prepared, the 
 lU'st operation is to drive the elephants toward it, for which 
 ] purpose vast bodies of men fetch a compass in theforfest around 
 the haunts of the herds, contracting it by degrees till they com- 
 
 •JOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOCSOOOOOOCSS 
 
 -oe«oo"Oeoe 
 
 00C0QC«O0 00«000« 
 
 eocoo 
 
 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 ihe 
 first one,'^thL' 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 make the final rush, the whole party close in from all 
 
t;A]PTtrRE 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 j and 
 at last compel them to pass on into the second enclosure. 
 Here they 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 <listricts of Bengal; and the 
 method adopted in Ceylon differs in many essential particular 
 from them ail 5 tha keddah, or, as it is here called, the corral or 
 torahl (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 5 besides which, the smaller 
 €nes ai'e often smothered by the others in their ei^gerness 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 the 
 
110 
 
 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 stoclmdesj cutting paths through the jungle^ and surrounduig 
 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 p^iodical migrations in search of forage and wa- 
 ter J and the vicmity 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 construcfing 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 spaces 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, 
 r.nd prevent the work from being driven outward by the rush 
 of tlic wild elephants. 
 
CAPTURING ELEPHANTS. • 111 
 
 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 
 €orraL 
 
 The corral being prepared, the beaters address themselves to 
 driving in the elephants. For this purpose it is often necessary 
 to make a circuit of many miles in order to surround a sufficient 
 nuanber, and the caution to be observed involves patience and 
 dfilay ; 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 onwara 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 eithej- 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 given, and the silence is broken by 
 shouts from the guard, the banging of drums and tom-toms, and 
 the discharge of muskets. Amid this noise the elephants are 
 driven forward to and through the gate, which is mstantly 
 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 eflfort. 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 into 
 
112 
 
 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 the cori'al to aid in securing the captives. Cautiously the bars 
 V\'hich 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 is a strong collar corn- 
 loosed of ropes of coconut fiber, from which hangs on either side 
 ( ords of elk's hide prepared with a ready noose. Gradually 
 each trained animal approaches one of the wild ones, until be- 
 y liciir, tlio uocser watching his opportunity, slips 
 
 iiig sufiici. 1 
 
 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, ])ushing with their heads and shoulders. 
 The first tame one now winds the rope around the tvee, 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- 
 .s!stants. Of their own accord they will perform any act which . 
 reason would naturally suggest for overcoming any difficulty 
 t':at arises, or which ceems necessary under any given circum- 
 stances. Thus Ma'cr Gkinnr/r relates an instance where a wild 
 
DECOY ELEPHAXTS. 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 on 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, enablmg 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 they 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 also 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 neck 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 m 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 
 l:ister to their own exploits, have represented them otherwise. 
 Even the notorious "rogues"' are not such wholly bad fel- 
 Ijws 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 
 tliey 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 ia a herd 
 is from ten to twenty, though the latter number is sometimes exceeded. In tlieir visits to 
 water-courses and migrations, alliances are formed between members of different lierds, 
 thus introducing new blood into the family. If an individual becomes separated from his 
 herd, however, he is not j^erniitted to introduce liimself into aiiother. He may browse in 
 their vicinity, or resort to the same stream to bathe or drink, but farther than this no ac- 
 quaintance is allowe 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 Avhica he suffers tends to 
 excite that moroseuess and savageness for which rogues are noted. Another conjecture 
 is, that as ro^^ues are almost ahvaj'S males, the death or capture of particular females ha» 
 led them to leave their herds to seek new alliances. A time elephant escaping from cap- 
 tivity, unable to find his former companions, becomes of necessity a rogue. 
 
 t We could never experience any other feelings than disgiist atthe cruelty, and pity for 
 the animals, at reading tiie sickening details with which, with a slaughter-house gusto, 
 «'>rtain heroes have graced the naratives of their exploits. Gordon Cummings, gives an ac- 
 I! lunt I f his pursuit of a wounded elephant which he had lamed by lodging a ball in its 
 shouider-blade. It limped slowly toward a tree, against which it leaned itself in lielpless 
 agony, whilst its pursuer seated himself in front of it, in safety, to boil his coffeb, and ob- 
 serve its sufferings. The sturyis continued as follows: "Having admired him for a 
 considerable time, I resolved to make experiments on vulnerable points; and approach- 
 jno- very near 1 fired several bullets at different parts of his enormous skull. He only ac- 
 knowledged the shots by a sal lam-like movement of his trunk, with the point of which 
 he gently touched the wounds with a striking and peculiar action. Surprised and shocked 
 at findino- that I wa^ only prolonging the sufferings of the noble beast, which bore it» 
 trials with such dignified composure, I resolved to finish the proceeding with all possible 
 despatch, and accordingly opened fire upon him from the leit side, aiming at the shoulder. 
 I first fired six shots with the two-grooved rifle, which must have eventually ])roved mor- 
 tal. After which I fired six shots at the same pirt with the Dutch six-pounder. Large 
 tears now trickled from Ids eyes, which lie slowly shut and opened, his colossal frame 
 shivered convulsively, and falling on his side, he expired." 
 
 In another place, after detailing the manner io 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 elei)hant'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. 
 * * * * * Havingfired 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 lime to evince signs of a dilapidated constitution." The disgusting description 
 L-i close! thus: "Throughout tiie charge he repeatedly cooled his person with large 
 ! lantities of water, which he ejected from his trunk over his sides and back, and just ag 
 '/'le pai»gs of death came over him, he stood trembling violently beside a thorn tree, and 
 Vgnt pouringf water iuto his bloody mouth until he died, when he pitched heavily forward 
 
THE DISPOSITION OF THE ELEPHANT. 115 
 
 The trainiiig is simple, and the intelligence and obedience oi 
 the pupil are developed with remarkable rapidity. For the first 
 three days, or until they will eat freely, which they seldom do 
 m 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 holdmg an iron instrument furnished with both a 
 sharp point and a hook. This is called a ^' hendoo '' in Ceylon, 
 and a ^^ hawlius " in Bengal, and is the principal weapon used 
 in guiding and controlliilg 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 ovei* his 
 back, keeping up while doing so a soothing and plaintive chant, 
 interspersed with endearing epithets, 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 offensiveJy. 
 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 
 ' a rcprL^uatioJT'ofar^ ill ^Jie watcr is finally accomplished by the 
 ancient hendoo. kccpcrs prcsslug thc 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, j'ielded and burst with a mufTied 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 pro'>f 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 . 
 thinkiniT, is displayed by the elephants, and not by their aggressors. For a hunter to put 
 such achievements as wft liave just fjuoted on record merely displays the egotism aw) 
 cruelty of the man. 
 
116 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 operation are considerable, and it often requires the sagacious 
 interference of the tame elephants to control the refractory wild 
 ones. It soon, however, becomes ^ 
 
 practicable to Lave the latter jC ^ 
 
 alone, only taking them to and *^ '^ 
 
 from the stall by the aid of a Modera heodoo. 
 
 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 walkmg backward in front with the 
 pomt of the hendoo always presented to the elephant's head, 
 and a keeper with an iron crook at each ear. On getting into 
 the waifeer, 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 j 
 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 auger. 
 
 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 thm 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 trouble ; whereas, in the 
 instance of the two largest that have been taken in Ceylon 
 within the last thirty years, both were docile in a remarkabie 
 degree. One in particular, fed fi'om the hand the first night it 
 was secured, and in a very few days eviuced 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 
 efi'ectually subdued, and generally prove permanently docile 
 and submissive. But those which are" sullen or morose, al- 
 though they may not provoke chastisement by tlieu- 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 
 
TRAINING ELKPHANTS. 117 
 
 state of captivity and coercion. The most amenable are sub- 
 ject to occasional fits of stubborness j 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 J or that incidents which in ordinary health would be pro- 
 ductive of no demonstration whatever, may lead, in moments 
 of temporary illness, to fretfulness 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. Af.er 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 excruciating: 
 
118 THE AET OF.TRAIXIXG 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 iueflfectual 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 afifection 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 "hunting elephants" aee tkained. 
 
 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 necessit^^ 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 elephant 
 
ELEPHANTS 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 iudiferent 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. Notwithstandmg 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 di'i- 
 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 dead 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 an 
 
120 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 J 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 j 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 bis 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 elephaot'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 — 
 ^* 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 feature 
 
CAPTURING 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/' with goblets " very expensive, and bowls 
 of gold and silver." 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 
 ihe signal being given they stretched forward their trunks in a 
 subdued manner, and took their food in great moderation." 
 The last exploit of these animals related bv an old Roman was 
 writing on tablets with their trunks, "neither looking awry or 
 turnmg aside. The hand, howevei» of the teacher was placed 
 
 PERFOKMING ELEPHANT. 
 
 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." 
 
 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 
 
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 du-ection. By tapping them 
 gently from below he may be made to raise them; 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 togetlier. He is fii*st made to place one 
 
 PERFORMING ELEPHANT. 
 
 fore 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 his 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 circus. A small table was brought 
 
AMATEUR 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 "supes" 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 '^ speared '^ his provender and conveyed it to his 
 mouth. Tiiis 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 his 
 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 iuiagine 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 of" 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 verT/ 
 small, so either from inability to find it, a mistake in the article, 
 or as a punishment for reducing the rations, he got hjld of our 
 tongue, and the first thing we knew he was attemptmg to pull it 
 
124 TEE ART OF TRAINIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 out. Luckily his keeper came to our rescue at this critical 
 moment, and we retired uninjured but rather crestfallen. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. I 
 
 LIONS, TIGERS, LEOPARDS AND PANTHERS. 
 
 yrNQUESTIONABLY 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 " 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, oiten parsing harmlessly by ; and will even permit 
 his best relished prey, the antelope, to come to his 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 lie 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, tho^igh a second-hand animal which has been tamed 
 sometimes comes into his hands. If it is desu*ed to tame a 
 
LION TAMING. 
 
 125 
 
 lion for the exhibition of the "lion kingr" he is bought when 
 youDg ; 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 suflfi- 
 cient respect for the tamer. The animal is usually well fed j 
 this dulls bis anger at the tamer's 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 animal s 
 onset. This is always a ticklish position, requiring a cool head 
 and steady nerves, but the captive animal with a full stomacU 
 
126 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 is not like a wild one T;avenous for food, and he is pretty sure 
 to submit sooner or later. WatcMng the animal's eye steadily, 
 the tamer can ordinarily detect his intention to spring, and be 
 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 j 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 »naimiable and obstinate animals. These 
 are used more freqia<3ntly for tigers than for lions. More 
 reliance may be placed upon a lion's affection than a. tigei-'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 crushing 
 
THE WILD BEAST TEADE. 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 tlieir 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 
 baclv, 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 attentrion of the lion who made a sudden 
 grab at it, as the man passed the cage, and pulled it off" his head. 
 As seen, 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- 
 bg 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 previou". 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 teeth. 
 
128 
 
 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 cf 
 
 her, gamboling with and caressing her in the highest possijjlo 
 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 wiio 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 5 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 seizmg the poor little animal in her mouth, seemed on 
 the point of tearing him to pieces j then, as if suddenly recol- 
 lectiug 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 Roman empire they were 
 trained and led in the triumphal processions so common at the 
 time when Rome 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 trie 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 is 
 
130 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 frequently met with in menageries, his dociiity 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 j 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- 
 erfal 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 Tliames, After she had been here 
 some time her old keeper visited the tower and ^lesired 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 catcb 
 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 ill ustrated in the contests between buffaloes and tigers 
 exhibited in India. The tiger seems to menace the spectators, 
 swelling his fur, displaying bis 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 buffaloes charge. He tries 
 
CHARACTER 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," but the following incident related of a 
 tiger kept at the British residency in Calcutta,* gives au amus- 
 ing example of iibsurd 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 beti-ayed on seeing n 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 j and, when the mouso 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 foi-ward. For a longtime, 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." 
 
 Tigei-s will not submit like lions to the intrusion of idle 
 straugei'^ 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 eontrolling 
 influence with the beasts, it is only requisite that the man shall 
 show no timidity, and compel obedience by whatever seventy 
 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. A 
 
132 THE ART OF TEAINING 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 hau' 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 s^ow 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 hau- 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 IBengal 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 I'd 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', 
 .they 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 ? — 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 the 
 
A TAMER^S EXPERIENCE. i?3 
 
 people was a clapping tlifdr 'ancls, aud 'ollering * angcore/ It 
 don't do with beasts to let 'em think you're uneasy, so eacli 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 
 " 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. Even 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 Cape 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 comers the leopard up in one end of the cage, and 
 liolding 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 the 
 leopard will spring over the whip, and the lesson is repeated 
 until lie 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 ; the hoop to be held in one hand while 
 the other hand holds the whip, with which the lower part of the 
 hoop is to be tapped when the command " up 1" or " hi !" is 
 
134 THE ART OF TRAININa ANIMALS. 
 
 given. The hpop is at first held low down and close to the 
 animal, hut it maybe 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 are 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 iii'st 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 hoap 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 ta.ught these tricks. 
 
 The large cage in which the tamer's public exhibitions take 
 place is divided into several compartments by iron gates j 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 the 
 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 tbe 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 *^ lion queens." Some years ago one of these was traveling 
 with a showj through the country, whose husband, we have 
 
CHILDREN IX TRZ CAGES. 135 
 
 been told, had been a lion tamer, and bad 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 t^U, but probably she saw no other means of 
 support 5 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 justice" for 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; 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 clogs. Mrs. 
 Bowdich says of a panther kept at Cape Coast, Africa, as the 
 pet of an officer, that he was particularly gentle with children, 
 lymg by them as they slept. Even the infant shared his ca- 
 resses without the slightest attempt on the animaPs 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 AET OF TRAINIXG Als'IMALS* 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 TAMTN^G WILD ANIMALS IIS" GENERAL — SQITIRRELS — BEARS— 
 
 BUFFALOES— VOLTES — 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 
 tbem the hxtpelessness 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 tamper, 
 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 tliat 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 pocliet. 
 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, 
 €are 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 Toice. There was 
 no great mystery in their docility j food had been at first placed 
 in places frequented by them, the person so placing it retiring 
 to a distance. By-and-by the aniihal would <;ome and eat the 
 food, perhaps glancing suspiciously at the distant figure, but if 
 the pei*son 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 ^Iropped 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 tamei-'s person by enticing him forward with some 
 dainty. We have seen a squirrel induced to go through quite a 
 variety of little performances, standing erect, leaping, and climb- 
 ing wherever desired, lured on by a kernel of com at the end of 
 a piece of string. 
 
 Of the larger animals, bears have always been favorite sub- 
 jects wdth trainers. Considerable difficulty and danger is 
 encountered in securing the cubs, owing to the ferocity and 
 eonrage 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, and 
 
138 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 remain so for about eight or nine days. With care they can be 
 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/' 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, somethmg 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 lieautiful peasant girl, and schemed 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, wiiich, as may be easily 
 img^gined, was as vacant as the stage. The flight of the audi- 
 ence 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 natural 
 
PERFORMING BEARS. 139 
 
 actions, such as walking erect, climbing, leaping, and the like. 
 These are arranged to form a variety of feats j 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. 
 Standmg on their heads and turning somersaults are probably 
 feats not commonly indulged in in a state of freedom ; 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," 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 IJEAKS IN COS-TUME. 
 
 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 lickmg 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 somethnes acquire a fondness for liquor, and this article 
 
140 THE ART 0? TRAIXINO ANIMALS. 
 
 is in some cases used by trainers as an 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 m 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 spre?, 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," go through the ceremony of touching glasses with 
 
 BEAR AND PONY ACT. 
 
 the gentleman who 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- 
 
UtJFFALO TRAINING. " 141 
 
 sented on the circus posters as recklesslydashmg over palisade- 
 like 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 
 '^ hurdles " the " general utility " men hold for him. His great- 
 est aim in life appears to be to avoid hurting his shins wbile 
 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 IJUFPALO OF THE POSTERS. 
 
 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 Ouvier, 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 subm.ission, and differed 
 not in manners from the tamest domestic dog. The master 
 being obliged to travel, m.ade a present of him to the Eoyal 
 IVEenagerie at Paris. Here, shut up in his compartment, the 
 animal remained for several weeks moody and discontented, and 
 
142 • THE ART or TRAINING ANIMALS* 
 
 almost without eat4ig. 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 J HE KING. 
 
 up, and the eyes of the animal could be of no use to him, but 
 the voice of his beloved master was not yet efi'aced 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 afi'ection. 
 
 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, derjjonstrated that,, in more favorable circum- 
 stances, his intelligence might have been more strikingly mani- 
 fested. 
 
 Akin to the rhinoceros is the hippopotamus, a very fine 
 specimen of which was exhibited in this country some years 
 
144 THE ART OF TllAINING 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 iu Cairo, and during the first week of 
 their A'oyage 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 — Hamet had a hammock sluug 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 " compagnon du voyage." Auother 
 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 iu all ways any u-ritation 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, 
 when 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 liis 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 ghoice vestments were 
 secured had been pushed down by the revengeful infant, rubbed 
 open with his blunt nose during that ominofis silence, and final- 
 ly left in such a state, that neither Hamet, nor auj other being, 
 Mohammedan or Christian, could ever don them again. Hamet 
 is a well-conducted Mussulman, and not given to indulging in 
 profane language, but he addressed Hippo in terms of the 
 
CROCODILE TAMIKG. 145 
 
 strongest reprehension. Hippo twinkled his eye and shoolt his 
 head, blew a little trumpet through his nostrils, and smiled in 
 triumphant malevolence/' 
 
 Nothing among modern shows can compare with the old am- 
 phitheatrical exhibitions of the llomans. Eor these, largo 
 numbers of animals were collected from the shores of Afi-ica and 
 India ; in the contests of the arena they were slanghtcied by 
 wholesale. Eutropius states, and his assertion is corroborated 
 by other writers, that 5,000 wild beasts of all kinds were slain at 
 thededication of the ampitheater of Titus. Tompey, at the opQu- 
 ing of his theater, exhibited a variety of games and battles with 
 wild beasts in which 500 lions were killed in five days j and in 
 another exhibition the tragedy consisted in " the massacre of 
 100 lions and an equal number of lionesses, 200 lc()i>ards, 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" 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 j 
 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 AET OF TRAININa ANIMALS. 
 
 ti'ies. 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 j but this animal was confined a prisoner in a 
 pond in the palace. The Scheik 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 deske 
 to attack them. 
 
 The foilowmg account is given of a tame crocodile, in a 
 private letter, quoted in a review of the Erpetologie Generale, 
 and affords corroborative proof of the foregoing statements. 
 The writer, having ridden a considerable distance to a village 
 about eight niiles 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 l^ghed 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 th^ 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 long 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 killed 
 
TAME 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 liept 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 were 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 ' 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. 
 
 EDTTCATION 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 loaraed to unlock a door of her own accord. 
 *' 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 greatly 
 
148 THE ART OF TEAINING 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." 
 
 Oats 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, Avhile refractory conduct may be punished by a slight box 
 on the ear. 
 
 Oats may be taught to turn the handles of little organs — 
 either real or mere silent imitations — or music boxes, to turn a 
 little spinnmg 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 string 
 
INSTRUCTION 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 Cecco 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. Cecco desired to 
 witness the experiment and came not unprepai^ed 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 had 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. 
 
 Valmout cle 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. Mens. 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 TRAINIIsG ANIMALS. 
 
 ond, and third, by way of coDcert. He was aftei*ward induced 
 to make a public exhibition of his animals, and the well known 
 *'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 
 
 GOAT TRICK OF HIXDOO JUGGLERS. 
 
 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 ; 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 bu'd, 
 without doing it any injury. 
 
EDFCATED 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 
 affords 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, thoiip bV proba- 
 bly, like the opera, they will in time become an acclimated 
 
152 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 eastera 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 HOG. 
 
 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 whafy 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 liog 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.] So you think I am fond 
 of money, do you ? [Yes.] And I wonder if there is anything 
 else I'm fond of? [Rum.] And what happens when I get a 
 little too much 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 coiTCct card was selected, 
 di'opped 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 young 
 
154 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 
 com. 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 gnide 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 niove 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 hj 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 *^ 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 mmj 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 multiplication 
 
EDUCATED HOGS. 155 
 
 table," but tliis proved to be a catcb ; a hoop being covered 
 with paper on which the multiplicatiou table was printed,, the 
 bog was made to jump through it. The humor of the " sell " 
 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 present-ed himself, Nero 
 seemed to understand somewhat the object of his calling 5 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 of 
 
153 THE ART OF TRAIKENG ANIMALS. 
 
 three herrings, but, as a reward, yet another herring extra. 
 Oa the fifth day Nero was fully up to the game, and his 
 master experienced considerable difficulty to keep up with him. 
 At Scheveningeu the usual allowance — ^now of four herrings — 
 was placed at his disposal, and disposed of by him iu 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 i-ecurred. 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 m 
 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 gruht he signified his desire to b^ 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 off 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 j 
 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. The 
 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 
 thistles 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 XVII. 
 
 PERFORMING MONKEYS — IIONKEY EQUESTRIANS — THE "WON- 
 DERFUL CYNOCEPH ALUS'' — ^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 " 
 l3efore 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 covered 
 
158 
 
 THE ART OF TEAINING AmMALS 
 
 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 m 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. Ai'ound the stage several times the equipage is driv- 
 
 :moxkey "musicians.' 
 
 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 gentie> 
 mau'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 
 
MOKKEY 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 then- 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 '■^ btisiness " 
 of the scene is built up — each lesson including all performed up 
 to that time and a little in advance ; 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 promptmg. 
 
 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 requh-es much of 
 either intelligence or training^ as he is usually strapped upon his 
 steed and cannot very well help staying there. Sometimes, 
 however, instead of tyuig 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 mntiny, 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 months 
 
IGO THE ART OF TRAIMXG ANIMALS. 
 
 of patient training he was prepared to shine among equestrian 
 stars. His debiit 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 Oynocephalus was attacked 
 with inflammation of the bowels, and though he rallied, and 
 
 THE *• WONDERFUL CYNOCEriTALUS." 
 
 hopes were ontcrtained of his recoveiy, he died some days before 
 tho time appointed for the star^t. 
 
 Of his achievements in the ring it is only necessary to say 
 tnat he went through all the feats usually displayed by a 
 rircus-rider, jumping upon the horse, standing on one leg, then 
 I'.oldiiig the other in his hand, then standing on his head, 
 f;;llowing this by somersets, and finishing off with the customary 
 vaulting through balloons and over banners. There was all the 
 -v/hile a gravity of demeanor and seriousness of countenance 
 
THE ^* WONDERFUL CYNOCEPHALUS." 161 
 
 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 from the whip was administered 5 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 ofifered, 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 one and then the other hauling, the monkey 
 
162 THE AET 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 hi 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 ^' 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 
 ''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 monliey understands these orders 
 th.e 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 vdth 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 
 W'ith different species. The entellus monkey, a slender and 
 
 S 
 
MONKEY 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 theu' sentinel keeps a sharp look-out. Should any one 
 approach he gives a loud cry, at which signal the whole com- 
 pany scamper oflF, 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 sugar 
 
164 THE ART OP TRAIKIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 brandy-drops are used in public exhibitions as rewards, though 
 tills 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 his 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 ROOTj . 
 
 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, in 
 
MOXKEYS UTILIZED. 165 
 
 some cases turned, and the cliacmas made to provide food for 
 the Kaffirs instead of deriving it from them. 
 
 Tiie 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 v^ry 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 jom'neys 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 t)f 
 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, he is not without his uses to 
 man when his energies are rightly directed. 
 
166 THE ART OF TRAIXIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 EATS — 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 
 7nay 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 cases 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 ; and how, 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 and waiting motionless till the animal had come from his 
 retreat and taken them j then, as the rat's timidity gave way 
 under the influence of this kindness, the man enticed him to sat 
 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 5 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 string 
 
RAT 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 hiui 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 Ime 
 several times, guiding him by placing yoar 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 -, 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 ; 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 ; the 
 
168 
 
 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 desire to secure the cheese will make him take it ; then by 
 urging and guiding him with your wand you can make him 
 carry it about j 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 traming, 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 Blondui, may be arranged for your 
 mouse by stretching a piece of wire sufficiently stout to afford 
 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 
 ma.tch and twice its length, to represent a balancing pole, and 
 
PERFORMING 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'a tail, 
 which he will wriggle from side to side to preserve hiseqiiilibriuin. 
 
 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 year?. 
 The name of this Harey of the rat race is Antome 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 oljedience 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 m^ay 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 ih.^ 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. 
 
 SOBS who sit about in chairs to sleep off the effects of bad 
 whiskey. He has caught aud 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 counti'ies. In Vienna may 
 be seen gilt cages containing small frogs of a pretty green color, 
 \\hich are kept in drawing rooms, and amuse by their gambols. 
 Curious stories are told of the domestication of the tr^-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 were 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 board, 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 ; after it had remained half an hour 
 in the bowl, it came out, 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 ; 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, to 
 
^ , TAME FEOGS 171 
 
 catch flies as they settle on the wall. This gentleman, accord- 
 inglj^, 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, 'Mt 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 ' Old Tom,' ' 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 hmd legs, and at the word of command 
 going through the manual exercise. It seems perfectly good 
 nathred,* 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 month 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 ^ privileged char- 
 acter.' " 
 
 Were not this story apparently well attested we might donbt 
 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 TRAINIXG 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 various 
 
PEEFOEMING 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 eflfects. 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 hnpossible 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 point 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 agony, 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 f 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 Napoleon, 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 f " If I 
 
174 THE ART OF TRAIXIXG 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 " 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 ! sire," 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 
 l)een 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 the 
 
HAPPY FAMILIES. 175 
 
 bees will be to escape from the hive ; finding this impossible 
 they will rush to their stores and till themselves with honey. 
 Should tlie 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 eifect. 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 theu' sacks are filled with honey. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 "HAPPY families" — ENEMIES BY NATURE MADE FRIENDS 
 
 BY ART. 
 
 ONE of the most entertaining and popular features gf 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 ojne 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 seem^s 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 afi"air as an exhibition 
 by itself. The shrewd showman, ever on the lockout 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. 
 
1T6 
 
 THE ART OF TRAIiaNG AKIMALS. 
 
 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 5 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. Unlesss 
 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 on 
 a smaller scale almost 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 awi beast or bird of prey to devour its victims, and yet 
 we have been familiar with more than one instance of canaiy 
 birds being allowed to fly around a room in which was the 
 household cat, without the cat showing the least disposition to 
 attack them. Had a strange bird came within her reach wo 
 doubt not that same cat would have indulged in a feast at his 
 expense without hesitation. City dogs would make sad havoo 
 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 of her adopted family in a 
 pleasant and efl*ective 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 cage 
 
178 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 birds' 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 the 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 fathei*'s house to ruins, 
 and at the same time caused the death of the carpenter himself. 
 The family were thus reduced to beggai-y, 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 &om 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 ent, 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 j 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 kmd 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 ; 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 Sussai'i 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 nafural 
 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 5 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 !ie 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 utiuost 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 simikr instanees will no 
 ■doubt suggest themselves to the reader. It would seem that 
 even mankind is not exempt from this influence, and ihat wiien 
 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 cur 
 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 rather 
 
180 THE ART OF TRAINING AXIMALS. 
 
 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 he 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 ^family' 
 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 aflfectionate- 
 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 hy the kittens. The old cats seemed to 
 acquiesce fully in the an-angement, 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 * one of the family.' " 
 
l-HE LEAKNED SEAL. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 EDUCATED SEALS — TAME FISH, ETC. 
 
 AT the Zoological Gardens in London, and at several places 
 -Ol. 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'fc: 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 modem EomaBs— hunger. 
 
 He had before this learaed 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 iloored over forming a platform on which he was 
 exhibited. From this platform an inclined plane, formed of 
 planks, l^d 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 
 ihe 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 Tnuch as to obstruct his view. When this happened, 
 Ned had a way of beating vigorously about in the water and 
 splashing the oflfending 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 discovered 
 
1S2 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 Ned's little game, while, we believe, visitors never suspected 
 that their ducking was anything more than mere accident. 
 
 Thefirst 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 
 p.aw 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 grmding a few notes, increasing their number 
 rach time and being rewarded with fish, until he had learned to 
 roll out the full supply of tunes the instrument afi'orded, though 
 his '^ time " would have puzzled a musician, his efi"orts being to 
 .crind 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 one 
 
TAME SEALS. 183 
 
 apparently not more than a fortnight old, which in a few weeks 
 became perfectly tame and domestica'ted, 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 liead 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, imtil 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 ornainents 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 misti-ess 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 while 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 
 Geal 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 a 
 
TAME 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." 
 
 Possibly some of our readers remember the queer little fishes 
 Bamum exhibited some years ago, and which he called " sea- 
 horses " on account of the great resemblance of the heads to 
 those of miniature horses. These were labeled as coming from 
 the Gulf of Mexico, though in reality caught in New York Bay. 
 They were what are known to naturalists as the short-nosed 
 hippocampus, and beini^ 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, and 
 
186 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 is the means by 
 which the creature appears to obtain rest. The tail will quick- 
 ly entwine in any direction around weeds, or other supports ; 
 and when fixed the animal watches the surrounding objects in- 
 tently and darts at his prey with great dexterity. They raise 
 thjmselves 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 t(T 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 
 .3ase 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 
 (.f the largest and finest breed then known. It was fed on oat 
 ni >al, for which it regularly opened its shell, and was occasion- 
 ally treated to a dip in its native element; but the most extra- 
 i-rJinary trait in the history of this amphibious was that it 
 5? roved itself an excellent mouser, having killed at least five 
 nj'ce, by crushing the heads of such as, tempted by the lucious 
 meal, had the temerity to intrude their noses within its bivalvu- 
 liir clutches. On oije occasion two' of these little intruders 
 Buffered together. 
 
PEIMCIPLES OF TAMING BIRDS 187 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE ART OF TAMING BIRDS. 
 
 ALTHOUGrH 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 trainer. 
 We propose to tell our readers how to tame their birds, but to 
 malie 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 gaiu 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 ^he 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 inp^ate may not 
 see persons moving about the room, and it should be supplied 
 with abundance of whatever is supposed to be its fa^^orite 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. The wooden 
 bars are less liable to hurt new comers than those made of 
 wire. 
 
188 TEE ART OF TRAININO 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 thi-ee. 
 
 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 ihe man waved his whip in a peculiar 
 manner, when the little birds all went to the sidewalk until the 
 carnage 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 Eurritt, 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 bh*ds 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.'^ 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, provuig efficacious in one or two hours : 
 A portion — larger or smaller in proportion to the wildness of the 
 
BIRD 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 
 tlie external appearance of the wing is not impaired. The nos- 
 trils of the bird are then touched with bergamot or any other 
 odorous 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, whith offers the further 
 advantage that if the bu*d 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 
 fstVorite 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. 
 
 Bu*ds 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 may be 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. 
 
190 THE ART OF TRAINIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SOXG BIRDS — THEIR MANAGEMENT AND TIHTION. 
 
 WHAT 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 iucubationj 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, aiid 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 bu'ds 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 of 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 %he 
 water out and pour milk over the bread, sufficient to moisten 
 thoroughly ; then mix with it two-thirds of its own weight of 
 barley or wheat meal, ground fine and sifted. 
 
 NumJjcr 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 prepai*ed 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 imadvisable j they prefer more simple 
 food, and their health and musical qualities are impaired by 
 this Idndly 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, less 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 ih that which the bird acquires by association with 
 other bh'ds, or which is purposely taught it. A bird is said to 
 " warble " or '' 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. Bird.3 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 l)etter 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 tem.pted 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-leam 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- 
 wiUed 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 ver}^ important particular to be attended to 
 not only in the case of canaries but of all cage birds, 4s 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 to 
 
192 THE AET 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 learnbag 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. 
 
 Some 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 aftsrward 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 intermixuig 
 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 wheelbarrow, 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 difi"erent 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 Germany 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 MtTSlCAL DUCK. 193 
 
 and no scholars more eflfectually trained to their own calling, 
 than a seminary of bullfinches. As a general rule tliey 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 
 arc 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 tlie 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 unintermitiingly 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 ^^ fink " 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 or^an, made for this purpose. 
 
194 THE ART OF 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 quacli little tunes, and at the 
 end of six months could correctly repeat a considerable portion 
 of the '■^ Femme 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 veiy 
 young J 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 then* mouths ; when hungry they will open their 
 mouths and cry if you approach them, then is the time to feed 
 them J 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, I 
 
TRAINING 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 gaiu 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 speedi, 
 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 j 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 attempt 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 was 
 
196 THE ART or TEAIXIXG ANIMALS. 
 
 always made to repeat a long string of nonsense, something 
 like the following : " Pretty little, darling, sweet, beautiful, 
 adorable Polly wants to come mJ\ 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 : ^' 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 
 mai/ 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 oftly when he asks for it, and a drink only 
 when he asks for fJiafy he will leam 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. " One 
 hundred sequins," replied the owner. ^^ Is he really worth all 
 thatf ' inquired the customer ; whereupon the bird exclaims, 
 *' 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 the 
 
PAREOTS. 197 
 
 limited powers of his prize are discovered. Enraged at having 
 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 !'' Again the parrot's single sen- 
 tence comes in quite appropriate 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 which a 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 I 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 : " It cries ^ 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 
 word:3 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 bird 
 
198 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 of good powers will usually pick up this knowledge if it has an 
 opportunitj^ 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 Jeep 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. Ehodiginus mentions a gray parrot which could repeat 
 the Apostles' (Treed 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," nttered 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. 
 
 BIHDS 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 string, the other endleading- 
 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 strecgth. The seed vessel should be in sight of the bird 
 so 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 ofBce. In this otfice 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 : ^' 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, aifording considerable attraction to 
 our visitors. At one spot was a perch near whi^h the sugar 
 and seed-glass displayed their attractions, but no sooner had the 
 
200 THE AET 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 5 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 inivardj 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 
 fiveor six days, alwaysletting the malego 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 pei-fectly 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, 
 
BIRD 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 
 
 ^r>.--^^ 
 
 ?^-:^:^« 
 
 TAMED BIRDS PEHFOIIMING 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, 
 cjondemnation and execution of a spy, in which the characters 
 
202 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 
 
 are all maintamed by birds, and the action of the scene very 
 cleverly represeoted. 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 instrucied in his particular duties, and performs his pan 
 at certain signals or particular commands. While performing, 
 the tramer carefully " works '' the performers, keeps them u^;. 
 to then* 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 of 
 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 tliat 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 j 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 v/ith 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 5 to ring 
 bells ; and an almost nnlimited 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 shufltled 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 shuflled the pack after replacing 
 the card j he then put the pack upright in a kind of card-case, 
 
A CLEVER CA>iARY. 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, 
 €ach card had a thin layer of sweet-wafer paste ; 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 supei-stitious 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 €leve« : 
 
 " The canary was produced, and the owner harrangued him in 
 the following manner, placing him upon his forefinger : ^ Bijou, 
 jewel, you are now in the presence of persons of great sagacity 
 and honor ^ take 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 ^vhen 
 his master left ofi^ speaking. 
 
 "^That's good,' said the master, pulling off his hat to the 
 bird. '• 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 1 No wonder you 
 are out, Mr. Bijou, when you forget your time. That's a 
 jewel — bravo 1 bravo ! my little man ! ' 
 
 " 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 1 bravo ! ' re-echoed from all parts of tho room. 
 The musicians declared the canary was a greater master of 
 music than any of their band. 
 
204 THE ART OF TRliSlSG AMMALS. 
 
 "^And do you not show your sense of this civility, sir! ' 
 cried the bird catcher with au 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, afrer wliich, ^My poor Bijou,' says 
 the owner, ^ thou hast had hard work and must be a little weary ; 
 a few performances more and thou shalt repose. Bhow the la- 
 dies how to make a curtsey.^ The bird here crossed his taper 
 legs and sank and rose with an ease and grace that woukl have 
 put half the belles to the blush. 
 
 '^ ' That will do, my bird: and now a bow, head and foot cor- 
 responding.^ Here the striplings for ten miles around London 
 might have blushed also. 
 
 " ^ Let us finish with a hornpipe, my brave little fellow j 
 that's it, keep it up, keep it up.' 
 
 "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 
 " lo paean " that sounded like the conscious notes of victory." 
 
 A curious trick is performed b}^ a particular kind of pigeon, 
 quite common in India. These birds are called 'Humbling 
 pigeons " 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- 
 ed" 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. 
 
 SNAXE 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 
 l3y 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, 
 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 bis 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 TRAINLN'G 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 liis sad- 
 dle, continued as before, and when he neared the admiring rep- 
 tile it set its sinuous form in motion, and moved along rapidly 
 
 SXAKE CHARMER PERFORMING. 
 
 till it got a considerable way ahead of the pipes. Then it 
 halted, and again raised the region cf 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. 
 
 8 'space, 'pulled up' whenever he pulled up. At length 
 
 Mr. S ceased his melody, and the snake, finding that the 
 
SNAKE CHAKMING. 207 
 
 strain was ended, wound its way off into the forest. We may as 
 well add that the time 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 
 iras no deception. While the detection of imposition by others, 
 in simihir 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 handlino:, and where charmers pretend to operate 
 OR strange serpents, it is suspected that the reptiles used are 
 really tam.e 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. AVe 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 Vv^ay 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,'*' 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 ho 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 AET 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, * Eurra sap j 
 sabit babut burra,' (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,' 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. 
 
 ^* 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 certiiin death. 
 
 '^ A fowl was obtained and placed about a-fcot 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 ai- 
 riest instantaneously became drowsy, its head falling forward, 
 ^Xid 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 
 ^conds it gave a sudden start and fell back quite dead. 
 
 "As no deception could have been practised in this instance^ 
 1 was most anxious to see the reptile killed ; but the charmer 
 said he would not have it destroyed j 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. lie accounted 
 for his easy capture by saying this was a great holiday for the 
 snakes, and that they had been enjoying themselves. '• This 
 one/ said he, * is not living in this house. He has come from 
 bis 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 prussio 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 detei-mination 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 "" 
 m this country are not poisonous, though their bite causes a 
 painful wound, which it is very diflScult to heal. The snakes 
 are fed to satiety, and the only thing necessary to constitute a 
 " 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 some 
 
2J0 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. 
 
 Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine 
 Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at 
 
 Tuits llniyerslty 
 200 Wesiboro Road 
 
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