Told of Wild Animals.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 61

Told of Wild Animals.

A tamer of wild animals asserts that of all creatures elephants are the most easily trained for eircus performances. They not only learn tricks with great readiness, but show none of the aversion to performing that many other animals exhibit. Monkeys are very quick to learn, but they lack the general intelligence of the elephant, their memory is not so good, and they are far less trust-

worthy. Indeed, except as pony riders, monkeys have been almost abandoned by trainers, so little can they be depended on. They forget a trick as quickly as they learn it. It takes a trained lion about six weeks to learn a simple trick. Tigers and leopards generally take longer still. It is curious to learn that so intelligent a creature as the horse is one of the slowest of learners. To teach a horse to take a few steps on its hind legs is a matter of throe or four years*

training, whereas the tiger van lie taught the same trick in as many months. It should be rem cm lx* red. of course, that horses are far less nimble in their move ments than the cat tril»e.