HORSE AND ASS. 333 



partly closed at the front by a gate which was secured by a bolt 

 inside and a drop latch outside. The pony (who was able to put 

 his head and neck over the gate, but could not reach the outside 

 latch) was constantly found loose in the yard, which was con- 

 sidered quite a mystery until it was solved one day by my 

 observing the pony first pushing back the inside bolt, and then 

 neighing until a donkey, who had the run of the yard and an 

 adjoining paddock, came and pushed up the outside latch with 

 his nose, thus letting the pony at liberty, when the two 

 marched off together. 



The following is the only instance that I have met 

 with in any of the horse tribe of that degree of sagacity 

 which leads to the intentional concealment of wrong- 

 doing. In the case of elephants, dogs, and monkeys we 

 find abundant evidence on this head, which therefore 

 renders the following instance more antecedently credible, 

 and, as it is also narrated on good authority, I do not 

 hesitate to quote it. 



Professor Niphon, of Washington University, St. Louis, 

 U.S., says : 



A friend of mine living at Iowa City had a mule, whose 

 ingenuity in getting into mischief was more than ordinarily 

 remarkable. This animal had a great liking for the company 

 of an oat-bin, and lost no opportunity, when the yard gate and 

 barn door were open, to secure a mouthful of oats. Finally the 

 mule was found in the barn in the morning, and for a long time 

 it was found impossible to discover how he had come there. 

 This went on for some time, until the animal was ' caught in the 

 act.' It was found that he had learned how to open the gate, 

 reaching over the fence to lift the latch, and that he then 

 effectually mystified his masters by turning round and backing 

 against it until it was latched. He then proceeded to the barn 

 door, and pulling out the pin which held the door, it swung 

 open of its own accord. From the intelligence which this 

 animal displayed on many occasions, I am of the opinion that 

 had not discovery of his trick prevented, it would soon have 

 occurred to him to retrace his steps before daylight, in order to 

 avoid the clubbing which the stable boys gave him in the 

 morning. It may be added that this animal had enjoyed no 

 unusual educational advantages, and his owners found it to their 

 interest to discourage his intellectual efforts as much as possible. 1 



1 Nature, vol. xx., p. 21. 



