44 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE 



views I have on more than one occasion expressed 

 before you. 



Several members stated that they had noticed that 

 horses have a special dread of bears, and could scent 

 them at a great distance. Some horses were also afraid 

 of a fur coat. No one, however, seemed to be able to 

 explain why this fear should attach to bears more than 

 to other ferocious animals ; one would expect, in fact, 

 that there would be much more danger to the horse 

 from wolves than bears. Is this the remnant of a 

 once powerful instinctive fear ? At a later meeting 

 Mr Dawes continued the subject of equine psychology. 

 He explained that a mare in his possession had learned 

 to overcome, in succession, different mechanical con- 

 trivances, such as buttons, fastenings, etc., which had 

 been placed on the feed-box to prevent its being opened. 

 Mr Dawes also instanced the behaviour of one of his 

 horses, which showed considerable intelligent association 

 of ideas. This animal was accustomed to being driven 

 to the railroad station, and on certain occasions, on 

 hearing the whistle of the approaching train, had 

 started off on his own account, and after the train had 

 left he had returned home. The ability of horses to 

 remember incidents, sometimes trivial, after the lapse 

 of years, was testified to by several members. 



Mr Ferron has also favoured us with some interesting 

 facts in regard to the intelligence of trotting horses ; 

 and the Principal of the College has pointed out 

 instances of equine sagacity of a very striking kind. 

 Horses had even come to the College hospital for treat- 

 ment of their own accord. While all our domestic 

 animals amply repay good treatment, of none is this 

 more true than of the horse. To take advantage of 

 this animal's gentle, sensitive, plastic nature to subject 

 it to abuse, is the part only of a savage, and not of a 

 civilised human being. It is not to be forgotten that 



