OF WILD ANIMALS 



75 



In a public park, where only a very little time can be devoted 

 to training, we do not linger long over an animal that is either 

 stupid or obstinate. Those which cannot be trained easily 

 and quickly are promptly set aside as ineligible. 



Without any great amount of labor, and with no real diffi- 

 culty, our orangs were trained to perform the following simple 

 acts: 



i. To sit at table, and eat and drink like humans. This 

 involved eating sliced bananas with a fork, pouring out milk 

 from a teapot into a teacup, drinking out of a teacup, drinking 

 out of a beer-bottle, using a toothpick, striking a match, lighting 

 a cigarette, smoking and spitting like a man. 



2. To ride a tricycle, or bicycle. 



3. To put on a pair of trousers, adjust the suspenders, put 

 on a sweater or coat, and a cap, reversing the whole operation 

 after the performance. 



4. To drive nails with a hammer. 



5. Use a key to lock and unlock a padlock. The animal 

 most proficient in this became able to select the right Yale 

 key out of a bunch of half a dozen or more, with as much quick- 

 ness and precision as the average man displays. 



The orang Dohong learned to pedal and to guide a tricycle in 

 about three lessons. He caught the two ideas almost instantly, 

 and soon brought his muscles under control sufficiently to ride 

 successfully, even under difficult conditions. 



It was quickly recognized that our Rajah was a particularly 

 good subject, and with him the keepers went farther than with 

 the four others. From the first moment, the training operations 

 were to him both interesting and agreeable. The animal en- 

 joyed the work, and he entered into it so heartily that in two 

 weeks he was ready to dine in public, somewhat after the manv 

 ner of human beings. 



A platform eight feet in height was erected in front of 

 the Reptile House, and upon it were placed a table, a high chair 

 such as small children use, and various dishes. To the platform 

 a step-ladder led upward from the ground. Every day at four 



