WITH THE DEAF AND DUMB TO ANIMALS. 277 



Van and his Caeds. 



I took two pieces of carlboarJ about ten inches by 

 three, aud on one of them printed in large letters tlie 

 word 



FOOD 



leaving the other blank. I then placed the two 

 cards over two saucers, and in the one under the 

 "food" card put a little bread and milk, which 

 Van, after having his attention called to the card, 

 was allowed to eat. This was repeated over and over 

 again till he had had enough. In about ten days he 

 began to distinguish between the two cards. I then 

 put them on the floor and made him bring them to 

 me, which he did readily enough. When he brought 

 the plain card I simply threw it back, while when he 

 brought the " food " card I gave him a piece of bread, 

 and in about a month he had pretty well learned to 

 realize the difference. I then had some other cards 

 printed with the words "out," "tea," "bone," "water," 

 and a certain number also with words to which 

 1 did not intend him to attach any significance, such 

 as "nought," "plain," "ball," etc. Van soon learned 

 that bringing a card was a request, and soon learned 

 to distinguish between the plain and printed cards; 

 it took him longer to realize the difference between 

 words, but he gradually got to recognize several, such 

 as " food," " out," " bone," " tea," etc. If he was asked 

 whether he would like to go out for a walk, he would 

 joyfully fish up the "out" card, choosing it from 

 several others, and bring it to me, or run with it in 

 evident triumph to the door. 



