HORSIi SENSE. i6 



both hands into the heavy llowing inane, and then tlic horse began nn)v- 

 ing slowly towards home, supporting and half carrying his human com- 

 panion to his own door. This portion of the trip involved the crossing 

 of the ]\Iusselshell river, in Montana, on the ice, which was done with the 

 greatest care. 



AN EQUINE COON HUNTER. 



]Miner Yocumb, of Westphalia. Ind.. has a bay mare that has devel- 

 oped a strange propensity for an animal of the equine species. She 

 hunts 'coons. The mare can ""tree" a 'coon as well as the best trained 

 'coon dog. She can track one by scent alone as accurately and as truly 

 as a hound. When the animal trees a raccoon she will neigh and paw 

 around the tree until Mr. Yocumb arrives to capture the 'coon. When 

 going through the woods the mare ^will stop and smell a tree, and if 

 there is a 'coon in it she will neigh until assistance comes. Mr. Yocumb 

 often rides out on his "'coon mare," and never fails to return with two 

 or three 'coons strapped across the back of his saddle. The mare seems 

 to delight in hunting. When she strikes a train she will drop her nose 

 down to the ground and start ofif at a dog-trot. When approaching the 

 game she pricks up her ears and shows by her frisking that she is near- 

 ing a 'coon. Mr. Yocumb would not part with the mare at any price. 



As this Hoosier story is so far out of the usual sphere of the horse, it 

 will be looked upon with doulit. but it is certainly not beyond the capac- 

 ity of some of the equine race, and Mr. Yocumb's friends assure me that 

 it is all true. 



We could cite many more instances to demonstrate the intelligence of 

 the horse, but we feel that every one who is associated with this greatest 

 of man's animal friends, has observed enough to know, that those who 

 treat their horses the kindest and try to teach them what their duties are 

 without fighting them, are well convinced of what we are trying to im- 

 press on their minds. 



