G2 THE ART OF TEAtN'lNG AOTMALS. 



furnished with boxing gloves, while two small donkeys are made 

 to scat themselves and bold sponges, as though personating the 



AN ASININE PRIZE FIGHT. 



seconds. Sometimes this latter character is assumed by the 

 clown and ring-master, though it makes little difference. The 

 actions of the mules have a very slight resemblence to a combat 

 and the costumes make tbem look funny and satisfy the audi- 

 ence. The training required is merely to make them stand 

 erect. 



Mules, though possessing less intelligence than horses, may 

 be taught many of the tricks which the latter perform, and the 

 same instructions will suffice for training them. 



The sure-footedness of mules has enabled trainers to teach 

 them, in several cases, a very effective and showy trick — ^that 

 of walking over a number of empty bottles placed upright on a 

 floor or platform. This feat is always highly successful wherever 

 performed, and it is really an excellent one. The bottles used 

 are large, stout porter bottles, which will readily sustain a great 

 weight if placed directly on top. To teach the trick the bottles 

 are at first secured in a platform composed of a double thickness 

 cf planks, in the upper one of which holes are cut. In these 

 holes the bottles are placed f the bottoms resting on the lower 

 layer of planks^ while the upper one holds them securely in 

 place. 



Before teaching this trick the animal is usually taught the 

 ordmary pedestal trick, as explained in a preceding chapter, as 

 a preparatory lesson. He will then more readily acquire the 

 bottle feat. He is first made to place one -fore foot on top of a 

 bottle's neck, then the other fore foot on another. Then the 

 first foot is tapped with the whip to make him raise it and 

 advance it to the succeeding bottle ; as he does this his hind 

 food is struck gently to force him to place it on the vacated 



