322 THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS. 



common usage, when wanted to trot, a dig of the 

 spur m his side, or a cut from whip or stick, 

 springs the horse at once into a canter, from the 

 sudden pain inflicted ; he is then pulled up again, 

 when, from another cut or dig in the side, he again 

 breaks out as before. This is repeated, perhaps, 

 several times, the rider being angry, and the horse 

 bewildered from not knowing what to do. 



Now all this unpleasantness would be obviated 

 by the horse understanding at once by the voice for 

 what action he was to prepare, and this ought 

 always to form a part of his education. It is sur- 

 prising how soon even wild animals and birds 

 become accustomed to our voice, and understand 

 our meaning ; as an instance of which I may 

 mention that, in the month of May last, a pair of 

 moor-hens or water-hens built a nest on the bank 

 of a pond near the house in which I was residing, 

 where they hatched and reared six young birds, 

 w^hich, on my calling the ducks to be fed, swam 

 directly across the water, and came to the lawn to 

 partake of their food, whether grain or meal ; and 

 so impudent had the old cock become that he 

 pecked the ducks when they interfered with his 

 children feeding, and was quite master of the 

 party. 



How much may be expected, then, of that noble 



