TRAINING WILD ANIMALS 129 
ing each other. The cubs are therefore lodged in a row of 
single cages which are separated from each other by bars 
only ; the young animals can all see each other and converse 
together in their own language. The teacher gives individual 
attention to each of his pupils, visiting and petting each one 
in turn so that they all come to know and love their master. 
After a considerable time the animals are brought out for 
their first joint lesson, which takes place in a large arena, 
under the superintendence of the trainer to whom they have 
been accustomed. As in a kindergarten school, there is no 
real work done in the first lesson; the animals only learn to 
know one another more intimately, play about with each other 
and with their master, and make themselves familiar with 
their new surroundings. 
From the first moment that the creatures are let loose in 
the arena, the trainer keeps a watchful eye upon every 
member of the incipient troupe, and has frequently to interfere 
to prevent a quarrel. All young animals (and for the matter 
of that, all old animals too) are very fond of play, but they are 
exceedingly apt to lose their tempers during the game, and to 
misunderstand each other’s actions. Here, perhaps, a polar 
bear lumbers towards a lion and playfully tugs the latter’s 
mane; but the king of beasts misses the point of the joke, and 
gives his Arctic comrade a heavy box on the ears. This 
might be the beginning of serious trouble, but the trainer is 
quickly on the spot, and by a kindly blow on the ribs intimates 
to the lion that civility is expected during lessons. Or, again, 
it occurs to a tiger, who is perhaps by nature somewhat of 
a hooligan, to deal a blow with his paw at a panther which 
is peacefully trotting by him; the panther spits furiously and 
crouches to spring, but the trainer is again instantly on the 
spot, and soon separates the two combatants. Even during 
this first lesson it is possible for the trainer to get some idea of 
the character of his animals, to distinguish which of them are 
peaceable and which pugnacious, which are obedient and 
which obstinate and self-willed. In the second lesson all the 
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