TRAINING WILD ANIMALS 133 
right moment. Thus when the stage of rehearsals is over, 
and the performance is given before an audience, the pro- 
gramme is worked through almost mechanically. As soon as 
the animals which are to compose a troupe have been chosen, 
each one is given a name of its own by which it is always 
called, and as they hear their names shouted whenever any- 
thing is required of them, they soon grow accustomed to the 
sound. The first thing to be done is to give each animal a 
definite place of its own, and with this object in view small 
blocks are placed round the arena by the wall, and each four- 
footed performer must be taught to sit upon his own special 
block, and, after each trick which he has performed or after each - 
scene in which he has taken part, to trot back to this block as 
a matter of course. This is the first thing for the animals to 
learn. The trainer therefore walks up to a lion and holds a 
piece of meat in front of him, trying in this way to lead the 
brute to a block. Or perhaps he uses rougher methods, and 
pulls the creature along by its hair. When the spot is 
reached, the reward is not yet earned; the lion has to climb 
upon the block, and only when he has done this does he re- 
ceive his prize. It never occurs to the lion, however, that he 
is supposed to remain upon the block ; and having eaten the 
meat he immediately leaps off and proceeds to enjoy himself 
in the arena. The trainer must then lead him back to the 
block, and make him stand upon it once more. This has to be 
repeated over and over again until at last the lion begins to 
understand what his master wishes him to do. The same 
process has to be gone through with every member of the 
troupe. When in this way they have all been taught to take 
up their correct positions round the arena, they are then 
ready to learn the more advanced parts of the training. 
After a considerable period has elapsed and all the move- 
ments have been repeated many times over with each animal, 
the troupe at last reaches the stage at which they answer to 
their names like pet dogs, and will stand or sit patiently upon 
their blocks around the arena until they are called by their 
