TRAINING WILD ANIMALS 145 
they are fastened up within sight but out of reach of each 
other. When they have become accustomed to each other’s 
smell and appearance they can then by gradual means be 
brought to eat and sleep in each other's presence. In fact, 
they become so used to one another that neither notices the 
other’s presence. When this stage has been reached the 
greatest obstacle has of course been surmounted. 
A few years ago aman came to me and asked for em- 
ployment as a seal trainer. I happened at the time to possess 
five fine young seals, and, having a lively recollection of 
Woodward's delightful performances, I engaged the man at 
a wage of 25s. per week with the promise that for each 
animal he succeeded in training he should receive a bonus of 
45. My man soon showed that he knew what he was about. 
After four months the seals had become such adept performers 
that they beat the tambourine, twanged the guitar, fired off 
pistols, fetched articles that were thrown into the water and 
did various other tricks. My trainer received his bonus, 
and we sold the seals to Barnum for the large sum of £500. 
Yet more clever and adroit than seals are the Cali- 
fornian sea-lions. This is the species which performs those 
wonderful tricks so common in the circus. The sea-lion is 
the most lively of all pinnipeds and quickly becomes ac- 
customed to our climate. They have been bred in various 
Zoological Gardens, at Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam, and Ant- 
werp. The American, Woodward, was the first to attempt 
the training of these animals, but later on he had rivals in two 
young Englishmen, Willie and Charlie Judge, who worked for 
several years in my Garden. These two brothers were the 
first to show what might really be done with sea-lions. 
The largest sea-lion which I have ever seen was one that 
I received in the year 1880 from my old friend Barnum. 
Although this great animal weighed well over a quarter of a 
ton it was so tame that it used to follow my father like a dog, 
and he took a special pride in looking after it entirely by 
himself. An amusing incident once occurred when he was 
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