6o THE HORSE OF MR. VON OSTEN 



knows in advance which tap is to be the final one. These 

 variations in his reactions occurred often without having 

 been intended by the questioner. But to bring them 

 about at will required skill, on account of the shortness of 

 the time involved in the reaction. 



Whenever the signal for stopping — which we have 

 just discussed — was followed by the complete erection of 

 the head and trunk, Hans would definitely cease tapping. 

 If, however, the questioner failed to assume a completely 

 erect position, or if he stooped forward ever so slightly, 

 the horse would follow the back-step of the right foot 



Fig. 4, 



with an extra tap of the left foot. Besides occurring in 

 tests in which Mr. von Osten assumed the role of ques- 

 tioner, this fact was also noted when the Count zu Castell 

 and Mr. Schillings acted as subjects. Since the extra 

 tap just mentioned was not given like the others with the 

 right foot forward, but with the left foot upon the spot, 

 it was possible for the horse to execute it with a greater 

 show of energy. This simulated a high degree of mental 

 certainty on the part of the horse, as if he wished to 

 indicate that this was the correct solution of the problem 

 and it would have to stand. In spite of all this, many 



