EXPLANATION OF OBSERVATIONS 191 



of the name. What the significance of inflection may be, 

 I am not at all certain. When a certain one of a number 

 of horses standing in the same stable was called, all of 

 them responded by pricking their ears, raising their 

 heads, or else turning about. For this reason the reac- 

 tion of the horse specifically called lost all significance. 

 Likewise the call which is ordinarily used in. lunging 

 when the man in the center of the circle wishes the horse 

 to change its gait, or to advance toward him, also proved 

 jneffectuaj. as soon as the man inhibited every sort of 

 _rnoyement. A slight nod, on the other hand, was always 

 effective. Several times I have tried to call horses to me, 

 when they were free and running about in the arena, but 

 was unsuccessful. After I had given them some sugar, 

 however, they would always come to me — whether I had 

 called or not — and would then refuse to leave my side. 

 But this is a matter of common observation. 



I would, however, regard all of these tests as merely 

 provisional. In spite of the greatest effort, it was not 

 always possible to control all the conditions of the ex- 

 periment, and furthermore, the number of tests would 

 have to be materially increased in order to yield an 

 appreciation of the difference due to race, age, and the 

 individual variation and training of horses. But we 

 may, even now, be sure of one thing. Over against the 

 certainty with which horses react to visual stimuli (in 

 the form of movements perceived), it does not appear 

 that the formation of auditory associations is greatly 

 favored^_by_ nature ^n these animals, — indeed, auditory 

 associations- -are far less common than is generally sup^_ 

 posed.* Horses compare very unfavorably with dogs Jn 



* All the authors who have given practical suggestions for the train- 

 ing of horses, whether free or with lunging reins, have great faith in 



