2IO THE HORSE OF MR. VON OSTEN 



head, (pageio6). For unfortunately it was not possible 

 to make special tests to discover whether Hans reacted to 

 isolated eye movements. There is, however, more than 

 one reason why I would doubt this. Taken all in all, 

 there were but few persons who were entirely represent- 

 ative of the type described (c. f. page 31) — they were 

 those who are commonly characterized as being of a lively 

 temperament and strongly impulsive. Thus Hans 

 acquired a reputation for " Einkennigkeit ", that is, he 

 would accustom himself only to certain persons. Such 

 a reputation was hard to reconcile with his much praised 

 intelligence. 



In closing, just a word on the influence of the public 

 that was present. As was shown on page 69, the public 

 in general did not influence the horse jn his reactions. 

 The effec t upon the questioner, however, was unmistak- 

 able, and worked in a twofold manner. / On the one hand 

 the questioner's zeal was increased and with it the ten- 

 sion of concentration. 20n the other hand, it introduced 

 an element of diversion, and attention was divided be- 

 tween the horse and the spectators, and thus concentra- 

 tion suffered. If the disturbing effect was slight, as in 

 the case of Mr. von Osten, then the favorable influence 

 exercised by the presence of the public outweighed the 

 unfavorable. Mr. von Osten was, for that reason, often 

 particularly successful when working in the presence of 

 a large body of spectators. This was noted by many and 

 was ascribed to the ambition of the horse. When, how- 

 ever, a person was easily diverted, as was Mr. Schillings, 

 then the presence of the public had a less fortunate effect. 



This, then, completes my explanation of the facts 

 gleaned from observation and experimentation. It ac- 

 complishes all, I hope, that may be expected of an ex- 



