408 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



accustomed to drink from a trough supplied by a pump. 

 Upon being turned into a field by himself, he made his way 

 to the trough as usual, but finding no water, he seized the 

 handle of the pump in his mouth and worked it until he 

 had obtained water enough. This he continued to do as 

 long as he remained in the field. 



5. A Faithful Horse. — The affection and intelligence 

 of the horse are well shown in the following story, related 

 by Professor Kruger. of Halle : "A friend of mine, who 

 was riding home one dark night through a wood, struck 

 his head against the branch of a tree and fell from his 

 horse, stunned by the blow. The horse immediately re- 

 turned to the house they had left, a mile distant. Finding 

 the door closed, he pawed upon it with his hoof until the 

 inmates were aroused, and when the door opened he turned, 

 and seemed to beckon them to follow. This they did, and 

 the master was found and saved." 



6. Horse Friendship. — Horses sometimes show great 

 attachment to their own kind. An incident illustrative of 

 this is related by a captain of French cavalry. An old 

 horse belonging to the company became disabled by age 

 from eating his hay and grinding his oats. His compan- 

 ions on the right and left seemed to appreciate his condi- 

 tion, and for two months they chewed up the food and laid 

 it before their aged companion, thus preserving his life. 



7. A Trained Donkey. — In the sixteenth century a 

 trained donkey at Cairo attracted much attention. He 

 would dance in an exceedingly diverting manner, and ap- 

 parently in high glee ; but in the midst of his caperings 

 his master would say that the soldan intended to employ 

 all donkeys to carry bricks and mortar to a new palace he 

 was building, when the donkey would fall upon the floor. 



