HABITS OF MOSES 129 



see it. He also knew the instrument used in opening the 

 cans. But he did not appear to appreciate the fact that when 

 the contents had once been taken out it was useless to open 

 the can again ; so he often brought the empty cans that 

 had been thrown into the bush, got the can-opener down, 

 and wanted me to use it for him ! I never saw him try 

 to open a can himself otherwise than with his fingers. 

 Sometimes, when about to prepare my own meals, I would 

 open the case in which I kept stored a supply of canned 

 meats and allow Moses to select a can for the purpose. 

 He never failed to pull out one of the cans of beef bearing 

 the blue label. If I put it back, he would again select the 

 same kind, and he could not be deceived in his choice. It 

 was not accidental, because he would hunt until he found 

 the right sort. I don't know what he thought when his 

 choice was not served for dinner. I often exchanged it for 

 another kind without consulting him. 



I kept my supply of water in a large jug, which was 

 placed in the shade of the bushes near the cage. I also 

 kept a small pan for Moses to drink out of. He would 

 sometimes ask for water by using his own word for it. 

 He would place his pan by the side of the jug and repeat 

 the sound a few times. If he was not attended to, he 

 proceeded to help himself. He could take the cork out 

 of the jug quite as well as I could. He would then put 

 his eye to the mouth of the vessel and look down into it 

 to see if there was any water. Of course the shadow of 

 his head would darken the interior of the jug so that he 

 could not see anything. Then, removing his eye from the 

 mouth of it, he would poke his hand into it. But I 



