HORSE AND ASS. 
333 
partly closed at the front by a gate which was secured by a bolt 
inside and a drop latch outside. The pony (who was able to put 
his head and neck over the gate, but could not reach the outside 
latch) was constantly found loose in the yard, which was con- 
sidered quite a mystery until it was solved one day by my 
observing the pony first pushing back the inside bolt, and then 
neighing until a donkey, who had the run of the yard and an 
adjoining paddock, came and pushed up the outside latch with 
his nose, thus lotting the pony at liberty, when the two 
marched off together. 
The following is the only instance that I have met 
with in any of the horse tribe of that degree of sagacity 
which leads to the intentional concealment of wrong- 
doing. In the case of elephants, dogs, and monkeys we 
find abundant evidence on this head, which therefore 
renders the following instance more antecedently credible, 
and, as it is also narrated on good authority, I do not 
hesitate to quote it. 
Professor Nipher, of Washington University, St. Louis, 
U.S., says : — 
A friend of mine living at Iowa City had a mule, whose 
ingenuity in getting into mischief was more than ordinarily 
remarkable. This animal had a great liking for the company 
of an oat-bin, and lost no opportunity, when the yard gate and 
barn door were open, to secure a mouthful of oats. Finally the 
mule was found in the barn in the morning, and for a long time 
it was found impossible to discover how T he had com© there. 
This went on for some time, until the animal was 4 caught in the 
act.’ It was found that he had learned how to open the gate, 
reaching over the fence to lift the latch, and that he then 
effectually mystified his masters by turning round and backing 
against it until it was latched. He then proceeded to the barn 
door, and pulling out the pin which held the door, it swung 
open of its own accord. From the intelligence which this 
animal displayed on many occasions, I am of the opinion that 
had not discovery of his trick prevented, it would soon have 
occurred to him to retrace his steps before daylight, in order to 
avoid the clubbing which the stable boys gave him in the 
morning. It may be added that this animal had enjoyed no 
unusual educational advantages, and his owners found it to their 
interest to discourage his intellectual efforts as much as possible. 3 
1 Nature , voh p. 2h 
