The trainer, as it happened, had been preparing a bottle of strong ammonia to have in readiness in case of accident during his afternoon performance, and he had not yet corked the bottle when the baboon seized the baby. Being a quick-witted man, he promptly put the ammonia under the baboon's nose. The fumes nearly suffocated the animal for a moment; then dropping the baby, and, stuffing his hands into his smarting and half-blinded eyes, he flew with another wild scream out of the room and through the building.

Every animal about the place seemed to know instinctively that something had happened. The lions roared, the elephants trumpeted, and the hyenas and wolves howled as they alone know how to howl. From all directions came men ready to help in an emergency. The trainer told them what had happened, but they could not find the baboon anywhere. Every hole and corner in the show that they could think of was searched, as well as the buildings and grounds outside; but no sign of the animal was to be found.

As the time for the afternoon performance drew near, the show people were all worried and anxious. Special men were procured, and stationed in different parts of the building, with orders to keep the most careful watch for the baboon during the performance. But the afternoon drew to a close, and nothing had been seen or heard of the animal. The proprietor felt that it was safer, however, to notify the police that a baboon had been lost. Special precautions for the safety of the public were continued throughout the day and evening.

The evening performance was well on its way, when the greatest consternation arose among the trainers on hearing from one of the women performers that the baby that had been the cause of the trouble had disappeared. When this news was brought, the young mother was in the midst of her performance with her three bears, and could not, of course, be told. Nearly frantic with grief, her husband waited until she had smilingly bowed her farewell to the audience, and until she had seen her three bears into their cages behind the runway. Then, trembling from head to foot, but trying to conceal his anxiety, he accompanied her to their room, wondering how to break the news.

He was somewhat surprised that she did not go up to the baby's crib; but he was still more surprised when, on telling her that the baby was missing, she only laughed! She explained to him that, terrified at the thought of leaving the baby alone, even with locked doors, after her experience of the morning, she had asked a neighbor near by to take care of the child for the evening.

The relief of the trainer may be imagined. He and his wife decided to have supper before they went for the baby. While she was preparing the meal, the trainer went downstairs to fetch two bottles of milk, which he kept in a little closet. When he opened the door, he was nearly knocked down by a heavy body that flew out it was the baboon, which had been locked up all day. Frightened at the events of the morning, the animal had rushed into the closet when the door had been left open for a few moments, and the trainer had turned the key. The alarm was raised, and, after a chase and a struggle, the baboon was bound securely with ropes and put back into his cage, from which he was never again allowed to emerge.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

I. This selection is divided into two main parts. The first consists of general statements about critical moments with wild animals, the second of illustrations of these moments. See how quickly you can find where the first part ends and the second begins. Do not start to search until you are told to begin. Raise your hand when you find the point of division.

2. Explain whether finding the answer to No. 1 required the same kind of reading called for in discovering the six different kinds of wild animals described in the selection.

3. Let the three pupils who first found what the wild animals were tell how they looked through the selection in order to find thein. Were the same three pupils also the first to find the dividing point between the two parts of the selection? Let the pupils who were first describe their method of finding this point.

4. Find how many critical moments with lions are described in the selection. Do not start until the signal is given.

5. Let six pupils tell about "Critical Moments with Wild Animals" in relay, agreeing in advance on the part each shall tell.

6. Volunteer work: In one of the Class-Library books find a passage which is suitable for an exercise such as is outlined in No. 1.

2. THE TAMING OF ANIMALS

PETER CHALMERS MITCHELL

Reading aim: To understand the difference between taming and domesticating animals.

Man was a hunter almost before he knew how to use weapons. From the earliest times he must have learned something about the habits of the wild animals he pursued for food or for pleasure, or from which he had to escape. Probably as a hunter he first came to adopt young animals, and made the surprising discovery that these were willing to remain under his protection and were pleasing and useful. He passed gradually from being a hunter to becoming a keeper of flocks and herds.

From these early days to the present time, there has been a keen interest in the lower animals, and yet very few of them have been really domesticated. Although the entire surface of the earth has been explored and our knowledge of the animal kingdom vastly increased, hardly a beast is bred in the farmyard to-day with which the men who made stone weapons were not acquainted, and which they had not tamed.

Of the carnivores1 only the cat and the dog are truly domesticated. Of the ungulates2 there are horses and asses, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and reindeer. Among rodents3 rabbits and guineapigs, and possibly some of the fancy breeds of rats and mice, should be included. Among birds there are pigeons, fowls, peacocks, guinea-fowls, swans, geese, ducks, and canaries. Goldfish are domesticated, and bees and silk-moths must not be forgotten. Such antelopes as elands, fallow-deer, roe-deer, and the ostriches of ostrich farms are on the border-line of being domesticated.

It is difficult to be quite certain as to what is meant by a tame animal. I have heard of a butterfly which used to come and sip sugar from the hand of a lady. Those who have kept spiders and ants declare that these intelligent creatures learn

1Carnivores are flesh-eating animals.

2 Ungulates are four-footed animals having hoofs.
Rodents are gnawing animals.

to know their friends. So also fish like the great carp in the garden of the palace of Fontainebleau, France, and many fishes in private ponds learn to come to be fed.

I do not think, however, that these ought to be called tame. Most of the wild animals in menageries very quickly learn to distinguish one person from another, to obey the call of their keeper, and to come to be fed, although they would be dangerous even to the keeper if he were to enter their cages. Tameness is something more than merely coming to be fed, and many tame animals are least tame when they are feeding. Young carnivores, for instance, which can be handled freely and are affectionate, very seldom can be touched while they are feeding. The real quality of tameness is that the animal does not merely tolerate the presence of man but takes pleasure in his company and shows some kind of affection.

On the other hand, we must not take our idea of tameness merely from domesticated animals, which have been bred for many generations. All of any breed that showed any resistance to man were killed or allowed to escape. Dogs are always taken as the supreme example of tameness, and some writers have almost exhausted the resources of language in praising them. Like most people, I am very fond of dogs, but it is an affection without respect. In the enormous period of time that has passed since the first hunters adopted wild puppies, every dog that showed any independence of spirit has been killed. Man has tried to produce a purely obedient creature, and has succeeded in his task. No doubt a dog is faithful and affectionate, but he would be shot or drowned or destroyed by the police if he were otherwise.

When wild animals become tame, they transfer to human beings the confidence and affection they naturally give their mothers. Every creature that enjoys parental care is ready to give its devotion to other animals or to human beings, if the way be made easy, and if it be treated without too great violation of its natural instincts.

The capacity to be tamed is greatest in those animals that remain longest with their parents, and that are most intimately associated with them. The capacity to learn new habits is

greatest in those animals which learn most from their parents, and for which the period of youth is not merely a period of growth but also a time in which a real education takes place. These capacities of being tamed and of learning new habits are greater in the higher mammals than in the lower mammals, greater in mammals than in birds, and greater in birds than in reptiles. Such capacities are much greater in very young animals, among which dependence on the parents is longest, than in older animals; and they gradually fade away as the animals grow up, and are least of all in fully grown and independent creatures of high intelligence. Such animals, because they are intelligent, may learn, even when they have been captured as adults, that they have nothing to fear, that the bars of their cage not only keep them from attacking persons outside but keep the persons outside from disturbing them.

I do not know any exception to the rule that carnivores, which are naturally accustomed to maternal care, are easily tamed, and when young make gentle and affectionate pets. Baby tigers, lions, leopards, lynxes, bears, hyenas, dogs, wolves, foxes, and all the smaller creatures in the group attach themselves readily to man. As they are usually carried by the mother, they expect to be picked up, and prefer firm, almost rough, handling. As the mother licks them over and cleans them, they like being brushed and scrubbed with a rough, damp towel. Most of all they like being caressed and petted, and allowed to sleep snuggling in a warm lap. Not food, but warmth and physical contact are the surest ways to their affections.

But all of them, and especially the cats, retain a good deal of independence. They like to be left alone sometimes, to retire into a dark corner, and they are rather unpleasant if they are dragged out when they do not wish society. If they are left alone, they will soon come back. To be fond of companionship is no gift peculiar to the dog.

Young elephants are gentle, playful, and friendly, and attach themselves strongly to their keepers. Their memory is very good, and neither young nor old elephants forget an injury or a kindness easily. Their powers of climbing, balancing, and jumping, often seen in trained performing elephants, are natural