Cats do not appear to be favorite subjects of the trainer’s art, and it is rare that they are met with among performing animals. Perhaps their sly, treacherous1 nature inspires a prejudice, or perhaps their capacity for learning is underrated. Certainly with proper and patient training they may be taught nearly all of the simpler tricks performed by dogs, and some which dogs cannot, from lack of equal agility2. That cats possess considerable intelligence is shown by the many well authenticated3 stories related of them. A specimen4 is that told by Mr. Crouch5, of a cat who learned to unlock a door of her own accord. “There was,” writes this gentleman, “within my knowledge, in the house of my parentage, a small cupboard in which were kept milk, butter, and other requisites6 for the tea table, and the door was confined by a lock, which from age and frequent use could easily be made to open. To save trouble the key was always kept in the lock, in which it revolved7 on a very slight impulse. It was often a subject of remark, that the door of this cupboard was found wide open, and the milk or butter greatly 148diminished without any imaginable reason, and notwithstanding the persuasion9 that the door had certainly been regularly locked. On watching carefully, the cat was seen to seat herself on the table, and by repeated pulling on the side of the bow of the key, it was at last made to turn, when a slight pull of the door caused it to move on its hinges. It had proved a fortunate discovery for puss, for a long time before she was taken in the act.”
Cats may easily be taught to jump through hoops11, climb poles, fetch and carry, and many similar performances, by adopting pretty nearly the same means as for instructing dogs. As cats are passionately12 fond of fish, this article will be found a valuable incentive13 to induce them to comply with your wishes. A small morsel14 should be given as a reward for each instance of obedience15, while refractory16 conduct may be punished by a slight box on the ear.
Cats may be taught to turn the handles of little organs—either real or mere17 silent imitations—or music boxes, to turn a little spinning-wheel, to pull a bell-rope, to fire a pistol and a multitude of similar tricks. These are all, indeed, but modifications18 of one another. To instruct the cat, it is well to commence by teaching her to give her paw, like a dog. When this is learned, place the paw on the handle of the organ, which may have a loop of tape or ribbon attached to keep the paw in place, and give it a few turns. Let go, but continue the circular movement of your hand near her paw, as an encouragement for her to move her paw in the same manner. Should she not do so after a few moments, take hold of her paw again and repeat the movement as before. As soon as she turns the handle even in the slightest degree without your holding her paw, reward her. It will not be long before she makes a more perceptible turn, and will be more prompt to do so. Eventually she need only to be shown the organ to understand what is desired of her.
When she turns the organ satisfactorily other articles may be substituted, such as a miniature model of a spinning-wheel, and a single lesson will be sufficient to show her that her duties are the same as with the organ.
To ring a bell, a pulling instead of a circular movement is required, but this is easier to teach. A bit of cloth may be attached to the string communicating with the bell, to afford the cat something convenient to seize hold of. It will be easy to induce her to seize it by holding it near her, or by aggravating19 her a little with it. When she does so, and causes the bell to ring, reward her. She will soon learn that the ringing of the bell is a signal for her to be fed, and that pulling the string 149causes that signal. Should you wish her to ring the bell only when ordered to do so, you should call her away, after she fully10 understands pulling the string, and then order her to “ring the bell.” If necessary, take hold of the string to show your meaning. When she has pulled it, reward her, call her away again, repeat the order, and so on until she understands your command. Should she ring then without orders, call her away and wait a few minutes before you again order her to ring.
Firing off a pistol may follow this, taught in the same way, a piece of cloth being attached to the trigger, and the pistol being secured in a stationary20 position. Merely snapping the trigger will do at first, then caps may be used, and finally powder.
A story is recorded of Cecco d’Ascoli and Dante on the subject of natural and acquired genius. Cecco maintained that nature was more potent21 than art, while Dante asserted the contrary. To prove his principle, the great Italian bard22 referred to his cat, whom, by repeated practice, he had taught to hold a candle in her paw while he supped or read. Cecco desired to witness the experiment and came not unprepared for his purpose. When Dante’s cat was performing her part, Cecco lifted up the lid of a pot which he had filled with mice. The creature of art instantly showed the weakness of a talent merely acquired, and dropping the candle, immediately flew on the mice with all her instinctive23 propensity24. Dante was himself disconcerted, and it was adjudged that the advocate for the occult principle of native faculties25 had gained the cause.
To make a cat a good ratter she must not be handled by children, or any other person; must be fed rather sparingly at regular times, and as much as possible on fresh meat, and usually by the same person. She will soon become accustomed to such circumstances, will answer the call of this person who can change her about to different parts of the house, as a night in the cellar, and so on. When treated in this way she will become shy and wild, but will soon be a terror to rats.
Valmont de Bomare saw at the fair of St. Germain cats turned musicians; their performance being announced as the “mewing concert.” In the center was an ape beating time, and some cats were arranged on each side of him, with music before them on the stalls. At a signal from the ape, they regulated their mewing to sad or lively strains. Mons. Bisset having procured26 three kittens, commenced their education, with his usual patience. He at length taught these miniature tigers to strike their paws in such directions on the dulcimer as to produce several regular tunes27, having music-books before them, and squalling at the same time in different keys or tones, first, second, 150and third, by way of concert. He was afterward28 induced to make a public exhibition of his animals, and the well known “cats’ opera” in which they performed, was advertised in the Haymarket theater. His horse, dog and monkeys, together with these cats, went through their parts with uncommon29 applause to crowded houses; and in a few days Bisset found himself possessed30 of nearly a thousand pounds to reward his ingenuity31 and perseverance32.
GOAT TRICK OF HINDOO JUGGLERS.
Another story of a cat we cannot refrain from giving: A lady who had a tame bird was in the habit of letting it out every day, and had taught a favorite cat not to touch it; but one morning as it was picking up crumbs34 from the carpet, the cat seized it on a sudden and jumped with it in her mouth upon the table. The lady was much alarmed for the safety of her favorite, but on turning about, instantly discovered the cause. The door had been left open, and a strange cat had just come into the room. After the lady had turned the strange cat out, her own cat came down from her place of safety, and dropped the bird, without doing it any injury.
151Goats may be taught many tricks heretofore described. It is best to commence their instruction when they are quite young, as when older they are apt to develop an obstinate35 disposition36, besides not being so apt pupils as when young. Goats not being very fastidious as to what they eat—asparagus or brown paper being devoured37 with about the same apparent relish—almost anything in the shape of fruit, vegetables, or bread, will do as a reward for good conduct. Harshness seems only to arouse their obstinacy38 or increase their stupidity, and we doubt whether it ever does any good. If we did not really believe severity would only defeat the aims of the trainer, we should almost be tempted39 to leave goats to take their own chances for kind treatment; for ever since a venerable specimen of the animal butted40 us, in our youth, down a steep bank, merely because in stooping to pick up something, we furnished a temptation too strong for him to resist, we have felt an unconquerable prejudice against the whole tribe. But after all the trainer will find bribes41 better than blows.
Many of the common tricks taught horses and dogs can be taught goats. As we have fully described the methods of teaching those animals it would be merely repetition to give minute details here; the method is substantially the same with goats as with horses or dogs, for the same tricks.
The Hindoo jugglers use the goat in dexterous42 feats43 of balancing. The sure-footedness of the animal enables him to stand on the end of a section of bamboo cane44 whose surface barely affords room for his four feet. Sometimes this stick is placed upright, the lower end being secured in the ground. At other times the bamboo stick, with the goat standing8 on its end, is balanced on the hand, chin or nose of the juggler33.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
agility
|
|
| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
authenticated
|
|
| v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
crouch
|
|
| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
requisites
|
|
| n.必要的事物( requisite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
revolved
|
|
| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hoops
|
|
| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
incentive
|
|
| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
refractory
|
|
| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
modifications
|
|
| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
aggravating
|
|
| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
stationary
|
|
| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
bard
|
|
| n.吟游诗人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
instinctive
|
|
| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
propensity
|
|
| n.倾向；习性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
faculties
|
|
| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tunes
|
|
| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ingenuity
|
|
| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
perseverance
|
|
| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
juggler
|
|
| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
crumbs
|
|
| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
butted
|
|
| 对接的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
bribes
|
|
| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dexterous
|
|
| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
feats
|
|
| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |