have further a spelling code, whereby they can communicate
with their master; they can read words, describe a picture, ask
for bread or a carrot--which is one of their favourite rewards--
have at times made spontaneous utterances in their code, and carry
on conversations. An illustration of the latter may be given from
Herr Krall's book: ¹

"I wrote on the board: 'What is sugar?' Muhamed, the
horse, answers 'Sweet.' 'But that is no proposition. What
must you say as well?' 'Z. ist.' 'What can you say further of
sugar?' 'Sugar is white.' 'What besides? Consider again.'
'Z. schmkt gud.'

"The next day I say to Muhamed: 'You said yesterday sugar
is sweet and white and tastes good. Now consider again whether
you can say something more about sugar,' and I put a bit of sugar
before him. Muhamed answers: 'Z. ht 4 ek,' i.e., sugar has
4 corners. While noting down this, he says, quite of himself,
'Iohn.' Johann asks: 'What am I to do?' The answer is:
'Mgbn' (i.e., möhre geben--carrots)."

Feats of this kind are attested by a large number of witnesses,
many of whom are men of scientific eminence, and while some
have remained unconvinced, others are sure of the genuineness of
the performance, and nearly all believe the problem is worthy
of serious investigation. The marvel is not diminished by the
account Herr Krall gives of the method of education:

The horses Muhamed and Zarif were originally taught to
count by raising the foot once or twice, as the case might be,
while the number 1 or 2 was placed before them conspicuously
and the name of the figure uttered clearly. On the first day
the numbers 1 and 2 alone were employed. On the next
day 3 was added and 0, which was to be expressed by the
horse by a turn of the head from left to right. Each horse
had an hour and a half to two hours' training per diem. After
a few days we are told the horses had learnt they must paw
with the foot in answer to the command "Count," and on the
fifth day the figures 1, 2, and 3 were put up in a row, the horses
were allowed to touch them, and take a bit of bread placed
on each number. After about a week Herr Krall began to
write the numbers on a blackboard and to use a counting machine
to assist in addition. On the 13th day Muhamed began to
give the numbers from 1 to 4 correctly, and practice in addition,
with the aid of the counting board, was begun. A piece of
the actual record of the lesson may be subjoined, it being under-
stood that the horse has before him, along with the written figure
on the blackboard, the counting board, on which the appropriate
row of dots is placed under each number.

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