Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-12

From Forest and Stream.
Without doubt the most popular indi-
vidual in the London geological gardens
is Miss Sally, the bald chimpanzee, known
to science as santhropopithecusc calvus. Her
Intelligence Is so remarkable that during
her performances one expects every
moment to see q smile or a frown, or the
raising of eyebrows, some visible response
in the way of pleasure or anger; but 10,
the face wears always this same imper-
turbable look, as il, however, Sally were
considering in her own mind her present
life and her future prospects. More especi-
ally when spoken to, she appears TO be
mentally deciding whether she will be
obligipg or the contrary. To her credit be
it said that she usually complies, but with
physiognomy.
The question has been frequently dis
cussed "Can animals count?" Sir John
Lubbock, among others, has given much
attention to some apparent examples
in the case of insects, bees and others,
which, in feeding their young, invariably
bring the same number OF victims, more
to female than to Il male grub. But in
passing it may be suggested that a knowl-
edge of quantity rather than number Is the
guiding instinct, the female grub being
larger and requiring more food.
Now, there are two animals at present in
our geological gardens who are unfailingly
correct regarding numbers, and in both
cases the comprehension ofactual language
directs them. First, AZ being by far the
more accomplished scholar, comes Sally.
1t is no regular routine that she goes
through, nor one voice only that she obeys.
Not only has she two keepers, both being
in turn her tutors, but If "A casual visitor
asks for straw, six straws, ten straws, or
to shake hands with her, as may be, and
Sally is in an amable mood, she complies
as il her keeper had spoken the words.
For time and after much patient teaching,
three seemed to be tho limit of her cal
culations. Then she advanced to four,
and then to five, and here she stopped for a
year or two, her keepers almost relinquish-
ing hope of any futher advance. But sud
denly her intellect seemed to gain strength,
and now she can count 10 correctly. BY
counting" we, of course, mean that she
comprehends clearly how many straws to
pick up if told to give 10 to her keeper, or
any one else who requests that number (;
her compliance toward a stranger being,
however, less certain, as Sally resents un-
warrautable liberties. Her steady and
methodical way of going through her les
sons" is an example to any pupil. Delhi
erately she selects a straw and holds it in
her mouth while she picks up another,
passing that to her mouth, and so on, until
the required number is collected, she
then takes them from her lips, folds the
bundle in compact form and delivers it
But her comprehension.o language does
not end here. "Give me straw through
the bars" and she does so. Put one
through the key hole" "now in my
pocl et," and so on. Not taxing her pa
tience too long, the keeper approvingly
says: "Good girl, now you may have this
piece of apple, laying several slices on the
wood work between the wires. "This
piece is for you to smell; !" this bit You
may look at, but not touch until tell you y
Sally giving her undivided attehtion, not
attempting to eat any more until the keeper
says: '"Now you may have this piece OF
that" 70 shake hands" with the right
or the left one, to put up her right or left
loot as hidden, collect straws for "but-
ton-hole" and place it there, to take milk
from a cup with spoon like lady," and
| many other small performances arc
promptly, though deliberately. executed
as the words are spoken. l have watched
| her often, but have never seen her make d
mistake in her comprehension of the re
quest.