The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-12

CT6It. ucT proper uuIuC 10 AuOAIOpOpS.
thecus Calvus, but she always answers
to the name Of Sally. That she is
very intelligent parsonage any one can
see by looking at her portrait II they
have not the opportunity Of conversing
with her.
The expression Of face is perfect and
her habitual one, though her intelli-
gence is SO remarkable that during her
performances one expects every moment
to see smile or frown, or the raising
of eyebrows-some visible response in
the way Of pleasure or anger; but no.
the face wears always the same imper-
turbable look, as if, however, Sally
were considering In her own mind her
present life and her future prospects.
More especially when spoken to she APP
pears to be mentally deciding whether
she will be obliging or the contrary. To
her credit be it said that she usually
complies, but with the same unchang-
ing expression of physiognomy.
The question has been frequently dis
oussed, ''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, invari-
ably bring the same number Of victims
more to female than to a male grub.
But in passing it may be suggested that
knowledge Of quantity rather than
number is the guiding instinct, the fe-
male grub being larger and requiring
more food. Now there are two animals
at present in our geological gardens who
are unfailingly correct regarding num-
bcrs; and in both cases the comprehen-
sion of actual language directs them.
First, as being by far the more accom-
plished 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 q casual visitor
asks for straw, six straws, or ten
straws, or to shake han Is with her, as
may be, and Sally is in an amiable
mood, she complies as if her keeper had
spoken the words. For time, and after
much patient teaching, three seemed to
be the limit Of her calculations. Then
she advanced to four and then to five,
and here she stopped for q year or two,
her keepers almost relinquishing hope
of any further advance. But suddenly
her intellect seemed to gain strength,
and now she can count ten correctly. BY
''counting" we, of course, mean that
she comprehends clearly how many
straws to pick up if told to
give ten to her keeper, or ia
any one else who requests that
number; her compliance toward q
! stranger being, however, less certain,
as Sally resents unwarrantablel liberties.
Her steady and mcthodical way Of go
ing through ''hcr lessons is an ex.
ample to any pupil. Deliberately she
selects a straw and holds 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 to her keeper. But her comprehen.
sion of language does not end here.
.'Give me straw through the bars, !"
and she does SO. "Put one through the
keyhole," snow in my pocket" and Sc
on. Not taxing her patience too long,
the keeper approvingly says: GOOD
girl; now you may have this piece OF
APPLE" laying several pieces on the
woodwork between the wires. "This
piece is for you to smell; this bit you
may look ut, but not touch until l tell
you;" Sally giving her undivided atten.
ton, not attempting to eat any more
until the keeper says: Nov you may
have this piece or that" To ''shake
hands, with the right or left one, to put
up her right or left foot as hidden, to
collect straws for '.button-hole" and
to place it there, to take milk from q
cup with spoon like a lady," and
many other small performances are
promptly though deliberately executed
as the words are spoken.