Animal Memories

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1907

KARL HAGENBECK, the famous lion tamer, insists that the power of memory is as well developed in animals as in human beings, and that wild animals are better endowed in the matter of remembering events and persons than are domestic ones. The story is told that he at one time visited a “zoo” to which he had sold some animals, and entering the lion house on tiptoe, he exclaimed “Halloa!” in German; the larger lion jumped to his feet at once, and it was but a moment before both lions and two tigers were greeting him and licking his hands in joyful recognition, although he had not seen them in twenty months.

Dr. W. T. Hornaday, director of the New York “Zoo,” is very highly regarded by the tenants of the monkey house, and never enters, even when the place is filled with sightseers, without receiving a hearty greeting and the outstretched hands of chimpanzees and orang-outangs. Last spring, after a long absence on account of sickness, he walked slowly to the outer circle of spectators and said, “Hello, Polly,” and instantly there was a rush for the bars and a shout of welcome that could be heard a long way.

The memory of dogs is well appreciated. Mr. F. M. Ware, in a recent number of Outing, does not attribute a highly developed memory, especially for persons, to the horse.—The Circle.