Sunday, November 22, 2009

The intelligence of goats



"Mutianus relates an instance of the intelligence of this animal, of which he himself was an eye-witness. Two goats, coming from opposite directions, met on a very narrow bridge, which would not admit of either of them turning round, and in consequence of its great length, they could not safely go backwards, there being no sure footing on account of its narrowness, while at the same time an impetuous torrent was rapidly rushing beneath; accordingly, one of the animals lay down flat, while the other walked over it."

Pliny the Elder - Naturalis Historia (the Natural History) VIII.76
Translated by John Bostock, H.T. Riley

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