/
 
 RECORDS 
 
 ANIMAL -SAGACITY AND CHARACTER.
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN COULTAS, 
 HIGH-OUSEQATE.
 
 R E C II D S 
 
 ANIMAL SAGACITY AND CHARACTER, 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PREFACE 
 
 ON THE FUTURE EXISTENCE OF THE ANIMAL CREATION. 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. F. 0. MORRIS, B.A. 
 
 HECTOR OP NUNEURNHOLMB, YORKSHIRE, 
 AND CHAPLAIN TO HIS GKACK THE BUKE OP CLEVELAND. 
 
 Author of 
 A History of British Birds, A Natural History of British Butterflies, 
 
 A History of the Nests and Egprs of British Birds, 
 
 A Natural History of British Moths, A Natural History of the Bible, 
 
 Book of Natural History, Anecdotes in Natural History, &e. 
 
 'Thou, LOUD, bhalt save both man and beast." PSALM xxxvi. 6 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND EGBERTS. 
 1861.
 
 THE HOXOUUABLK ANNE EMMA CAVENDISH, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING I' AGES 
 
 BY HER PERMISSION' 
 
 BY HKK OBLIGED AND OBEDIENT SERVANT 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 2091 1 82
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I'aere. 
 
 PREFACE vii. 
 
 THE DOG 31 
 
 THE ELEPHANT. . . . 140 
 
 THE MONKEY .... 171 
 
 THE HOESE 201 
 
 THE Ass 234 
 
 THE CAT 236 
 
 THE WOLF 253 
 
 THE SHEEP 255 
 
 THE MOUSE 257 
 
 THE BADGER .... 258 
 
 THE RAVEN 259 
 
 THE PIGEON 261 
 
 THE PARTRIDGE ... 263 
 
 THE SEA-GULL . . 265 
 
 Pago. 
 
 THE NIGHTINGALE. . . 268 
 
 THE PARROT 271 
 
 THE WHITETHROAT . . 276 
 
 THE LANDRAIL .... 277 
 
 THE BLACKBIRD ... 279 
 
 THE THRUSH .... 281 
 
 THE STORK 283 
 
 THE SWAN 28G 
 
 THE OWL 287 
 
 THE FLYCATCHER . . . 292 
 
 THE WILLOW-WREN . . 293 
 
 THE CROW 294 
 
 THE ROBIN 296 
 
 THE GOOSE . . 298
 
 PEEFACE, 
 
 " GOD made not death, neither hath He pleasure in the destruction 
 of the living. For He created all things that they might have their 
 being, and the generations of the world were healthful ; and there is 
 no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the 
 earth." WISDOM OF SOLOMON i. 13 14. 
 
 IT would seem hardly possible that animals could be ill-used by 
 any persons who believed in the possibility, if not the pro- 
 bability, of their future existence. Most people give no thought 
 to this subject. The idea of such a thing has probably never 
 occurred to their minds ; and if suggested to them, many would 
 no doubt deny the possibility, and many more the probability, 
 of a future resurrection or restoration of the animal creation. 
 
 I will first shew that there is nothing irrational in the 
 notion, inasmuch as it has been held by men, the greatness of 
 the mental powers of some of whom, the first-named at all 
 events, none will deny: and secondly, will bring forward some 
 of the arguments which may well be supposed to have had 
 weight with them in forming their opinions on the subject. 
 
 Thus wrote the great Bishop Butler, one of the most profound 
 thinkers that ever lived : " We cannot argue from the reason 
 of the thing, that death is the destruction of living agents, 
 neither can we find any thing throughout the whole analogy 
 of nature, to afford us even the slightest presumption, that 
 B
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 animals ever lose their living powers ; much less, if it were 
 possible, that they lose them by death." Ami again, observ- 
 ing that " it is thought an insuperable difficulty that they 
 should be immortal, and by consequence, capable of ever- 
 lasting happiness," he proceeds to remark, that "even 
 supposing it were implied, as it is not in the least, in the 
 natural immortality of brutes, that they must arrive at great 
 attainments, and become rational and moral agents, even this 
 would be no difficulty, since we know not what latent powers 
 they may be endued with.". . . ."But the natural immortality 
 of brutes does not in the least imply that they are endued with 
 any latent capacities of a rational or moral nature. And the 
 economy of the universe might require that there should be 
 living creatures without any capacities of this kind. And all 
 difficulties, as to the manner how they are to be disposed of, 
 are so apparently and wholly founded in our ignorance, that it 
 is wonderful they should be insisted upon by any but such as 
 are weak enough to think they are acquainted with the whole 
 system of things." 
 
 So again, in Tertullian against Hermogenes, we read : " Then 
 will there be an end of death, when the devil, who presides 
 over it, shall have departed into the fire that God has prepared 
 for him when the revelation of the sons of God shall have 
 redeemed the creation from evil, everywhere subject to vanity, 
 when, the innocence and perfectness of the creation being 
 restored, the cattle shall be in harmony with the wild beasts, 
 and little children shall play with serpents when the Father 
 shall have placed under the feet of the Son his enemies." 
 
 Speaking of the above passage, Poole, in his Synopsis Critic- 
 orum, says, " The last part of this extract agrees with the
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 opinions of the Rabbins, who believe' that even dumb animals 
 will obtain a better state when men shall rise. See Manassem 
 on the Resurrection." 
 
 And thus also wrote the Rev. John Wesley : 
 " They too were immortal. . . . They themselves also shall 
 be delivered, (not by annihilation annihilation is not deliver- 
 ance,) from the present ' bondage of corruption,' into a measure 
 of the glorious liberty of the children of God." . . . . " They 
 will be restored, not only to that measure of understanding 
 which they had in Paradise, but to a degree of it as much 
 higher than that, as the understanding of an elephant is beyond 
 that of a worm. And whatever affections they had in the 
 Garden of God, will be restored with vast increase ; being 
 exalted and refined in a manner which we ourselves are not 
 now able to comprehend." .... " May I be permitted to 
 mention here a conjecture concerning the brute creation? 
 What, if it should then please the All-wise, the All-gracious 
 Creator, to raise them higher in the scale of beings ? What, 
 if it should please Him, when He made us ' equal to angels,' 
 to make them what we are now, creatures capable of God ; 
 capable of knowing, and loving, and enjoying, the Author of 
 their being ? If it should be so, ought our eye to be evil 
 because He is good ? However this be, He will certainly do 
 what will be most for his own glory." . ... ^' As a recom- 
 pense for what they once suffered while under the ' bondage of 
 corruption,' when God has ' renewed the face of the earth,' and 
 their corruptible body has put on incorruption, they shall enjoy 
 happiness suited to their state, without alloy, without interrup- 
 tion, and without end." . . . . " Leaving one of these un- 
 bounded eras to the Father of Eternity, to whom alone
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 duration without beginning belongs, let us turn out thoughts 
 on duration without end. This is not an incommunicable 
 attribute of the great Creator, but he has been graciously 
 pleased to make innumerable multitudes of his creatures 
 partakers of it. He has imparted this, not only to angels, 
 and archangels, and all the companies of heaven, who are 
 not intended to die, but to glorify Him and live in His pre- 
 sence for ever ; but also to the inhabitants of the earth, who 
 dwell in houses of clay. Their bodies, indeed, are crushed 
 before the moth, but their souls will never die God made 
 them, as an ancient writer speaks, to be 'pictures of his 
 own eternity.' Indeed all spirits, we have reason to believe, 
 are clothed with immortality, having no inward principle of 
 corruption, and being liable to no external violence." . . . 
 " What then is the barrier between men and brutes, the line 
 which they cannot pass ? It is not reason. Set aside that 
 ambiguous term; exchange it for the. plain Word understanding, 
 and who can deny that brutes have this ? We may as well 
 deny that they have sight or hearing." 
 
 Thus also another writer, the Rev. S Thompson := " Cer- 
 tainly existence is better than non-existence, supposing the 
 existence not to be miserable. But the existence of the 
 animals, before the entrance of sin into the world, was not 
 miserable. Therefore if the annihilation of animals take place, 
 then the dispensations of Providence diminish in their improve- 
 ments, which is impossible." ..." If the devil has the power 
 of death in this present world, we cannot suppose that he 
 will possess this power in the invisible and eternal world, nay, 
 this power of the devil has already been diminished by the 
 death of Christ, for Christ came to destroy the works of the
 
 devil, I say, if the devil was the primary cause of death, and 
 if the animals will eternally cease to be by annihilation, and 
 if Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, then some of 
 these things must follow : either the devil will hold so much 
 of his usurped dominion over the animals if they are to be 
 annihilated, in opposition to Christ who came to destroy his 
 works, or Christ must be deficient, either in goodness, wisdom, 
 or power, by which He is not able to rescue the animals 
 which were the works of His own hands, from the power of 
 His great adversary. But Christ cannot be deficient, either in 
 goodness, wisdom, or power; therefore the devil must sink 
 under His omnipotent arm, and deliver up the prey, the 
 animals, as the unalienable property of Christ. He is the 
 Creator, the Preserver, the Governor, and the Heir of all things. 
 The time is coming, when death shall be destroyed; this is the 
 last enemy. Christ shall reign till He has put all enemies 
 under His feet. But were it possible for the animals to be 
 retained by the power of Satan in death, there then would still 
 be an enemy for Christ to subdue ; but as Christ shall most 
 certainly triumph over all His enemies, and as death is one, 
 then He shall restore life unto all which once enjoyed it." 
 
 And thus Dr. Adam Clarke : 
 
 "I. The brute creation never sinned against God, nor are 
 they capable of it ; and, consequently, cannot be liable to 
 punishment. 
 
 " II. But the whole brute creation is in a suffering state, and 
 partake of the common infirmities and privations, as well as 
 mankind ; they suffer, but who can say they surfer justly ? 
 
 " III. As they appear to be necessarily involved in the suffer- 
 ings of sinful man, and yet neither through their fault nor
 
 xil PREFACE. 
 
 folly, it is natural to suppose that the Judge of all the earth, 
 who ever does right, will find some means by which these 
 innocent creatures shall he compensated for their sufferings. 
 
 " IV. That they have no compensation here, their afflictions, 
 labours, and death, prove ; and if they are to have any com- 
 pensation, they must have it in another state. 
 
 "V. God, the Fountain of all goodness, must have originally 
 designed them for that measure of happiness which is suited 
 to the powers with which he had endowed them ; but since 
 the fall of man they never had that happiness, and in their 
 present circumstances never can. 
 
 "VI. As to intelligent beings, God has formed his purposes 
 in reference to their happiness, on the ground of their rational 
 natures. He has decreed that they shall be happy if they 
 will, all the means of it being placed within their power ; and 
 if they be ultimately miserable, it is the effect of their own 
 unconstrained choice ; therefore His purpose is fulfilled, either 
 in their happiness or misery, because He has purposed that 
 they shall be happy if they please, and that misery shall be 
 the result of their refusal. 
 
 " VII. But it does not appear that the brute creation are 
 capable of this choice, and it is evident that they are not placed 
 in their present misery through either their choice or sin ; and 
 if no purpose of God can be ultimately frustrated, these 
 creatures must be restored to that state of happiness for wh'ich 
 they have been made, and of which they have been deprived 
 through the transgression of man. 
 
 " VIII. To say that the enjoyments which they have in this 
 life are a sufficient compensation, is most evidently false; for 
 had sin not entered into the world, they would have had much
 
 PREFACE. Xlll 
 
 greater enjoyments, without pain, excessive labour, and toil, 
 and without death, and all their sufferings which arise from 
 its pre-disposing causes. Nor does it appear that they have 
 much happiness from eating, drinking, and the rest, as they 
 have these only in the proportion in which they are necessary 
 to their existence, as the slaves of men. Therefore, allowing 
 that they have even enjoyment and gratification in life, they 
 have much less than they would have had, had not sin entered 
 into the world ; and, consequently, they have been deprived of 
 the greater portion of happiness designed for them by their 
 bountiful Creator. 
 
 " IX. It is therefore obvious, that the gracious purpose of 
 God has not been fulfilled in them ; and that as they have not 
 lost their happiness through their own fault, both the bene- 
 ficence and justice of God are bound to make them reparation. 
 
 " X. Hence it is reasonable to conclude, that as from the 
 present constitution of things, they cannot have the happiness 
 designed for them in this state, they must have it in another." 
 
 And so once more, the Rev. Daniel Isaac : " The rational 
 creation was made subject to vanity or trouble willingly; for 
 the sin of our first parents was certainly wilful. If it be 
 objected that their posterity are subjected to trouble not 
 willingly, I answer, that the Apostle by the word ' was ' 
 evidently refers to the period when vanity was first introduced 
 into the creation ; and it can be true of the irrational creation 
 only, that at that time it ' was made subject to vanity not 
 willingly.'" .... " The Apostle observes, that 'the whole 
 creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.' 
 And what are they groaning and travailing for ? To be 
 delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious
 
 Xiv PREFACE 
 
 liberty of the children of God.' This is true of the irrational 
 creation. But no one pretends that the whole of men and 
 devils had groaned and travailed until the Apostle's time to 
 enjoy ' the glorious liberty of the children of God.' .... 
 Rational creatures in this passage are distinguished from the 
 creation, for the earnest expectation of the creature (1'ns K<ritrtu<r 
 creation} waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God. 
 Because the creature (creation) itself shall he delivered from 
 the bondage of corruption into the. glorious liberty of the 
 children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth 
 and travaileth in pain together until now ; and not only they 
 but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, &c." 
 The following is an extract from a work by the Rev. John 
 Hildrop, D.D. " Do you think it a breach of natural justice, 
 without necessity, to take away the life of any creature ? And 
 can you think that Infinite Mercy who made them to be happy, 
 could, in the primary intention of their nature, resolve to 
 deprive them of that happiness, or at least, a possibility of 
 recovering it again, by an utter extinction of their being? 
 But some serious writers on this subject tell us their existence 
 was given them on this very condition, that it should be 
 temporary and short ; that after they had fluttered, or crept, or 
 swam, or walked about their respective elements, for a little 
 season, they should be swept away by the hands of violence, 
 or the course of nature, into an entire extinction of being, 
 to make room for their successors in the same circle of Vanity 
 and corruption. But pray, Who told them so ? Does reason 
 or Revelation countenance in the least such a bold assertion? 
 So far from it, that it seems in direct contradiction to both. 
 The wise preacher has given as a a deeper foundation for our
 
 philosophy, ECCLESIASTES iii. 14. 'I know that whatsoever 
 GOD doeth, it shall be for ever ; nothing can he put to it, nor 
 any thing taken from it : and GOD doeth it that men should 
 fear hefore Him." Again, " Who can fix the direct point where 
 the last dying sound expires in dead silence? Who can discern 
 where the last glimmering ray of light is smothered up in total 
 darkness? Who can determine the limits betwixt the ebbing 
 and flowing of the tide, or describe the single point which is 
 the ending of the one, and beginning of the other ? Nor are 
 the boundaries betwixt the human and brute understanding 
 more easily distinguished. Who can determine the lowest 
 degree of human ignorance, and the highest pitch of animal 
 knowledge ? Who can say where the one ends and the other 
 begins, or whether there be any other difference betwixt them, 
 but only in degree ?'" .... "Shall the eternal purposes of 
 infinite wisdom, love, and power, be entirely defeated by the 
 malice of evil spirits, and the infirmities of frail creatures ? 
 To say that the animals shall be annihilated, is in effect to 
 say, that the Almighty Creator, the Father of mercies, and 
 the God of all compassion, whose mercies are over all His 
 works, is either unwilling or unable to effect the eternal pur- 
 poses of His infinite love ! that the devil is more powerful to 
 destroy than God to save ! " 
 
 Thus, also, Matthew Henry, in his Commentary, (on Romans 
 viii. 19 22.) " There shall be a glory conferred upon all the 
 creatures, which shall be (in the proportion of their natures) 
 as suitable and as great an advancement as the glory of the 
 children of God shall be to them. The fire at the last day 
 shall be a refining not a destroying annihilating fire. What 
 becomes of the souls of the brutes, that go downwards, none 
 2 B
 
 XVI PREFACE. 
 
 can tell. But it should seem by the Scripture, that there will 
 be some kind of restoration of them. And if it be objected, 
 what use will they be of to glorified saints ? we may suppose 
 them of as much use as they were to Adam in innocency ; and 
 if it be only to illustrate the wisdom, power, and goodness of 
 their Creator, that is enough." 
 
 So, too, Dr. Hitchcock, in his Religion of Geology, says, 
 " Whether the inferior animals will exist again after death, is a 
 more doubtful point. There is certainly nothing in Scripture 
 against their future existence ; for the passage in the Psalms, 
 which says, that 'man that is in honour and abideth not, is like 
 the brutes that perish,' if understood to mean the annihilation 
 of animals, would prove also the annihilation of wicked men. 
 And while most men of learning and piety have suspended 
 their opinion on the existence of the inferior animals after 
 death, for want of evidence, some have been decided advocates 
 of the future happy existence of all beings who exhibit a spark 
 of intelligence. Not a few distinguished German theologians 
 and philosophers regard the whole visible creation, both ani- 
 mate and inanimate, as at present in a confined and depressed 
 state, and struggling for freedom. On this principle, Tlioluck 
 explains that most difficult passage in Romans, which declares 
 that ' the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain 
 together until now.' He supposes this ' bound or fettered state 
 of nature,' both animate and inanimate, to have a casual con- 
 nection with sin, and the death accompanying it among men ; 
 and, therefore, when men are freed from sin and death, ' the 
 creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of 
 corruption into* the glorious liberty of the children of God.' 
 The kingdom of God, according to Tholuck, Martin Luther,
 
 xvn 
 
 and many other distinguished theologians, will not be trans- 
 ferred to heaven at the end of the world, but be established on 
 earth, where all these transformations of the animate and 
 inanimate creation will take place. This exposition surely 
 carries with it a great deal of naturalness and probability ; and 
 if it be true, death to the inferior animals must surely be an 
 indication of great benevolence on the part of the Deity, since 
 it introduces them to a higher state of existence." 
 
 And, lastly, Mr. J. T. Gray, in a pamphlet on Immortality : 
 " In the insect transformation, we see clearly, that under an 
 apparent disorganization of frame, the germ of existence may 
 be yet preserved; that an entire suspension of animation is not 
 identical with its extinction; and that a change, which to the 
 eye may be unpleasing, may yet be the natural process of 
 transition to a higher state of being." 
 
 Next, then, as to the reasons which may be supposed to have 
 seemed sufficient to those great and eminent men first named, 
 and the others I have quoted from, as a foundation for their 
 deliberate opinions thus expressed, regarding the future exist- 
 ence of animals. First, there are those derivable from Scripture, 
 and, secondly, those suggested by observation and reflection on 
 the proofs which the actions ( of animals have, in all ages and 
 countries, afforded of their mental capacities. These will 
 speak for themselves. It will be sufficient to say for the 
 present, that it seems impossible to attach the idea of extinc- 
 tion or annihilation to anything that is uot material.* We 
 argue the truth of man's immortality from the fact that he is 
 capable of losing any part or many parts of his body, without 
 his soul or any of the faculties of his mind being destroyed or 
 one whit injured or affected. Why not give animals the
 
 benefit of a like argument? They, like ourselves, have mental 
 capacities, similarly provable to be distinct from and indepen- 
 dant of their bodies, and, as will be abundantly seen in 
 the course of the following pages, in many respects not 
 inferior, and in some superior, to our own. The destruction of 
 a body, its dissolution into its component elements, we can 
 conceive, and we can see ; but a spirit has no parts, and into 
 what then can a spirit, whether of animal or man, be dissolved? 
 
 As to the testimony of Scripture : " Although it is not the 
 scope of revelation to satisfy curiosity on a multitude of 
 interesting enquiries that suggest themselves to the thoughtful 
 reader, nevertheless it is permissible to collect any scattered 
 rays which may partially enlighten us, even on subjects apart 
 from the grand and immediate objects for which Scripture was 
 given."* 
 
 Unfounded as the idea of immortality being the heritage of 
 the animal creation may at first appear to some, yet it will be 
 seen that there are no express passages of Holy Scripture to 
 contradict, while there are some that appear to sanction it; so 
 that although such a doctrine is not to be dogmatically laid 
 down as an article of belief, there is yet enough to vindicate it 
 from a charge of mere speculativeness. 
 
 Adam by his sin brought death into the world. When he 
 was created, he found all creatures living, and all pronounced 
 "very good;" and it seems unreasonable to suppose that any 
 beings were intended for annihilation, on which such a benedic- 
 tion was pronounced by their Creator. The first and main 
 object of their being called into existence, was His glory, and 
 
 * Scriptural Probabilities as to a Resurrection of the Brute Creation, 
 Lotidon, J. H. Campbell. A Pamphlet to which I am much indebted in 
 these remarks.
 
 secondly, the benefit of man. Even as it is, since the Fall, it 
 is but a very small proportion of animated nature that directly 
 subserves his use. If it be objected that they serve to manifest 
 the wisdom of God in creation, His power, and His goodness, 
 it is to be replied that so, and much more, they will, if resus- 
 citated for an eternal existence beyond the period of their 
 present short-lived and transitory one. Besides which, the 
 vast and incalculable majority of the various creatures live and 
 die utterly out of and beyond the reach or observation of man, 
 so that they cannot be the medium or cause of any praise 
 ascending on their account, through cognizance of them, from 
 him to GOD. 
 
 It was the same SPIRIT of GOD that " breathed into man's 
 nostrils the breath of life," that gave the same animal life to 
 creatures. Thus says Isaiah, xxxii. 15, " Thou sendest forth 
 Thy SPIRIT, they are created." 
 
 It is therefore of GOD that there is something solemn 
 in the death of every living creature. No one can watch with- 
 out any emotion the eye glazing in death of a faithful 
 dog or horse, the mild look of a dying bird, or the expiring 
 throb of a wounded animal. Who can avoid the thought that 
 something is going away which he cannot bring back, nor 
 any power of his then stay, even for awhile, the departure 
 of ? And if it be some long known and favourite companion, 
 conspicuous perhaps for fidelity, affection, and sagacity, whose 
 bodily life is ebbing away, who is there who can resist 
 the thought, that he is not parting with the dying creature for 
 ever, but that the same CREATOR who gave the spirit, and 
 now commands it to " return," will one day restore it, and bid 
 it live again ? It is repulsive to our natural feeling to think
 
 XX PREFACE. 
 
 that anything in the nature of spiritual life can bo annihilated. 
 The idea of the death of a body, and of its being doomed to 
 destruction, is of itself sad and painful : the thought of the 
 simultaneous destruction of the spirit, our own soul resists. 
 We are forced by a natural impulse to ask whether the living 
 spirit in any creature, is not too much the breath of GOD, to 
 cease to live, and perish with the body ? whether it may not 
 have been intended by the Almighty to live hereafter, and for 
 ever, restored to a renewed body, even as we ourselves 
 look to be to our own ? whether it is not of too noble and 
 excellent a nature to perish for ever, and " may not, in the case 
 of the irrational but irresponsible and innocent part of the 
 animated creation, be restored in a better and an everlasting 
 state? " The ways indeed of GOD, " are not as our ways, nor 
 His thoughts as our thoughts," but on no other supposition can 
 we at present see any compensation, as there then abundantly 
 would be, (not that lie, the Sovereign CREATOR " of His own 
 will" of all, is bound to make compensation) for the sufferings 
 and death of the creatures, the necessary consequence of the 
 fall of man, and too frequently aggravated unnecessarily by him. 
 From the very beginning of the Bible onwards to its close, we 
 find the animal creation associated with man, both in the blessing 
 and the curse. They were both alike pronounced "very good" 
 in the primaeval world. They were both made sufferers by the 
 Fall, were both overwhelmed by the destruction of the Flood, 
 were both preserved in the Ark, both shared in the greatest and 
 last plague of Egypt, both in the hallowing of the first-born 
 both in the rest of the Sabbath. Animals were made to suffer 
 with men in the punishment of a city that should fall into idol- 
 atry. They suffered with Achan in the judgment upon him,
 
 PREFACE. XXI 
 
 with the men of Benjamin, in the destruction inflicted upon 
 them, and with the men of Jerusalem when subdued by the 
 Chaldeans. They were included in the doom pronounced on 
 Babylon, on Edom, and on Egypt. They were not forgotten 
 in the mercy showed to Nineveh on its repentance, and were 
 to be made partakers in the plague pronounced on the enemies 
 of Jerusalem. " In these and other instances, we perceive how 
 uniformly the lower sentient creation has partaken of the 
 destiny of man, whether in general, or in particular cases ; how- 
 it has been included in the Lord's past grand dispensational 
 arrangements for the world, from Adam to the times of the 
 Gentiles, commencing with Nebuchadnezzar, and still continu- 
 ing. And the prophetic page clearly intimates its participation 
 in the blessing of the reign of CHRIST. For the idea that, after 
 all this, it will not have a place in the ultimate perfection of all 
 things, no valid reason can be adduced."* 
 
 It is evident that animals were in a very different state in 
 Paradise from that into which they came through the Fall. The 
 fear and dread of man were not at first upon them: these 
 came with the curse ; but afterwards the creatures were taken 
 with Noah and his seed into an everlasting covenant with GOD, 
 a fact repeated no less than five times to impress its importance 
 on us. In the Millennium all things will be subdued to CHBIST, 
 "all sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field, the fowl of 
 the air, and the fishes of the sea, and whatsoever passeth 
 through the paths of the sea." Then the "leopard shall lie 
 down with the kid, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox ; 
 they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith 
 
 * The Xew Heavens and the New Earth, by George G. Walker, Loadon, 
 Kent and Co.
 
 XXii PREFACE. 
 
 the Lord." And does it seem reasonable to tliink, that after 
 this restoration with man to somewhat of their primaeval state 
 in Paradise, all living creatures should, at the conclusion of that 
 epoch, instead of sharing with man in his next and highest 
 elevation, he devoted to a sudden and eternal extinction? 
 that having once fallen with man they should not rise with him ? 
 Can we suppose that these creatures of GOD'S hand are to have 
 no share in the "Restitution of all things," "the reconciling of 
 all things to Himself," " whether things in earth or things in 
 Heaven," in the " times of refreshing from the presence of the 
 LORD," " according to the good pleasure which He hath pur- 
 posed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of time 
 He might gather together in one all things in CHRIST, both 
 which are in Heaven, and which are on earth." 
 
 If we were to think so, we must conclude that animals will 
 be in an inferior condition at the close of the Millennium to what 
 they will have been placed in at its commencement, and that 
 Paradise Restored will have no place for the creatures who had 
 a position in the first Paradise which they lost, through no sin 
 of their own, but only through that of man. 
 
 " But no passage hitherto produced " I quote from the work 
 already referred to, " seems to countenance the doctrine of a 
 resurrection of the brute creation, so much as Rom. viii. 
 19 22, ' For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth 
 for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation 
 was made subject to vanity, (not willingly, but by reason 
 of him who hath subjected [it]) in hope.; because the 
 creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of 
 corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 
 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
 
 PREFACE. XX1U 
 
 In pain together until now. And not only fit], &c. That 
 KTitrii means here the created universe is admitted hy many, 
 and this is its or linary sense in the New Testament. Indeed 
 some are of opinion that it is never there used of manldnd alone, 
 From verse 23, it is seen to be distinct from Christians, and it 
 cannot be understood of those who are not Christians, who in 
 no sense could be said to wait for the manifestation of the sons 
 of God. Understanding it then of creation in its simplest, 
 broadest meaning, we learn that this was involuntarily subjected 
 to vanity by God ; (in consequence, as we know, of man's fall ; ) 
 but that it is not hopelessly ruined, but awaits, while every 
 where expressing the language of pain and suffering, a period 
 of emancipation from its bondage. That this period will be 
 fully reached during the Millennium it is impossible to conceive, 
 for reasons already stated. But in the then manifested and 
 glorified sons of God an earnest will be afforded to the 
 creation, already greatly advanced in the scale of happiness, 
 of what its ultimate and perfect state is destined to be. And 
 again may the former argument be pressed. If animals, which 
 not the least 01 the creation, share the common travail, and 
 not least express their sense of it,- if animals will partake of 
 the blessings connected with the revelation of the sons of God, 
 and in their measure keep pace with the improved circumstances 
 of ' regeneration,' what valid objection can be raised to their 
 participation in ' the liberty of the glory ' of the redeemed ? 
 And would not that imply their resurrection ? And if recovery, 
 not annihilation, is God's purpose for the creation as a whole, 
 why should not animal life, so conspicuous and wonderful a 
 portion of that creation, be restored rather than annihilated ? 
 So far as we can judge at present, this idea best suits the
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 passage before us. It is difficult, with the bright and gladden- 
 ing prospect it unfolds, to come to the conclusion that living 
 creatures, far below man indeed in dignity, yet still raised 
 above mere inanimate objects by their peculiar characteristics, 
 creatures that owe their manifold living and dying pains to a 
 cause to which they in no wise contributed, shall finally not 
 only be excluded from the universal jubilee of creation, but 
 cease to belong to it at all. Would not this rather look like 
 a triumph of the bondage of corruption than a deliverance from 
 it? Would it not be like being borne along the stream of 
 progressive bliss, only to be finally engulphed in the abyss 
 of oblivion ? And does it appear altogether in unison with 
 the splendid anticipations inspired by this Scripture, that 
 the groans of the sentient, though irrational, part of the 
 creation, should ultimately, alone of all the other, not be 
 changed to the notes of joy, but cease (and that, too, after 
 a bright gleam of hope) in the silence of endless death ? " 
 
 " We will now see if there be any passages of Scripture which 
 clearly negative the idea of dead animals also having an interest 
 in a future life. A person who should search for such, would, 
 probably, be surprised how few can be adduced which even 
 have the appearance of being opposed to such an idea. The only 
 two that will, probably, be found, are Psalm xlix. 12, 20, and 
 Ecclesiastes iii. 21. As to the first, it is at least an open question 
 whether we should render ' He is like the beasts (that) jperish;' 
 or, ' He is like the beasts, iJiey are alike.' 1 But even retaining 
 the common version, the meaning will be, man abideth not in 
 honour, but death takes him off in the midst of his pride and 
 complacency, not less than it does the mere beasts ; which he, 
 indeed, having no understanding, resembles. Thus nothing is
 
 PREFACE. XXV 
 
 got from tliis place, that is at all adverse to beasts enjoying a 
 future life. For it will not be said, that worldly men resemble 
 beasts, in that both the one and the other absolutely perish, in 
 the sense of ceasing to exist for ever. 
 
 " In Ecclesiastes iii. 18 21, Solomon views man's life from the 
 standing point of purely natural perception. To an observer 
 ' under the sun,' there was no perceptible difference between 
 the life and death of a man and of a beast ; the pre-eminence 
 of the former being determined alone by revelation : and so he 
 adds parenthetically, ' Who knoweth the spirit of man, that 
 goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth down- 
 ward to the earth ? ' As much as to say, the superiority 
 of man's spirit is solely established by what God has 
 taught, not by human observation. What this superiority is, 
 is but obscurely made known in this place. Comparing it with 
 chap. xii. 7, we may infer that the human spirit, after the 
 dissolution of the body, is especially perserved by God ; probably 
 signified by its ' going upward,' while an inferior destiny awaits 
 the spirit of the beast, that is said to 'go downward to the 
 earth.' That this phrase, however, is equivalent to utter 
 destruction, may be questioned, both because that idea is not 
 necessarily couveyed- by the words, and because it is easily 
 conceivable that the destiny of the spirit of man is the higher, 
 without considering that it is so only by contrast with the 
 annihilation of the other. And even if we suppose every 
 faculty of sensation to be suspended or extinguished at its 
 death, a return to life could not be pronounced impossible. 
 Even in this case it might be said, why should it be thought a 
 thing incredible that God should raise the dead ? Omnipotence 
 could raise the bodies that have been dissolved, and again ' cause
 
 breath to enter ' into them. The Psalmist, speaking of man, 
 says, ' His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth ; in 
 that very day his thoughts perish.' (Ps. cxlvi. 4.) Supposing 
 we had only passages like this, and others similar, (as Ps. xlix. 
 19 ; Job xiv. 10 12,) what ideas should we have been likely to 
 entertain of our oicn destiny ? And when, in words so very 
 similar, we read of the brute creation, 'Thou hidest thy face, 
 they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they die, 
 and return to their dust,' (Ps. civ. 29,) is it not very con- 
 ceivable that, had equally full light been given us about their 
 future, as we possess about our own, the hasty verdict that 
 excludes them from immortality would have no countenance ? 
 The fact is, seeing that life and death are both mysteries to us, 
 and (apart from what Scripture says) only known by their 
 effects, a little le^s positiveness than is common in determining 
 things connected with them were more suitable." 
 
 Secondly, as to the proofs of the mental capacities of animals 
 furnished by their actions. The anecdotes themselves which 
 I have collected together, will, in my opinion, furnish abundant 
 evidence of their powers, and I shall leave them, as I have 
 already said, to speak for themselves, believing with Locke, 
 that they make it " as evident that some animals do in 
 certain instances reason, as that they have sense." " Knowest 
 thou not," says Milton, " their knowledge and their ways ? 
 They also know and reason not contemptibly." Thus Aristotle, 
 also, " There are between man and animals faculties in common, 
 near and analagous," " In taking a review," says Schleiden, of 
 most, if not all of the actions of the animal world, it must be 
 obvious that, whether we allow them reason or not, the actions 
 themselves comprehend these elements of reason, so to speak,
 
 XfcVll 
 
 Which We commonly refer to rational beings. So that if the 
 same actions had been done by our fellow-creatures, we should 
 have ascribed them without hesitation to motives and feelings 
 worthy of a rational nature. It is certain that most animals, 
 in their several rational acts, show every outward" sign of con- 
 sciousness, or knowledge of the end of their actions, not like 
 the fixed and uninformed operations of instinct, which is wholly 
 employed in their self preservation, or in providing for their 
 young. If we compare our own mental constitution with that 
 of brutes, however we may excel them, as we certainly do in 
 some noble capacities and principles exclusively belonging to 
 our moral nature, yet we possess many faculties and powers 
 precisely analogous to theirs ; and the motives and combined 
 operations of these, it is often as difficult to understand as it is 
 those of the lower animals." 
 
 From all that has been advanced, I think it must be con- 
 fessed by every candid person, that there is much in favour of 
 the notion that the spiritual life of animals is not extinguished 
 at the time of their bodily death, and that the most that can 
 be said in opposition to the idea, is only, in the words of Sir 
 Edward Lytton Bulwer, that they have " no warrant of an 
 hereafter : " I dare not, and do not, affirm that they have ; but 
 I do say, " Why should it be thought a thing incredible that 
 GOD should raise the dead," in the case of the animal creation, 
 any more than in that of men? GOD, " in whose hand is the 
 soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind."
 
 The Authorities for the Anecdotes will be found in the Index at the 
 end of the Volume.
 
 RECORDS 
 
 ANIMAL SAGACITY AND CHARACTER. 
 
 THEBE is no way in which the young can better learn the sentiments 
 of devotion, or the old preserve them, than by cultivating those habits 
 of thought and observation, which convert the scenes of Nature into the 
 temple of GOD ; which make us see the Deity in every appearance we 
 behold, and change the world, in which the ignorant and the thoughtless 
 see only the reign of time and chance, into the kingdom of the living 
 and ever present GOD of the Universe. ALISON.
 
 THE DOG. 
 
 1. THE wisest dog I ever had, said Sir Walter Scott, 
 was what is called the bull-dog terrier. I taught him to 
 understand a great many words, insomuch that I am 
 positive that the communication hetwixt the canine 
 species and ourselves might be greatly enlarged. Camp 
 once bit the baker, who was bringing bread to the 
 family, I beat him, and explained the enormity of his 
 offence; after which, to the last moment of his life, he 
 never heard the least allusion to the story, in whatever 
 voice or tone it was mentioned, without getting up and 
 retiring into the darkest corner of the room, with great 
 appearance of distress. Then if you said, the baker was 
 well paid, or, the baker was not hurt after all, Camp 
 came forth from his hiding-place, capered, and barked, 
 and rejoiced. When he was unable, towards the end of 
 his life, to attend me when on horseback, he used to 
 watch for my return, and the servant would tell him his 
 master was coming down the hill, or through the moor, 
 and although he did not use any gesture to explain his 
 meaning, Camp was never known to mistake him, but 
 either went out at the front to go up the hill, or at the 
 back to get down to the moor-side. He certainly had a 
 singular knowledge of spoken language 
 
 2. Sir Walter Scott has also told a number of anec- 
 dotes of a dog called Dandie, the property of a another
 
 32 THE DOG. 
 
 gentleman, which knew on most occasions what was said 
 in his presence. His master returning home one night 
 rather late, found all the family in bed, and not being 
 able to find the boot-jack in its usual place, said to his 
 dog, " Dandie, I cannot find my boot-jack ; search for 
 it." The dog, quite sensible of what had been said to 
 him, scratched at the room door which his master 
 opened, proceeded to a distant part of the house, and 
 soon returned, carrying in his mouth the boot-jack, 
 which his master had left that morning under a sofa. 
 
 3. That they in reality learn, say the Messrs. 
 Chambers of Edinburgh, in their Anecdotes of Dogs, to 
 know the meaning of certain words, not merely when 
 addressed to them, but when spoken in ordinary con- 
 versation, is beyond a doubt, although the accompany- 
 ing looks and movements in all likelihood help them in 
 their interpretation. We have known a small spaniel, 
 for instance, which thoroughly understood the meaning 
 of "out," or "going out," when spoken in the most 
 casual way in conversation. 
 
 4. They add a lady of our acquaintance has a dog 
 which lives at enmity with another dog in the neighbour 
 hood, called York, and angrily barks when the word 
 York is pronounced in his hearing. 
 
 5. The late Dr. J. Maculloch has related, of his own 
 knowledge, that a shepherd's dog always eluded the 
 intentions of the household regarding him, if aught was 
 whispered in his presence that did not coincide with his 
 wishes. 
 
 6. James Hogg, in his Shepherd's Calendar, declares 
 that dogs know what is said on subjects in which they
 
 THE DOG. 33 
 
 feel interested. A farmer, had a dog that for the space 
 of three or four years, in the latter part of his life, met 
 him always at the foot of his farm, about a mile and a 
 half from his house, on his way home. If he was half 
 a day away, a week, or a fortnight, it was all the same ; 
 she met him at that spot ; and there never was an 
 instance seen of her going to wait his arrival there on a 
 wrong day. She could only know of his coming home 
 hy hearing it mentioned in the family. 
 
 7. The same writer speaks of a clever sheep-dog, 
 named Hector, which had a similar tact in picking up 
 what was said. One day he observed to his mother, " I 
 am going to-morrow to Bowerhope for a fortnight; but 
 I will not take Hector with rne, for he is constantly 
 quarrelling with the i-est of the dogs." Hector, who 
 was present, and overheard the conversation, was 
 missing next morning, and when Hogg reached Bower- 
 hope, there was Hector sitting on a knoll, waiting his 
 arrival. He had swam across a flooded river to reach 
 the spot. 
 
 8. Still more surprising, say the Messrs. Chambers, 
 dogs may be trained not only to know the meaning of 
 words, but to spegk them. The learned Leibnitz 
 reported to the French Academy, that he had seen a 
 dog in Germany which had been taught to pronounce 
 certain words. The teacher of the animal, he stated, 
 was a Saxon peasant boy, who, having observed in the 
 dog's voice an indistinct resemblance to various sounds 
 of the human voice, was prompted to endeavour to 
 make him speak. The animal was three years old at the 
 beginning of his instructions, a circumstance which
 
 34 THE DOG. 
 
 must have been unfavourable to the object ; yet, by dint 
 of great labour and perseverance, in three years the boy 
 had taught it to pronounce thirty German words. It 
 used to astonish its visitors by calling for tea, coffee, 
 chocolate, &c. : but it is proper to remark, that it 
 required its master to pronounce the words beforehand ; 
 and it never appeared to become quite reconciled to the 
 exhibitions it was forced to make. 
 
 9. Reason, says our great lexicographer, is the 
 power by which we deduce one proposition from 
 another, or proceed from premises to consequences. 
 I wanted one day to go through a tall iron gate, from 
 one part of my premises to another, but just within it 
 lay a poor lame puppy, and I could not get in without 
 rolling the little fellow over, and perhaps seriously 
 injuring him. I stood for a while hesitating, and at 
 length determined to go round, through another gate, 
 when a fine Newfoundland dog, who had been waiting 
 patiently for his wonted caresses, and wondering why 
 I did not come in, looked accidentally down at the 
 invalid. He comprehended the whole business in a 
 moment. He put down his great paw, and as quickly 
 and as gently as possible rolled the invalid out of the 
 way, and then drew himself back in order to leave room 
 for the opening of the gate. Here was a plain and 
 palpable act of reasoning. " Why does not my master 
 come in as usual ? This little fellow is in the way, and 
 he cannot open the gate without disturbing or hurting 
 him. I'll get rid of that;" and immediately he rolls 
 the obstacle aside, but, with the characteristic noble 
 feeling of his breed, he takes care not to hurt the
 
 THE DOG. 35 
 
 invalid. " Now," he continues, "I must take myself out 
 of the way, and then every obstacle will be removed." 
 No philosopher ever reasoned more accurately than our 
 beautiful Newfoundland dog. No one ever drew more 
 legitimate consequences from certain existing premises. 
 10. There is a nobleness of feeling of a similar 
 nature in the Newfoundland dog, and in most of the 
 larger species of dogs. Dr. Abell, in one of his 
 lectures on phrenology, related a very striking anec- 
 dote of a Newfoundland dog in Cork. This dog was 
 of a noble and generous disposition, and when he left 
 bis master's house, was often assailed by several little 
 noisy curs in the street. He usually passed them with 
 apparent unconcern, as if they were beneath his notice; 
 but one little brute was particularly troublesome, and 
 at length, carried his petulance so far as to bite the 
 Newfoundland dog in the back of his leg. This was 
 a degree of wanton insult which could not be patiently 
 endured, and he instantly turned round, ran after the 
 offender, and seized him by the poll. In this manner 
 he carried him to the quay, and holding him for some 
 time over the water, at length dropped him into it. 
 He did not, however, design that the culprit should be 
 capitally punished ; he waited a little while, until the 
 offender was not only well ducked, but near sinking, 
 and then he plunged in and brought him out safe 
 to land. It would be difficult, says the doctor, to 
 conceive of any punishment more aptly contrived, or 
 more completely in character. A variety of com- 
 parisons, and motives, and generous feelings, entered 
 into the composition of this act.
 
 36 THE DOG. 
 
 11. This seems almost i icredible, but I remember 
 reading an anecdote, which, as far as I can remember, 
 was authenticated when published. A gentleman used 
 to go twice a year to London, and remain near a week, 
 leaving his horse at St. Albans, and going to and from 
 thence by coach. He chanced, one journey, to have a 
 small dog with him, and that he left with the horse at 
 St. Albans. Returning at the end of a week, he was 
 told, by the hostler, that on the day he (the gentleman) 
 started for London, the innkeeper's dog broke loose 
 and fixed on the other; when separated, the stranger 
 bolted, and next day returning with a large Newfound- 
 land dog, the two deliberately walked up to the offender, 
 and after giving him a terrible punishment, departed, 
 and had not been seen since. The Newfoundland dog 
 being then described oh ! said the gentleman, it's all 
 right : the small dog hud been home (twenty miles) 
 and fetched his companion to help him in his revenge 
 on mine host's Cerberus. 
 
 12. A gentleman residing in Fifeshire, and not far 
 from the city of St. Andrews, was in possession of a 
 very fine Newfoundland dog, which was remarkable 
 alike for its tractability and its trust-worthiness. At 
 two other points, each distant about a mile, and at the 
 same distance from this gentleman's mansion, there 
 were two dogs of great power, but of less tractable 
 breeds than the Newfoundland one. One of these was 
 a large mastiff, kept as a watch-dog by a farmer, and 
 the other a staunch bull-dog, that kept guard over the 
 parish mill. As each of these three was lord-ascendant 
 of all animals at his master's residence, they all had a
 
 THE DOG. 37 
 
 good deal of aristocratic pride and pugnacity, so that 
 two of tiiem seldom met without attempting to settle 
 their respective dignities by a wager of battle. The 
 Newfoundland dog was of some service in the domestic 
 arrangements, besides his guardianship of the house ; 
 for every forenoon he was sent to the baker's shop in 
 the village, about half a mile distant, with a towel 
 containing money in the corner, and he returned with 
 the value of the money in bread. There were many 
 useless and not over civil curs in the village, as there 
 are in too many villages throughout the country ; but 
 ordinarily the haughty Newfoundland treated this 
 ignoble race in that contemptuous style in which great 
 dogs are wont to treat little ones. When the dog 
 returned from the baker's shop, he used to be regularly 
 served with his dinner, and went peaceably on house 
 duty for the rest of the day. One day, however, he 
 returned with his coat dirtied and his ears scratched, 
 having been subjected to a combined attack of the 
 curs while he had charge of his towel and bread, and 
 so could not defend himself. Instead of waiting for 
 his dinner as usual, he laid down his charge somewhat 
 sulkily, and marched off; and upon looking after him, 
 it was observed that he was crossing the intervening 
 hollow in a straight line for the house of the farmer, 
 or rather on an embassy to the farmer's mastiff. The 
 farmer's people noticed this unusual visit, and they 
 were induced to notice it from its being a meeting of 
 peace between those who had habitually been belliger- 
 ents. After some intercourse, of which no interpre- 
 tation could be given, the two set off together in the
 
 38 THE DOG. 
 
 direction of the mill ; and having arrived there, they 
 in brief space engaged the miller's bull-dog as an ally. 
 The straight road to the village where the indignity 
 had been offered to the Newfoundland dog passed 
 immediately in front of his master's house, but there 
 was a more private and more circuitous road by the 
 back of the mill. The three took this road, reached 
 the village, scoured it in great Avrath, putting to the 
 tooth every cur they could get sight of, and, having 
 taken their revenge, and washed themselves in a ditch, 
 they returned, each dog to the abode of his master ; 
 and when any two of them happened to meet after- 
 wards, they displayed the same pugnacity as they had 
 done previous to this joint expedition. 
 
 13. There is another well authenticated anecdote of 
 two dogs at Donaghadee, in which the instinctive daring 
 of the one in behalf of the other caused a friendship, 
 and, as it should seem, a kind of lamentation for the 
 dead, after one of them had paid the debt of nature. 
 This happened while the government harbour or pier 
 for the packets at Donaghadee was in the course of 
 building, and it took place in the sight of several 
 witnesses. The one dog, in this case also, was a New- 
 foundland, and the other was a mastiff. They were 
 both powerful dogs, and though each was good natured 
 when alone, they were very much in the habit of 
 fighting when they met. One day they had a fierce 
 and prolonged battle on the pier, from the point of 
 which they both fell into the sea ; and as the pier was 
 long and steep, they had no means of escape but by 
 swimming a considerable, distance. Throwing Avater
 
 THE DOG. 39 
 
 fighting dogs is an approved means of putting 
 ,n eud to their hostilities ; and, it is natural to suppose, 
 that two combatants of the same species tumbling 
 themselves into the sea would have the same effect. 
 It had, and each began to make for the land as he 
 best could. The Newfoundland being an excellent 
 swimmer, very speedily gained the pier, on which he 
 stood shaking himself, but at the same time watching 
 the motions of his late antagonist, who being no 
 swimmer, was struggling exhausted in the water, and 
 just about to sink. In dashed the Newfoundland dog, 
 took the other gently by the collar, kept his head above 
 water, and brought him safely on shore. There was a 
 peculiar kind of recognition between the two animals 
 they never fought again they were always together 
 and when the Newfoundland dog had been accident- 
 ally killed by the passage of a stone wagon on the 
 railway over him, the other languished and evidently 
 lamented for a long time. 
 
 14. I am so satisfied that dogs, and many, if not all, 
 other animals have language or other means of impart- 
 ing their thoughts, that I am almost afraid of beginning 
 recital of proof; but, to insure the reader against tiring 
 his patience, only one instance of the faculty. My friend 
 Doctor F. H. M. has told me of his father's dog, Jem, 
 who was not renowned as a fighting dog, and having 
 sometimes to pay a visit to some canine friend in the 
 locality, he would have to pass the parsonage house, 
 where was a dog a little too much for Jem, but afraid 
 of Jem's companion, Carlo, who, therefore, on being 
 politely requested by Jem, used to escort him past the
 
 40 THE DOG. 
 
 other, and then return home. Jem was a dog well 
 known for miles round, a dog that would not be picked 
 up by any one, and that fact renders the following still 
 more wonderful. Doctor M's father was on his death- 
 bed; Jem, who was ardently attached to his master, 
 could not be kept from the chamber. Immediately Mr. 
 M. breathed his last, the groom was started on horse- 
 back to inform the sister. The groom, as was his 
 custom, whistled and called for Jem, but to no purpose ; 
 returned from his journey of seven or eight miles, he 
 was asked if the dog did not go with him. No ! he had 
 not seen him. The crier was employed, the dog was 
 advertized, arid was well known, but never was seen or 
 heard of from the moment the soul of his master had 
 left its earthly tenement. Will any one say that the 
 faithful creature did not go to some secluded spot and 
 die of grief? 
 
 15 We read of a surgeon Avho found a poor dog with 
 his leg broken. He took him home, set the leg, and 
 in due time gave the dog his liberty. Some months 
 afterwards, the surgeon was awoke in the night by a 
 dog barking loudly at his door. As the barking con- 
 tinued, and the surgeon thought he recognized the 
 voice, he got up and went down stairs. When he 
 opened the door, there stood his former patient 
 wagging his tail, and by his side another dog a friend 
 whom he had brought who had also had the mis- 
 fortune to get a leg broken. 
 
 16 The following anecdotes illustrate in a remark- 
 able manner the devoted attachment of dogs to their 
 masters : An officer named St. Leger, who was im-
 
 THE DOG. 41 
 
 prisoned in Vincennes, near Paris, during the wars of 
 St. Bartholomew, wished to keep with him a greyhound 
 that he had brought up, and which was much attached 
 to him ; but they harshly refused him this innocent 
 pleasure, and sent away the greyhound to his house in 
 the Rue des Lions Saint Paul. The next day, the 
 greyhound returned alone to Vincennes, and began to 
 bark under the windows of the tower, towards the 
 place where the officer was confined. St. Leger 
 approached, looked through the bars, and was delighted 
 again to see his faithful hound, who began to jump and 
 play a thousand gambols to show her joy. Her master 
 threw a piece of bread to the animal, who ate it with 
 great good -will. St. Leger did the same in his prison, 
 and in spite of the immense wall which separated 
 them, they breakfasted together like two friends. This 
 friendly visit was not the last. Abandoned by his 
 relations, who believed him dead, the unfortunate 
 prisoner received the visits of his greyhound only, 
 during four years confinement. Whatever weather it 
 might be, in spite of rain or snow, the faithful animal 
 did not fail a single day to pay her accustomed visit. 
 Six months after his release from prison, St. Leger 
 died. The faithful greyhound would no longer remain 
 in the house, but, on the day after the funeral, returned 
 to the castle of Vincennes, and it is supposed she was 
 actuated by a motive of gratitude. A jailer of the 
 outer court, had always shown great kindness to this 
 dog, which was as handsome as affectionate, Contrary 
 to the custom of people of that class, this man had 
 been touched by her attachment and beauty, so that he
 
 42 THE DOG. 
 
 facilitated her approach to see her master, and also 
 insured her a safe retreat. Penetrated with gratitude 
 for this service, the greyhound remained the rest of 
 her life near the benevolent jailer. It was remarked, 
 that even while testifying her zeal and gratitude for 
 her second master, one could easily see that her heart 
 was with the first. Like those, who, having lost a 
 parent, a brother, or a friend, come from afar to seek 
 consolation by viewing the place which they inhabited, 
 this affectionate animal repaired frequently to the 
 tower where St. Leger had been imprisoned, and would 
 contemplate for hours together the gloomy window 
 from which her master had so often smiled to her, 
 and where they had so frequently breakfasted together. 
 17. In January, 1799, the cold was so intense that 
 the Seine was frozen to the depth of fifteen or sixteen 
 inches. Following the example of a number of thought- 
 less youths who were determined to continue the 
 amusement of skating, in spite of a thaw having com- 
 menced, a young student, called Beaumanoir, wished 
 also to partake of this dangerous pleasure, near the 
 quay of the Hotel des Monnaies, of Paris ; but he had 
 scarcely gone twenty steps when the ice broke under 
 his weight, and he disappeared. The young skater had 
 carried a small spaniel with him, which, seeing his 
 master sink under the ice, immediately gave the alarm 
 by barking with all his might, near the spot where the 
 accident had happened. It will easily be believed that 
 it was impossible to give any assistance to the un- 
 fortunate youth, but the howlings of the animal 
 wai-ned others from approaching the fatal place. The
 
 THE DOG. 43 
 
 poor spaniel sent forth the most frightful howls ; he 
 ran along the river as if he were mad ; and at last, not 
 seeing his master return, he went to establish himself 
 at the hole where he had seen him disappear, and 
 there he passed the rest of the day and all the follow- 
 ing night. The day after, people saw with surprise 
 the poor animal sorrowfully at the same post. Struck 
 with admiration of such constancy, some of them made 
 him a little bed of straw, and brought him some food ; 
 but, absorbed in the most profound grief, he would not 
 even drink the milk which these kind-hearted people 
 placed near him. Sometimes he would run about the 
 ice or the borders of the river to seek his master, but 
 he always returned to sleep in the same place. He bit 
 a soldier who was attempting to make him leave his 
 inhospitable retreat, who, fearing that he was mad, 
 fired at and wounded him. This affecting example of 
 grief nd constancy was witnessed for many days, and 
 people came in crowds to contemplate this beautiful 
 trait of attachment, which was not without its reward. 
 The dog being only slightly wounded, was taken charge 
 of by a woman, who, compassionating his suffering, 
 and touched by the affection he showed for his late 
 master, carried him to her house, where his wound was 
 dressed, and every effort that kindness could devise 
 was practised, to console him for the loss of the young 
 skater. 
 
 18. A short time ago, a dog, well known to the 
 railway officials from his frequent travelling with his 
 master, presented himself at one of the stations on the 
 Fleetwood, Preston, and Longridge line. After looking
 
 44 THE DOG. 
 
 round for some length of time amongst the passengers 
 and in the carriages, just as the train was about to 
 start he leaped into one of the compartments of a 
 carriage, and laid himself down under the seat. 
 Arriving at Longridge, he made another survey of the 
 passengers, and, after waiting until the station had 
 been cleared, he went into the Railway Station Hotel, 
 searched all the places on the ground-floor, then went 
 and made a tour of inspection over the adjoining 
 grounds, but being apparently unsuccessful, trotted 
 back to the train, and took his old position just as it 
 was moving off. On reaching the station from which 
 he had first started, he again looked round as before, 
 and took his departure. It seems that he now pro- 
 ceeded to the general railway station at Preston, and, 
 after repeating the looking round performance, placed 
 himself under one of the seats in a train which he had 
 singled out of the many that are constantly popping in 
 and out, and in due time arrived at Liverpool. He 
 now visited a few places where he had before been 
 with his master, of whom, as it afterwards appeared, 
 he was in search. Of his adventures in Liverpool little 
 is known, but he remained over night, and visited 
 Preston again early the following morning. Still not 
 finding his missing master, he for the fourth time 
 " took the train," this time, however, to Lancaster and 
 Carlisle, at which latter place the sagacity and faith- 
 fulness of the animal, as well as the perseverance and 
 tact he displayed in prosecuting his search, were 
 rewarded by finding his master. Their joy at meeting 
 was mutual.
 
 THE DOG. 45 
 
 19. We are told by Plutarch of a certain Roman 
 slave in the civil wars, whose head nobody durst cut 
 off, for fear of the dog that guarded his body, and 
 fought in his defence. It happened that King Pyrrhus, 
 travelling that way, observed the animal watching over 
 the body of the deceased, and hearing that he had- 
 been there three days without meat or drink, yet would 
 not forsake his master, ordered the body to be buried, 
 and the dog preserved and brought to him. A few 
 days afterwards, there was a muster of the soldiers, so' 
 that every man was forced to march in order before- 
 the king. The dog lay quietly by him for some time ;- 
 but when he saw the murderers of his late owner pass 
 by, he flew upon them with extraordinary fury, barking, 
 and tearing their garments, and frequently turning 
 about to the king, which both excited the king's sus~ 
 pieioK, and the jealousy of all who stood about him. 
 The men were in consequence apprehended, and 
 though the circumstances which appeared in evidence 
 against them were very slight, they confessed the 
 crime, and were accordingly punished. 
 
 20. A gentleman named Macaire, an officer of the 
 king's body-guard, entertained, for some reason, 
 bitter hatred against another gentleman, named Aubrey 
 de Montdidier, his comrade in service. These two* 
 having met in the Forest of Bondis, near Paris, 
 Maeaire took an opportunity of treachei'ously murder- 
 ing his brother officer, and buried him in a ditch. 
 Montdidier was unaccompanied at the moment, except- 
 ing by a greyhound, with which he had probably gone 
 out to hunt. It is not known whether the dog wa
 
 46 THE DOG. 
 
 muzzled, or from what other cause it permitted the 
 deed to be accomplished without its interference. Be 
 this as it might, the hound lay down on the grave of 
 its master, and there remained till hunger compelled 
 it to rise. It then went to the kitchen of one of Aubrey 
 de Montdidier's dearest friends, where it was welcomed 
 warmly, and fed. As soon as its hunger was appeased 
 the dog disappeared. For several days this coming 
 and going was repeated, till at last the curiosity of 
 those who saw its movements was excited, and it was 
 resolved to follow the animal, and see if anything 
 could be learned in explanation of Montdidier's sudden 
 disappearance. The dog was accordingly followed, and 
 was seen to come to a pause on some newly turned up 
 earth, where it set up the most mournful wailings and 
 bowlings. These cries were so touching, that passen- 
 gers were attracted, and finally digging into the ground 
 at the spot, they found there the body of Aubrey de 
 Montdidier. It was raised and conveyed to Paris, 
 where it was soon afterwards interred in one of the 
 city cemeteries. The dog attached itself from this 
 time forth to the friend, already mentioned, of its late 
 master. While attending on him, it chanced several 
 times to get a sight of Macaire, and on every occasion 
 it sprang upon him and would have strangled him, had 
 it not been taken off by force. This intensity of hate 
 on the part of the animal awakened a suspicion that 
 Macaire had had some share in Montdidier's murder, 
 for his body showed him to have met a violent death. 
 Charles V., on being informed of the circumstances, 
 wished to satisfy himself of their truth. He caused
 
 THE DOG. 47 
 
 Macaire and the dog to be brought before him, and 
 beheld the animal again spring upon the object of its 
 hatred. The king interrogated Macaire closely, but 
 the latter would not admit that he had been in any way 
 connected with Montdidier's murder. Being strongly 
 impressed by a conviction, that the conduct of the dog 
 was based on some guilty act of Macaire, the king 
 ordered a combat to take place between the officer and 
 his dumb accuser, according to the practice, in those 
 days, between human plaintiffs and defendants. This 
 remarkable combat took place on the Isle of Notre 
 Dame, at Paris, in presence of the whole court. The king 
 allowed Macaire to have a strong club as a defensive 
 weapon, while, on the other hand, the only self-pre- 
 servative means allowed to 'the dog, consisted of an 
 empty cask, into which it could retreat if hard pressed. 
 The combatants appeared in the lists. The dog seemed 
 perfectly aware of its situation and duty. For a short 
 time it leapt actively around Macaire, and then, at one 
 spring, it fastened itself upon his throat in so firm a 
 manner that he could not disentangle himself. He 
 would have been strangled had he not cried for mercy, 
 and avowed his crime. The dog was pulled from off 
 him, but he was onlj r liberated from its fangs to perish 
 by the hands of the law. The fidelity of this 'dog has 
 been celebrated in many a drama and poem, and it has 
 been usually called the Dog of Montargis, from the 
 combat having taken place at the chateau of Montargis. 
 21. My own experience furnishes me with an in- 
 stance, like the preceding ones, of the dog. I had, 
 many years ago, a Newfoundland dog, as thoroughly
 
 48 THE DOG. 
 
 attached to ine as these faithful creatures generally are 
 to those whe use them well. It became inconvenient 
 for me to keep him, and I gave him to one who I 
 knew would be kind to him. Four years passed, and 
 I had not seen him, although I had often inquired 
 about him ; but one day I was walking towards King- 
 ston, and had arrived at the brow of the hill, where 
 Jerry Abershaw's gibbet then stood, when I met Carlo 
 and the master to whom I had consigned him. He 
 recollected me in a moment, and we made much of 
 each other. His master, after a little chat, proceeded 
 towards Wandsworth, and Carlo, as in duty bound, 
 followed him. I had not, however, got more than half 
 way down the hill, when he was by my side, lowly but 
 deeply growling, and every hair bristling. I looked at 
 the right, and there were two ill looking fellows making 
 their way through the bushes, which then occupied 
 the angular space between the Roehampton and 
 Wandsworth roads. Their intention was scarcely ques- 
 tionable, and, indeed a week or two before, I had 
 narrowly escaped from two miscreants like them. I 
 ean scarcely tell what I felt, for, presently, one of the 
 scoundrels emerged from the bushes not twenty yards 
 from me ; but he no sooner saw my companion, and 
 heard his growling, the loudness and depth of which 
 were fearfully increasing, than he retreated, and I 
 saw no more of him or of his associate. My gallant 
 defender accompanied me to the direction post at the 
 bottom of the hill, and there, with many a mutual and 
 honest greeting we parted, and he bounded awsy to 
 overtake his rightful owner. We never met again;
 
 THE DOG. 49 
 
 but I need not say that I often thought of him with 
 admiration and gratitude. 
 
 22. The attachment of the dog remains long after 
 the death of the master, and in some cases, terminates 
 only with the existence of the quadruped. A gentleman 
 having lost his way in a fog near the Helvellyn moun- 
 tains, in Cumberland, fell down a precipice, and was 
 dashed to pieces. The remains were discovered full 
 three months afterwards, at the bottom, still guarded 
 by his faithful dog. The story is told with much 
 feeling by Sir Walter Scott : 
 
 " Dark was the spot 'mid the brown mountain heather, 
 Where the pilgrim of nature lay stretched in decay ; 
 
 Like the corpse of an outcast abandoned to weather, 
 Till the mountain winds wasted the tenantless clay, 
 
 Yet, not quite deserted, though lonely extended, 
 
 For, faithful in death, his mute favourite attended, 
 
 The much lov'd remains of his master defended, 
 And chased the hill-fox and the raven away." 
 
 23. .A butcher had such implicit dependance on the 
 attention of his dog to his orders, that whenever he 
 put a lot of sheep before her, he took a pride in leaving 
 them entirely to her, and either remained to take a 
 glass with the farmer from whom he made the pur- 
 chase, or went another road to look after other bargains. 
 But one time he chanced to commit a drove to her 
 charge without attending to her condition, as he ought 
 to have done. His farm was five miles away over the 
 wild hills, and there was no regularly denned path to it. 
 On coming home late in the evening, he was astonished 
 to hear that his faithful animal had not made her 
 appearance with the flock. He and his son immediately 
 prepared to set out in different directions in search of
 
 50 THE DOG. 
 
 her; but, on their getting into the lane, there she was, 
 coming with the drove, and not one missing ; but she 
 carrying a young pup in her mouth. She had been 
 taken in travail on those hills, and how the poor beast 
 had contrived to manage the drove in her state of 
 suffering, is beyond human calculation, for her road 
 lay through sheep the whole way. Her master's heart 
 smote him when he saw what she had suffered and 
 effected; but she was nothing daunted, and having 
 deposited her young one in a place of safety, she again 
 set out at full speed to the hills, and brought another, 
 and another, until she had removed her whole litter, 
 one by one. The last one was dead. 
 
 24. Another person had more upon his conscience, 
 for he, not sufficiently regarding the situation of his 
 dog, took her nearly twenty miles from home, and she 
 gave birth to her young at almost the greatest distance 
 She also brought her offspring home, one by one, but 
 they were all dead ; and when she arrived with the 
 last one, she had just strength enough remaining to 
 crawl to her bed, and she looked wistfully in her 
 master's face, and died. 
 
 25. Of the staunchness and incorruptible fidelity of 
 the dog, the following anecdote is an illustration. An 
 officer of Holstein returned from a day's shooting 
 extremely fatigued. He hastily placed the game in his 
 chamber, locked the door, and unconsciously shut in 
 his dogs. He was almost immediately afterwards dis- 
 patched on business, and departed, forgetting his game. 
 He was absent many days. On his return, he hastened 
 to his chamber, where he found the faithful dogs
 
 THE DOG. 51 
 
 stretched by the side of the game, and dead. Several 
 partridges and hares were strewed around them, but 
 they had not touched one of them, nor had they cried 
 to be released, which would have been immediately 
 heard in the chateau, because they imagined that they 
 were placed there by their master to guard the produce 
 of their day's excursion. 
 
 26. A friend of mine possessed a water-dog of nearly 
 the same breed, which evinced a degree of intelligence 
 scarcely less than human. One instance of her sagacity 
 and faithfulness I cannot refuse myself the pleasure 
 of recording. My friend was travelling on the Con- 
 tinent, and his faithful dog was his companion. One day, 
 before he left his lodgings in the morning, with the 
 expectation of being absent until evening, he took out 
 his purse in his room for the purpose of ascertaining 
 whether he had taken sufficient money for a day's 
 occupation, and then went his way, leaving his dog 
 behind. Having dined at a coffee-house, he took out 
 his purse, and missed a louis dor, searched for it 
 diligently, but to no purpose. Returning home in the 
 evening, his servant let him in, with a face of much* 
 sorrow, and told him that the poor dog was very ill, 
 as she had not eaten anything all day, and what 
 appeared very strange, she would not suffer him to 
 take her .food away from before her, but had been lying 
 with her nose close to the vessel without attempting 
 to touch it. On my friend entering his room, she 
 instantly jumped upon him, then laid the louis cFor at 
 his feet, and immediately began to devour her food with 
 great voracity. The truth was now apparent: my 
 2 D
 
 82 THE DOG. 
 
 friend had dropped the money in the morning when 
 leaving his room, and the faithful creature finding it, 
 had held it in her mouth, until his return enabled her 
 to restore it to his own hands even refusing to eat 
 for a whole day, lest it should be out of her custody. 
 I knew the dog well, and have witnessed very many 
 curious tricks of hers showing docility. 
 
 27. I have a poodle whom I would make tutor to my 
 son, .if I had one, I sometimes use him towards my 
 own education. Will not the following trait of his 
 character amuse you? He conceived a strange fond- 
 ness, an absolute passion, for a young kitten, which 
 he carried about in his mouth for hours when 
 he went out to walk, and whenever he came to a 
 resting-place, he set her down with the greatest care 
 and tenderness, and began to play with her. When he 
 was fed, she always took the nicest pieces away from 
 him, without his ever making the slighest opposition. 
 The kitten died, and was buried in the garden. My 
 poor poodle showed the deepest grief, would not touch 
 food, and howled mournfully the whole night long. 
 What was my astonishment, when, the next morning, 
 he appeared carrying the kitten in his mouth ! He had 
 scratched her out of the ground, and it was only by 
 force that we could take her from him. 
 
 28. Our post-master has a strangely sagacious dog. A 
 great deal of business is done at the post-office, and a 
 great many messages dispatched from it to the various 
 villages. The dog, Charlie, sits at the front door of a 
 morning, and signals, by a short bark, as each individual 
 messenger rounds the corner into the street : the short
 
 THE DOG. 53 
 
 bark is sufficient to tell the clerk in the office that his 
 attention will be required. So soon as the milkman 
 appears, Charlie runs in-doors with, a loud continuous 
 bow-wow, as it is uncertain in what part of the house 
 the person may be who should attend the " milky way." 
 Charlie knows me well, and shows marked fondness for 
 me, but he always barks at my approach on Sunday 
 mornings. 
 
 29. Smut, a town mendicant, got his living in a safe 
 way. He was a black shaggy spaniel, of average size, 
 who, with a little attention, might have been accounted 
 handsome, and he was generally supposed to have a 
 master, though in reality he had none. He knew, and 
 was known to, nearly all the city dining houses, which 
 he would enter at dining hours, and there beg for 
 bones and scraps among the customers. He had the 
 precaution to limit his stay at one place to about half 
 an hour at the most, and as the waiters invariably 
 supposed his master to be present, he rarely encoun- 
 tered any opposition from them. Several attempts 
 were made by those who knew him to attach him to 
 themselves and give him a permanent home, but none 
 of them succeeded. Smut preferred a nomadic life; 
 and though he would stay for a day or two with 
 an indulgent patron, he invariably ended by asserting 
 his independence, and resumed his vagabond mendi 
 cant life. It was said that he finally fell a victim 
 to the police, who, finding him airing his tongue one 
 sweltering day in August, sacrificed him to the 
 dog- star and the Lord Mayor's proclamation against 
 hydrophobia.
 
 64 THE DOG. 
 
 30. In the course of last summer, it chanced that 
 the sheep on the farm of a friend of ours, on the water 
 of Stinchar, were, like those of his neighbours, partially 
 affected with a common disease in the skin, to cure 
 which distemper it is necessary to cut off the wool 
 over the part affected, and apply a small quantity of 
 balsam. For this purpose, the shepherd set off to the 
 hill one morning, accompanied by his faithful canine 
 assistant, Laddie. Arrived among the flock, the shep- 
 herd pointed out a diseased animal, and making the 
 accustomed signal for the dog to capture it, " poor 
 Mailic" was speedily sprawling on her back, and gently 
 held down by the dog till the arrival of her keeper, 
 who proceeded to clip off a portion of her wool, and 
 apply the healing balsam. During the operation, 
 Laddie continued to gaze on the operator with close 
 attention, and the sheep having been released, he was 
 directed to capture in succession two or three more of 
 the flock, which underwent similar treatment. The 
 sagacious animal had now become initiated into the 
 mysteries of his master's vocation, for off he set un- 
 bidden through the flock, and picked out with unerring 
 precision those sheep which were affected, and held 
 them down until the arrival of his master, who was 
 thus, by the extraordinaiy instinct of Laddie, saved a 
 world of trouble, while the operation of clipping and 
 smearing was also greatly facilitated. 
 
 31. Domestic animals not unfrequently contract sud- 
 den fancies for, and occasionally as sudden aversions to 
 particular individuals, in a strange manner, the latter 
 being apparently more difficult to understand than the
 
 THE DOG. 55 
 
 former. Doubtless something or other has passed 
 through the animal's mind, which, could we know what 
 it was, would fully account for this conduct on their 
 part, while to those unacquainted with the cause, they 
 appear to be actuated solely by caprice. The following 
 instances have happened to occur within my own 
 knowledge. A brother of mine, when in the army, had 
 a very favourite little spaniel which was devotedly 
 attached to him, and his constant companion. During 
 a visit of a few days however, which I paid him, when 
 quartered at Cork, and on the eve of embarkation for 
 foreign service, the dog took such an extraordinary 
 fancy for me, that he decidedly preferred my company 
 to that of my brother, and indeed quite deserted him 
 for me. On my leaving to return to England, my 
 brother kindly gave him to me, and he, as a matter of 
 course, followed me on board the steamer, leaving my 
 brother standing on the quay. The steamer sheered off, 
 and proceeded on her course ; but no sooner did the 
 dog perceive that he was really to be separated from his 
 old master, than all his former affection for him appeared 
 to return in its full force ; in every way in which a dog 
 can express contrition, he seemed to do so for his error 
 in having forsaken him for me ; and I was actually 
 obliged to hold him, in order to prevent him from jump- 
 ing overboard to rejoin him. I had poor Brick for some 
 years afterwards until one unlucky day when, during my 
 absence from home, he was taken out rabbit shooting by 
 the servants, and a stray shot ended his existence. 
 
 32. Having alluded to my little dog " Brick," I cannot 
 refrain, before taking leave of him here, from men-
 
 66 THE DOG. 
 
 tioning the original method in which he used to 
 resent the impertinences of a small cur, which was con- 
 tinually insulting his dignity by running up and barking 
 at him. When this happened, Brick used to " go in " 
 at the offender, as if determined to chastise him, which 
 he would perhaps have done, had not the other at once 
 cried " peccavi," and deprecated his wrath by lying down 
 crouching on his back. I have read of a big dog under 
 similar circumstances taking up the smaller one, and 
 dropping him into a dirty puddle. 
 
 33. Two other of his peculiarities, may, perhaps, be 
 also worth recording. One of these was his extreme 
 sensitiveness in point of " ear " for music. If he were 
 lying asleep in the drawing-room, and two or three 
 discords were purposely struck on the piano, he would 
 instantly jump up and express his horror of them by 
 a dismal whine. The other, was his dislike to have 
 anything floating about in his "tea." I have seen him 
 start back and growl at a tea twig (in nursery parlance 
 " stranger ") which happened to corne to the surface 
 whilst he was drinking it. 
 
 34. The following I have from an old and much 
 valued friend, a good and scientific naturalist: "Walk- 
 ing with a favourite Newfoundland dog of great size, 
 one frosty day, he observed the animal's repeated 
 disappointment on putting his head down, with the 
 intention to drink, at sundry ice-covered pools. After 
 one of these disappointments, my friend broke the ice 
 with his foot, for his thirsty companion's behoof. The 
 next time it seemed good to the dog to try and drink, 
 instead of waiting for his master to break the ice as
 
 THE DOG. 57 
 
 before, he set his own huge paw forcibly on tie ice, 
 and, with a little effort, obtained water for himself. 
 
 35. Dogs perform an important part in street-begging 
 in London. They have been known, on the receipt of 
 a penny, to run to the baker's shop, and bring their 
 master a piece of bread. We have read of a dog, who, 
 on the death of his blind master, followed up his old 
 calling by begging on his own account. Another in- 
 stance of canine wit, which seems to have a smack of 
 the facetious in it, is that of a dog who made a living 
 by shoe-blacking in Paris. The animal, in his desire 
 to serve his master, would roll into the gutter for the 
 purpose of throwing mud upon the shoes of pedes- 
 trians. The following is the account quoted from 
 Chambers : An English officer, who was in Paris in 
 1815, mentions the case of a dog belonging to a shoe- 
 black, which brought customers to its master. This it 
 did in a very ingenious, and scarcely honest manner. 
 The officer, having occasion to cross one of the bridges 
 over the Seine, had his boots, which had been pre- 
 viously polished, dirtied by a poodle-dog rubbing 
 against them. He, in consequence, went to a man who 
 was stationed on the bridge, and had them cleaned. 
 The same circumstance having occurred more than 
 once, his curiosity was excited, and he watched the 
 dog. He saw him roll himself into the mud of the 
 river, and then watch for a person with well polished 
 boots, against which he contrived to rub himself. Find- 
 ing that the shoe-black was the owner of the dog, he 
 taxed him with the artifice ; and, after a little hesitation, 
 he confessed that he had taught the dog the trick, in
 
 58 THE DOG. 
 
 order, to procure customers for himself. The officer, 
 being much struck with the dog's sagacity, purchased 
 him at a high price, and brought him to England. He 
 kept him tied up in London some time, and then 
 released him. The dog remained with him a day or 
 two, and then made his escape. A fortnight afterwards, 
 he was found with his former master, pursuing his old 
 trade of dirtying gentlemen's boots on the bridge. 
 Instances of the strong attachment of the beggar's 
 dog may often be witnessed. Not only does he enact 
 the guide to the blind, but he performs other services 
 equally essential ; taking up the alms dropped for his 
 mendicant master, or holding a cup to receive the 
 contributions of the charitable. And often is he seen 
 placing himself in an erect attitude, with a most 
 beseeching visage, which tells well upon the pocket. 
 J 36. A gentleman was missed in London, and was 
 ' supposed to have met with some foul play. No clue 
 could be obtained to the mystery, till it was gained 
 from observing his dog continue to crouch down before 
 a certain house. The animal would not be induced to 
 leave the spot, and it was at length inferred that he 
 might be waiting for his master. The house, hitherto 
 above suspicion, was searched, and the result was the 
 discovery of the body of the missing individual, who 
 had been murdered. The guilty parties were arrested, 
 confessed their crime ; and thus one of the "dens of 
 London " was broken up by the " police knowledge " 
 of this faithful dog. 
 
 37. Our superintendent of police had a dog, Toby, 
 which he had given to a friend in a neighbouring town.
 
 THE DOG. 59 
 
 Mr. Superintendent H. drove through the town some 
 months after, and as he came into the inn-yard, some 
 one hundred and fifty yards from where the dog as, 
 and out of sight of the late owner, the person said, 
 
 there's Mr. just gone into the Arms. Up 
 
 jumped Toby, and ran off immediately to his old mas- 
 ter's quarters, and began to testify the customary joyous 
 recognition. 
 
 38. A mansion in Gloucestershire had been let to a 
 new family who undertook not only to keep the house 
 in order, but to maintain a large dog which had been 
 left there by the owner of the house. When the new 
 comers went away for the season, the dog was placed 
 on board wages with the dairy maid, who is supposed 
 not to have over fed her boarder, and therefore at all 
 future breakings up of the establishment, he knew by 
 preparatory packing and other signs that the day of 
 dearth was approaching, and very wisely used to pre- 
 pare for famine, by hoarding up unpicked bones and all 
 scraps, which he would at other times, and in palmy 
 days, have turned up his nose at. 
 
 39. In the triumphal entrance of the troops here, 
 the heroes of the day, (with the exception of Gen- 
 eral Prim, who was so greeted that he had to deliver 
 half a dozen speeches as he went through the streets,) 
 were a trumpeter and a dog. Their glory obscured 
 that of all the army, and they obtained an ovation 
 which will disturb the repose of Espartero at Log- 
 rono. The trumpeter belongs to the Bourbon regi- 
 ment ; he is only fourteen years, and is of short 
 stature. When in Africa, he happened, one day, whilst
 
 60 THE DOG. 
 
 in the advanced posts with his company, to be exces- 
 sively hungry, and he could not get any food. At last 
 he perceived a number of oak trees, and said to himself, 
 " Where there are oak trees there are acorns, which at 
 a pinch can be eaten !" He accordingly slipped away, 
 and passed unobserved by the sentinels, climbed up 
 the tree and began eating. He was suddenly inter- 
 rupted by a strange noise, and to his dismay, perceived 
 that the tree was surrounded by furious looking Moors. 
 Flight was impossible, and resistance out of the ques- 
 tion ; but a bright idea struck him : he seized his 
 trumpet and sounded the charge. The Moors thinking 
 that they had fallen into an ambush, took to flight. 
 This exploit of the trumpeter excited great admiration 
 at the time, and on the entrance of the troops, the 
 crowd not only greeted him with enthusiasm, but he 
 was borne in triumph on men's shoulders, and crowned 
 with laurel ! From time to time, at the request of the 
 people, he sounded the charge which had struck terror 
 into the breasts of the Moors. As to the dog, he be- 
 longs to the riflemen of Baza. He was sold by his 
 owner for a loaf, to a soldier of the 4th company, at 
 Barcelona; and his new master gave him the name of 
 Palomo, and shared with him his food. The other 
 soldiers also treated him kindly, and the animal con- 
 ceived an affection not only for his master but for the 
 whole of the men. When the war broke out, the 
 battalion was ordered to Algesiras to embark, and the 
 dog was left behind at Barcelona. But just as the 
 battalion was about to leave, he reached that port and 
 joined the men; how he found his way there, none
 
 THE DOG. 61 
 
 could tell. He was, however, left behind ; but one day 
 he arrived mysteriously in Morocco, and again joined 
 his battalion ! He took part in all the combats up to 
 the taking of Tetuan, and in that afi'air he was struck 
 by a ball, which has made him lame for life. In the 
 entrance of the troops, he marched modestly at the 
 head of his battalion, but was covered with flowers and 
 laurel. He has been appointed honorary corporal in 
 the battalion, and wore the insignia of that grade. 
 
 40. A dog belonging to a celebrated chemist, had 
 tried upon it the effects of a certain poison, and upon 
 the next day a counter-poison was administered with 
 the effect of preserving the creature's life. The follow- 
 ing day another dose was offered him, but he would 
 not touch it. Different sorts of poisonous drugs were 
 presented to him, but he resolutely refused all ; bread 
 was offered, but he would not touch it ; meat, but he 
 turned from it; water, but he would not drink. To 
 reassure him, his master offered him bread and meat of 
 which he himself ate in the dog's presence, and of that 
 the sagacious animal hesitated not to partake. He was 
 then taken to a fountain, but he would drink nowhere 
 but from the spot where the water gushed free and 
 fresh. This continued for several days, until the 
 master touched by the extraordinary intelligence of the 
 poor creature, resolved to make no more attempts upon 
 him with his poisons. 
 
 41. A dog having been given by a gentlemen of 
 Wivenhoe to the captain of a collier, he took the dog 
 on board his vessel, and landed with him at Sunder- 
 land. But soon after his arrival there, the dog was
 
 62 THE DOG. 
 
 missing, and in a very few days arrived at the residence 
 of his old master in Essex. 
 
 42. A still more extraordinary circumstance is upon 
 record, of the late Colonel Hardy, who being sent for 
 express to Bath, was- accompanied by a favourite 
 spaniel in his chaise, which he never quitted till his 
 arrival there. After remaining there four days, he 
 accidentally left his spaniel behind, and retui-ned to 
 his residence at Springfield in Essex, with equal 
 expedition, where, in three days after, his faithful and 
 steady adherent arrived also, notwithstanding the 
 distance between that place and Bath is one hundred 
 and forty miles ; and she had to explore her way 
 through London, to which she had never been, but in 
 her passage to Bath, and then within the confines of a 
 close carriage. 
 
 43. A few years ago, the public were amused with an 
 account given in the newspapers of a dog which pos- 
 sessed the strange fancy of attending all the fires that 
 occurred in the metropolis The discovery of this 
 predilection was made by a gentleman residing a few 
 miles from town, who was called up in the middle of 
 the night by the intelligence that the premises adjoin- 
 ing his house of business were on fire. " The removal 
 of my books and papers," said he, in telling the story, 
 " of course claimed my attention ; yet, notwithstanding 
 this, and the bustle which prevailed, my eye every now 
 and then rested on a dog, whom, during the hottest 
 progress of the conflagration, I could not help noticing 
 running about, and apparently taking a deep interest 
 in what was going on, contriving to keep out of every
 
 THE DOG. 63 
 
 body's way, and yet always present amidst the thickest 
 of the stir. When the fire was got under, and I had 
 leisure to look about me, I again observed the dog, 
 which, with the firemen, appeared to be resting from 
 the fatigues of duty, and was led to make some inquiries 
 respecting him. ' Is this your dog, my friend?' said I 
 to a fireman. 'No, sir,' answered he; 'it does not 
 belong to me, or to any one in particular. We call him 
 the firemen's dog.' ' The firemen's dog !' I replied. 
 ' Why so? Has he no master?' ' No, sir,' rejoined the 
 fireman ; ' he calls none of us master, though we are all 
 of us willing enough to give him a night's lodging and 
 a pennyworth of meat. But he wont stay long with 
 am' of us ; his delight is to be at all the fires in London; 
 and, far or near, we generally find him on the road as 
 we are going along, and sometimes, if it is out of town, 
 we give him a lift. I don't think there has been a fire 
 for these two or three years past which he has not 
 been at.' The communication was so extraordinary 
 that I found it difficult to believe the story, until it was 
 confirmed by the concurrent testimony of several other 
 firemen. None of them, however, were able to give any 
 account of the early habits of the dog, or to offer any 
 explanation of the circumstances which led to this 
 singular propensity. Some time afterwards, I was 
 again called up in the night to a fire in the village in 
 which I resided (Camberwell, in Surrey), and to my 
 surprise here 1 again met with ' the firemen's dog, still 
 alive and well, pursuing, with the same apparent in- 
 terest and satisfaction, the exhibition of that which 
 seldom fails to bring with it disaster and misfortune, 
 E
 
 64 THE DOG. 
 
 oftentimes loss of life and ruin. Still, he culled no 
 man master, disdained to receive bed or board from 
 the same hand more than a night or two at a time, nor 
 could the firemen trace out his resting-place " Such 
 was the account of this interesting animal as it 
 appeared in the newspapers, to which were shortly 
 afterwards appended several circumstances communi- 
 cated by a fireman at one of the police-offices. A 
 magistrate having asked him whether it was a fact that 
 the dog was present at most of the fires that occurred 
 in the metropolis, the fireman replied that he never 
 knew " Tyke," as he was called, to be absent from a 
 fire upon any occasion that he [the fireman] attended 
 himself. The magistrate said the dog must have an 
 extraordinary predilection for fires. He then asked 
 what length of time he had been known to possess that 
 propensity. The fireman replied that he knew Tyke 
 for the last nine years; and although he was getting 
 old, yet the moment the engines were about, Tyke was 
 to be seen as active as ever, running off in the direction 
 of the fire. The magistrate inquired whether the dog 
 lived with any particular fireman. The fireman replied 
 that Tyke liked one fireman as well as another ; he had 
 no particular favourites, but passed his time amongst 
 them, sometimes going to the house of one, and then 
 to another, and off to a third when he was tired. Day 
 or night, it was all the same to him ; if a lire broke out, 
 there he was in the midst of the bustle, running from 
 one engine to another, anxiously looking after the 
 firemen ; and, although pressed upon by crowds, yet, 
 from his dexterity, he always escaped accidents, only
 
 THE DOG. 65 
 
 now and then getting a ducking from the engines, 
 which he rather liked than otherwise. The magistrates 
 said that Tyke was a most extraordinary animal, and 
 having expressed a wish to see him, he was shortly 
 after exhibited at the office, and some other peculiarites 
 respecting him were related. There was nothing at all 
 particular in the appearance. He was a rough-looking 
 small animal, of the terrier breed, and seemed to be in 
 excellent condition, no doubt from the care taken of 
 him by the firemen belonging to the different com- 
 panies. There was some difficulty experienced in 
 bringing him to the office, as he did not much relish 
 going any distance from where the firemen are usually 
 to be found, except in cases of attending them at a 
 conflagration, and then distance was of no consequence. 
 It was found necessary to use stratagem for the 
 purpose. A fireman commenced running: Tyke, ac- 
 customed to follow upon such occasions, set out after 
 him ; but this person having slackened his pace on the 
 way, the sagacious animal, knowing there was no fire, 
 turned back, and it was necessary to carry him to the 
 office. 
 
 44. The following striking anecdote of a similar kind 
 appeared in the first number of the new issue of 
 Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper. After giving a 
 short account of a fire-escape man, named Samuel 
 Wood, the writer thus alludes to his dog Bill : " As 
 to Bill, he regards him evidently in the light of a 
 friend ; he had him when he was a pup, from a poor 
 fellow who died in the service, and he and his ' Bill ' 
 have been on excellent terms ever since. The tire
 
 66 THE DOG. 
 
 escape man's dog takes after his master in courage and 
 perseverance. He is of a terrier breed, six years old. 
 An alarm of fire calls forth all his energy. He is the 
 first to know something is wrong, the first to exert 
 himself in setting it right. He has not been trained 
 to the work, ' it is a gift,' as his master says ; and if we 
 all used our gifts as efficiently as the dog Bill, it would 
 be the better for us. On an alarm of fire, Bill barks 
 his loudest, dashes about in a frantic manner, till his 
 master and the escape are on their way to it. He, of 
 course, is there first, giving the police and the crowd to 
 understand that Wood and his fire-escape are coining. 
 When the escape is fixed, and Wood begins to ascend 
 the ladder, Bill runs up the canvas ; as soon as a 
 window is opened, Bill leaps in, and dashes about to 
 find the occupants, loudly barking for assistance as 
 soon as he has accomplished his errand of mercy. His 
 watchfulness and sagacity are never at fault, although 
 on more than one occasion he has stood a fair chance 
 of losing his life, and has sustained very severe injury. 
 Not long ago, a collar was presented to Bill, as a reward 
 for his services ; unfortunately for him, he lias since 
 lost this token of public regard a misfortune much to 
 be regretted. The following verse was engraved on 
 the collar : 
 
 " I am the fire-escape man's dog, my name is Bill, 
 When 'fire' is called, I am never still ; 
 I bark for my master, all danger brave, 
 So bring the escape human life to save.' ' 
 
 Collared or collarless, Bill is always ready to lend a 
 helping bark. May his life be long, and his services 
 properly esteemed ! "
 
 THE DOG. 67 
 
 45. A boy at Athens of a very amiable character, had 
 a dog that had been his playmate from his cradle. The 
 animal was so fond of his young master, that he 
 scarcely ever quitted him ; he accompanied him in all 
 his sports, and whenever he saw him again after a 
 short absence, he expressed his pleasure by a thousand 
 caresses. He always eat his meals with him, slept at 
 his feet at night, rose with him in the morning, and 
 both began the day playing with each other. One day 
 this young Athenian, looking out of the window at 
 some exhibition that was passing along the street, 
 overreached himself, and losing his balance, fell from 
 the upper story of the house to the ground, and was 
 killed on the spot. Phileros (that was the name of the 
 dog) immediately leaped after him, and broke his leg 
 with the fall. But, occupied wholly with anxiety for 
 his master, he crawled about him, licked him with a 
 mournful howling, and crept under his body, as if to 
 endeavour to raise him from the ground. During the 
 preparation for the funeral, Phileros would not quit the 
 lifeless body of his master, and followed the procession 
 that bore him to the grave. When he came to the 
 place of burial, he set up a lamentable cry, and re- 
 mained for five days lying upon the grave. Compelled, 
 by his cravings of hunger, he then returned to the 
 house, eat a small quantity of food, after which he ran 
 to the apartment which the child inhabited, seemed to 
 seek everywhere for his young friend, and in a short 
 time died of grief. 
 
 46. Dogs have a great deal of jealousy in their dis- 
 position, and even this may be made to assist in their 
 
 2 E
 
 68 THE DOG. 
 
 education, as it makes them strive to outdo each other. 
 Every clever dog is especially unwilling that any of his 
 companions should possess a greater share of his 
 master's favour than himself. One of my dogs could 
 not. be induced to hunt in company with another, of 
 whose advances in my good graces he was peculiarly 
 jealous. There was no other ground of quarrel between 
 them. When Rover saw that a young dog was to 
 accompany me, he invariably refused to go out; and, 
 although at other times, one of the most eager dogs 
 for sport that I ever possessed, nothing would induce 
 liira to go out with his young rival. He also showed 
 his jealousy by flying at him and biting him, on every 
 occasion when he could do so unobserved. At last, 
 however, when the young dog had grown older, and 
 discovered that his own strength was superior to that 
 of his tyrant, he flew upon poor Rover, and amply 
 revenged all the ill-treatment which he had received at 
 his hands. From that day he was constantly on the 
 look out to renew his attacks ; but having soon es 
 tablished his superiority, he thenceforth contented 
 himself with striking down the old dog, and, after 
 standing over him a minute or two, with teeth bared 
 ready for action, he suffered him to sneak quietly away; 
 for Rover was too old a soldier to resist when he found 
 himself over-matched. At last the poor old fellow got 
 so bullied by this dog, and by two or three others, 
 whom I am afraid he had tyrannized over when they 
 were puppies, that he never left the front door steps, 
 or went round the corner of the house, before he had 
 well reconnoitred the ground, and was sure that none
 
 THE DOG. 69 
 
 * 
 
 of liis enemies were near him. And yet, in his battles 
 
 with vermin or with strange dogs, he was one of the 
 most courageous animals I ever had. 
 
 47. Mr. Youatt tells us of a dog which though very 
 ill-tempered and spoiled, so much so that it would not 
 suffer a stranger to touch her, having become diseased, 
 so as to require an operation of a painful kind, which 
 he carefully performed, whenever she saw him after- 
 wards, testified her joy and gratitude in the most 
 expressive and endearing manner. 
 
 48. A laige Newfoundland dog, that may be seen any 
 day at No. 9, Argyle-street, Glasgow, has added one 
 more instance to the many on record of the sagacity of 
 dogs. It seems that being, like other juveniles, some- 
 times rather fond of fun, he required to receive occa- 
 sional discipline, and for that purpose a whip shaft was 
 kept beside him, which was occasionally applied to 
 him. He evidently did not like this article, and was 
 found occasionally with it in his teeth moving slily to 
 the door with it. Being left at night on the premises, 
 he found the hated article, and thrust the small end 
 below the door, but the thick end refused to go. A few 
 nights afterwards the whip shaft was left beside him, 
 and was never seen again. He had put the thick end 
 below the door, and some one had pulled it out. On 
 the dog being asked where it was, he looked very guilty, 
 and slunk away with his tail between his legs. This 
 same dog gets his provisions brought to him in a tin 
 can. Taking a walk, he saw a child carrying a tin 
 exceedingly like his. He quietly seized it by the 
 handle and carried it to his quarters, the child holding
 
 70 THE DOG. 
 
 
 on and screaming all the way. When shown his own, 
 
 he seemed quite ashamed of his mistake, and allowed 
 the frightened child to go with the tin he had mistaken 
 for his own. This sagacious dog is in the habit of 
 begging money from his biped acquaintance, with which 
 he marches to a baker's shop and buys bread, which he 
 comes home with, and eats when hungry. 
 
 49. Extraordinary as the following anecdote may 
 appear, it is strictly true, and shows the sense, and I 
 am strongly inclined to add, reason, of the New- 
 foundland dog: A friend of mine, while shooting wild- 
 fowl with his brother, was attended by a sagacious dog 
 of this breed. In getting near some reeds by the side 
 of a river, they threw down their hats, and crept to the 
 edge of the water, where they fired at some birds. 
 They soon afterwards sent the dog to bring their hats, 
 one of which was smaller than the other. After several 
 attempts to bring them both together in his mouth, 
 the dog at last placed the smaller hat in the larger one, 
 pressed it down with his fot>t, and thus was able to 
 bring them both at the same time. 
 
 50. Mr. Charles O'Neil, shoemaker, Stackstead, owns 
 a favourite dog, which is so knowing, that it is only 
 necessaiy to tell him to go to the shop of Mr. Cox, 
 news-agent, for the newspaper, and away it goes. If 
 the door be closed, the dog keeps rapping at it until 
 it is opened; and on the newspaper being presented, 
 he takes it in his mouth, wags his tail, and off he 
 goes again to his master. The dog has never been 
 known to let the money drop when sent for the 
 newspaper.
 
 THE DOG. n 
 
 51. A somewhat curious example ^)f intelligence in a 
 dog, is stated to have occurred a few days ago, at 
 Toulouse. Some mischievous boys fastened a tin kettle- 
 to its tail, and the poor animal, in great terror, ran off, 
 closely pursued by them. In spite of his terror, the 
 dog, it was noticed, looked in a peculiar way at the 
 houses he passed, as if seeking for shelter in one of 
 them ; and at last, seeing one in which was the office 
 of commissary of police, he rushed into it, entered the 
 office, and quietly lay down, as if certain of obtaining 
 protection. If the local newspapers are to be believed, 
 the reason why the dog selected the office of the 
 commissary, in preference to any other, was, that his. 
 mistress, an old and somewhat eccentric lady, having a 
 few days before, been persecuted by the same boys, 
 went to the commissary, and sought and obtained his 
 protection. The dog; which was with her at the time, 
 remembered, the local journals remark, the effect pro- 
 duced, and in his turn took advantage of it. 
 
 52. Fidelity to the interests of his master is one of 
 the most pleasing traits in the character of the dog, and 
 could be exemplified by so many anecdotes, that the 
 difficulty consists in making a proper selection. The 
 following, however, is worthy of commendation : A 
 French merchant having some money due from a corres- 
 pondent, set out on horseback, accompanied by his dog, 
 on purpose to receive it. Having settled the business 
 to his satisfaction, he tied the bag of money before him, 
 and began to return home. His faithful dog, as if he 
 entered into his master's feelings, frisked round the 
 horse, barked, and jumped, and seemed to participate
 
 72 THE DOG. 
 
 in his joy. The merchant, after riding some miles, 
 alighted to repose himself under an agreeable shade, 
 and taking the bag of money in his hand, laid it down 
 by his side under a hedge, and on remounting, forgot 
 it. The dog perceived his lapse of recollection, and 
 wishing to rectify it, ran to fetch the bag ; but it was 
 too heavy for him to drag along. He ran to his master, 
 and by crying, barking, and howling, seemed to remind 
 him of his mistake. The merchant understood not his 
 language ; but the assiduous creature persevered in its 
 efforts, and after trying to stop the horse in vain, at last 
 began to bite his heels. The merchant, absorbed in 
 some reverie, wholly overlooked the real object of his 
 affectionate attendant's importunity, but entertained 
 the alarming apprehension that he was gone mad. Full 
 of this suspicion, in crossing a brook, he turned back to 
 look if the dog would drink. The animal was too intent 
 on his master's business to think of itself; it continued 
 to bark and bite with greater violence than before. "It 
 must be so," cried the afflicted merchant, " my poor dog 
 is certainly mad : what must I do ? I must kill him, 
 lest some greater misfortune befal me ; but with what 
 regret ! Oh could I find any one to perform this cruel 
 office for me ! But there is no time to lose ; I myself 
 may become the victim if I spare him." With these 
 words he drew a pistol from his pocket, and with a 
 trembling hand took aim at his faithful servant. He 
 turned away in agony as he fired ; but his aim was too 
 sure. The poor animal fell wounded, and, weltering in 
 his blood, still endeavoured to crawl towards his master, 
 as if to tax him with ingratitude. The merchant could
 
 THE DOG. 73 
 
 not bear tlie sight ; lie spurred on his horse with a 
 heart full of sorrow, and lamented he had taken a 
 journey which had cost him so dear. Still, however, 
 the money never entered his mind ; he only thought of 
 his poor dog, and tried to console himself with the 
 reflection that he had prevented a greater evil by 
 despatching a mad animal, than he had suffered a 
 calamity by his loss. This opiate to his wounded spirit, 
 however, was ineffectual: "I am most unfortunate,'' 
 said he to himself; '"I had almost rather have lost my 
 money than my dog." Saying this, he stretched out 
 his hand to grasp his treasure. It was missing; no 
 bag was to be found. In an instant he opened his eyes 
 to his rashness and folly. " Wretch that I am ! 1 alone 
 am to blame ! I could not comprehend the admonition 
 which my innocent and most faithful friend gave me, 
 and I have sacrificed him for his zeal. He only wished 
 to inform me of my mistake, and he paid for his fidelity 
 with his life." Instantly he turned his horse, and went 
 off at full gallop to the place where he had stopped. 
 He saw with half-averted eyes the scene where the 
 tragedy was acted ; he perceived the traces of blood as 
 he proceeded ; he was oppressed and distracted ; but 
 in vain did he look for his dog ; he was not to be seen 
 on the road. At last he arrived at the spot where he 
 had alighted. But what were his sensations ! His 
 heart was ready to bleed; he execrated himself in the 
 madness of dispair. The poor dog, unable to follow his 
 dear but cruel master, had determined to consecrate 
 his last moments to his service. He had crawled, all 
 bloody as he was, to the forgotten bag, and, in the
 
 74 THE DOG. 
 
 agonies of death, lie lay watching beside it. When ho 
 saw his master, he still testified his joy by the wagging 
 of his tale. He could do no more ; he tried to rise, but 
 his strength was gone. The vital tide was ebbing fast ; 
 even the caresses of his master could not prolong his 
 fate for a few moments. He stretched out his tongue 
 to lick the hand that was now fondling him in the 
 agonies of regret, as if to seal forgiveness of the 
 deed that had deprived him of life. He then cast a 
 look of kindness on his master, and closed his eyes in 
 death. 
 
 53. A less tragical instance of this kind of fidelity 
 occurred some years ago in England. A gentleman of 
 Suffolk, on an excursion with his friend, was attended 
 by a Newfoundland dog, which soon became the subject 
 of conversation. The master, after a warm eulogium 
 upon the perfections of his canine favourite, assured 
 his companion that he would, upon receiving the order, 
 return and fetch any article he should leave behind, 
 from any distance. To confirm this assertion, a marked 
 shilling was put under a large square stone by the side 
 of the road being first shown to the dog. The gentle- 
 men then rode for three miles, when the dog received 
 his signal from the master to return for the shilling he 
 had seen put under the stone. The dog turned back! 
 the gentlemen rode on, and reached home ; but, to their 
 surprise and disappointment, the hitherto faithful mes- 
 senger did not return during the day. It afterwards 
 appeared that he had gone to the place where the 
 shilling was deposited, but the stone being too large 
 for his strength to remove, he had stayed howling at
 
 THE DOG. 75 
 
 the place, till two horsemen riding by, and attracted by 
 his seeming distress, stopped to look at him, when one 
 of them alighting, removed the stone, and seeing the 
 shilling, put it into his pocket, not at the time conceiv- 
 ing it to he the object of the dog's search. The dog 
 followed their horses for twenty miles, remained un- 
 disturbed in the room where they supped, followed the 
 chambermaid into the bedchamber, and secreted him- 
 self under one of the beds. The possessor of the 
 shilling hung his trousers upon a nail by the bedside ; 
 but when the travellers were both asleep, the dog took 
 them in his mouth, and leaping out of the window, 
 which was left open on account of the sultry heat, 
 reached the house of his master at four o'clock in the 
 morning with the prize he had made free with, in the 
 pocket of which were found a watch and moViey, that 
 were returned upon being advertised, when the whole 
 mystery was mutually unravelled, to the admiration of 
 all the parties. 
 
 54. As an instance of generous revenge on the part 
 of this noble creature, there is a story of a person, who, 
 being desirous of getting rid of his dog, took it along 
 with him in a boat, and rowing out into the river 
 Seine, threw it overboard. The poor animal repeatedly 
 struggled to regain the boat, but was as often beaten 
 off; till at length, in his attempts to baffle the efforts 
 of the dog, the man upset the boat, and fell into the 
 water. No sooner, however, did the generous brute 
 see his master struggle in the stream, than he forsook 
 the boat, and held him above water till assistance 
 arrived, and thus saved his life. Was not this dog
 
 76 THE DOG. 
 
 morally superior to his owner, in thus returning good 
 for evil ? 
 
 55. The Rev. Mr. S , an intimate friend of my 
 venerated father, who resided about two miles from 
 Edinburgh, had a dog named Blucher. Blucher was a 
 noble animal. Many a story have I heard about his 
 marvellous deeds. One or two may be deemed worthy 
 of perpetual record. Mr. S. and family, on a certain 
 Lord's Day in summer, had occasion to be absent at Holy 
 Communion from morning till evening. One servant 
 girl and Blucher were left in charge of the house. The 
 girl, availing herself of the absence of the family, in- 
 vited a number of her associates to spend the day with 
 her. Forenoon and afternoon passed rapidly away, and 
 the godless party gathered amusement from " parlour, 
 garden, green." During all their goings to and fro, 
 Blucher was their faithful attendant. In due time, the 
 company assembled for tea in the drawing-room, on the 
 second story of the house. The lady of the mansion 
 for the time presided at the table, amidst the gay 
 decorations of her mistress' best china, urn, and silver. 
 As the evening sun goes down, the party bethink them- 
 selves of retiring, ere Mr. S. and family return. But, 
 lo! the indignant Blucher, who had till now rested 
 hiraself upon the rug, marches to the door. There he 
 takes up his position, and will not suffer it to be opened. 
 With wrathful eye and growl he beats back every 
 assailant; and the whole company are kept in durance 
 vile till Mr. and Mrs. S. enter upon the scene. The 
 table furniture and ware at once proclaim the story of 
 the day. On seeing his master, Blucher is in a moment
 
 THE DOG. 77 
 
 peaceful as a lamb, and delivers up his prisoners with 
 all the high dignity becoming his nobility and worth. 
 
 50. In the front of Mr. S.'s house, there was a 
 parterre in which were reared some beautiful flowers. 
 The little children from some cottages in the neigh- 
 bourhood were accustomed to steal in at the gate and 
 pluck the flowers, to the great grief of Mr. and Mrs. S. 
 One day, a little fellow was busy at the work. Blucher 
 espied him, and with a bound was at his side. Gently 
 tossing him down, and turning him on his face, the 
 hero seixed the astonished depredator by the clothes 
 which covered his back. Then trotting off with him, 
 he went out at the gate, and passed along the highway 
 till by came to a shallow pool of muddy water, into 
 which he suddenly dropped the delinquent. Making 
 sure that the little fellow was neither hurt nor likely to 
 be drowned, Blucher forthwith went quietly home. 
 The tidings spread amongst the children, and after 
 that memorable day not a flower w r as ever touched. 
 
 57. In course of time, Mr. S. and family had the 
 prospect of removing to a house in the city. They saw 
 it would be somewhat inconvenient to keep Blucher in 
 the abode to which they were going. Still they had no 
 idea of parting with him. One evening Blucher was 
 lying on the hearth before the fire. The family were 
 talking of their removal. Mr. S. said, looking at the 
 dog, "Poor Blucher, what will become of you?" 
 Blucher lifted up his head, as he heard the unusual 
 tones of his master's voice. " Do with me, dear 
 master;" he seemed to say; " What strange sad tones 
 are these !" Shortly after, he left the room, and not-
 
 78 THE DOG 
 
 withstanding every effort within the compass of their 
 power to discover his retreat, the family never saw or 
 heard of Blucher more ! His loss affected them almost 
 like the loss of a beloved friend. 
 
 58. One other anecdote, not of Blucher, however, 
 but of a fine animal named Help. I tell the tale without 
 comment, as it was related to me. I knew the family 
 well, of whose ancestor it speaks. Help belonged to a 
 farmer at H. Mr. W. had occasion to go to a country 
 town in a neighbouring district. The road lay for some 
 miles over a bleak howling wilderness, called Kingside 
 Edge. The upper ridge of the waste was a noted place 
 for dangers of different kinds. In the days when Mr. 
 W. lived there were no railways, not even stage coaches, 
 and no Banks ; at least, there were none of these in the 
 upland district of P. Mr. W. left home at early dawn, 
 went over the ridge by a bridle-road on horseback, 
 reached the county town where we leave him for a 
 little, transacting his business within the parlour of an 
 inn. ' " What's wrong with the dog ?" said Mrs. W. at 
 home, about noon. " He wont be still. He'll tear up 
 the staple of his chain !" And she gave orders to take 
 out an extra supply of food for him. Help, however, 
 would look at neither food nor drink. He bounded 
 here, and he bounded there, as his chain would allow, 
 till, at last, Mrs. W., for the peace of the fai-myard, 
 desired him to be loosed, Once free, off he flew by the 
 way his master went. By this time Mr. W. had finished 
 his business at P., and was wending his way home. On 
 nearing the height of the ridge, he saw two men creeping 
 along behind the hedge. I have seen them before, he
 
 THE DOG, 79 
 
 said to himself; and soon he recognized them as two 
 ruffian-like fellows he had noticed that very morning 
 within the inn, and who had narrowly watched him 
 while he was depositing a large sum of money within 
 his purse. Scarcely had these thoughts passed through 
 his mind, when out the men started upon the road ; 
 one seized the bridle of his horse, and the other pre- 
 senting a loaded pistol, demanded his purse. Mr. W., 
 on the impulse of the moment, looked around the 
 waste, and cried out for assistance. "Help, help!" he 
 shouted ; and no sooner were the words uttered, than 
 he heard a scream from the man with the pistols, and 
 turning to him, he saw in a moment how the case stood. 
 To his astonishment, he beheld his own dog, Help, in 
 conflict with the robber. To strike the man at the 
 bridle with the heavy end of his whip was now the 
 work of an instant. The ruffian let go his hold, and 
 Mr. W. putting spurs to 'his horse, rode off, and was 
 soon afar from the scene of danger. Some hours after 
 he had reached home, Help returned, not a little hurt 
 and bloody. Mr. W. never heard any tidings of his 
 assailants ; and being a good man, he often talked of 
 his deliverance as a direct interposition of a kind 
 Providence in his behalf. 
 
 59. A fine Newfoundland dog which was kept at an 
 inn, in Dorsetshire, was accustomed, every morning, as 
 the clock struck eight, to take in his mouth a certain 
 basket, placed for the purpose, and containing a few 
 pence, and to carry it across the street to the baker's, 
 who took out the money, and replaced it by a certain 
 number of rolls ; with these Neptune hastened back to 
 f
 
 80 THE DOG. 
 
 the kitchen, and safely deposited his trust. But what 
 was well worthy of remark, he never attempted to take 
 the basket, or even to approach it, on Sunday mornings. 
 On one occasion, when returning with the rolls, another 
 dog made an attack upon the basket, for the purpose of 
 stealing its contents, when the trusty fellow placed the 
 basket on the ground, severely punished the intruder, 
 and then bore off his charge in triumph. 
 
 60. A lady living in the neighbourhood of my own 
 village had, some years back, a favourite Scotch terrier, 
 which always accompanied her in her rides, and which 
 was also in the habit of following the carriage to church 
 every Sunday morning. One summer, the lady and her 
 family were from home for several weeks, the dog being 
 left behind. The latter, however, continued to come to 
 church by itself for several Sundays in succession, 
 galloping off from the house so as to arrive at the hour 
 of service commencing. After waiting in the church- 
 yard a short time, it was seen to return, quiet and 
 dispirited, home. The distance from the house to the 
 church is three miles, and beyond that at which the 
 ringing of the bells could be ordinarily heard. This 
 was probably an instance of the force of habit, assisted 
 by some association of recollections connected with the 
 movements of the household on that particular day of 
 the week. 
 
 61. The same lady has communicated to me an 
 anecdote, somewhat similar to the above, but more ex* 
 traordinary. This related to a poodle dog belonging to 
 a gentleman in Chester, which it appears was in the 
 habit of not only going to church, but remaining quietly
 
 THE DOG. 81 
 
 in the pew during service, whether his master was there 
 or not. One Sunday, the dam at the head of a lake in 
 that neighbourhood gave way, so that the whole road 
 was inundated. The congregation, in consequence, 
 consisted of a few who came from some cottages close 
 by, but nobody attended from the great house. The 
 clergyman informed the lady, that, whilst reading the 
 Psalms, he saw his friend the poodle come slowly up 
 the aisle dripping with wet, having swum about a 
 quarter of a mile to get to church. He went as usual 
 into the pew, and remained to the end of the service. 
 
 62. The above lady has also given the following anec- 
 dote of a dog and cat. A little Blenheim Spaniel of 
 hers once accompanied her to the house of a relation, 
 where it was taken into the kitchen to be fed, on which 
 occasion two large favourite cats new at it several times, 
 and scratched it severely. The spaniel was in the habit 
 of following its mistress in her walks in the garden, 
 and, by degrees, it formed a friendship with a young 
 cat of the gardener's, which it tempted into the house, 
 first into the hall, and then into the kitchen, where, 
 on finding one of the large cats, the spaniel and its 
 ally fell on it together, and without further provocation 
 beat it well ; they then waited for the other, which they 
 served in the same manner, and finally drove both cats 
 from the kitchen. The two friends continued after- 
 wards to eat off the same plate as long as the spaniel 
 remained with her mistress in the house. 
 
 63. A King Charles' spaniel belonging to a lady, a 
 relation of my own, was constantly in the habit of 
 attending her when she went out driving, and, if it was
 
 62 THE DOG. 
 
 wished that he should not accompany her, it wag 
 necessary to shut him up to prevent him from doing so 
 On Sundays she went to teach at the village school, 
 where his presence was of course undesirable. To my 
 surprise, one Sunday morning I saw her preparing for a 
 start to the school, leaving " Beau" at liberty in the 
 dining-room, which was on the ground-floor, opening on 
 the carriage drive by which she would leave the house. 
 I was proceeding to shut him up, when she said, " Oh 
 you need not trouble yourself to do that, he knows 
 quite well that it is Sunday, and wont attempt to go 
 with me." She was perfectly right. Beau sat in a 
 chair, watching her through the open window, as she 
 drove off, looking the picture of mortified resignation, 
 but not offering to quit his place, though he had not 
 been told to remain there. 
 
 64. A more remarkable story lias been handed down 
 from the last generation in our family, which, although 
 I cannot vouch for its authenticity, I fully believe. In 
 this instance, it was a favourite Pt>meranian dog, who, 
 having been several times prevented from following the 
 family to church, a distance of about a mile and a half 
 from the house, used to start some time before them, 
 and getting into their pew, remain perdu there until 
 they came, when it was thought better to allow him to 
 remain quietly where he was, than make a disturbance 
 by turning him out 
 
 65. A vessel was driven on the beach at Lydd, in 
 Kent. The surf was rolling furiously. Eight poor 
 fellows were crying for help, but no boat could be got 
 off to their assistance. At length, a gentleman came on
 
 THE DOG. 83 
 
 the beacli, accompanied by liis Newfoundland dog. He 
 directed the attention of the animal to the vessel, and 
 put a short stick into his rnouth. The intelligent and 
 courageous fellow at once understood his meaning, and 
 sprang into the sea and fought his way through the 
 waves. He could not, however, get close enough to the 
 vessel to deliver that with which he was charged, but 
 the crew joyfully made fast a rope to another piece of 
 wood, and threw it towards him. He saw the whole 
 business in an instant ; he dragged it through the surge, 
 and delivered it to his master. A line of communica- 
 tion was thus formed, and every man on board was 
 rescued from a watery grave. There is no breed to 
 which the Newfoundland shall yield in intelligence and 
 noble spirit, except him of Mount St. Bernard, and 
 perhaps the Scotch colley or sheep-dog. 
 
 00. The well known dogs of the convent of Mount 
 St. Bernard deserve more than a passing tribute. If 
 they find a child amid the snows, they stay not for 
 instructions, but hasten with it to the hospitable monks. 
 Of their own accord, they roam about these desolate 
 regions day and night, seeking to relieve the distresses 
 of travellers. One of these dogs has a cask of cordial 
 tied about his neck, to which the sufferer may apply 
 for support ; and another has a warm cloak about his 
 back, to cover him. It is related that one of these in- 
 dispensable animals had saved the lives of twenty-two 
 persons, and was at last buried in an avalanche, in 
 attempting to convey a poor courier to his family, who 
 were toiling up the mountain to meet him : all were 
 lost in one common calamity.
 
 84 THE DOG. 
 
 / 67. A gentleman was missed in London, and was 
 supposed to have met with some foul play. No clue 
 could be obtained to the mystery, till it was gained 
 from observing his dog continue to crouch down before 
 -a certain house. The animal would not be induced to 
 leave the spot, and it was at length inferred that he 
 might be waiting for his master. The house, hitherto 
 above suspicion, was searched, and the result was the 
 discovery of the body of the missing individual, who 
 had been murdered. The guilty parties were arrested, 
 confessed their crime ; and thus one of the '' dens of 
 London" were broken up by the " police knowledge " of 
 the faithful dog. 
 
 68. The morning service at a church not far from 
 Gloucester, was interupted in rather a strange manner 
 on Sunday. The incumbent happens to have an ex- 
 ceedingly fine dog, to which he is greatly attached, and 
 while the reverend gentlemen was preaching, his canine 
 favourite walked into the pulpit, and quietly laid his 
 head near the manuscript sermon. The preacher, 
 though at first somewhat disconcerted, speedily recover- 
 ed himself, and led the disturber out of the church, and 
 then returned to the pulpit and resumed his discourse. 
 
 69. Here is another example of generosity. A 
 favourite house-dog, left to the care of its master's 
 servants at Edinburgh while he was himself in the 
 country, would have been starved by them had it not 
 had recourse to the kitchen of a friend of its master's 
 which it occasionally visited. Not content with in- 
 dulging himself simply in this freak of good fortnne, 
 this liberal-minded animal, a few days subsequently,
 
 THE DOG. 85 
 
 falling in with a poor solitary duck, and possibly 
 deeming it to be in destitvite circumstances, caught it 
 up in his teeth, and carried it to the well-stored larder 
 that had so amply supplied his own necessities. He 
 laid the duck at the cook's feet, with many polite move- 
 ments of his tail, the most expressive of canine 
 features, then scampered off, with much seeming 
 complacency at having given his hostess this substan- 
 tial proof of his grateful sense of favours received. 
 
 70. Take another instance of canine devotion, that of 
 a dog whose master desired him to guard a bag, which 
 he had inadvertently placed almost in the middle of a 
 narrow street, in the town of Southampton. While 
 the faithful animal was keeping watch over it, a cart 
 passed by, and such was the immovable determination 
 of the creature to obey his master's orders, that, rather 
 than relinquish his trust, he actually suffered the 
 vehicle to crush him to death. 
 
 71. In 1851, a dog of the Newfoundland breed was 
 brought to the manse of Gamrie, and being intended 
 for a watch, was put upon chain. His food was supplied 
 him from a wooden box, which, when fully charged, 
 contained a more liberal allowance than was rather 
 agreeable or convenient to discuss at a meal ; and hence 
 it happened that not unfrequently a considerable 
 portion remained over. The discovery was soon made 
 by certain domestics of the feathered tribe, and in en- 
 deavouring to turn it to their advantage, one, two, and 
 three ruthlessly perished in the jaws of the proper 
 owner. For these violent proceedings, a sound flogging 
 was the ready punishment awarded the dog, and he
 
 86 THE DOG. 
 
 soon left off the habit; but in the peculating practices 
 of the feathered bipeds no improvement took place 
 It was too much to have, from time to time, passively 
 to witness this unwarrantable appropriation of his 
 property, and the natural means of redress man-re- 
 strained. What could he do? Eetire to his couch, 
 there to avoid the pain of seeing what he deplored but 
 could not prevent. And this was tried. Not however, 
 proving satisfaetoiy, the dog is seen emerging from his 
 concealment, and the next moment a sudden spring 
 lodges his head in the midst of the knot of larcenists, 
 when rout and confusion ensued. Another one has 
 perished ! Nothing of the kind. The space is only 
 cleared, and the box in the firm hold of Neptune's 
 ample jaws. Thus having rescued his own, he bears 
 it in triumph to his stronghold, and stows it away in the 
 securest corner, that, when the calls of nature prompted, 
 himself only should appropriate any remainder of 
 provisions the vessel might contain. Nor was the feat 
 left unimproved. When the time of feeding came 
 round, the dish was lifted from its secrecy, and suitably 
 placed on the promenade, to receive, no doubt, the 
 expected and necessary supplies, a morsel of which 
 was never thereafter known to have been left exposed 
 to the predatory visits of unscrupulous vagrant hordes. 
 72. Pen being in hand, I may also transmit the 
 following anecdote of a dog of the English terrier kind, 
 which for several years was an inmate of my father's 
 family. At the period referred to, the oldest member of 
 the family was in early childhood, and as is common in 
 the like circumstances, the child and the dog were
 
 THE DOG. 87 
 
 mutual favourites, and had much mutual enjoyment in 
 fun and frolic. A day came however, on which a sudden 
 snarl, expressive of temper and violence on the dog's 
 part, interrupted the usual cordiality of these friendly 
 exchanges, and the ever-watchful mother, alarmed for 
 the sake of her child, immediately rushed on the dog, 
 and violently drove him away, feeling assured he had 
 inflicted damage. But nothing of the sort was apparent, 
 not even after the minutest inspection, and the outcry 
 and alarm soon passed away. Meantime the dog had 
 not ventured from the corner of disgrace into which he 
 had been driven, but was observed to maintain an 
 attitude of regret, and only after the ado had thoroughly 
 subsided, and matters resumed their usual aspect, did 
 he begin to move. Advancing slowly towards the 
 amiable guardian of his accustomed playmate, and find- 
 ing he was not repelled, he plants himself at last, directly 
 before her, and with a somewhat more than half assured 
 touch of his paw, solicited attention. It was given, and 
 forthwith something is deposited at the mother's foot. 
 It is a pin, the lifting and examination of which the 
 dog watched, with an eye we presume dogs in difficulties 
 can only employ. The pleading was too direct not to 
 be understood, for here was at once the instrument of 
 offence, and the element of proof, the case made his 
 own, and its history disclosed ! The pin had come in 
 the child's way, and in the turns of fun, the dog's nose 
 was to be a pincushion. But the snarl rebuked the 
 offence, and the snap safely removed the dangerous and 
 cruel weapon from unsafe hands. Thus all became at 
 once right again, and the dog's first movement was back 
 
 2F
 
 88 THE DOG. 
 
 to the child, to assure it of forgiveness, strike hands 
 and 'be friends, which they ever after were. 
 
 73. Mr. L had two dogs ; a very large and powerful 
 one, called " Hero ; " a smaller, named " Tiny." The 
 master was sitting by the fire, half asleep, after dinner; 
 Hero seemed just asleep under the dining table ; Tiny 
 came in whining, with a terrible tale to Hero, who was 
 unceremoniously aroused from his slumbers to hear tho 
 complaint of his diminutive companion, Little time 
 was taken to consider the course to be adopted. Both 
 rushed from the house ; Hero took the yard gate at a 
 bound, and Tiny as quickly through the spars, when a 
 tremendous uproar in the street soon brought the master 
 to the spot, where Hero had turned another very 
 powerful dog on his back, while Tiny was shaking the 
 undermost in his tenderest part. The unfortunate 
 object of the joint attack was the butcher's dog, and 
 the knight of the cleaver was at once asked by Mr. L. 
 what it all meant, and was answered thus : Your little 
 cur came swaggering and snarling round my dog, who 
 at once gave him a shake up, and on the whipper- 
 snapper being released, he bolted home and brought 
 out your big dog, and you've seen the rest. 
 
 74. The Newfoundland is known to be superior to 
 most others in the power of swimming, for which it is 
 peculiarly fitted, by having the foot partly webbed. 
 Some years ago, a nurse was playing with a child on 
 the parapet of a bridge at Dublin. With a sudden 
 spring, the child fell into the river The agonised 
 spectators saw the waters close over the child, and 
 imagined that it had sunk to rise no more, when a
 
 THE DOG. 89 
 
 noble dog, seeing the catastrophe, gazed wistfully at 
 the ripple in the stream made by the child's descent, 
 and rushed in to its rescue. At the same instant, the 
 poor little thing reappeared on the surface: the dog 
 seized it, and with a firm but gentle pressure bore it to 
 the shore without injury. Among the spectators 
 attracted to the spot was a gentleman who appeared 
 strongly impressed with admiration for the sagacity and 
 promptness of the dog. On hastening to get near him, 
 he saw, with terror, joy, and surprise, that the child 
 was his own ! Such was his sense of gratitude, that, it 
 is said, he offered five hundred guineas for the noble 
 animal. 
 
 75. In crossing the mountain St. Gothard, near 
 Aviola, the Chevalier Gaspard de Brandenburg and 
 his servant were buried in an avalanehe. His dog, 
 who escaped the heap of snow, did not quit the place 
 when he had lost his master, which was fortunately 
 not far from the convent. The animal howled almost 
 incessantly, ran to the convent frequently, and alter- 
 nately returned. Astonished at his repeated visits; the 
 people of the house, on the following morning, obeyed, 
 his interceding indications, and accompanied him to the 
 spot ; where, by scratching the snow with his utmost 
 strength and persevering zeal, they were induced to 
 conjecture the cause; and, by speedily removing the 
 snow, the Chevalier and his servant were recovered 
 unhurt, after thirty-six hours confinement beneath the 
 snow, during which they could distinctly hear the 
 howling of the dog, and the conversation of their 
 deliverers. Sensible, that, to the fondness and sagacity
 
 90 THE DOG. 
 
 of this creature he owed his life, the gentleman ordered, 
 by his will, that he should be represented on his tomb 
 with his dog. And at Zug, in the church of St. Oswald, 
 where he was buried, in 1728, they still shew the 
 monument, and the effigy of this gentleman, with the 
 dog lying at his feet. 
 
 76. On the south-west extremity of Knovvle Common, 
 near the Great Western Station at Birmingham, is a 
 cottage inhabited by a labouring man named Hands. 
 Having but a scanty subsistence, both he and his wife 
 are necessarily absent from home during the greater 
 part of the day. The cottage is then left to the care of 
 four children, the eldest being but nine years of age. 
 This was the case on the morning of Wednesday, 
 when, just as the snow began falling, the youngest 
 child, a girl three years old, was sent to gather a few 
 sticks. The child did not come back, and but little 
 concern was felt, until the mother, unexpectedly re- 
 turning home about two o'clock, was told of the 
 circumstance. She at once surmised some evil had 
 befallen the little creature ; and, while looking about 
 in a state of frenzy, communicated her apprehensions 
 to a gentlemen living in the immediate neighbourhood. 
 Prompted by sympathy for the poor woman, but with a 
 very vague idea as to any assistance he could render, 
 he left his residence, followed by a small spaniel. He 
 had not proceeded far, when the dog was suddenly 
 missed; but, though the snow fell thickly, and evening 
 was fast approaching, he was enabled to track him in 
 the direction of a shallow well, which formerly received 
 the land-soak, but which an improved system of
 
 THE DOG. 91 
 
 drainage has long rendered dry and useless. For 
 safety, however, the mouth of the pit has been covered 
 over. At this spot, the dog was descried scratching 
 with violence, and whining most impatiently. The 
 gentleman now pressed forward with eagerness, think- 
 ing some game might possibly be sheltering near; but, 
 on arriving at the well, and lifting the lid, to his 
 amazement he beheld the child, whose loss had spread 
 anxiety throughout the neighbourhood. It was evident, 
 from the partial decay of the supports, that the child 
 must have trodden upon the insecure side of the cover, 
 which, yielding to her step, suffered her to fall in, and, 
 re adjusting itself by its own weight, closed like a trap. 
 The little innocent was in a standing posture, and 
 comparative!}' unhurt, but too far beneath the surface 
 to make a successful effort for its own deliverance. 
 Immediate suffocation was fortunately prevented by a 
 lateral opening into a neighbouring drain. Neverthe- 
 less, but for the accidental di'scovery, the doom of the 
 child was inevitable, either from starvation, or from 
 drowning, had a thaw ensued. 
 
 77. I one day picked up in the street an old spaniel, 
 which some boys were worrying, and whom natural 
 timidity rendered incapable of defending herself. 
 Grateful for the protection, she readily followed me 
 home, in expectation of finding an owner for her, but 
 which not happening, she spent the remainder of her 
 life, three or four years, in this asylum. Convinced 
 she was safe and well treated, I had few opportunities 
 of particularly noticing her afterwards, and she attach- 
 ed herself principally to the man who fed her. At a
 
 92 THE DOG. 
 
 future period, when inspecting the sick dogs, I observed 
 her in great pain, occasionally crying out. After some 
 difficulty, I relieved her by an operation ; and the 
 relief she instantly felt produced an effect I shall 
 never forget. She licked my hands, and when put on. 
 the ground she did the same to my feet, danced round 
 me, and screamed with gratitude and joy. From this 
 time to her death, which did not happen till two years 
 after, she never forgot the benefit she had received. 
 On the contrary, whenever I approached, she was 
 boisterous in evincing her gratitude and regard, 
 and would never let me rest till, by noticing her 
 I had convinced her that I was sensible of her 
 caresses. The difference between her behaviour before 
 this accident, and after it, was so pointed and striking, 
 that it was impossible to mistake the grateful sense 
 she had ever retained of the kindness which had been 
 shown to her. 
 
 78. One of the most striking instances which we 
 have heard, say the Messrs. Chambers, of sagacity and 
 personal attachment in the shepherd's dog, occurred 
 about half a century ago among the Grampian moun- 
 tains. In one of his excursions to his distant flocks 
 in these high pasturages, a shepherd happened to carry 
 along with him one of his children, an infant about 
 three years old. After traversing this pasture for some 
 time, attended by his dog, the shepherd found himself 
 under the necessity of ascending a summit at some 
 distance, to have a more extensive view of his range. 
 As the ascent Avas too fatiguing for the child, he left 
 him on a small plain at the bottom, with strict injuno-
 
 THE DOG. 93 
 
 tions not to stir from it till his return. Scarcely, 
 however, had he gained the summit, when the horizon 
 was suddenly darkened by one of those impenetrable 
 mists which frequently descend so rapidly amidst 
 these mountains, as, in the space of a few minutes, 
 almost to turn day into night. The anxious father 
 instantly hastened back to find his child ; but, owing 
 to the unusual darkness, and his own trepidation, he 
 unfortunately missed his way in the descent. After a 
 fruitless search of many hours amongst the dangerous 
 morasses and cataracts with which these mountains 
 abound, he was at length overtaken by night. Still 
 wandering on without knowing whither, he at length 
 came to the verge of the mist, and, by the light of the 
 moon, discovered that he had reached the bottom of 
 the valley, and was within a short distance of his 
 cottage. To renew the search that night was equally 
 fruitless and dangerous. He was therefore obliged to 
 return to his cottage, having lost both his child and 
 his dog, which had attended him faithfully for years. 
 Next morning, by day-break, the shepherd, accompanied 
 by a band of his neighbours, set out in search of his 
 child; but, after a day spent in fruitless fatigue, he 
 was at last compelled, by the approach of night, to 
 descend from the mountain. On returning to his 
 cottage, he found that the dog, which he had lost the 
 day before, had been home, and, on' receiving a piece 
 , of cake, had instantly gone off again. For several 
 successive days the shepherd renewed the search for his- 
 child, and still, on returning at evening disappointed 
 to his cottage, he found that the dog had been home,.
 
 94 THE DOG. 
 
 and, on receiving his usual allowance of cake, had 
 instantly disappeared. Struck with this singular cir- 
 cumstance, he remained at home one day, and when 
 the dog as usual departed with his piece of cake, he 
 resolved to follow him, and find out the cause of his 
 strange procedure. The dog led the way to a cataract, 
 at some distance from the spot where the shepherd had 
 left his child. The hanks of the cataract almost joined 
 at the top, yet, separated by an ahyss of immense depth, 
 presented that appearance which so often astonishes 
 and appals the travellers who frequent the Grampian 
 mountains, and indicates that these stupendous chasms 
 were not the silent work of time, but the sudden effect 
 of some violent convulsion of the earth. Down one of 
 these rugged and almost perpendicular descents the 
 dog began, without hesitation, to make his way, and 
 at last disappeared into a cave, the mouth of which 
 was almost upon a level with the torrent. The shep- 
 herd with difficulty followed ; but, on entering the 
 cave, what were his emotions when he beheld his 
 infant eating with much satisfaction the cake which 
 the dog had just brought him, while the faithful animal 
 stood by, eyeing his young charge with the utmost 
 complacence. From the situation in which the child 
 was found, it appears that he had wandered to the 
 brink of the precipice, and then either fallen or 
 scrambled down, till he reached the cave, which the 
 dread of the torrent had afterwards prevented him 
 from quitting. The dog, by means of his scent, had 
 traced him to the spot; and afterwards prevented him 
 from starving, by giving up to him his own daily
 
 THE DOG. 95 
 
 allowance. He appears never to have quitted the child 
 by night or day, except when it was necessary to go 
 for his food, and then he was always seen running at 
 full speed to and from the cottage. 
 
 79. The benevolence of dogs generally, but the New- 
 foundland variety in particular, has often excited marks 
 of high admiration. A writer on this subject observes 
 that he once saw a water-spaniel, unbidden, plunge 
 into the current of a roaring sluice to save a small cur, 
 maliciously thrown in. 
 
 80. The same motive seemed to animate a Pomeranian 
 dog, belonging to a Dutch vessel. This creature sprang 
 overboard* caught a child up, and swam on shore with 
 it, before any person had discovered the accident. 
 
 81. A child, playing on Roshe's Wharf with a New- 
 foundland dog belonging to his father, accidentally fell 
 into the water. The dog immediately sprang after the 
 child, who was only six years old, and seizing the waist 
 of his little frock, brought him into the dock, where 
 there was a stage, by which the child held on, but 
 was unable to get on the top. The dog, seeing it was 
 unable to pull the little fellow out of the water, ran up 
 to the yard adjoining, where a girl, of nine years of 
 age, was hanging out clothes. He seized the girl by 
 the frock, and notwithstanding her exertions to get 
 away, he succeeded in dragging her to the spot where 
 the child was still hanging by the hands to the stage. 
 On the girl's taking hold of the child, the dog assisted 
 her in rescuing the little fellow from his perilous 
 situation, and after licking the face of the infant it 
 had thus saved, it took a leap off the stage, and swam
 
 $6 THE DOG. 
 
 round to the end fof the wharf, and immediately after 
 returned with his hat in his mouth. 
 
 82. The most remarkable anecdote of this class, 
 however, is that regarding a Swiss chamois-hunter's 
 dog. This animal heing on the glaciers with an English 
 gentleman and his master, observed the first approach- 
 ing one of those awful crevices in the ice to look down 
 into it. He began to slide towards the edge ; his guide, 
 with a view to save him, caught his coat, and both slid 
 onward, till the dog seized his master's clothes, and 
 arrested them both from inevitable death. The gentle- 
 man left the dog a pension for life. 
 
 83. Very extraordinary stories have been told of dogs 
 discovering and circumventing plans to injure the 
 persons of their masters, in which it is difficult to place 
 implicit credit. We give ene of the most marvellous of 
 these anecdotes, as it is usually related. Sir H. Lee, of 
 Ditchley, in Oxfordshire, ancestor of the Earls of Lich- 
 field, had a mastiff which guarded the house and .yard, 
 but had never met with any particular attention from 
 his master. In short, he was not a favourite dog, and 
 was retained for his utility only, and not from any 
 partial regard. One night, as Sir Harry was retiring to 
 Jiis chamber, attended by his favourite valet, an Italian, 
 the mastiff silently followed them up stairs, which, he 
 had never been known to do before, and, to his master's 
 astonishment, presented himself in the bed room. 
 Being deemed an intruder, he was instantly ordered to 
 be turned out, which, being complied with, the poor 
 animal began scratching violently at the door, and 
 howling loudly for admission. The servant was sent
 
 THE DOG. 97 
 
 to drive him away. Discouragement, however, could 
 not check his intended labour of love; he return- 
 ed again, and was more importunate to be let in than 
 before. Sir Harry, weary of opposition, though sur- 
 prised beyond measure at the dog's apparent fondness 
 for the society of his master who had never shown him 
 the least kindness, and wishing to retire to rest, bade 
 the servant open the door that they might see what he 
 wanted to do. This done, the mastiff, with a wag of the 
 tail, and a look of affection at his lord, deliberately 
 walked up, and crawling under the bed, laid himself 
 down, as if desirous to take up his night's lodgings 
 there. To save farther trouble, and not from any 
 partiality for his company, this indulgence was allowed. 
 The valet withdrew, and all was still. About the solemn 
 hour of midnight the chamber door opened, and a 
 person was heard stepping across the room. Sir Harry 
 started from sleep; the dog sprang from his covert, 
 and seizing the unwelcome disturber, fixed him to the 
 spot. All was dark : Sir Harry rang his bell in great 
 trepidation, in order to procure a light. The person 
 who was pinned to the floor by the courageous mastiff 
 roared for assistance. It was found to be the favourite 
 valet, who little expected such a reception. He en- 
 deavoured to apologise for his intrusion, and to make 
 the reasons which induced him to take this step appear 
 plausible ; but the importunity of the dog, the time, the 
 place, the manner of the valet, raised suspicions in Sir 
 Harry's mind, and he determined to refer the investiga- 
 tion of the business to a magistrate. The perfidious 
 Italian, alternately terrified by the dread of punishment,
 
 98 THE DOG 
 
 and soothed by the hope of pardon, at length confessed 
 that it was his intention to murder his master, and then 
 rob the house. This diabolical design was frustrated 
 solely by the unaccountable sagacity of the dog, and 
 devoted atachment to his master. A full-length picture 
 of Sir Harry, with the mastiff by his side, and the 
 words, " More faithful than favoured," is still preserved 
 among the family pictures. 
 
 84. The presentiment of approaching danger, of which 
 we have given the above example, evinces a higher 
 degree of reasoning power than that shown in ordinary 
 acts of sagacity or personal attachment. In the notice 
 given by Captain Fitzroy of the earthquake at Galca- 
 huasco, on the 20th of February 1835, it is mentioned 
 that all the dogs had left the town before the great 
 shock which ruined the buildings was felt. 
 
 85. A French author has related an amusing instance 
 of canine independence. He states that, at the begin- 
 ning of the Revolution, there was a dog in Paris known 
 by the name of Parade, because he always attended 
 regularly the military parades at the Tuileries. A taste 
 for music was probably the cause of this fancy. He 
 always stood by, and marched with the band, and at 
 night went to the Opera, Comedie Italiene, or Theatre 
 Feydau, dined with any musician who expressed, by 
 word or gesture, that his company was asked, yet always 
 withdrew from attempts to be made the property of 
 any individual. 
 
 86. The educability of the dog's perceptive faculties 
 has been exemplified in a remarkable manner by his 
 acquired knowledge of musical sounds. On some doga
 
 THE DOG. 99 
 
 fine music produces an apparently painful effect, caus- 
 ing them gradually to become restless, to moan piteously, 
 and. finally, to fly from the spot with every sign of 
 suffering and distress. Others have been seen to sit 
 and listen to music with seeming delight, and even to 
 go every Sunday to church, with the obvious purpose 
 of enjoying the solemn and powerful strains of the 
 organ. Some dogs manifest a keen sense of false notes 
 in music. Our friend Mrs. S. C. Hall, at Old Brompton, 
 say the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, possesses an 
 Italian greyhound which screams in apparent agony 
 when a jarring combination of notes is produced 
 accidentally or intentionally on the piano. These 
 opposite and various manifestations show what might 
 be done by education to teach dogs a critical knowledge 
 of sounds. 
 
 87. A gen-rteman of Darmstadt, in Germany, as we 
 learn, has taught a poodle dog to detect false notes in 
 music. We give the account of this remarkable instance 
 of educability as it appears in a French newspaper. 
 Mr. S , having acquired a competency by com- 
 mercial industry, retired from business, and devoted 
 himself, heart and soul, to the cultivation and enjoy- 
 ment of music. Every member of his little household 
 was by degrees involved more or less in the same 
 occupation, and even the housemaid could in time bear 
 a part in a chorus, or decipher a melody of Schubert. 
 One individual alone in the family seemed to resist this 
 musical entrancement ; this was a small spaniel, the 
 sole specimen of the canine race in the mansion. Mr. 
 S felt the imposibility of instilling the theory
 
 100 THE DOG. 
 
 of sounds into the head of Poodle, but he firmly re- 
 solved to make the animal bear some part or other in 
 the general domestic concert; and by perseverence, 
 and the adoption of ingenious means, he attained his 
 object. Every time that a false note escaped either 
 from instrument or voice as often as any blunder, 
 of whatever kind, was committed by the members of 
 the musical family (and such blunders were sometimes 
 committed intentionally) down came its master's cane 
 on the back of the unfortunate Poodle, till she howled 
 and growled again. Poodle perceived tho meaning of 
 these unkind chastisements, and instead of becoming 
 sulky, showed every disposition to howl on the instant 
 a false note was uttered, without waiting for the form- 
 ality of a blow. By and by, a mere glance of Mr. S 's 
 
 eye was sufficient to make the animal howl to admira- 
 tion. In the end, Poodle became sb thoroughly 
 acquainted with, and attentive to, false notes and other 
 musical barbarisms, that the slightest mistake of the kind 
 was infallibly signalised by a yell from her, forming the 
 most expressive commentary vipon the misperforrnance. 
 When extended trials were made of the animal's 
 acquirements, they were never found to fail, and Poodle 
 became, what she still is, the most famous, impartial, 
 and conscientious connoisseur in the duchy of Hesse. 
 But, as may be imagined, her musical appreciation is 
 entirely negative ; if you sing with expression, and 
 play with ability, she will remain cold and impassable. 
 But let your execution exhibit the slightest defect, and 
 you will have her instantly showing her teeth, whisking 
 her tail, yelping, barking and growling. At the present
 
 THE DOG. 101 
 
 time, there is not a concert or an opera at Darmstadt 
 
 to which Mr. S and his wonderful dog are not 
 
 invited, or, at least, the dog. The voice of the prima 
 donna, the instruments of the band whether violin, 
 clarionet, hautbois, or bugle all of them must execute 
 their parts in perfect harmony, otherwise Poodle looks 
 at its master, erects its ears, shows its grinders, and 
 howls outright. Old or new pieces, known or unknown 
 to the dog, produce on it the same effect. It must not 
 be supposed that the discrimination of the creature is 
 confined to the mere execution of musical compositions. 
 Whatever must have been the case at the outset of its 
 training, its present and perfected intelligence extends 
 even to the secrets of composition. Thus, if a vicious 
 modulation, or a false relation of parts, occurs in a 
 piece of music, the animal shows symptoms of uneasy 
 hesitation, and if the error be continued, will infallibly 
 give the grand condemnatory howl. In short, Poodle 
 is. the terror of all middling composers of Darmstadt, 
 and a perfect nightmare to the imagination of all poor 
 
 singers and players. Sometimes Mr. S and his 
 
 friends take a pleasure in annoying the canine critic, 
 by emitting all sorts of discordant sounds from instru- 
 ment and voice. On such occasions the creature loses 
 all self-command, its eyes shoot forth fiery flashes, and 
 long and frightful howls respond to the immelodious 
 concert of mischievous bipeds. But the latter must be 
 careful not to go too far ; for when the dog's patience 
 is tried to excess, it becomes altogether wild, and flies 
 fiercely at the tormentors and their instruments. This 
 dog's case is a very curious one, and the attendant
 
 102 THE DOG. 
 
 phenomena not very easy of explanation. From the 
 animal's power of discriminating the correctness of 
 musical composition, as well as of execution, one would 
 
 he inclined to imagine that Mr. S , in training his 
 
 dog, had only called into play faculties existing (but 
 latent) before, and that dogs have in them the natural 
 germs of a fine musical ear. This seems more likely 
 to be the case, than that the animal's perfect musical 
 taste was wholly an acquirement, resulting from the 
 training. However this may be, the Darmstadt dog is 
 certainly a marvellous creature, and we are surprised 
 that, in these exhibiting times, its powers have not been 
 displayed on a wider stage. The operatic establishments 
 of London and Paris might be greatly the better, 
 perhaps, of a visit from the critical Poodle. 
 
 88. It is now settled, as a philosophical question, 
 remark the Messrs. Chambers, that the instruction 
 communicated to dogs, as well as various other animals, 
 has a hereditary effect on the progeny. If a dog be 
 taught to perform certain feats, the young of the dog 
 will be much easier initiated in the same feats than 
 other dogs. Thus, the existing races of English 
 pointers are greatly more accomplished in their requir- 
 ed duties than the original race of Spanish spaniels. 
 Dogs of the St. Bernard variety inherit the faculty of 
 tracking footsteps in the snow. A gentleman of our 
 acquaintance, and of scientific acquirements, obtained, 
 some years ago, a pup which had been produced in 
 London by a female of the celebrated St. Bernard 
 breed. The young animal was brought to Scotland, 
 where it was never observed to give any particular
 
 THE DOG. 103 
 
 tokens of a power of tracking footsteps until winter, 
 when the ground became covered with snow. It then 
 showed the most active inclination to follow footsteps; 
 and so great was its power of doing so under these 
 circumstances, that, when its master had crossed a field 
 in the most curvilinear way, and caused other persons 
 to cross his path in all directions, it nevertheless follow- 
 ed his course with the greatest precision. Here was a 
 perfect revival of the habit of its Alpine fathers, with 
 a degree of speciality as to external conditions, at which, 
 it seems to us, we cannot sufficiently wonder. 
 
 89. About sixty years ago, the Messrs. Chambers 
 relate, a Frenchman bi'ought to London from eighty to 
 a hundred dogs, chiefly poodles, the remainder spaniels, 
 but all nearly of the same size, and of the smaller 
 kind. On the education of these animals, their pro- 
 prietor had bestowed an immense deal of pains. From 
 puppyhood upwards, they had been taught to walk on 
 their hind legs, and maintain their footing with sur- 
 prising ease in that unnatural position. They had 
 likewise been drilled into the best possible behaviour 
 towards each other ; no snarling, barking, or indecorous 
 conduct took place when they were assembled in com- 
 pany. But what was most surprising of all, they were 
 able to perform in various theatrical pieces, of the 
 character of pantomimes, representing various transac- 
 tions in heroic and familiar life, with wonderful fidelity. 
 The object of their proprietor was, of course, to make 
 money by their performances, which the public were 
 accordingly invited to witness in one of the minor 
 theatres. Amongst their histrionic performances was 
 2 o
 
 104 THE DOG. 
 
 the representation of a siege. On the rising of the 
 curtain, there appeared three ranges of ramparts, one 
 above the other, having salient angles, and a moat, like 
 a regularly constructed fortification. In the centre of 
 the fortress arose a tower, on which a flag was flying \ 
 while, in the distance behind, appeared the buildings 
 and steeples of a town. The ramparts were guarded 
 by soldiers in uniform, each armed with a musket ov 
 sword, of an appropriate size. All these were dogs, 
 and their duty was to defend the walls from an attack- 
 ing party, consisting also of dogs, whose movements 
 now commenced the operations of the siege. In the 
 foreground of the stage were some rude buildings and 
 irregular surfaces, from among which there issued a 
 reconnoitring party ; the chief, habited as an officer of 
 rank, with great circumspection surveyed the fortifica- 
 tion, and his sedate movements, and his consultations 
 with the troops that accompanied him, implied that an 
 attack was determined upon. But these consultations 
 did not pass unobserved by the defenders of the 
 garrison. The party was noticed by a sentinel, and 
 fired upon, and this seemed to be the signal to call 
 eveiy man to his post at the embrasures. Shortly 
 after, the troops advanced to the escalade; but to cross 
 the moat, and get at the bottom of the walls, it was 
 necessary to bring up some species of pontoon, and, 
 accordingly, several soldiers were seen engaged in 
 pushing before them wicker-work scaffoldings, which 
 moved on castors, towards the fortifications. The 
 drums beat to arms, and the fearful bustle of warfare 
 opened in earnest, Smoke was poured out in volleys
 
 THE DOG. 105 
 
 from shot-holes ; the besieging forces pushed forward 
 in masses, regardless of the fire ; the moat was filled 
 with the crowd; and, amid much confusion and scram- 
 bling, scaling-ladders were raised against the walls. 
 Then was the grand tug of war. The leaders of the 
 forlorn hope who first ascended, were opposed with 
 great gallantry by the defenders ; and this was perhaps 
 the most interesting part of the exhibition. The chief 
 of the assailants did wonders : he was seen now here, 
 now there, animating his men, and was twice hurled, 
 with ladder and followers, from the second gradation 
 of ramparts ; but he was invulnerable, and seemed to 
 receive an accession of courage 011 every fresh repulse. 
 The scene became of an exciting nature. The rattle of 
 the miniature cannon, the roll of the drums, the sound 
 of trumpets, and the heroism of the actors on both 
 sides, imparted an idea of reality, that, for the moment, 
 made the spectator forget that he was looking on a 
 performance of dogs. Not a bark was heard in the 
 struggle. After numerous hair-breadth escapes, the 
 chief surmounted the third line of fortifications, follow- 
 ed by his troops; the enemy's standard was hurled 
 down, and the British flag hoisted in its place ; the 
 ramparts were manned by the conquerors ; and the 
 smoke cleared away to the tune of "God save the 
 King." It is impossible to convey a just idea of this 
 performance, which altogether reflected great credit 
 on its contriver, as also on the abilities of each in- 
 dividual dog. We must conclude that the firing from 
 the embrasures and some other parts of the mechanique 
 were effected by human agency, but the actions of the
 
 106 THE DOG. 
 
 dogs were clearly their own, and showed what could 
 be effected with animals by dint of patient culture. 
 UO. Another specimen of these canine theatricals was 
 quite a contrast to the bustle of the siege. The scene 
 was an assembly-room, on the sides and the farther 
 end of which seats were placed, while a music-gallery 
 and a profusion of chandeliers gave a richness and 
 truth to the general effect. Livery-servants were in 
 attendance on a few of the company, who entered and 
 took their seats. Frequent knockings now occurred at 
 the door, followed by the entrance of parties attired in 
 the fashion of the period. These were, of course, the 
 same individuals who had recently been in the deadly 
 breach; but now all was tranquillity, elegance, and 
 ase. Parties were formally introduced to each other, 
 with an appearance of the greatest decorum, though 
 sometimes a young dog would shew a slight disposition 
 to break through restraint, but only to the increased 
 amusement of the beholders. Some of the dogs that 
 represented ladies were dressed in silks, gauzes, laces, 
 And gay tasteful ribbons. Some wore artificial flowers, 
 with the flowing ringlets of youth ; others wore the 
 powdered and pomatumed head-dress of riper years, 
 with caps and lappets, in ludicrous contrast to the 
 features of the animals. Doubtless the whole had 
 been the result of judicious study and correct arrange- 
 ment, for the most animated were habited as the most 
 .youthful. The animals which represented gentlemen 
 were judiciously equipped; some as youthful, and 
 others as aged beaux, regulated by their degrees of 
 proficiency, since those most youthfully 'dressed were
 
 THE DOG. 107 
 
 most attentive to the ladies. The frequent bow, and 
 return of curtsey, produced great mirth in the audience; 
 but when the noses of the animals neared each other r 
 it produced a shriek of delight from the youthful 
 spectators. On a sudden the master of the ceremonies- 
 appeared. No doubt he was the chief in the battle 
 fray. He was now an elegant fellow, full of animation - r 
 he wore a superb court-dress, and his manners were in 
 agreement with his costume. He approached many of 
 the visitors : to some of the gentlemen he gave merely 
 a look of recognition ; to the ladies he was generally 
 attentive ; to some he projected his paw familiarly, to- 
 others he bowed with respect, and introduced one to- 
 another with an air of elegance that surprised and 
 delighted the spectators. There was a general feeling 
 of astonishment at some of the nicer features of the 
 scene, as at the various degrees of intimacy which 
 individuals expressed by their nods and bows of 
 recognition. As the performance advanced, the interest 
 increased. A little music was heard as from the gallery, 
 but it was soon interrupted by a loud knocking, which 
 announced the arrival of some important visitor, and 
 expectation was raised. Several livery servants entered, 
 and then a sedan-chair was borne in by appropriately 
 dressed dogs ; they removed the poles, raised the head, 
 and opened the door of the sedan ; forth came a lady, 
 splendidly attired in spangled satin and jewels, and 
 her head decorated with a plume of ostrich feathers ? 
 She made a great impression, and appeared as if 
 conscious of her superior attraction. Meanwhile the 
 ohair was removed, the master of the ceremonies, in
 
 108 THE DOG. 
 
 his court-dress, was in readiness to receive the elegante, 
 the bow and curtsey were admirably interchanged, and 
 an air of elegance pervaded the deportment of both. 
 The band now struck up an air of the kind to which 
 ball-room companies are accustomed to promenade, 
 and the company immediately quitted their seats, and 
 began to walk ceremoniously in pairs round the room. 
 Three of the ladies placed their arms under those of 
 their attendant gentlemen. On seats being resumed, 
 the master of the ceremonies and the lady who came 
 in the sedan-chair arose ; he led her to the centre of 
 the room ; Foote's minuet struck up ; the pair com- 
 menced the movements w r ith an attention to time; 
 they performed the crossings and turnings, the ad- 
 vancings, retreatings, and obeisances, during which 
 there was a perfect silence ; and they concluded amid 
 thunders of applause. What ultimately became of 
 the ingenious manager with his company, our informant 
 never heard. 
 
 91. Perhaps the most remarkable instance known of 
 what are called " learned dogs " is that of two poodles, 
 which were trained at Milan, and exhibited at Paris in 
 the spring of 1830. The account of them is given by 
 a lady whose veracity is not doubtful, and who herself 
 saw their performance. The elder named Fido, says 
 she, is white, with some black patches on his head and 
 back; and the younger who is called Bianco, is also 
 white but with red spots. Fido is a grave and serious 
 personage, walks with dignity round the circle assem- 
 bled to see him, and appears much absorbed in reflec- 
 tion. Bianco is young and giddy, but full of talent
 
 THE DOG. 109 
 
 when he chooses to apply it. Owing to his more sedate 
 disposition, however, Fido is called upon to act the 
 principal part of the exhibition. A word is dictated to 
 him from the Greek, Latin, Italian, German, French, 
 or English language, and selected from a vocabulary 
 where fifty words in such tongue are inscribed, and 
 which altogether make three hundred different com- 
 binations. An alphabet is placed before Fido, and 
 from it he takes the letters which compose the given 
 word, and lays them in proper order at the feet of his 
 master. On one occasion he was told to spell the word 
 heathen, and he quickly placed the letters till he came 
 to the second e ; he stood for an instant as if puzzled, 
 but in a moment after he took the e out of the first 
 syllable, and put it into the second. His attainments 
 in orthography, however, are not so surprising as those 
 in arithmetic. He practises the four rules with extra- 
 ordinary facility, arranges the double ciphers as he did 
 in the word heathen, and rarely makes an error. When 
 such does occur, his more thoughtless companion is 
 called to rectify it, which he invariably does with the 
 greatest quickness ; but as he had rather play than 
 work, and pulls Fido by the ears to make him as idle 
 as himself, he is quickly dismissed, One day, the 
 steady Fido spelt the word Jupiter with a b instead of 
 a p ; Bianco was summoned to his aid, who, after con- 
 templating the word, pushed out the b with his nose, 
 and seizing a p between his teeth put it into the va- 
 cancy. Fido is remarkable for the modest firmness 
 with which he insists upon his correctness when he 
 feels convinced of it himself, for a lady having struck
 
 110 THE DOG. 
 
 a repeating watch in his ear, he selected an 8 for the 
 hour, and a 6 for the three quarters. The company 
 present, and his master, called out to him he was 
 wrong. He reviewed his numbers and s.tood still. His 
 master insisted, and he again examined his ciphers ; 
 after which he went quietly, but not in the least abash- 
 ed, into the middle of the carpet, and looked at his 
 audience. The watch was then sounded again, and it 
 was found to have struck two at every quarter, and 
 Fido received the plaudits which followed with as gen- 
 tle a demeanour as that with which he had borne the 
 accusation of error. One occupation seems to bring 
 the giddy Bianco to the gravity of the elder savan, and 
 when the spectators are tired of arithmetic and ortho- 
 graphy, the two dogs either sit down to ecarte, or 
 become the antagonists of one of the company. They 
 ask for, or refuse cards, as their hands require, with a 
 most important look ; they cut at the proper times, 
 and never mistake one suit for another. They have 
 recourse to their ciphers to mark their points ; and, on 
 one occasion,, Bianco having won, he selected his num- 
 ber, and on being asked what were the gains of his 
 adversary, he immediately took an between his teeth, 
 and showed it to the querist, and both seemed to 
 know all the terms of the game as thoroughly as the 
 most experienced card-players. All this passes without 
 the slightest visible or audible sign between the 
 poodles and master. The spectators are placed within 
 three steps of the carpet on which the performance 
 goes forward ; people have gone for the sole purpose of 
 watching the master ; every body visits them, and yet
 
 THE DOG. Ill 
 
 no one has hitherto found out the mode of communi- 
 cation established between them and their owner. 
 Whatever this communication may be, it does not 
 deduct from the wonderful intelligence of these ani- 
 mals ; for there must be a multiplicity of signs, not 
 only to be understood with eyes and ears, but to be 
 separated from each other in their minds, or to be com- 
 bined one with another, for the various trials in which 
 they are exercised. I have seen learned pigs and 
 ponies, and can, after these spectacles, readily imagine 
 how the extraordinary sagacity of a dog may be brought 
 to a knowledge of the orthography of three hundred 
 words. But I must confess myself puzzled by the * 
 acquirements of these poodles in arithmetic, which 
 must depend upon the will of the spectator who pro- 
 poses the numbers. But that which is most surprising 
 of all is the skill with which they play eearte. The 
 gravity and attention with which they carry on their 
 game, is almost ludicrous ; and the satisfaction of 
 Bianco when he marks his points is perfectly evident. 
 92. Fully as interesting an exhibition of clever dogs 
 took place in London in the summer of 1843, under 
 the auspices of M. Leonard, a French gentleman of 
 scientific attainments and enlightened character, who 
 had for some years directed his attention to the reason- 
 ing powers of animals, and their cultivation. Two 
 pointers, Braque and Philax, had" been the especial 
 objects of his instruction, and their naturally inferior 
 intellectual capacities had been excited in an extra- 
 ordinary degree. A writer in the Atlas newspaper 
 thus speaks of the exhibition of these animals : " M.
 
 112 THE DOG. 
 
 Leonard's clogs are not merely clever, well taught 
 animals, which, by dint of practice, can pick up a 
 particular letter, or can, by a sort of instinct, indicate 
 a number which may be asked for ; they call into 
 action, powers which, if not strictly intellectual, approx- 
 imate very closely to reason. For instance, they exert 
 memory. Four pieces of paper were placed upon the 
 floor, which the company numbered indiscriminately, 
 2, 4, 6, 8. The numbers were named but once, and 
 yet the dogs were able to pick up any one of them at 
 command, although they were not placed in regular 
 order. The numbers were then changed, with a similar 
 result. Again : diffei-ent objects were placed upon the 
 floor, and when a similar thing say a glove was 
 exhibited, one or other of the animals picked it up 
 immediately. The dogs distinguish colours, and, in 
 short, appear to understand everything that is said to 
 them. The dog Braque plays a game of dominoes with 
 any one who likes. We are aware that this has been 
 done before; but when it is considered that it is 
 necessary to distinguish the number of spots, it must 
 be admitted that this requires the exercise of a power 
 little inferior to reason. The dog sits on the chair 
 with the dominoes before him; and when his adversaiy 
 plays, he scans each of his dominoes with an air of 
 attention and gravity which is perfectly marvellous. 
 When he could not match the dominoe played, he 
 became restless, and shook his head, and gave other 
 indications of his inability to do so. No human being 
 could have paid more attention. The dog seemed to 
 watch the game with deep interest, and what is more,
 
 THE DOG. 113 
 
 he won. Another point strongly indicative of the close 
 approach to the reasoning powers, was the exactness 
 with which the dogs obeyed an understood signal. It 
 was agreed that when three blows were struck upon 
 a chair, Philax should do what was requested; and 
 when five were given, that the task should devolve on 
 Braque. This arrangement was strictly adhered to. 
 We do not intend to follow the various proofs which 
 were afforded of the intelligence of the dogs ; it is 
 sufficient to say that a multiplicity of directions given 
 to them were obeyed implicity, and that they appeared 
 to understand what their master said as well as any 
 individual in the room. M. Leonard entered into a 
 highly interesting explanation of his theory regarding 
 the intellectual powers of animals, and the mode he 
 adopts to train and subdue horses, exhibiting the 
 defects of the system generally pursued. His principle 
 is, that horses are not vicious by nature, but because 
 they have been badly taught; and that, as with children, 
 these defects may be corrected by proper teaching. 
 M. Leonard does not enter into these inquiries for 
 profit, but solely with a scientific and humane view, 
 being desirous of investigating the extent of the 
 reasoning powers of animals." 
 
 93. James Hogg, who possessed the best oppor- 
 tunities of studying the character of the shepherd's 
 dog, mentions that lie at one time had a dog, called 
 Sirrah, an animal of sullen disposition, and by no 
 means favourable appearance, which was an extraordi- 
 nary adept in managing a flock. One of his exploits 
 was as follows; About seven hundred lambs, which
 
 114 THE DOG. 
 
 were once under his care at weaning-time, broke up at 
 midnight, and scampered off in three divisions across 
 the hills, in spite of all that the Shepherd and an 
 assistant lad could do to keep them together. ' Sirrah,' 
 cried the Shepherd in great affliction, ' my man, they're 
 a' awa.' The night was so dark, that he did not see 
 Sirrah ; but the faithful animal had heard his master's 
 words words such as of all others were sure to set him 
 most on the alert ; and without more ado, he silently 
 set off in quest of the recreant flock. Meanwhile the 
 Shepherd and his companion did not fail to do all that 
 was in their own power to recover their lost charge ; 
 they spent the whole night in scouring the hills for 
 miles around ; but of neither the lambs nor Sirrah could 
 they obtain the slightest trace. ' It was the most ex- 
 traordinary circumstance,' says the Shepherd, ' that had 
 ever occurred in the annals of the pastoral life. We 
 had nothing for it (day having dawned) but to return 
 to our master, and inform him that we had lost his 
 whole flock of lambs, and knew not what was become 
 of one of them. On our way home, however, we dis- 
 covered a body of lambs at the bottom of a deep ravine, 
 called the Flech Cleuch, and the indefatigable Sirrah 
 standing in front of them, looking all around for some 
 relief, but still standing true to his charge. The 
 sun was then up, and when we first came in view of 
 them, we concluded that it was one of the divisions of 
 the lambs which Sirrah had been unable to manage, 
 until he came to that commanding situation. But what 
 was our astonishment when we discovered by degrees 
 that not one lamb of the whole flock was wanting !
 
 THE DOG. 115 
 
 How lie had got all the divisions collected in the dark, 
 is beyond my comprehension. , The charge was left 
 entirely to himself from midnight until the rising of 
 the sun, and if all the shepherds in the forest had 
 been there to have assisted him, they could not have 
 effected it with greater propriety. All that I can further 
 say is, that I never felt so grateful to any creature below 
 the sun, as I did to my honest Sirrah that morning.' 
 
 94. Among the narratives which still entertain the 
 fireside circle in Tweeddale, one of the most remarkable 
 refers to an extraordinary case of sheep-stealing, in 
 Avhich a shepherd's dog was a subordinate though most 
 active agent. The case occurred in the year 1772. A 
 young farmer in the neighbourhood of Innerleithen, 
 whose circumstances were supposed to be good, and 
 who was connected with many of the best storefarrning 
 families in the county, had been tempted to commit 
 some extensive depredations upon the flocks of his 
 neighbours, in which he was assisted by his shepherd. 
 The pastoral farms of Tweeddale, which generally con- 
 sist each of a certain range of hilly ground, had in 
 those days no enclosures : their boundaries were indi- 
 cated only by the natural features of the country. The 
 sheep were, accordingly, liable to wander, and to become 
 intermixed with each other, and at every reckoning of 
 a flock, a certain allowance had been made for this, as 
 for other contingencies. For some time Mr. William 
 Gibson, tenant in Newby, an extensive farm stretching 
 from the neighbourhood of Peebles to the borders of 
 Selkirkshire, had remarked a surprising increase in the 
 amount of his annual losses. He questioned his shep-
 
 116 THE DOG. 
 
 herds severely, taxed them with carelessness in picking 
 up and bringing home the dead, and plainly intimated 
 that he conceived some unfair dealing to he in progress. 
 The men, finding themselves thus exposed to suspicions 
 of a very painful kind, were as much chagrined as the 
 worthy farmer himself, and kept their minds alive to 
 every circumstance which might tend to afford any 
 elucidation of the mystery. One day, while they were 
 summering their lambs, the eye of a very acute old 
 shepherd named Hyslop was caught by a black-faced 
 ewe which they had formerly missed (for the shepherds 
 generally knew every particular member of their flocks,) 
 and which was now suckling its own lamb as if it had 
 never been absent. On inspecting it carefully, it was 
 found to bear an additional birn upon its face. Eve*ry 
 farmer, it must be mentioned, impresses with a hot iron 
 a particular letter upon the faces of his sheep, as a 
 means of distinguishing his own from those of his 
 neighbours. Mr. Gibson's brand was the letter T, and 
 this was found distinctly enough impressed on the face 
 of the ewe. But above this mark there was an 0, which 
 was known to be the mark of the tenant of Wormiston, 
 the individual already mentioned. It was immediately 
 suspected that this and the other missing sheep had 
 been abstracted by that person; a suspicion which 
 derived strength from the reports of the neighbouring 
 shepherds, by whom, it appeared, the black-faced ewe 
 had been tracked for a considerable way in a direction 
 leading from Wormiston to Newby. It was indeed 
 ascertained that instinctive affection for her lamb had 
 led this animal across the Tweed, and over the lofty
 
 THE DOG. 117 
 
 heights between Cailzie and Newby, a route of very 
 considerable difficulty, and probably quite different 
 from that by which she had been led away, but the 
 most direct that could have been taken. Mr. Gibson 
 only stopped to obtain the concurrence of a neighbour- 
 ing farmer, whose losses had been equally great, before 
 proceeding with* some of the legal authorities to Wor- 
 miston, where Millar, the shepherd, and his master, 
 were taken into custody, and conducted to the prison 
 of Peebles. On a search of the farm, no fewer than 
 thirty-three score of sheep belonging to various indi- 
 viduals were found, all bearing the condemnatory O 
 above the original birns ; and it was remarked that 
 there was not a single ewe returned to Grieston, the 
 farm on the opposite bank of the Tweed, which did not 
 minny her lambs that is, assume the character of 
 mother towards the offspring from which she had been 
 separated. The magnitude of this crime, the rareness 
 of such offences in the district, and the station in life 
 of at least one of the offenders, produced a great 
 sensation in Tweeddale, and caused the elicitation of 
 every minute circumstance that could possible be dis- 
 covered respecting the means which had been employed 
 for carrying on such an extensive system of depredation. 
 The most surprising part of the tale is, the extent to 
 which it appears that the instinct of dumb animals had 
 been instrumental both in the crime and in its detection. 
 While the farmer seemed to have deputed the business 
 chiefly to his shepherd, the shepherd seemed to have 
 deputed it again, in many instances, to a dog of extra- 
 ordinary sagacity, which served him in his customary
 
 118 THE DOG. 
 
 and lawful business. This animal, which bore the 
 name of Yarrow, would not only act under his immediate 
 direction in cutting off a portion of a flock, and bring- 
 ing it home to Wormiston, but is said to have been able 
 to proceed solitarily, and by night, to a sheep-walk, and 
 there detach certain individuals previously pointed out 
 by its master, which it would drive liome by secret 
 ways, without allowing one to straggle. It is mentioned 
 that, while returning home with their stolen droves, 
 they avoided, even in the night, the roads along the 
 banks of the river, or those that descended to the valley 
 through the adjoining glens. They chose rather to 
 come along the ridge of mountains that separate the 
 small river Leithen from the Tweed. But even here 
 there was sometimes danger ; for the shepherds 
 occasionally visit their flocks before day ; and often 
 when Millar had driven his prey from a distance, and 
 while he was yet miles from home, and the weather- 
 gleam of the eastern hills began to be tinged with the 
 brightening dawn, he has left them to the charge of his 
 dog, and descended himself to the banks of the Leithen, 
 off his way, that he might not be seen connected with 
 their company. Yarrow, although between three and 
 four miles from his master, would continue, with care 
 and silence, to bring the sheep onward to Wormiston, 
 where his master's appearance could be neither a matter 
 of question or surprise. Near to the thatched farm- 
 house was one of those old square towers, or peel-houses, 
 whose picturesque ruins were then seen ornamenting 
 the course of the Tweed, as they had been placed 
 alternately along the north and south bank, generally
 
 THE DOG. 119 
 
 from three to six hundred yard from it sometimes on 
 the shin, and sometimes in the hollow of a hill. In the 
 vault of this tower it was the practice of these men to 
 conceal the sheep they had recently stolen ; and while 
 the rest of their people were absent on Sunday at the 
 church, they used to employ themselves in cancelling 
 with their knives the ear-marks, and impressing with a 
 hot iron a large upon the face, that covered both sides 
 of the animal's nose, for the purpose of obliterating the 
 brand of the true owner. While his accomplices were 
 so busied, Yarrow kept watch in the open air, and gave 
 notice, without fail, by his barking, of the approach of 
 strangers. The farmer and his servant were tried at 
 Edinburgh in January 1773, and the proceedings excited 
 an extraordinary interest, not only in the audience, but 
 amongst the legal officials. Hyslop the principal 
 witness, gave so many curious particulars respecting 
 the instincts of sheep, and the modes of distinguishing 
 them both by natural and artificial marks, that he was 
 highly complimented by the bench. The evidence was 
 so complete, that both culprits were found guilty, and 
 according to the barbarous policy of those times, they 
 expiated their crime on the scaffold. 
 
 95. The sagacity of these interesting animals comes 
 so very near reason in some instances, as to make it a 
 most difficult question where instinct ends, and the 
 rational powers begin ; in other words, whether what 
 we call reason is the exclusive property of the human 
 creature. I remember a most singular case of in- 
 telligence in a beautiful King Charles' spaniel which 
 belonged to my sister, which occurred a few years
 
 120 THE DOG. 
 
 since. This little animal was not only the most 
 beautiful, but also the most touchy fellow I ever saw ; 
 but I am bound to speak well of him, because, for 
 some reason or other, I was an especial favourite ; and, 
 although he sometimes snapped even at me, he never 
 did more, which few others could say; and I own, 
 although I saw his faults, I was exceedingly attached 
 to him, and he in return had the most perfect con- 
 fidence in me, and understood my looks in a most 
 extraordinary manner ; and it was a common practice, 
 not only with myself, but other members of our family, 
 when we left the room where he was, to promise in 
 words to return, and not to go out without him, for his 
 sporting propensities were very strong, and I never 
 knew a more indefatigable, or better finder than he 
 was. One fine day, I was engaged in my own room 
 writing, and little "Charlie" lay on the rug dosing, and 
 very snug and comfortable, and twice or thrice during 
 the morning I had occasion to take my cap and go out 
 for a few minutes, but on each occasion, promising to 
 return, he only looked up, and again settled himself 
 to sleep. But at last, thinking I would take a short 
 walk, but not particularly wishing to have the encum- 
 brance of a dog with me, I took my cap once more, 
 and promised to return as usual ; but as I passed the 
 corner of my room, took up a small stick, which was 
 usually my walking companion. This circumstance 
 was sufficient to make him disbelieve what was certainly 
 intended to deceive, and it would not accordingly do 
 this time, for he immediately followed me to the door, 
 showing that he was not to be done ; and I own that
 
 THE DOG. 121 
 
 my heart smote me, and I took him with me, being no 
 less pleased with his intelligence. Now, we know, that 
 it is a very common thing for a dog, if you do not wish 
 him to follow you, and therefore shut him in by a front 
 door, to come out and join you by the back door if it 
 be open ; or, if conscious of doing that for which he 
 has been chastised, on the approach of any person 
 immediately to decamp. But, it appears to me, that the 
 anecdote I have just related, is a greater refinement of 
 instinct than I ever heard of, or met with, and worthy 
 to be recorded, of a little animal who has long since 
 met the melancholy end of all pets ; the unnatural life 
 he led producing asthma, which rendered it necessary 
 to put him into the hands of a dog doctor, where he 
 soon after breathed his last, and lies buried under a 
 small stone, in those very shrubberies which had so 
 often resounded to his joyous cries. 
 
 96. I well remember when a boy, at Barton-upon- 
 Humber, a certain " keel " employed in the Yorkshire 
 corn trade, on board which the captain had a dog, 
 possessed of some traces of terrier blood, smooth 
 coated, and of a pure white colour, his neck and back 
 adorned with stumpy bristles, which ruffled up at the 
 slightest provocation. Altogether, he was a mongrel 
 cur enough ; but he was an excellent sailor, for he 
 attended*kis master on all his trading expeditions, and 
 never deserted his ship. One day, while the keel lay 
 in Barton haven, the dog was lost, and great was the 
 consternation in consequence. Diligent search was 
 made in the town and neighbourhood, but every effort 
 to discover the missing aninjal proved unavailing.
 
 122 THE DOG. 
 
 Month after month passed away, the keel went and 
 came on her accustomed avocations, and poor Keeper 
 , was forgotten considered by his master to be dead. 
 Judge, therefore, the man's surprise, when one day 
 steering with difficulty his vessel into Goole harbour, 
 which was crowded with shipping at the time, his 
 glance suddenly fell upon his faithful and long lost 
 dog, buffetting the water at a considerable distance 
 from the keel, but making eagerly towards her. By 
 the aid of a piece of tar rope which was dangling 
 round the dog's neck, and a friendly boat hook, he 
 was lifted, quite exhausted, on to the deck of his 
 master's craft, when it became at once apparent that 
 he had long been kept a prisoner, most probably on 
 board a vessel, by some one who had stolen him at 
 Barton. The cause of the poor dog's sudden re- 
 appearance, was, undoubtedly, his having heard his 
 master's well remembered voice ; but it is strange he 
 should have been able to distinguish at so great a 
 distance, and when swelling that chorus of hoarse 
 bawlings which arises from a hundred husky throats 
 when a Yorkshire keel-man is engaged forcing his 
 craft into a crowded harbour ; and it is also equally 
 touching, that, when roused by the distant sound, the 
 poor beast should have plunged, encumbered as he 
 was with the rope he had just burst asunder, so 
 gallantly into the water, an element he was ill-adapted 
 to move in, and in which his master declared he had 
 never seen him before. 
 
 97. Here is a beautiful instance of a setter's untutor- 
 ed intelligence, leading her to see the advantage of
 
 THE DOG. 123 
 
 having running birds between herself and the gun. 
 On gaining some high ground, the dog drew and stood. 
 She was walked up to, but, to my astonishment, we 
 found no birds. She was encouraged, and, with much 
 difficulty, coaxed off her point. She kept drawing on, 
 but with the same ill success. I must confess I was 
 for the moment sorely puzzled, but knowing the ex- 
 cellence of the animal, I left her alone. She kept 
 drawing on, but still no birds. At last, of her own 
 accord, and with a degree of instinct amounting almost 
 to the faculty of reasoning, she broke from her point, 
 and dashing off to the right, made a " detour," and was 
 presently straight before me, some three hundred yards 
 off, setting the game, whatever it might be ; as much 
 as to say, " escape me this time !" We walked steadily 
 on, and when within about thirty yards of her, up got 
 a covey of red-legged partridges. 
 
 98. A gentleman had a pointer so fleet that he often 
 backed him to find birds in a ten acre field within two 
 minutes, if there were birds in it. On entering the 
 field, he seemed to know by instinct where the birds 
 would be, generally going up to them at once. His 
 nose was so good, that, with a brisk wind, he would 
 find his game a hundred and fifty yards off across the 
 furrows. He could tell whether a bird was hit, and if 
 so, would retrieve it some fields off from where it was 
 shot. He would never follow a hare, unless it was 
 wounded. He -frould point water-fowl as well as all 
 birds of game ; and has been seen pointing a duck or 
 a moor-hen with the water running over his back at the 
 time. Nothing seemed to spoil this dog, not even rat 
 2 H
 
 124 THE DOG. 
 
 or otter hunting, in both of which he was an adept, as 
 he knew his business; and, although he would rattle 
 through a w r ood, he was perfectly steady the next 
 minute out of cover. He has been known to continue 
 at a point two hours. In high turnips he would con- 
 trive to show his master where he was, standing some- 
 times on his hind legs only, so that his head and 
 forequarters might be seen, On one occasion, he came 
 at full speed so suddenly on a hare, that he slipped up, 
 and fell nearly on his back. In this position he did 
 not move, and it was thought he was in a fit, till the 
 hare jumped up and was killed, when the dog righted 
 himself. So steady was he in backing another dog 
 when game was found, that he once caught sight of a 
 point at the moment of jumping a stile, and balanced 
 himself on it for several seconds till he fell. Once, 
 when hunting with a young pointer, who had only been 
 taken into the field two or three times, in order to 
 shew him some birds before the shooting season, the 
 following occurrence took place. The old dog found 
 some birds in the middle of the field, and pointed 
 them steadily. The puppy had been jumping and 
 gambolling about, with no great hunt in him, and, 
 upon seeing the old dog stand, ran playfully up to him. 
 He was, however, seized by the neck, and received a 
 good shaking, which sent him away howling ; and his 
 companion then turned round and steadied himself 
 on his point, without moving scarcely d yard. 
 
 99. On one occasion, when a relation of mine was shoot- 
 ing on the banks of the Forth, he killed a partridge that 
 was flying across the river. As he had no retriever
 
 THE DOG. 125 
 
 with him, he almost regretted having fired ; but, to his 
 surprise, his setter, Dove, jumped into the river, 
 although she had never previously (to the writer's 
 knowledge) attempted to swim, seized it, and deposited 
 it safely on the bank. 
 
 100. I was with a gentleman, who resides in the 
 country, in his study, when a pointer dog belonging to 
 him came running to the door of the room, which was 
 shut, scratching and barking till he was admitted. He 
 then used supplicating gestures of every kind, running 
 from his master to the stair, behind which his gun 
 stood, then again to his master, and back to the gun. 
 The gentleman now comprehended something of his 
 dog's meaning, and took up his gun. The dog imme- 
 diately gave a bark of joy, ran to the back door of the 
 house, from whence he took the road to a neighbouring 
 hill. His master and I followed him. The dog ran, 
 highly pleased, a little distance before us, showing us 
 the way we should take. After we had proceeded about 
 forty paces, he gave us to understand that we should 
 turn to the left, by pressing repeatedly against his 
 master, and pushing him towards the road that turned 
 to the left. We followed his direction, and he accom- 
 panied us a few paces, but suddenly he turned to the 
 right, running round the whole of the hill. We still 
 proceeded to the left, slowly up the ascent, till we were 
 nearly arrived at its summit ; the dog, in the meantime, 
 making the circuit of the hill to the right. He was 
 now already higher than we were, when he gave a 
 sudden bark, and that moment a hare ran before the 
 muzzle of his master's gun, and of course met her- fate.
 
 126 THE DOG. 
 
 101. During my residence in the country, I had a 
 gamekeeper who was very skilful in the art of training 
 dogs. Among others of various kinds which he trained, 
 was a large old English setter, with which he had 
 succeeded so well, that he could use him both for 
 hunting and shooting. This dog did always as much 
 as could be done fey any of his race, in whatever kind 
 of sport he was employed ; he even invented advanta- 
 geous manoeuvres himself Avhich the gamekeeper 
 affirmed he had never taught him. Once, after I had 
 been already several hours returned from hunting with 
 my people, the dog came running across the yard with 
 a hare upon his back, which he held by the ear, so as 
 to carry her in the most convenient manner to the 
 kitchen, from the considerable distance where he must 
 have killed her. Upon another occasion, he showed an 
 extraordinary degree of judgment and fidelity. The 
 gamekeeper had, on one of the short days of December, 
 shot at and wounded a deer. Hoping to run him 
 down before night, he instantly put the dog on the 
 track, which followed it at full speed, and soon was 
 out of sight, At length it grew dark, and the game- 
 keeper returned home, thinking he should find the 
 setter arrived there before him ; but he was disappoint- 
 ed, and became apprehensive that his dog might have 
 lost himself, or fallen a prey to some ravenous animal. 
 The next morning, however, we were all greatly 
 rejoiced to see him come running into the yard, when 
 he directly hastened to the door of my apartment, and, 
 on being admitted, ran with gestures expressive of 
 solicitude and eagerness to a corner of the room where
 
 THE DOG. 127 
 
 guns were placed. We understood the hint, and, taking 
 the guns, followed. He led us, not by the road which 
 he himself had taken out of the wood, but by beaten 
 paths half round it, and then by several wood-cutter's 
 tracks in different directions to a thicket, where, 
 following him a few paces, we found the deer which 
 he had killed. The dog seems to have rightly judged 
 that we should have been obliged to make our way 
 with much difficulty through almost the whole length 
 of the wood, in order to come to the deer in a straight 
 direction, and he therefore led us a circuitous, but 
 open and convenient road Between the legs of the 
 deer, which he had guarded during the night against 
 the beasts of prey that might otherwise have seized 
 upon it, he had scratched a hole in the snow, and filled 
 it with dry leaves for his bed. The extraordinary 
 sagacity which he had displayed upon this occasion, 
 rendered him doubly valuable to us ; and it therefore 
 caused us very serious regret, when, in the ensuing 
 summer, the poor animal went mad, possibly in con- 
 sequence of his exposure to the severe frost of tliat 
 night; and it became necessary for the gamekeeper to 
 shoot him, which he could not do without shedding 
 tears. He said he could willingly have given his best 
 cow to save him; and I confess myself that I would 
 not have hesitated to part with my best horse upon the 
 same terms. 
 
 1C12. A gentleman had a favourite spaniel, which, for 
 a long time, was in the habit of accompanying him in 
 all his walks, and became his attached companion. 
 This gentleman had occasion to leave home, and was
 
 128 THE DOG. 
 
 absent for more than a year, during which time he had 
 never seen the dog. On his return, along with a friend, 
 while yet at a little distance from the house, they 
 perceived the spaniel lying beside the gate. He thought 
 that this would be a good opportunity for testing the 
 memory of his favourite ; and he accordingly arranged 
 with his companion, who was quite unknown to the 
 dog, that they should both walk up to the animal and 
 express no signs of recognition. As they both ap- 
 proached nearer, the dog started up, and gazed at them 
 attentively, but he discovered no signs of recognition 
 at their near approach. At last he came up to the 
 stranger, put his nose close to his clothes, and smelt 
 him, without any signs of emotion. He then did the 
 same to his old master ; but no sooner had he smelt 
 him, than recognition instantly took place : he leaped 
 up to his face repeatedly, and showed symptoms of 
 extravagant joy. He followed him into the house and 
 watched his every movement, and could by no means 
 be diverted from his person. Here was an instance of 
 deficient memory through the organs of sight, but an 
 accurate recollection through the organs of smell. 
 
 103. The modes employed by dogs of different races 
 in capturing and devouring the crab, and especially 
 that pugnacious species, the velvet-crab, will illustrate 
 the experience which has become propagated in the 
 breed, over the ignorance of the uninitiated. On the 
 first discovery of the prey, a terrier runs in to seize it, 
 and is immediately and severely bitten on the nose. 
 But a sedate Newfoundland dog of my acquaintance, 
 proceeds more soberly in his work. He lays his paw
 
 THE DOG. 129 
 
 on it, to arrest it in its escape; then, tumbling it over, 
 lie bares his teeth, and, seizing it with the mouth, 
 throws the crab aloft : it falls upon the stones ; the 
 shell is cracked beyond redemption; and then the 
 dainty dish is devoured at his leisure. 
 
 W. If we admit that dogs possess the faculty of 
 thought, here is a decided case of a dog dying of a 
 broken heart : A poor tailor of the Borough left a 
 small dog inconsolable for His loss. The little animal 
 would not leave his dead master even for his food ; and 
 when the corpse was removed for burial, he followed 
 the mournful train to the church-yard, and would have 
 remained at the grave but for the sexton, whose ruder 
 sensibilities prompted his expulsion. He was found 
 the ne^xt day on the grave of his master, and there 
 continued to repeat his visit as often was he expelled, 
 till, one day the circumstance having become known to 
 the clergyman, he had him supplied daily with food, 
 and even built him a kennel on the spot, in order that 
 he might indulge the bent of his inclination. Two years- 
 did this mirror of fidelity pass in this manner, till 
 death put an end to his griefs. 
 
 105. Opposite to the home of a gentlemen, near the 
 church-yard of St. Olave, in Southwark, and where the 
 little receptacles of humanity are in many parts dilapi- 
 dated, was an aperture just large enough to admit a 
 dog. It led along a kind of sink to a dark cavity, 
 close to which a person had lately been buried. It was 
 inhabited by his dog, who was to be seen occasionally 
 moving into or out of the cavern. He had taken 
 possession of it on the day of the funeral. How he
 
 130 THE DOG. 
 
 obtained any food during the first two or three months, 
 no one knew; but he at length attracted the attention of 
 a gentleman who lived opposite, and who ordered his 
 servant regularly to supply the poor fellow. He used, 
 after awhile, to come occasionally to this house for the 
 food that was provided for him. He was not sullen, 
 but there was a melancholy expression in his coun- 
 tenance, which, once observed, could never be forgotten. 
 As soon as he had finished his hasty meal, he would 
 gaze for a moment on his benefactor. It was an ex- 
 pressive look, and which could not be misunderstood. 
 It conveyed all the thanks that a broken heart could 
 give. He then entombed himself once more for three 
 or four days, when he crawled out again with his eyes 
 sunk and his coat dishevelled. Two years he was 
 faithful to the memory of him whom he had lost ; and 
 then, according to the most authentic account of him, 
 having been missing several days, he was found dead 
 in his retreat. 
 
 106. One day, when Dumont, a tradesman of the 
 Rue St. Denis, was walking in the Boulvard St. Antoine 
 with a friend, he offered to lay a wager with the latter 
 that if he were to hide a six-Louis d'or piece in the dust, 
 his dog would discover and bring it to him. The wager 
 was accepted, and the piece of money secreted after 
 having been carefully marked. When the two had 
 proceeded some distance from the spot, M. Dumont 
 called to his dog that he had lost something, and 
 ordered him to seek it. Caniche immediately turned 
 back, and his master and his companion pursued their 
 walk to the Rue St. Denis. Meanwhile, a traveller, who
 
 THE DOG. 131 
 
 happened to be just then returning in a small chaise from 
 Vincennes, perceived the piece of money which his horse 
 had kicked from its hiding-place. He alighted, took it 
 up, and drove to his inn in the Hue Pont aux-Choux. 
 Cauiche had just reached the spot in search of the lost 
 piece, when the stranger picked it up. He followed 
 the chaise, went into the inn, and stuck close to the 
 traveller. Having scented out the coin which he had 
 been ordered to bring back in the pocket of the latter, 
 he leaped up incessantly at and about him, the traveller 
 supposing him to be some dog that had been lost or 
 left behind by his master, regarded his different move- 
 ments as marks of fondness ; and, as the animal was 
 very handsome, he determined to keep him He gave 
 him a good supper, and on retiring to bed, took him 
 with him to his chamber. No sooner had he pulled off 
 his clothes than they were seized by the dog; the 
 owner, conceiving that he wanted to play with them, 
 took them away again. The animal began to bark at 
 the door, which the traveller opened, under the idea 
 that the dog wanted to go out. Caniche snatched up 
 the clothes, and away he flew. The traveller posted 
 after him with his night cap on, and literally sans 
 culottes. Anxiety for the fate of a purse full of gold 
 Napoleons, of forty francs each, gave redoubled velocity 
 to his steps. Caniche ran full speed to his master's 
 house, where the stranger arrived a moment afterwards, 
 breathless and enraged. He accused the dog of robbing 
 him. " Sir," said the master, " my dog is a faithful 
 creature, and if he has run away with your trousers, 
 it is because you have in them money which does not
 
 132 THE DOG. 
 
 belong to you. The traveller became still more exas- 
 perated. " Compose yourself, sir," rejoined lie, smiling: 
 " without doubt there is in your pocket a six-Louis d'or 
 piece, with such and such marks, which you have 
 picked up in the Boulevard St. Antoine, and which I 
 threw down there with the firm conviction that my dog 
 would bring it back again. This is the cause of the 
 robbery he has committed upon you." The stranger's 
 rage now yielded to astonishment : he delivered the 
 six- Louis d'or piece to the owner, and could not forbear 
 caressing the dog which had given him so much un- 
 easiness, and such an unpleasant chase. 
 
 107. A most extraordinary circumstance has just 
 occurred at the Hawick toll-bar, which is kept by two 
 old women. It appears that they had a sum of money 
 in the house, and were extremely alarmed lest they 
 should be robbed of it. Their fears prevailed to such 
 an extent, that when a carrier whom they knew was 
 passing by, they urgently requested him to remain 
 with them all night, which, however, his duties would 
 not permit him to do ; but, in consideration of the 
 alarm of the women, he consented to leave with them 
 a large mastiff dog. In the night the women were 
 disturbed by the uneasiness of the dog, and heard a 
 noise apparently like an attempt to force an entrance 
 into the premises, upon which they escaped by the 
 back door, and ran to a neighbouring house, which 
 happened to be blacksmith's shop. They knocked at 
 the door and were answered from within by the smith's 
 wife ; she said her husband was absent, but that she 
 was willing to accompany the terrified women to their
 
 THE DOG. 133 
 
 home. On reaching the house, they heard a .savage 
 but half-stifled growling from the dog. On entering, 
 they saw the body of a man hanging half in and half 
 out of their window, whom the dog had seized by the 
 throat, and was still worrying. On examination, the 
 man proved to be their neighbour the blacksmith, 
 dreadfully torn about the throat, and quite dead. 
 
 108. The Newfoundland dog has a sagacity that is 
 remarkably strong and humane in its character. This 
 animal appears as if designed to be a companion to 
 man, but more particularly when he is exposed to the 
 perils of the water. With semi-webbed feet, which 
 make him a good swimmer, and an inclination to enter 
 the water, this element seems half natural to his 
 nature. It is when persons are in the act of drowning 
 that the sagacity of this dog displays itself more 
 strongly, and innumerable lives has it saved from a 
 watery grave. One instance will serve our purpose as 
 well as a hundred which might be enumerated. A 
 singular case is given of a person who was travelling 
 in Holland, and accompanied by a Newfoundland dog. 
 Not taking proper heed to his steps in an evening walk 
 along a high bank by the side of one of those canals 
 common in the country, his foot slipped, letting him 
 into the deep with a plunge ; and being unable to 
 swim, the fish's element soon deprived him of his 
 senses. In the mean time, the sagacious animal had 
 no sooner discovered the danger to which his master 
 was exposed, than he was in the water, and engaged in 
 the struggle to rescue him from his peril. A party at 
 a distance saw the faithful servant at one moment
 
 134 THE DOG. 
 
 pushing, and at another dragging the body towards a 
 small creek, when, at length, he succeeded in landing 
 his charge, and placing it as far from the water as 
 possible. This being done, the dog first shook himself, 
 and then licked the hands and face of his apparently 
 dead lord. The body being conveyed to a neighbouring 
 house, the efforts to restore the lost senses were 
 successful. 
 
 108. Dr. Beattie, in one of his elegant essays, relates 
 a transaction within his own knowledge, of a gentleman's 
 life being saved who fell beneath the ice, by his dog 
 going in search of assistance, and almost forcibly drag- 
 ing a farmer to the scene of anxiety and expectation. 
 
 109. M. Valliant feelingly describes the loss of a 
 setter dog during his travels in Africa, when, after 
 
 repeatedly firing his gun, and every fruitless search 
 for her, he dispatched one of his attendants to 
 return by the way they had proceeded, when she was 
 found at about two leagues distance, seated by the side 
 of a chair and basket which had dropped unperceived 
 from the waggon; an instance of attentive fidelity 
 which must have proved fatal to the animal, either 
 from hunger or beasts of prey, had she not been 
 luckily discovered. 
 
 110. It was with pleasure that I watched the motions 
 of a grateful animal belonging to one of the workmen 
 employed at Portsmouth dock-yard. This man had a 
 large cur dog, who regularly every day brought him his 
 dinner upwards of a mile. When his wife had pre- 
 pared the repast, she tied it up in a cloth, and put it 
 in a hand-basket. Then calling Trusty, (for so he was
 
 THE DOG. 135 
 
 properly named) desired him to be expeditious, and 
 carry his master's dinner, and be sure not to stop by 
 the way. The dog, who perfectly understood his 
 orders, immediately obeyed by taking the handle of 
 the basket in his mouth, and began his journey. It 
 was laughable to observe that, when tired by the way, 
 lie would very cautiously set the basket on the ground, 
 but by no means would sutler any person to come near 
 it. When he had sufficiently rested himself, he again 
 took up his load, and proceeded forward until he came 
 to the dock gates. Here he was frequently obliged to 
 stop, and wait with patience until the porter or some 
 other person opened the door. His joy was then 
 visible to every one. His pace increased, and with 
 wagging tail, expressive of his pleasure, he ran to his 
 master with the refreshment. The caresses were then 
 mutual, and, after receiving his morsel as a recom- 
 pense for his fidelity, he was ordered home with the 
 empty basket and plates, which he carried back with 
 the greatest precision, to the high diversion of all 
 spectators. 
 
 111. One of the most interesting anecdotes I have 
 known relates to a sheep dog. The names of the 
 parties have escaped me just now, but I recollect per- 
 fectly that it came from an authentic source. The 
 circumstances were these : A gentleman sold a con- 
 siderable flock of sheep to a dealer, which the latter 
 had not hands to drive. The seller, however, told him 
 he had a very intelligent dog which he could send to 
 assist him to a place about thirty miles off, and that, 
 when he reached the end of his journey, he had only
 
 136 THE DOG. 
 
 to feed the dog, and desire him to go home. The dog 
 accordingly received his orders, and set off with the 
 flock and the drover. But he was absent for so many 
 days that his master began to have serious alarms 
 about him, when, one morning to his great surprise, he 
 found the dog returned with a very large flock of sheep, 
 including the whole that he had lately sold. The fact 
 turned out to be, that the drover was so pleased with 
 the colley that he resolved to steal him, and locked 
 him up until the time when he was to leave the country. 
 The dog grew sulky, and made various attempts to 
 escape ; and one evening he fortunately succeeded. 
 Whether the brute had discovered the drover's inten- 
 tion, and supposed the sheep were also stolen, it is 
 difficult to say, but by his conduct it looked so > for he 
 immediately went to the field, collected the sheep, and 
 drove them all back to his master. 
 
 112. A few years ago, when upon a shooting party in 
 the braes of Rannoch, the dogs were so worn out as to 
 be unfit for travel. Our guide said he knew a 
 shepherd who had a dog that perhaps might help us. 
 He called, and the young man came with his little 
 black colley, to which, as soon as he had conversed 
 with the guide, he said something in Erse. The dog 
 set off in a sneaking sort of manner up the hill, and 
 when he showed any degree of keenness, we hastened 
 to follow, lest he should set up the birds ; but the lad 
 advised us to be canny, as it was time eneuh when 
 Lud came back to tell. In a short space, Lud made 
 his appearance on a knoll, and sat down ; and the 
 shepherd said we might go up now, for Lud had found
 
 THE DOG. 137 
 
 the birds. The dog waited till we were ready, and 
 trotted on at his master's command, who soon cautioned 
 us to be on the alert, for Lud^ignified we were in the 
 midst of the covey. We immediately found this to be 
 the case, and in the course of the day the same thing 
 occurred frequently. 
 
 113. I was once called from dinner in a hurry to 
 attend to something that had occurred. Unintentionally 
 I left a favourite cat in the room, together with a no 
 less favourite spaniel. When I returned, I found the 
 latter, which was not a small figure, extending her 
 whole length along the table, by the side of a leg of 
 mutton which I had left. On my entrance she Allowed 
 no signs of fear, nor did she immediately alter Im- 
 position. I was sure, therefore, that none but a good 
 motive had placed her in this extraordinary situation, 
 nor had I long to conjecture. Puss was skulking in a 
 corner, and though the mutton was untouched, yet her 
 conscious fears clearly evinced that she had been 
 driven from the table in the act of attempting a robbery 
 on the meat, to which she was too prone, and that her 
 situation had been occupied by this faithful spaniel to 
 prevent a repetition of the attempt. Here was fidelity 
 united with great intellect, and wholly free from the 
 aid of instinct. This property of guarding victuals 
 from the cat, or from other dogs, was a daily practice 
 with this animal, and while cooking was going forward, 
 the floor might be strewed with eatables, which would 
 have been all safe from her own touch, and as carefully 
 guarded from that of others. A similar property is 
 .common to many dogs, but to spaniels particularly.
 
 138 THE DOG 
 
 114. I reeollect when I passed some time at the 
 Viscount Arbuthot's, at Hatton, in the parish of Mary- 
 kirk, one of his lordships estates, that when the field 
 servants went out one morning, they found a man 
 whom they knew, and who lived a few miles distance, 
 lying on the road a short way from the stable with a 
 number of bridles, girths, &c. near him, and the house 
 dog, which was of the Highland breed, lying also at 
 his ease, holding the man by his trowsers. The man 
 confessed his crime, and told them that the dog had 
 struggled with him, and held him in that position for 
 five hours; but that immediately after the servants 
 came up he let go his hold. 
 
 115. Not long ago, a young man, an acquaintance of 
 Lord Fife's coachman, was walking, as he had often 
 done, in his lordship's stables at Banff. Taking an 
 opportunity when the servants were not regarding him, 
 he put a bridle into his pocket. A Highland cur that 
 was generally about the stables observed the theft, and 
 immediately began to bark at him; and when he got to 
 the stable door, would not let him pass, but held him 
 fiercely by the leg to prevent him. As the servants 
 had never seen the dog act thus before; and the same 
 young man had been often with them, they could not 
 imagine what could be the reason of the dog's conduct. 
 However, when they perceived the end of a valuable 
 bridle peeping out of the young man's pocket, they 
 were able to account for it; and on his giving it up, the 
 dog let go his hold, and allowed him to pass. 
 
 116. In October, 1800, a young man going into a 
 place of public entertainment at Paris, was told that
 
 THE DOG. 139 
 
 his dog could not be permitted to enter ; and he was 
 accordingly left with the guard at the door. The young 
 man had scarcely entered into the lobby, when his 
 watch was stolen. He returned to the guard, and 
 prayed that his dog might be admitted, as through his 
 means he might be enabled to discover the thief. The 
 dog was permitted to accompany his master, who, by 
 signal, intimated to the animal what he had lost. The 
 dog immediately set out in quest of the strayed article, 
 and soon fastened on ihe thief, whose guilt, upon 
 searching him, soon became apparent. The fellow 
 proved an old offender, six watches were found in his 
 pockets, which, being laid before the dog, he most 
 sagaciously selected his master's, took it in his mouth, 
 and bore it in safety to his master.
 
 140 
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 Seasoning at every step he treads, 
 
 Man yet mistakes his way ; 
 While meaner things whom instinct leads, 
 
 Are rarely known to stray. COWPEE. 
 
 117. Observe one walking. You will see that liis 
 trunk oscillates like a pendulum, and touches the 
 ground between each paw. Though seemingly a chance 
 matter, it is not so, for by this slight touch the elephant 
 judges whether the place where he will next place his 
 foot is equal to bearing his weight or no, and he is 
 very seldom mistaken on this point. If the trunk gets 
 injured, this, however, ceases, (I suppose from the 
 nerves being partially or wholly destroyed) and the 
 animal becomes useless in unsafe ground, and trouble- 
 some to drive, as he resists going over bridges and 
 other places, which, though really safe, he is not sure 
 of. So well aware is the elephant of the value of his 
 trunk, that his first care, on the approach of danger, is 
 to elevate it over his head out of harm's way. 
 
 118. A friend of the Messrs. Chambers, of Edinburgh, 
 gives the following account of the capture of wild 
 elephants by means of tame ones : " Having thus so 
 far succeeded, the next thing was to secure them, and 
 for this purpose the tame elephants were introduced
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 141 
 
 into the kraal. Six very large ones were brought in, 
 just under our tree, and began breaking down the 
 jungle, and clearing a space round the large trees, to 
 which it was intended to tie the wild ones. It was 
 really wonderful to see them twining their trunks 
 round some of the smaller trees, and with two or three 
 good shakes laying them flat. They sometimes pushed 
 their head against a tree, so as to bring the whole 
 force of their body upon it, and then down it came ; 
 as for the brushwood, part of which was upwards of 
 six feet high, the}' really mowed it down with their 
 trunks. In about an hour's time, the whole was, 
 comparatively speaking, clear, and the poor herd had 
 no longer any hiding-place, but stood all huddled close 
 together in a little thicket about the middle of the 
 kraal. There was one very little thing among them, 
 not much bigger than a large pig, and they seemed 
 to take the greatest care of him, keeping him in the 
 centre of them. Each tame elephant had two men on 
 his back, one to guide him, and the other to noose the 
 wild ones, who did not seem to be much afraid of 
 them, as they allowed them to come very near, and 
 then walked rather slowly away. One of the tame ones 
 then followed, in the most stealthy and treacherous 
 manner possible, and when he came close enough to 
 the wild one, he began coaxing him and tickling him 
 with his trunk, whilst the man with the noose, which 
 is fastened round the tame one's neck, slipped off his 
 back with it, and watched his opportunity to throw it 
 over the hind leg of the other. He soon did this, as 
 apparently the tame one gave the wild elephant a poke
 
 142 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 \vith his tusk, which made him lift his leg as if to move 
 on ; and in a moment lie was a prisoner. While the 
 man was thus employed, it was curious to see the care 
 which the tame elephant took of him, interposing his 
 liue head in such a manner that the wild one could 
 
 O 
 
 not touch him ; and, if he should fail of securing the 
 wild elephant, which sometimes happens, the tame one 
 puts out his leg for the man to mount on his back, and 
 sets off in pursuit again, which is sure to be successful 
 in the end. When the poor animal was noosed, he set 
 np a dreadful yell, and tried to escape ; but that was 
 impossible, for the other tame elephants came up and 
 headed him, whichever way he attempted to go ; whilst 
 the one to which he was fastened, bent his body the way 
 lie wished to take him, and pulled him along with all 
 his strength to the tree to which he was to be tied. 
 When he was dragged close to it, the tame one walked 
 round it two or three times with the rope, till he was 
 quite secure. Another came to his other side, and 
 thus he was wedged so closely between them, that he 
 could not make much resistance ; and if he did, he 
 was immediately thrust at with the tusks of both of 
 them. In this way his legs were all firmly tied to two 
 trees by great cable ropes. When the tame ones left 
 him to go in search of the others, he began struggling 
 most furiously, and moaned and bellowed in a very 
 melancholy manner, frequently throwing himself on 
 the ground, and digging his teeth into the earth, while 
 the tears were rolling down his face. Although I came 
 on purpose to see all this, and should have been much 
 disappointed if I had not, still I could not help feeling
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 145 
 
 very sorry to see the noble animal suffering so acutely. 
 My consolation was, that some day he would have the 
 pleasure of doing the same to others ; for it really 
 seemed a pleasure to the tame ones. His cries brought 
 back the rest of the herd, who looked at him through 
 the bushes, but did not attempt a rescue, which they 
 often do, but took to their heels whenever they saw the 
 tames ones turn in their direction. In this manner 
 they were all secured, except the little one, as he could 
 not do much harm, and always kept close to his 
 mother, who was very quiet, and was therefore only 
 tied by three legs. A young elephant is, I think, the 
 drollest looking creature possible. This one was sup- 
 posed to be about three months old, and was not above 
 three feet high ; but it made more noise than all the 
 rest, and trumpeted and charged in great style. 
 
 119. Even in our country the elephant has been taught 
 to take part in the performances of the theatre in 
 other words, to appear as an actor requisite to the plot 
 of the drama. This took place in the London Adelphi 
 and in the Coburg, about twelve or fourteen years ago ; 
 and however questionable might have been the taste, 
 there is no doubt that the " sagacious brute " was the 
 most applauded player of the time. This animal, a 
 female, was marched in procession, knelt down at the 
 waving of the hand, placed the crown on the head of 
 " the true prince," uncorked and drank several bottles of 
 wine with decorum, supped with her state companions 
 around her, and made her obeisance to the audience. 
 Above all, she assisted in the escape of some of the 
 dramatis persona from prison, by kneeling upon her
 
 144 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 hind legs, and thus forming an inclined plane for the 
 safe descent of her friends ; and this she did, unmoved 
 hy the glare of numerous lights, the sounds of music, 
 and shouts of the admiring spectators. Equally curious 
 with this is the feat mentioned hy Arrian, of an elephant 
 that he saw beating a measure with cymbals. This was 
 performed by having two cymbals attached to its knees, 
 while it held a third in its proboscis, and beat with 
 great exactness the while others danced around it, 
 without deviating from the time indicated. Busbequius, 
 Avho visited Constantinople about the middle of the 
 sixteenth century, there witnessed an elephant not only 
 dance with elegance and accuracy, but play at ball with 
 great skill, tossing it with his trunk, and catching it 
 again, as easily as a man could with his hands. If we 
 can credit JLlian, he has seen an elephant " write Latin 
 characters on a board in a very orderly manner, his 
 keeper only showing him the figure of each letter." 
 
 120. Among the most interesting elephants kept in 
 this country, without any reference to profit, was one 
 which was lately at the Duke of Devonshire's villa, at 
 Chiswick, the gift of a lady in India. This animal was 
 a female, remarkable for the gentleness of its disposi- 
 tion; and from the kindness with which it was treated, 
 and the free range that was allowed it, probably came 
 nearer to an elephant in a state of nature than any 
 other which ever appeared in this country. The house 
 erected for her shelter was of large dimensions, and 
 well ventilated; and she had, besides, the range of a 
 paddock of considerable extent. At the call of her 
 keeper she came out of her house, and immediately
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 145 
 
 took up a broom, ready to perform liis bidding in 
 sweeping the grass or paths. She would follow him 
 with a pail or watering-pot round the enclosure^ Her 
 reward was a carrot and some water; but previously to 
 satisfying her thirst, she would exhibit her ingenuity 
 by emptying the contents of a' soda water bottle, which 
 was tightly corked. This she did by pressing the bottle 
 against the ground with her foot, so as to hold it 
 securely at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and 
 gradually twisting out the cork with her trunk, although 
 it was very little above the edge of the neck; then, 
 without altering the position, she turned her trunk 
 round the bottle, so that she might reverse it, and thus 
 empt}"- the contents into the extremity of the proboscis. 
 This she accomplished without spilling a drop, and she 
 delivered the empt}- bottle to her keeper before she 
 attempted to discharge the contents of the trunk into 
 her mouth. The affection of this poor animal for her 
 keeper was so great, that she would cry after him 
 whenever he was absent for more than a few hours. 
 She was about twenty-nine years old when she died, 
 early in 1829, of what was understood to be pulmonary 
 consumption. It is not always, however, for mere 
 amusement or curiosity that the docility of the elephant 
 is exhibited : it would say little for human ingenuity, 
 were not the strength of suph a powerful animal brought 
 to bear upon useful and necessary operations. We 
 have seen that in India he is made a beast of carriage 
 and draught, cariying indifferently the howdah and 
 baggage-chest, and dragging the ponderous artillery-car;
 
 146 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 but besides this, there are many other minor occupations 
 in which he can be successfully engaged. 
 
 121. Elephants were at one time employed in the 
 launching of ships, being trained to push in unison 
 with their powerful fronts and heavy bodies. It is told 
 of one that was directed to force a large vessel into the 
 water, but which proved superior to his strength, that, 
 on being upbraided for his laziness, the distressed 
 animal increased his efforts with such vehemence, that 
 he fractured his skull on the spot. 
 
 122. I have seen two occupied in beating down a wall 
 which their keepers had desired them to do, and en- 
 couraged them by a promise of fruit and brandy. They 
 combined their efforts ; and doubling up their trunks, 
 which were guarded from injury by leather, thrust 
 against the strongest part of the wall, and by reiterated 
 shocks continued their attacks, still observing and 
 following the effect of the equilibrium with their eyes ; 
 then at last making one grand effort, they suddenly 
 drew back together, that they might not be wounded 
 by the ruins. 
 
 123. It is also told of an elephant at Barrackpoor, 
 that he would swim laden with parcels to the opposite 
 shore of the Ganges, and then unload himself with 
 undeviating accuracy. 
 
 124. In the year 1811, a. lady, staying with her 
 husband, an officer in the Company's service, at a house 
 near the fort of Travancore, was ast6nished one morning 
 to observe an elephant, unattended, marching into the 
 courtyard, carrying a box in his trunk, apparently very 
 heavy. He deposited this, and going his way, soon
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 147 
 
 returned with a similar box, which he placed by the 
 side of the other. He continued this operation till he 
 had formed a considerable pile, arranged with undevi- 
 aling order The boxes contained the treasure of the 
 rajah of Travancore, who had died in the night, and of 
 whose property the English commander had taken 
 possession, thus removing the more valuable part for 
 greater security. 
 
 125. I have myself seen the wife of a mahoud (for 
 the followers often take their families with them to 
 camp) give a baby in charge to an elephant, while she 
 went on some business, and have been highly amused 
 in observing the sagacity and care of the unwieldy 
 nurse. The child, which, like most children, did not 
 like to lie still in one position, would, as soon as left to 
 itself, begin crawling about; in which exercise it would 
 probably get among the legs of the animal, or entangled 
 in the branches of the trees on which he was feeding; 
 when the elephant would, in the most tender manner, 
 disengage his charge, either by lifting it out of the way 
 with his trunk, or by removing the impediments to its 
 free progress. If the child had crawled to such a 
 distance as to verge upon the limits of his range (for 
 the animal was chained by the leg to a peg driven into 
 the ground), he would stretch out his trunk, and lift it 
 back as gently as possible to the spot whence it started. 
 
 125. Dr. Darwin tells us, that he was informed by a 
 gentleman of veracity, that in some parts of the East 
 the elephant is taught to walk on a narrow path between 
 two pitfalls which are covered with turf, and then to go 
 into the woods and induce the wild herd to come that
 
 148 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 way. The decoy walks slowly onward till near the trap, 
 and then bustles away as if in sport or in fear, passing 
 safely between the pits, while some of those which 
 follow in the wake are inevitably entangled. The same 
 gentleman says also, that it was universally observed 
 that such wild elephants as had escaped the snare, 
 always pursued the traitor with the utmost vehemence; 
 and if they could overtake him, which sometimes 
 happened, they beat him to death. 
 
 126. In the Philosophical Transactions, a story is 
 related of a elephant having such an attachment for a 
 very young child, that he was never happy but when 
 it was near him. The nurse used, therefore, very 
 frequently to take the child in its cradle and place it 
 between its feet. This he at length became so accus- 
 tomed to, that he would never eat his food except when 
 it was present. When the child slept, he used to drive 
 off the flies with his proboscis ; and when it cried, he 
 would move the cradle backwards and forwards, and 
 thus rock it again to sleep. Nor will this instance of 
 sagacious affection appear at all improbable to those 
 who are acquainted with the thorough intimacy which 
 generally subsists between the family of the. Indian 
 mahoud and his elephant, which may be said literally 
 to live under the same roof, eat the same bread, and 
 drink the same water 
 
 127. The following instances of gratitude are in the 
 highest degree praiseworthy, and might well put to the 
 blush many who lay claim to a higher position in the 
 scale of intelligence : An elephant in Ajmeer, which 
 passed frequently through the bazaar, or market, as he
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 149 
 
 went by a certain herb woman, always received from 
 her a mouthful of greens. At length he was seized 
 with one of his periodical fits of rage, broke from his 
 fetters, and, running through the market, put the crowd 
 to flight, and among others this woman, who in her 
 haste forgot a little child she had brought with her. 
 The animal, gratefully recollecting the spot where his 
 benefactress was wont to sit, laid aside his fury, and 
 taking up the infant gently in his trunk, placed it safely 
 on a stall before a neighbouring house. 
 
 128. There was a soldier at Pondicherry who was 
 accustomed, whenever he received his share of liquor, 
 to carry a certain quantity of it to one of these animals, 
 and by this means a very cordial intimacy was formed 
 between them. Having drunk rather too freely one 
 day, and finding himself pursued by the guards, who 
 were going to take him to prison, the soldier took 
 refuge under the elephant's body, and fell asleep. The 
 guard tried in vain to force him from this asylum, as 
 the animal protected him most strenuously with his 
 trunk. The following morning, the soldier, recovering 
 from his drunken fit, shuddered with horror to find 
 himself stretched under this huge animal. The ele- 
 phant, who, without doubt, perceived the man's embar- 
 rassment, caressed him with his trunk, in order to 
 inspii'e him with courage, and made him understand 
 that he might now depart in safety. 
 
 129. Every one must have read of the mishaps of the 
 Delhi tailor. This individual was in the habit of giving 
 some little delicacy, such as an apple, to an elephant 
 that daily passed by his shop, and so accustomed had
 
 150 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 the animal become to this treatment, that it regularly 
 put its trunk in at the window to receive the expected 
 gift. One day, however, the tailor being out of humour, 
 thrust his needle into the beast's proboscis, telling it to 
 "be gone, as he had nothing to give it. The creature 
 passed on, apparently unmoved ; but on coming to the 
 next dirty pool of water, filled its trunk, and returned 
 to the shop-window, into which it discharged the whole 
 contents, thoroughly drenching poor Snip and the wares 
 by which he was surrounded. Again, a painter was 
 desirous of drawing the elephant kept in the menagerie 
 at Versailles in an uncommon attitude, which was that 
 of holding its trunk raised in the air, with his mouth 
 open. The painter's boy, in order to keep the animal 
 in this posture, threw fruit into his mouth ; but as he 
 had frequently deceived him, and made him an offer 
 only of throwing the fruit, he grew angry ; and, as if he 
 had known the painter's intention of drawing him was 
 the cause of the affront that was offered him, instead of 
 revenging himself on the lad, he turned his resentment 
 on the master, and taking up a quantity of water in his 
 trunk, threw it on the paper which the painter was 
 drawing on, and spoilt it. 
 
 130. A sentinel belonging to the present menagerie 
 at Paris was always very careful in requesting the 
 spectators not to give the elephant anything to eat. 
 This conduct particularly displeased the female, who 
 beheld him with a very unfavourable eye, and had 
 several times endeavoured to correct his interference 
 by sprinkling his head with water from her trunk. One 
 day, when several persons were collected to view these
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 161 
 
 animals, a bystander offered the female ft bit of bread. 
 The sentinel perceived it ; but the moment he opened 
 his mouth to give his usual admonition, she, placing 
 herself immediately before him, discharged in his face 
 a violent stream of water. A general laugh ensued ; 
 but the sentinel having calmly wiped his face, stood a 
 little to one side, and continued as vigilant as before. 
 Soon afterwards he found himself under the necessity 
 of repeating his admonition to the spectators, but no 
 sooner was this uttered, than the female laid hold of 
 his musket, twirled it round with her trunk, trod it 
 under her feet, and did not restore it till she had 
 twisted it nearly into the form of a cork-screw. 
 
 131. It is stated, amongst the traditionary stories of 
 elephant resentment, that Pidcock, to whom the Exeter 
 'Change menagerie formerly belonged, had for some 
 years a custom of treating himself and his elephant in 
 the evening with a glass of spirits, for which the animal 
 regularly looked. Pidcock invariably gave the elephant 
 the first glass out of the bottle, till one night he 
 exclaimed, " You have been served first long enough, 
 and it's my turn now." The proud beast was offended, 
 refused the glass when he was denied the precedence, 
 and never more would join his master in his revelries. 
 
 132. An elephant that was exhibited in France some 
 years ago, seemed to know when it was mocked by any 
 person, and remembered the affront till an opportunity 
 for revenge occurred. A man deceived it, by pretending 
 to throw something into its mouth : the animal gave 
 him such a blow with his trunk as knocked him down, 
 and broke two of his ribs; after which it trampled upou
 
 152 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 him, broke one of his legs, and bending down on its 
 knees, endeavoured to push its tusks into his body, 
 but they luckily ran into the ground on each side of 
 his thigh, without doing him any injury, 
 
 133. At Macassar an elephant driver had a cocoa nut 
 given him, which, out of wantonness, he struck twice 
 against his elephant's head to break. The following 
 day, the animal saw some cocoa nuts exposed in the 
 street for sale, and taking one of them up with his 
 trunk, beat it about the driver's head till the man was 
 dead. 
 
 134. Recently, at Liverpool Zoological Gardens, after 
 delighting groups of young holiday folks by his skilful 
 and docile performances, the elephant gave some offence 
 to one of the deputy-keepers, and was by him chastised 
 with a broomstick. No one was by to see what occurred 
 in the next few minutes ; but at the expiration of that 
 time, the unfortunate deputy-keeper was found dead at 
 the feet of the insulted beast, having been killed, in all 
 probability, by a single blow of the animal's trunk. 
 The body presented a most appalling spectacle, the 
 arms and legs being fractured in several places, the 
 skull cloven, and the entire body crushed to pieces by 
 the animal, who, it would appear, in his rage, had 
 repeatedly trampled upon him. 
 
 135. A female elephant that had escaped to the forest, 
 and had enjoyed her liberty for more than ten years, 
 was at last caught, along with a number of others, in a 
 keddah. After the others had been secured, with the 
 exception of seven or eight young ones, the hunters, 
 who recognised this female, were ordered to call on her
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 15& 
 
 by name. She immediately came to the side of the 
 ditch within the enclosure, on which some of the 
 drivers were desired to carry a plantain tree, the 
 leaves of which she not only took from their hands 
 with her trunk, but opened her mouth for them to put 
 a leaf into it, which they did, stroking and caressing 
 her, and calling to her by name. One of the trained 
 elephants was now ordered to be brought to her, and 
 the driver to take her by the ear and order her to lie 
 down. At first she did not like the koomkee to go near 
 her, and retired to a distance, seeming angry; but when 
 the drivers, who were on foot, called to her, she came 
 immediately, and allowed them to stroke and caress 
 her as before, and in a few minutes after, permitted 
 the trained elephants to be familiar. A driver from one 
 of these then fastened a rope round her body, and 
 instantly jumped on her back, which at the moment 
 she did not like, but w r as soon reconciled to it. A small 
 cord was then put round her neck for the driver to put 
 his feet in, who, seating himself on the neck in the 
 usual manner, drove her about the enclosure in the 
 same manner as any of the tame elephants. After this 
 he ordered her to lie down, which she instantly did; 
 nor did she rise till she was desired. He fed her from 
 his seat, gave her his stick to hold, which she took with 
 her trunk and put into her mouth, kept, and then 
 returned it as she was directed, and as she had formerly 
 been accustomed to do. In short, she was so obedienU 
 that had there been more wild elephants in the enclo- 
 sure, she would have been useful in securing them.
 
 154 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 136. In June 1787, a male elephant, taken .the year 
 before, was travelling, in company with some others, 
 towards Chittagong, laden with baggage, and having 
 come on a tiger's track, which elephants discover readily 
 by the smell, he took fright and ran off' to the woods, 
 in spite of all the efforts of his driver. On entering 
 the wood, the driver saved himself by springing from 
 the animal, and clinging to the branch of a tree under 
 which he was passing. When the elephant had got rid 
 of his driver, he soon contrived to shake off his load. 
 As soon as he ran away, a trained female was despatched 
 after him, but could not get up in time to prevent his 
 escape. Eighteen months after this, when a herd of 
 elephants had been taken, and had remained several 
 days in the enclosure till they were enticed into the 
 outlet, there tied, and led out in the usual manner, one 
 of the drivers, viewing a male elephant very attentively, 
 declared he resembled the one which had run away. 
 This excited the curiosity of every one to go and look 
 at him ; but when any person came near, the animal 
 struck at him with his trunk, and in every respect 
 appeared as wild and outrageous as any of the other 
 elephants. An old hunter at length coming up and 
 examining him, declared that he was the very elephant 
 that had made his escape. Confident of this, he boldly 
 rode up to him on a tame elephant, and ordered him to 
 lie down, pulling him by the ear at the same time. The 
 animal seemed taken by surprise, and instantly obej-ed 
 the word of command, uttering at the same time a 
 peculiar shrill squeak through his trunk, as he had 
 formerly been known to do, by which he was imme-
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 155 
 
 diately recognised by every person who was acquainted 
 with this peculiarity. Thus we see that this elephant, 
 for the space of eight or ten days, during which he was 
 in the enclosure, appeared equally wild and fierce with 
 the boldest elephant then taken; but the moment he 
 was addressed in a commanding tone, the recollection 
 of his former obedience seemed to rush upon him at 
 once, and, without any difficulty, he permitted a driver 
 to be seated on his neck, who in a few days made him 
 as tractable as ever. 
 
 13T. A female elephant belonging to a gentleman in 
 Calcutta being ordered from the upper country to 
 Chotygone, by chance broke loose from her keeper, and 
 was lost in the woods. The excuses which the keeper 
 made were not admitted. It was supposed that he had 
 sold the elephant : his wife and family therefore were 
 sold for slaves, and he was himself condemned to work 
 upon the roads. About twelve years afterwards, this 
 man was ordered up into the country to assist in 
 catching the wild elephants. The keeper fancied he 
 saw his long-lost elephant in a group that was before 
 them. He was determined to go up to it, nor could 
 the strongest representations of the great danger 
 dissuade him from his purpose When he approached 
 the creature, she knew him, and giving him three 
 salutes by waving her trunk in the air, knelt down and 
 received him on her back. She afterwards assisted in 
 securing the other elephants, and likewise brought with 
 her three young ones, which she had produced during 
 her absence. The keeper recovered his character, and, 
 as a recompense for his sufferings and intrepidity, had
 
 156 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 an annuity settled on him for life. This elephant was 
 afterwards in the possession of Governor Hastings. 
 
 138. A small body of sepoys stationed at an outpost 
 Fort de Galle, in Ceylon to protect a granary con- 
 taining a large quantity of rice, was suddenly removed, 
 in order to quiet some unruly villagers, a few miles 
 distant, who had set our authorities at defiance. Two 
 of our party happened to be on the spot at the moment. 
 No sooner had the sepoys withdrawn, than a herd of 
 wild elephants, which had been long noticed in the 
 neighbourhood, made their appearance in front of the 
 granary. They had been preceded by a scout, which 
 returned to the herd, and having no doubt satisfied 
 them in a language which to them needed no inter- 
 preter that the coast was clear, they advanced at a 
 brisk pace towards the building. When they arrived 
 within a few j-ards of it, quite in martial order, they 
 made a sudden stand, and began deliberately to recon- 
 noitre the object of their attack. Nothing could be 
 more wary and methodical than their proceedings. 
 The walls of the granary were of solid brickwork, very 
 thick, and the only opening into the building was in 
 the centre of the terraced roof, to which the ascent was 
 by a ladder. On the approach of the elephants, the 
 two astonished spectators clambered up into a lofty 
 banyan tree, in order to escape mischief. The conduct 
 of the four-footed besiegers was such as strongly to 
 excite their curiosity, and they therefore watched their 
 proceedings with intense anxiety. The two spectators 
 were so completely screened by the foliage of the tree 
 to which they had resorted for safety, that they could
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 157 
 
 not be perceived by the elephants, though they could 
 see very well through the little vistas formed by the 
 separated branches what was going on below. Had 
 there been a door to the granary, all difficulty of 
 obtaining an entrance would have instantly vanished ; 
 but four thick brick walls were obstacles which soerned 
 at once to defy both the strength and sagacity of these 
 dumb robbers. Nothing daunted by the magnitude of 
 the difficulty which they had to surmount, they succes- 
 sively began their operations at the angles of the 
 building. A large male elephant, with tusks of immense 
 proportions, laboured for some time to make an im- 
 pression ; but after a while, his strength was exhausted, 
 and he retired. The next in size and strength then 
 advanced, and exhausted his exertions, with no better 
 success. A third then came forward, and applying 
 those tremendous levers with which his jaws were 
 armed, and which he wielded with such prodigious 
 might, he at length succeeded in dislodging a brick. 
 An opening once made, other elephants advanced, when 
 an entrance was soon obtained, sufficiently large to 
 admit the determined marauders. As the whole herd 
 could not be accommodated at once, they divided into 
 small bodies of three or four. One of them entered, 
 and when they had taken their fill, they retired, and 
 their places were immediately supplied by the next in 
 waiting, until the whole herd, upwards of twenty, had 
 made a full meal. By this time a shrill sound was 
 heard from one of the elephants, which was readily 
 understood, when those that were still in the building 
 immediately rushed out, and joined their companions.
 
 158 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 One of the first division, after retiring from the granary, 
 had acted as sentinel while the rest were enjoying the 
 fruits of their sagacity and perseverence. He had so 
 stationed himself as to be enabled to observe the 
 advance of an enenry from any quarter, and upon per- 
 ceiving the troops as they returned from the village, he 
 sounded the signal of retreat, when the whole herd, 
 flourishing their trunks, moved rapidly into the jungle 
 The soldiers, on their return, found that the animals 
 had devoured the greater part of the rice. A ball from 
 a field-piece was discharged at them in their retreat ; 
 but they only wagged their tails, as if in mockery, 
 and soon disappeared in the recesses of their native 
 forests. 
 
 139. In general, the elephant makes less use of his 
 strength than his address, often applying the most 
 dexterous methods of accomplishing his ends. I was 
 one day, says Mr Jesse, feeding the poor elephant at 
 Exeter 'Change with potatoes, which he took out of my 
 hand. One of them, a round one, fell on the floor, just 
 out of the reach of his proboscis. He leaned against 
 his wooden bar, put out his trunk, and could just touch 
 the potato, but could not pick it up. After several 
 ineffectual efforts, he at last blew the potato against the 
 opposite wall with sufficient force to make it rebound, 
 and he then without difficulty secured it. 
 
 140. M. Phillipe, quoted by Buffon, was an eye witness 
 to the following equally wonderful facts : He one day 
 went to the river at Goa, near to which place a large 
 ship was building, and where an area was filled with 
 beams and planks for the purpose. Some men tied the
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 159 
 
 ends of heavy beams with a rope, -which was handed to 
 an elephant, who carried it to his mouth, and after 
 twisting it round his trunk, drew it, without any con- 
 ductor, to the place where the ship was building. One 
 of the animals sometimes drew beams so large, that 
 more than twenty men would have been necessary to 
 move. But what surprised M. Phillipe most was, that 
 when other beams obstructed the road, this elephant 
 raised the ends of his own beam, or edged it forward, 
 as the case might be, that it might clear those which 
 lay in his way. Could the most enlightened man have 
 done more ? 
 
 l-il. At Mahe, on the coast of Malabar, M. Toreesa 
 tells us he had an opportunity of admiring the sagacity of 
 an elephant displayed in a similar manner. Its master 
 had let it for a certain sum per day, and its employment 
 was to carry with its trunk timber for a building out of 
 the river. This busine'ss it despatched very dexterously, 
 under the command of a boy ; and afterwards laid the 
 pieces one upon another in such exact order, that no 
 man could have done it better. 
 
 142. To give an idea of these labours, it is sufficient 
 to remark, that all the tuns, sacks, and bales transported 
 from one place to another in India, are carried by 
 elephants ; that they carry burdens on their bodies, 
 their necks, their tusks, and even in their mouths, by 
 giving them the end of a rope, which they hold fast 
 with their teeth ; that uniting sagacity to strength, they 
 never break or injure anything committed to their 
 charge ; that from the banks of the rivers they put 
 these bundles into boats, without wetting them, laying
 
 160 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 them down gently, and arranging them where they 
 ought to be placed ; that when deposited in the places 
 where their masters direct, they try with their trunks 
 whether the goods are properly stowed ; and if a tun or 
 cask rolls, they go of their own accord in quest of 
 stones to prop and render it firm. 
 
 143. It is remarked by Terry, in his voyage to the East 
 Indies, that the elephant performs many actions which 
 would seem almost the effect of human reason. He 
 does everything his master commands. If he is directed 
 to terrify any person, he runs upon him with every 
 appearance of fury, and when he comes near, stops 
 short without doing him the least injury. When the 
 master chooses to affront any one, he tells the elephant, 
 who collects water and mud with his trunk, and squirts 
 it uppn the object pointed out to him. 
 
 144. At the siege of Bhurtpore, in the year 1805, an 
 affair occurred between two elephants, which displays 
 at once the character and mental capability, the passions, 
 cunning, and resources of these curious animals. The 
 British army, with its countless host of followers and 
 attendants, and thousands of cattle, had been for a 
 long time before the city, when, on the approach of the 
 hot season and of the dry hot winds, the water in the 
 neighbourhood of the camps necessary for the supply 
 of so many beings began to fail ; the ponds or tanks 
 had dried up, and no more water was left than the 
 immense wells of the country would furnish. The 
 multitude of men and cattle that were unceasingly at 
 the wells, particularly the largest, occasioned no little 
 struggle for the priority in procuring the supply for
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 161 
 
 which each was there to seek, and the consequent con- 
 fusion on the spot Avas frequently very considerable. 
 On one occasion, two elephant-drivers, each with his 
 elephant, the one remarkably large and strong, and the 
 other comparatively small and weak, were at the well 
 together ; the small elephant had been provided by his 
 master with a bucket for the occasion, which he carried 
 at the end of his proboscis ; but the larger animal 
 being destitute of this necessary vessel, either sponta- 
 neously, or by desire of his keeper, seized the bucket, 
 and easily wrested it from his less powerful fellow- ser- 
 vant. The latter was too sensible of his inferiority 
 openly to resent the insult, though it is obvious that he 
 felt it, but great squabbling and abuse ensued between 
 the keepers. At length the weaker animal, watching 
 the opportunity when the other was standing with his 
 side to the well, retired backwards a few paces in a very 
 quiet unsuspicious manner, and then rushing forward 
 with all his might, drove his head against the side of 
 the other, and fairly pushed him into the well. It may 
 easily be imagined that great inconvenience was imme- 
 diately experienced, and serious apprehensions quickly 
 followed that the water in the well, on which the 
 existence of so many seemed in a great measure to 
 depend, would be spoiled, or at least injured, by the 
 unwieldy brute thus precipitated into it ; and as the 
 surface of the water was nearly twenty feet below the 
 common level, there did not appear to be any means 
 that could be adopted to get the animal out by main 
 force, at least without injuring him. There were many 
 feet of water below the elephant, who floated with ease
 
 162 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 on its surface, and experiencing considerable pleasure 
 from his cool retreat, evinced but little inclination even 
 to exert what means he might possess in himself of 
 escape. Avast number of fascines had been employed 
 by the army in conducting the siege, and at length it 
 occurred to the elephant-keeper that a sufficient number 
 of these (which may be compared to bundles of wood) 
 might be lowered into the well to make a pile, which 
 might be raised to the top, if the animal could be 
 instructed as to the necessary means of laying them in 
 regular succession under his feet. Permission having 
 been obtained from the engineer officers to use the 
 fascines, which were at the time put away in several 
 piles of very considerable height, the keeper had to 
 teach the elephant the lesson which, by means of that 
 extraordinary ascendency these men attain over the 
 elephants, joined with the intellectual resources of the 
 animal itself, he was soon enabled to do, and the ele- 
 phant began quickly to place each fascine, as it was 
 lowered to him, successively under him, until in a little 
 time he was enabled to stand upon them. By this time, 
 however, the cunning brute, enjoying the pleasure of 
 his situation, after the heat and partial privation of 
 water to which he had been lately exposed, (they are 
 observed in their natural state to frequent rivers, and 
 to swim very often), was unwilling to work any longer, 
 and all the threats of his keeper could not induce him 
 to place another fascine. The man then opposed 
 cunning to cunning, and began to caress and praise the 
 elephant, and what he could not effect by threats, he 
 was enabled to do by the repeated promise of plenty of
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 163 
 
 rack. Incited by this, the animal again went to work, 
 raised himself considerably higher, until, by a partial 
 removal of the masonry round the top of the well, he 
 was enabled to step out. The whole affair occupied 
 about fourteen hours. 
 
 145. The elephant manifests also a most marvellous 
 instinct in relation to the great weight of his body. 
 He seems to have a kind of knowledge that his ponde- 
 rous mass is of unusual and extraordinary heaviness, 
 for when he is required to pass over an unsafe bridge, 
 or other artificial road, he suspects the danger with 
 wonderful prescience, although man is unable to detect 
 any defect in the structure. In one of the Indian 
 expeditions, an artificial road, formed by the trunks of 
 trees, was made on a difficult ascent, up which it was 
 designed each elephant should drag a gun. Having 
 cut a good deal of the most prominent part of the hill 
 away, and laid trees on the ascent as a footing for the 
 elephants, these animals were made to approach it, 
 which the first did with some reluctance and fear. He 
 looked up, shook his head, and when forced by his 
 driver, roared piteously. There can be no question, in 
 my opinion, that this sagacious animal was competent 
 instinctively to judge of the practicability of the artifi- 
 cial flight of steps thus constructed, for the moment 
 some little alteration was made, he then seemed willing 
 to approach. He commenced his examination and 
 scrutiny by pressing with his trunk the trees that had 
 been thrown across, and after this he put his fore leg 
 on with great caution, raising the fore part of his body 
 so as to throw its weight on the tree. This done he
 
 164 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 seemed satisfied as to its stability. The next step for 
 him to ascend by was a projecting rock, which we could 
 not remove. The same sagacious examinations took 
 place, the elephant keeping his flat side close to the 
 bank, and leaning against it. The next step was against 
 a tree ; but this, on the first pressure of his trunk, he 
 did not like. Force was at length resorted to, and the 
 elephant roared terrifically, but would not move ; some- 
 thing was then removed, he seemed satisfied as before, 
 and he ascended that stupendous ghaut. 
 
 146. The female elephant, only seven years old, that 
 was taken to the Adelphi, to repeat some parts she 
 had performed in Paris, likewise carefully ascertained 
 the safety of the stage before she ventured her whole 
 weight upon it. 
 
 147. There is another habit of elephants which is 
 proper to our subject, and which, therefore, we shall 
 just notice. It is the understanding they have, or the 
 arrangement they make, when a whole herd, amounting 
 sometimes to 309, is on its march to open a new track 
 through a dense forest of trees. The large male ele- 
 phants always put themselves in the van, and proceed 
 in some cases to tear down the branches, and in others 
 to uproot the trees which obstruct the passage, that a 
 way may be cleared for the females, and those of youth 
 and weakness, which follow in the wake in single file. 
 How do all come to this mutual understanding ? How 
 do the tall and strong individuals know that it becomes 
 them to undertake the most difficult task in the opera- 
 tion ? Do they assume it instinctively, and the others 
 instinctively assent to it ? or is the arrangement come
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 165 
 
 to by appointment ? The secret no doubt lies in an 
 instinct. 
 
 148. There are so many anecdotes of this animal's 
 execution of the most rigid justice, by making the 
 culprit feel the weight of his vengeance, and so many 
 instances of his sagacity likewise put upon record in 
 almost all books of natural history, that it is unneces- 
 sary to introduce any here ; nor, were we so inclined, 
 would our space admit of it. But one instance of the 
 latter, most nobly displayed, shall have a place. The 
 favourite elephant of the grand vizier under Rajah 
 Dowlah was the hero of the noble feat. This great 
 nabob was a.bout to make the diversion of a mighty 
 hunt in the neighbourhood of Lucknow, where the 
 game was rather plentiful. The preparations being 
 complete, and a train of Indian nobility assembled, the 
 procession of Nimrods began to move off for the field. 
 After passing through a ravine, the gorgeous sportsmen 
 entered a meadow, which was covered with sick people 
 who were lying exposed to get the benefit of the pure 
 and fresh air, and they were so distributed as to obstruct 
 the course of the beasts of burden. Ilajah Dowlah 
 was intent upon feasting his cruel eyes with the sight 
 that the mangling of tho bodies of the miserable 
 creatures would produce, by compelling the huge ele- 
 phants to trample them under-foot. The grand vizier 
 rode upon his own beast, and the nabob ordered the 
 driver to goad him on, and he went at a quick pace ; 
 but when he arrived at the spot of the indisposed 
 people, though in a trot, the sagacious animal stopt 
 short before the first invalid. The vizier cursed him,
 
 166 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 the driver goaded him, and the nabob cried, " Stick 
 him in the car ! " All, however, was vain. More 
 humane than his superiors, the elephant stood firm and 
 refused to violate his better feelings At length, seeing 
 the poor creatures helpless and unable to move them- 
 selves out of his way, he took up the first with his 
 trunk and laid him gently down again out of his path. 
 He did the same with the second, and third, and so on, 
 until he had made a clear passage, along which the 
 retinue could pass without doing injury to any of them. 
 The brute and the man had made an exchange of their 
 proper sentiments, and humanity triumphed gloriously 
 in the animal. We question whether another instance 
 of such strong and humane sagacity can be produced 
 from any region in the animal kingdom. 
 
 149. According to ^Elian, the elephants of Germani- 
 cus were trained to take part in the performances of 
 the Roman theatre. There, among the assembled 
 thousands, they appeared quite at home, lost all dread 
 of the clashing of cymbals, and moved in cadence to 
 the sounds of the notes of the flute. Upon one occa- 
 sion when a 'particular exhibition of the docility of 
 these elephants was required, twelve of the most 
 sagacious and well-trained were selected, who, marching 
 into the theatre with a regular step, at the voice of the 
 keeper, moved in harmonious measure, sometimes in a 
 circle, and sometimes divided into parties, scattering 
 flowers over the pavement. In the intervals of the 
 dance, they would beat time to the music, still 
 preserving their proper order. The Romans, with their 
 accustomed luxury, feasted the elephants, after this
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 167 
 
 display, with p roil i gal magnificence. Splendid couches 
 were placed in the arena, ornamented with paintings, 
 and covered with tapcstiy. Before the couches, upon 
 tables of ivory and cedar, was spread the banquet of 
 the elephants, in vessels of gold and silver. The pre- 
 parations being completed, the twelve elephants 
 marched in, six males clad in robes of men, and six 
 females attired as women. They lay down in order 
 upon tbeir couches, or ' tricliniums of festival recum- 
 bency,' and, at a signal, extended their trunks and ate 
 with most praise-worthy moderation. Not one of them, 
 says yElian, appeared the least voracious, or manifested 
 any disposition for an unequal share of the food, or an 
 undue proportion of the delicacies. They were as 
 moderate also in their drink, and received the cups 
 which were presented to them with the greatest decorum. 
 According to Pliny, at the spectacles given by Germ- 
 inicus, it was not an uncommon thing to see elephants 
 hurl javelins in the air, and catch them in their trunks, 
 fight with each other as gladiators, and then execute a 
 Pyrrhic dance. Lastly, they danced upon a rope, and 
 their steps were so practised and certain, that four of 
 them traversed the rope, or rather parallel ropes, 
 bearing a litter which contained one of their com- 
 panions, who feigned to be sick This feat of dancing or 
 walking upon a rope might perhaps be doubted, if it 
 rested merely upon the testimony of a single author ; 
 but the practice is confirmed by many ancient writers 
 of authority, who agree with Pliny that the elephants 
 trained at Rome would not only walk along a rope 
 forward, but retire backward with equal precision.
 
 168 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 150. Sonnini mentions an elephant- at Naples, which 
 was employed with others in fetching water in a copper 
 vessel, and perceiving that the water escaped from some 
 fracture, he took the vessel of his own accord to a 
 smith's for repair, in imitation of what he had seen 
 done before by his master. 
 
 151. The elephant, docile as he is, a noble quadruped, 
 seems conscious of his superiority over the rest of the 
 brute creation. A proof of this may be seen in the 
 following circumstance related by an eastern tourist. 
 Some young camels were travelling with the British 
 army in India, when, having occasion to cross the 
 Jumna in a boat, and the driver being unable to urge 
 them forward, the elephant was appealed to to accom- 
 plish the task ; the animal immediately assumed a 
 furious appearance, trumpeted with his proboscis, shook 
 his ears, roared, struck the ground right and left, and 
 blew the dust in clouds towards them. The camels, in 
 their fear of the elephant, forgot their dread of the 
 boat, and they rushed into it in the greatest hurry, 
 when the elephant resumed his composure, and delibe- 
 rately returned to his post. 
 
 152. The elephant, unwieldy and uncouth as he 
 seems, presents some remarkable features of character, 
 combining the fidelity of the dog, the endurance of the 
 camel, and the docility of the horse, with singular 
 sagacity, prudence, and courage. It' is related of one 
 of the soldiers of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, that, when 
 fighting in the territory of Argos, he fell wounded from 
 his elephant, which, rushing furiously among the com- 
 batants till he found his master, raised him gently from
 
 THE ELEPHANT. 169 
 
 the ground with his trunk, and placing him on his tusks, 
 carried him back to the town. A similar anecdote is 
 given of King Poms, who, in an engagement with 
 Alexander the Great, meeting with a similar casualty, 
 his faithful elephant is said to have kept the enemy at 
 bay till he had replaced the monarch on his back by 
 means of his trunk, although the poor animal, in this 
 heroic defence, was severely wounded. 
 
 100. In one of the recent accounts of scenes of 
 Indian warfare, a body of artillery was described as 
 proceeding up a hill, and the great strength of elephants 
 was found highly advantageous in drawing up the guns. 
 On the carriage of one of these guns, a little in front of 
 the wheel, sat an artilleryman, resting himself. An 
 elephant drawing another gun was advancing in regular 
 order close behind ; whether from falling asleep, or 
 over fatigue, the man fell from his seat, and the wheel 
 of the gun-carriage, with a heavy gun, was just rolling 
 over him. The elephant comprehending the danger, 
 and seeing that he could not reach the body of the man 
 with his trunk, seized the wheel by the top, and lifted 
 it up, passed it carefully over the fallen man, and set it 
 down on the other side. 
 
 10-4. Take another example of the shrewd wit of this 
 colossal creature. Some men were teasing an elephant 
 they were conveying across a river. In the boat that 
 was towed along-side they had a dog which began to 
 torment it by pulling its ears. The elephant was 
 resolved to resent the impertinence, and what do you 
 suppose was her expedient ? She filled her proboscis 
 with water, and then deluged the whole party. At first
 
 170 THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 the men laughed at the manoeuvre, but she persisted 
 until they were compelled to bale, to keep from sinking. 
 Seeing this, she redoubled her efforts ; and, it is said, 
 she certainly would have swamped the boat, had the 
 passage across been prolonged a few minutes further. 
 Thus much although much more might be presented 
 in behalf of the noble qualities of the elephant. We 
 see that he is in no respect inferior to the dog in cha- 
 racter; and yet, since the most excellent things are 
 said to lie in a small compass, and the dog does not, 
 like his monstrous contemporary, require t\vo hundred 
 pounds of solid food per diem, or take up so much 
 room, the prevailing preference for the canine animal 
 will doubtless long continue to obtain among civilized 
 communities.
 
 171 
 
 THE MONKEY. 
 
 He prayeth best, who loveth best 
 All things both great and small ; 
 
 For the dear GOD who loveth us, 
 He made aad loveth all. COLEEIDOE. 
 
 155. AN officer dining at our mess over-heard a con- 
 versation concerning monkeys, and some one said that 
 if a man had once shot at and wounded a monkey, he 
 would be a hard-hearted heathen indeed if he repeated 
 the act, as its cries, actions, and especially the way it 
 moved its hands about the wounded part were very 
 piteous, and almost human-like. Yes, said our guest, 
 monkeys are singular creatures. I was out shooting 
 to-day, and saw a troop in a grove of trees. As I had 
 a bullet in my gun I fired and killed one. He fell from 
 the branch to the ground, and the others made such a 
 chattering and played such antics, that I hid behind 
 a tree to watch them. Presently one old grey-headed 
 fellow came down the tree, looked suspiciously at the 
 body, touched it, turned it over, and finding it quite 
 dead, commenced howling till all the monkeys drew 
 round hi n. After chattering for some time, they all 
 withdrew a little distance with the exception of thirteen, 
 one of whom, seemingly a person of authority, sat in 
 the centre, the remainder forming a circle round him- 
 L
 
 172 THE MONKEY. 
 
 They first examined the body, .and after jabbering 
 nmongst themselves some time, the old grey-beard came 
 forward, touched the body, and chattered, apparently 
 detailing the finding of the body. Others then came 
 forward, and pointed to the spot where I stood when I 
 fired, and seemed by their pantomimes to detail the 
 manner by which their unfortunate brother had conii 
 to his death After several witnesses had been examin 
 ed, the thirteen consulted, and shortly after left, and 
 the other monkeys came down and removed the body, 
 and all quitted the place. 
 
 150 In a family where a common monkey was a pet, 
 on one occasion, the footman had been shaving himself 
 the monkey watching him during the process, whei 
 he carelessly left Ins apparatus within reach of th 
 creature. As soon as the man was gone out of thi 
 room, the monkey got the razor and began to scrapi 
 away at bis throat as he had seen the footman do ; 
 when, alas ! not understanding the nature of th 
 instrument he was using, the animal cut its own throat 
 and before it was discovered bled to death. 
 
 157. In the countries of the eastern Peninsula am 
 Archipelago, where they abound, the matrons are often 
 observed, in the cool of the evening, sitting in a circle 
 round their little ones, which amuse themselves witl 
 various gambols. The merriment of the young, as the} 
 jump over each others heads, make mimic fights, and 
 wrestle in sport, is most ludicrously contrasted with 
 the gravity of their seniors, who might be presumed to 
 be delighting in the fun, but far too staid and wise to 
 let it appear. There is a regard however to discipline ;
 
 THE MONKEY. 173 
 
 and whenever any foolish juvenile behaves decidedly ill, 
 the mamma will be seen to jump into the throng, sie/e 
 the offender by the tail, and administer exactly that 
 extreme kind of chastisement which has so long been 
 in vogue among human parents and Yorkshire school- 
 masters. 
 
 Io8. A monkey tied to a stake was robbed by the 
 Johnny Crows (in the ^Yest Indies) of his food, and he 
 conceived the following plan of punishing the thieves. 
 He feigned death, and lay perfectly motionless on the 
 ground, near to his stake. The birds approached by 
 degrees, and got near enough to steal his food, which 
 he allowed them to do. This he repeated several times, 
 till they became so bold as to come within the reach of 
 his claws. He calculated his distance, and laid hold of 
 one of them. Death was not his plan of punishment, 
 he was more refined in his cruelty. He plucked every 
 feather out of the bird, and then let him go and show 
 himself to his companions. He made a man of him, 
 according to the ancient definition of a "biped without 
 feathers." 
 
 15'J. Rajah Brooke, of Sarawak, narrates an interest- 
 ing tale of a' female ourang-outang, which when severely 
 wounded, ceased her attempts to escape, and weaving 
 together a branch platform, seated herself upon it, and 
 quietly awaited her end. The poor animal received 
 several more shots befo're she expired, and as she fell 
 dead upon her temporary edifice, the hunters were put 
 to some trouble before they could dislodge the dead 
 body. The whole process of weaving the branches and 
 seating herself did not occupy more than a minute.
 
 174 THE MONKEY. 
 
 160. Dr. Guthrie tells the following amusing anecdote 
 of a reasonable monkey. Jack, as lie was called, seeing 
 his master and some companions drinking with those 
 imitative powers for which his species is remarkable, 
 finding half a glass of whiskey left, took it up and 
 drank it off. It flew, of course, to his head. Amid 
 their loud roars of laughter he began to skip, hop, and 
 dance. Jack was drunk. Next day, when they went 
 with the intention of repeating the fun, to take the 
 poor monkey from his box, he was not to be seen. 
 Looking inside, there he lay, crouching in a corner. 
 '< Come out ! " said his master. Afraid to disobey, he 
 came walking on three legs ; the fore paw, that was 
 laid on his forehead, saying, as plain as words could 
 do, .that he had a headache. Having left him some 
 days to get well and resume his gaiety, they at length 
 carried him off to the old scene of revel. On entering, 
 he eyed the glasses with manifest terror, skulking 
 behind the chair ; and on his master ordering him to 
 drink, he was on the house top in a twinkling. They 
 called him down. He would not come. His master 
 shook the whip at him. Jack, astride on the ridge- 
 pole, grinned defiance. A gun, of which he'was always 
 much afraid, was pointed at this disciple of temperance; 
 he ducked his head, and slipped over to the back of 
 the house ; upon which, seeing his predicament, and 
 less afraid apparently of the fire than the fire-water, 
 the monkey leaped at a bound on the chimney top, 
 and getting down into a flue, held on by his fore paws. 
 He would rather be singed than drunk. He triumphed, 
 and although his master kept him for twelve years
 
 THE MONKEY. 175 
 
 after that, he never could persuade the monkey to taste 
 another drop of whiskey. 
 
 161. All the apes of this genus possess large powers 
 of imitation ; and their propensity to indulge in such 
 often betrays them into trouble, which sometimes 
 terminates in capture, sometimes in death. Ever 
 watchful and attentive to all the actions of man, they 
 descend from their posts of observation, and then 
 endeavour to imitate, as near as possible, all they have 
 seen performed. The ape catchers take advantage of 
 this propensity, and, in some instances, place a vessel 
 of water in a situation that is open to the view of the 
 animals perched upon the trees. The men take care 
 to dabble well in the vessel, and to wash their hands, 
 particularly their faces with a great deal of attention, 
 that they may set a copy worthy of the brute's ambition 
 to do the like. All this being done, the water is poured 
 out, and its place supplied with a solution of glue. 
 The article is left for the inspection of the meddling 
 mimics, who never fail, unless they have been pre- 
 viously caught, to handle and apply it in the manner 
 their entrappers were observed to handle and apply 
 the water. Unwarily, they set to in good earnest, 
 bedaubing their faces with the treacherous liquid, and 
 soon their eyelids become glued over the sockets, and 
 being thus blindfolded, they cannot effect escape for 
 want of sight, and they then present an easy prey to 
 their captors. 
 
 1(52. Another mode of ensnaring them is by means 
 of intoxicating drinks. The apes being known to be 
 fond of spirituous liquors, the person who wishes to 
 2 L
 
 176 THE MONKEY. 
 
 secure any of them places a number of vessels filled 
 with ardent spirits within their sight and reach, and 
 after a pretence to drink, he retires to a distance, 
 where he can behold the novel spectacle of animals 
 holding a feast to Bacchus. They drink the spirit 
 takes effect the apes fall asleep and like man in the 
 same circumstances, become the victims of their own 
 folly. 
 
 163. It is said that the Indians sometimes direct 
 their imitating propensity to useful purposes ; for, 
 wishing to collect the cocoa nuts and other fruits from 
 the trees in the woods frequented by the apes, they 
 repair to those places, setting the example of gathering 
 a few heaps first themselves, and then, withdrawing, 
 leave the work to be performed by the animals at will. 
 These creatures seeing a heap or two commenced, 
 descend with a certainty of carrying on the business ; 
 and when the produce has been thus rather plentifully 
 collected, the Indians approach and take away the 
 harvest. 
 
 164. " They are coming towards the bridge; they 
 
 will most likely cross by the rocks yonder," observed 
 Haoul. " How ? swim it," I asked, " it is a torrent 
 there." "Oh, no!" answered the Frenchman, "monkeys 
 would rather go into fire than water. If they cannot 
 leap the stream, they will bridge it." " Bridge it ! and 
 how ? " " Stop a moment captain, you shall see." The 
 half human voices now sounded nearer, and we could 
 perceive that the animals were approaching the spot 
 where we lay. Presently they appeared on the opposite 
 bank, headed by an old grey chieftain, and officered
 
 THE MONKEY, 177 
 
 like so many soldiers. They were, as Eaoul had stated, 
 of the comadreja or ring-tailed tribe. One, an aido 
 de camp or chief pioneer perhaps, ran out upon a 
 projecting rock, and appeared to communicate with 
 the leader. This produced a movement in the troop. 
 Commands were issued, and fatigue parties were de- 
 tached, and marched to the front. Meanwhile, several 
 of the comadrejas engineers, no doubt ran along the 
 bank, examining the trees on both sides of the arroyo. 
 At length they all collected round a tall cotton-wood 
 tree that grew over the narrowest part of the stream, 
 and twenty or thirty of them scampered up its trunk. 
 On reaching a high point, the foremost, a strong 
 fellow, ran out upon a limb, and taking several turns of 
 his tail around it, slipped off, and hung head down 
 wards. The next on the limb, also a stout one, climbed 
 down the body of the first, and whipping his tail 
 tightly round the neck and fore-arm of the latter, 
 dropped off in his turn, and hung head down. The 
 third repeated this manoeuvre upon the second, and 
 the fourth upon the third, and so on, until the last 
 upon the string rested his fore-paws on the ground. 
 The living chain now commenced swinging backwards 
 and forwards, like the pendulum of a clock. The 
 motion was slight at first, but gradually increased, the 
 lowermost monkey striking his hands violently on the 
 earth as he passed the tangent of the oscillating curve. 
 Several others upon the limbs above aided the move- 
 ment; This continued until the monkey at the end of 
 the chain was thrown among the branches of a tree on 
 the opposite bank. Here, after two or three vibrations,
 
 178 THE MONKEY. 
 
 he clutched a limb, and held fast. This movement 
 was executed adroitly, just at, the culminating point of 
 the oscillation, in order to save the immediate links 
 from the violence of a too sudden jerk. The chain 
 was now fast at both ends, forming a complete suspen- 
 sion bridge, over which the whole troop, to the number 
 of four or five hundred, passed with the rapidity of 
 thought. It was one of the most comical sights I ever 
 beheld, to witness the quizzical expression of counte- 
 nances along that living chain The troop was now on 
 the other side, but how were the animals forming the 
 bridge to get themselves over? This was the question 
 that suggested itself. Manifestly, by number one 
 letting go his tail. But then the point d'appui on the 
 other side was much lower down, and number one with 
 half a dozen of his neighbours, would be dashed 
 against the opposite bank, or soused into the water. 
 Here then, was a problem ; and we waited with some 
 curiosity for its solution. It was sooA solved. A 
 monkey was now seen attaching his tail to the lowest 
 on the bridge, another girdled him in a similar manner, 
 and another, and so on ; until a dozen more were added 
 to the string. These last were all powerful fellows; 
 and running up to a high limb, they lifted the bridge 
 into a position almost horizontal. Then a scream from 
 the last monkey of the new formation warned the tail 
 end that all was ready, and the next moment the whole 
 chain was swung over, and lauded safely on the 
 opposite bank. The lowermost links now dropped 
 oft' like a melting candle, whilst the higher ones leaped 
 to the branches and came down by the trunk. The
 
 THE MONKEY. 179 
 
 whole troop then scampered off into the chapparal, 
 and disappeared. 
 
 1(55. M. de Maisonpre was once a witness of a single 
 male ape. of a larger species, finding his way within 
 the walls surrounding the pagoda of Cheringham, 
 which enclosed a district claimed by the community 
 of a smaller species ; for, it appears, that certain herds 
 of them live together in this way, and assert their 
 rights to the possession of particular provinces, and, 
 if necessary, will take up arms to defend them. The 
 trespasser was very quickly made to understand that 
 he had got into an enemy's country. The alarm cry 
 being given, numbers of the resident males put them- 
 selves in a posture of attack. Though the interloper 
 was much larger and stronger than any of his assail- 
 ants, he yet seemed to be aware that the contest would 
 be unequal on a fair field, for he betook himself to a 
 stratagem, and fled for an advantageous position on 
 the top of the pagoda, which was eleven stories in 
 height; and when faced about on the pinnacle of it, he 
 saw a number of his enemies in force at his heels. 
 His sagacity and generalship now proved the means 
 of his safely. Being himself secure upon a narrow 
 dome, he, taking advantage of his superior personal 
 strength, instantly seized four of his furious pursuers, 
 and as furiously hurled them down from the dizzy top. 
 This was sufficient to warn and intimidate the rest; 
 and a Her a great deal of noisy clamour, they resolved 
 ou a reireat. which they effected in safety, leaving the 
 intruder unavenged upon his perch. Here he took
 
 180 THE MONKEY. 
 
 care to remain till the evening, when lie was able to 
 get clear off. 
 
 166. A hundred and fifty years ago a chimpanzee was 
 brought into England, which had been caught in Ango- 
 la, far up the country. It was a male, and at the time 
 of its capture had a female in company. It was soon 
 rendered tame, and became an exceedingly gentle 
 creature. The persons he knew on board the vessel he 
 was accustomed to embrace with apparently great 
 tenderness. There were several monkeys in the ship, 
 but on no occasion would he associate with them. In 
 many of his actions, he displayed great sagacitj r . A 
 suit of clothes was made for him, in the wearing of 
 which, after a little time, he took great delight. Any 
 part of his attire which he could not put on by himself 
 he would bring in his paws to any one of the ship's 
 company for assistance. He would lie down at night in 
 a bed allotted to him, place his head calmly on the 
 pillow, and carefully pull up the bed clothes, in order 
 to secure their full warmth. He did not long survive 
 his arrival in London. 
 
 167. A female chimpanzee was procured by Captain 
 Payne in the Isle of Princes, in the Gulf of Guinea, 
 from a native trader who had carried it thither from the 
 banks of the Gaboon. It was a young animal, and far 
 inferior in size to specimens often seen in the recesses 
 of its native forests. There, it is said, this species 
 attains the height of five or six feet ; it is a formidable 
 antagonist to the elephant, and several of them will not 
 scruple to attack the lion and other beasts of prey with 
 clubs. The negroes generally believe that the clrim-
 
 THE MONKEY. 181 
 
 panzee is rational, and even can speak, but cunningly 
 avoids doing so lest it should be compelled to labour. 
 When this animal came on board it shook hands with 
 some of the sailors, but refused its hand angrily to 
 others, without any apparent cause. It speedily, how- 
 ever, became familiar with the crew, except one boy, to 
 whom it was never reconciled. When the seamen's 
 mess was brought on deck it was a constant attendant ; 
 it would go round and embrace each person, while it 
 uttered loud yells, and would then seat itself among 
 them to share the repast : when angry, it sometimes 
 made a barking noise like a dog ; at other times it 
 would cry like a pettish child, and scratch itself with 
 great vehemence. It expressed pleasure, especially on 
 receiving sweetmeats, by a sound like a "hem," in a 
 grave tone, but it seemed to have little variety of voice. 
 At that time it had no relish for wine, but afterwards 
 seemed to like it ; but it never could endure ardent 
 spirits. It once stole a bottle of wine, which it uncorked 
 with its teeth and began to drink. It liked coffee, and 
 was immoderately fond of whatever was sweet. It 
 learned to feed itself with a spoon, to drink out of a 
 glass, and was generally disposed to imitate all the 
 actions of man which it observed. It was attracted by 
 bright metals, seemed to take a pride in clothes, and 
 often placed a cocked hat on its head. It appeared a 
 timid creature, and was particularly afraid of fire arms. 
 It lived with Captain Payne for seventeen weeks, two of 
 which wei'e spent in Cork and Liverpool. In the latter 
 town it languished for a few days, moaned heavily,
 
 182 THE MONKEY. 
 
 became oppressed in its breathing, and died with con- 
 vulsive motions of its limbs. 
 
 168. A female chimpanzee on board a vessel mani- 
 fested great intelligence. She had been taught to heat 
 the oven, and take care that no coals should fall out. 
 She knew well when the temperature was adapted to 
 baking, and never failed to fetch the baker, who impli- 
 citly trusted to her, in good time. She also assisted in 
 unfurling the sails, splicing the ropes, and could even 
 row along with the sailors. The vessel in which she 
 was seen was bound for America, but she did not live 
 to reach it in consequence of an act of great cruelty. 
 On one occasion the mate inflicted a very severe punish- 
 ment upon her, which she did not deserve, and which 
 she bore with the utmost fortitude, only holding out 
 her hands to break the force of the blows, and at the 
 same time entreating for mercy. But from that time 
 she refused all sustenance, and died from grief and 
 hunger on the fifth day, lamented by all on board 
 except the unfeeling mate. 
 
 169. According to M. D'Obsonville, the female apes 
 manifest a considerable degree of tenderness towards 
 their offspring; and what is veiy remarkable, they 
 exercise, sometimes at least, their parental authority in 
 a sort of judicial and strictly impartial form. The 
 young ones were seen to spoi t and gambol with one 
 another in the presence of their mother, who sat ready 
 to give judgment and punish misdemeanours, when any 
 one was found guilty of foul play or malicious conduct 
 towards another of the family, the parent interfered by 
 seizing the young criminal by the tail, which she held
 
 THE MONKEY. 183 
 
 fast with one of her paws, till she boxed its ears with 
 the other. Now we do not know of anything exactly 
 similar to this in any other tribe of animals. The 
 proper performance of such an act most certainly 
 implies a very considerable amount of understanding. 
 There is another habit, too, peculiar to these creatures, 
 that if true, requires no less intelligence than the one 
 just named. It is said that when any one of them 
 receives a wound with an arrow, the whole community 
 fly to its assistance, but instead of pulling out the 
 missile, which by so doing would lacerate the flesh and 
 give pain, they bite off the shaft only, and thus allow 
 the unfortunate animal to go away with the remainder 
 in its bod}-. It is also affirmed of the baboons that they 
 will nip off the sting of a scorpion with so much dex- 
 terity and rapidity, that they leave no time for the 
 venomous weapon to produce any effect upon their 
 hands, and that being done, the apes devour the scor- 
 pions with much greediness. The natives dread them, 
 for they will plunder their villages, rob their orchards, 
 and retire leisurely with the booty. Sometimes they 
 appear to do the latter business by method. A sentinel 
 is appointed to watch, while a part of the company 
 enter the enclosure, and a part remain without ; the 
 latter form a line to the place of depot and the former 
 gather the fruit. If the wall is high, a small force 
 takes station upon it, and these, after receiving the 
 produce from those within, throw it to those in a line 
 without. It is then passed along the line to its hiding- 
 place, which is generally in some crag of a mountain.
 
 184 THE IklONKEY. 
 
 170. As an instance of the monkey's apparent gravity, 
 even in the midst of frolic, Mrs. Lee tells an amusing 
 story of some pigs that were allowed to run about the 
 deck occasionally, and Jack would then sometimes 
 suddenly spring on the back of one of them, his face 
 to the tail, and away scampered his frightened steed. 
 Sometimes an obstacle would impede the gallop, and 
 then Jack, loosening the hold which he had acquired 
 by digging his nails into the skin of the pig, industri- 
 ously tried to uncurl its tail, and if he were saluted by 
 a laugh from some one near by, he would look up with 
 an assumed air of wonder, as much as to say, " What 
 can you find to laugh at?" 
 
 171. The same authoress informs us of another in 
 the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, that she very much 
 annoyed by striking him on his paws for some mis- 
 behaviour towards one of his companions, and the 
 monkey seemed ever afterwards to recollect this treat- 
 ment, when, at least, this associating power of her 
 presence came to the aid of his memory, for on future 
 occasions, he no sooner saw her, or heard her voice, 
 than he threw himself into a passion, rolled about in 
 rage, and in one instance seized her gown, and drugged 
 a portion of it within the bars of his cage, when he 
 then tore a piece out of it, although it was made of 
 some stout material. 
 
 172. The case of the Barbary ape and the preacher 
 Casauban, related by Mrs. Louden, is perhaps an 
 instance of imitation as ludicrous as anything of the 
 kind that has ever been witnessed. Father Casauban 
 brought up the animal in question, and having become
 
 THE MONKEY. 185 
 
 attached to him, it wished to follow him wherever he 
 went. One day when Casauban was going to church, 
 the ape, not being made secure, followed its master to 
 the place of worship, and being a good climber, silently 
 mounted the sounding board, and there lay quiet and 
 concealed till the sermon was in course of delivery. 
 It then advanced to the edge of its perch to see what 
 was going on beneath it, and to watch the actions of 
 the orator. These were no sooner observed by the 
 able mimic, than it began to perform also, and its 
 imitation of the preacher's gestures were so perfectly 
 grotesque, that the whole congregation was put into a 
 state of great risibility, and such that conld not be 
 suppressed. The good father was alike shocked, and 
 indignant at the ill-timed levity of his audience, and 
 began to minister some severe reproofs. But. seeing 
 all his efforts failing, he launched forth into violent 
 action, accompanied by loud vociferations. His 
 frequent gestures the ape did not fail to take up 
 immediately, with no less animation than that which 
 inspirited his master. And at this apparent competi- 
 tion of the two individuals, the people burst into roars 
 of laughter ; and when the animal was pointed out to 
 the pastor, though highly exasperated, it is said that 
 he could scarcely command his own countenance 
 while he gave directions to have the ape removed. 
 
 173. In 177f5, one being conveyed to Holland, was 
 observed, when about to lie down on board at the 
 approach of night, to prepare her bed, by shaking well 
 the hay on which she slept, and, after putting it in 
 proper order, would wrap herself snugly up in the
 
 186 THE MONKEY. 
 
 quilt. In addition to the making of her bed very 
 neatly every day, M. le Guat saw one at Java that was 
 accustomed to bind up her head with a handkerchief 
 before she retired to rest. The former, on the voyage 
 to Holland, noticed that the padlock of her chain was 
 opened with a key. The ape soon began to practise 
 the manoeuvre by taking up a little bit of stick, and 
 after putting it in the key-hole of the lock, endeavour- 
 ed to open it by turning the stick in all directions. 
 One morning when on shore, she escaped from her 
 chair, and it was then when the real and beautiful 
 instinct of the animal displayed itself. This was from 
 the immediate impulse to climb, and accordingly she 
 was seen ascending with surprising agility the beams 
 and oblique rafters of a building. Being endowed, 
 like all the species, with extraordinary strength, and 
 capable of prodigious celerity, she was not retaken 
 without some considerable trouble. Though but two 
 feet and a half high, she was nearly a match for the 
 combined strength of four men, who found it necessary 
 to put forth all their efforts in order to secure her. 
 This they effected by two of them seizing her legs, 
 while a third took charge of her head, and the other 
 fastened a collar round her neck. It is no wonder 
 then that the full grown ourang of seven or eight feet 
 in height,' should prove a formidable adversary to the 
 united force of ten men. During the time of her 
 liberty, she took the cork from a bottle of Malaga 
 wine, and appeared highly gratified with the contents, 
 which she drank to the very last drop, and then put 
 the bottle in its place again
 
 THE MONKEY. 187 
 
 174. A friend of our's possessed one of these creatures, 
 whose disposition seemed very affectionate ; if it had 
 done wrong and was scolded, it immediately seated 
 itself on the floor, and clasping its hands together 
 seemed to beg earnestly to be forgiven. 
 
 175. Mrs. Lee mentions of the monkey on board the 
 vessel with herself, that Jack, for such was his name, 
 would sometimes scald or burn his fingers, by snatching 
 out the herbs from the hot beverage ; the pain would 
 keep him quiet for a few days, but no sooner had it 
 been alleviated, than Jack repeated his tricks, and again 
 suffered the penalty. Was this owing to any absence of 
 memory in the monkey, or did he, like mankind, too 
 often commit the deed right in the face of the conse- 
 quence ? No doubt that man does this injustice to 
 himself much more often than does any brute whatever. 
 He will gratify some appetite for a moment, although 
 he knows full well that the pain which will certainly 
 follow will be neither light nor short. The probability 
 is, that Jack's knowledge of the past ceased with the 
 pain ; at least we should judge so from analogy, because 
 those animals which appear to have a memory active 
 when assisted by the power of association, are not found 
 to be so easily taken in when that is present. This 
 kind of memory although exceedingly imperfect, is 
 nevertheless sufficient to enable them to profit by 
 experience. 
 
 176. Of a monkey which a man in Paris had trained 
 
 to a variety of clever tricks, the same writer gives an 
 
 interesting account. I met him one day says he, sud- 
 
 denty as he was coming up the drawing-room stairs. He 
 
 u
 
 188 THE MONKEY. 
 
 made way for me by standing in an angle, and when I 
 said, ' Good morning', took off his cap, and made me a 
 low bow. 'Are you going away?' I asked; 'where is 
 your passport ?' Upon which he took from the same 
 cap a square piece of paper, which he opened and show- 
 ed to me. His master told him my gown was dusty, 
 and he instantly took a small brush from his master's 
 pocket, raised the hem of my dress, cleaned it, and then 
 did the same for my shoes. He was perfectly docile 
 and obedient ; when we gave him something to eat, he 
 did not cram his pouches with it, but delicately and 
 tidily devoured it, and when we bestowed money on 
 him, he immediately put it into his master's hands. 
 
 177. I have frequently, says Margrave, speaking of 
 another species, been a witness of their assemblies and 
 deliberations. Every day, both morning and evening, 
 the Ouarines assemble in the woods to receive instruc- 
 tions. When all come together, one among the number 
 takes the highest place on a tree, aiad makes a signal 
 with his hand to the rest to sit round, in order to hearken. 
 As soon as he sees them placed, he begins his discourse 
 with so loud a voice, and yet in a manner so precipitate, 
 that to hear him at a distance, one would think the 
 whole company were crying out at the same time ; 
 however, during that time, one only is speaking, and all 
 the rest observe the most profound silence. When this 
 is done, he makes a sign with the hand for the rest to 
 reply, and at that instant they raise their voices together, 
 until by another signal of the hand they are enjoined 
 silence. This they as readily obey, till at last the whole
 
 THE MONKEY. 189 
 
 assembly break up after hearing a repetition of the same 
 preachment. 
 
 178. Le Vaillant, when making his tour through the 
 southern part of Africa, kept in his possession a dog- 
 faced baboon, to which he gave the name of Kees. He 
 made use of the inquisitive propensity of his ape for 
 the purpose of tasting strange or unknown roots or 
 fruits. Kees would taste all without scruple, and those 
 he rejected were supposed to be either of a disagreeable 
 flavour or a pernicious quality. But whenever the 
 animal met with any favourite root, he was always 
 anxious to secure it for himself, and stemming the 
 ground with his fore-feet, he grasped the plant with his 
 teeth, and pulled out the root by main force. Sometimes, 
 however, his strength applied in that form was not 
 sufficient for the purpose, and then he would have 
 recourse to the expedient of still holding the herbage 
 in his teeth close to the ground, and throwing. himself 
 quite over, thus making his body act as a sort of lever, 
 and this mode seldom ever failed to bring up the root. 
 
 179. The monkey of the lacchiis genus is a truly 
 remarkable creature, and has some extremely curious 
 habits or instincts. Its manner of capturing all kinds 
 of flies is wonderfully dexterous, and though it seizes 
 upon them so instantaneously, and without any appa- 
 rent discrimination, it will yet recoil with instinctive 
 and agitating fear from the attempt to clutch a wasp. 
 M. Audouin, of Paris, who had a pair of these animals 
 for sometime in his possession, was satisfied that this 
 fear was the result of an instinctive faculty, and not of 
 experience, as the French species of wasp was quite
 
 190 THE MONKEY. 
 
 different from any these monkeys could have ever seen 
 before. They would, too, dart at the representation of 
 insects in paintings, but would immediately withdraw 
 their paws from that of a wasp, while that of a cat ex- 
 ceedingly alarmed them. These creatures could recognize 
 themselves in a glass as well as others of their own 
 species. 
 
 180. Pyrard says that some of the orangs when pro- 
 perly trained and fed will work like servants. They 
 will pound, when ordered, any substance in a mortar: 
 and they are frequently sent to fetch water from the 
 river in small pitchers, which they carry on their heads ; 
 but on arriving at the door of the dwelling, should they 
 suffer the vessel to fall and see it is overturned and 
 broken, they utter their lamentations aloud. 
 
 181. Barbot also informs us, that they are frequently 
 rendered of use in some settlements by being taught to 
 turn the spit, and watch the roasting of the meat, which 
 they perform with considerable dexterity and address. 
 
 182. M de la Brosse purchased two orangs, which he 
 asserts, would, while in the ship, sit at table and par- 
 take of every kind of food. They would use a knife, 
 fork, or spoon, and cut and lay hold of what was on 
 their plates, and drink wine as well as other liquors. 
 At table, when they wanted anything, they easily made 
 themselves understood by the cabin boy, and when he 
 refused to obey their commands, they sometimes became 
 enraged, seized him by the arm, bit, and threw him 
 down. When the male was taken very ill, he required 
 of those around the utmost attention. He was bled 
 twice in the arm, and whenever afterwards he found
 
 THE MONKEY. 191 
 
 himself in the same condition, he held out his arm, as 
 if recollecting that the former operation had proved 
 beneficial. 
 
 183. M. Pallavicini, who held an official situation at 
 Batavia, had two orang-otangs in his house, a male and 
 female, which were extremely mild and gentle. They 
 were nearly of the average human height, and they 
 imitated very closely the actions of men, particularly 
 with their hands and arms. In some repeats they ap- 
 peared to be more modest and bashful than savage tribes 
 of people, but this was probably the result of instruc- 
 tion. A female orang was brought alive into Holland 
 from the Island of Borneo, nearly a hundred years ago, 
 and was lodged in the menagerie of the Prince of 
 Orange. At this time she was*so young as to be only 
 two feet and a half high. She was very gentle, and ex- 
 hibited not the slightest symptoms at any time of 
 fierceness or malignity. Her air was melancholy, and 
 her gait grave. She sometimes walked erect. She 
 would eat of almost any kind of food that was given her, 
 but she lived chiefly on bread, roots, and fruit, never 
 showing that voracity so common to most animals of 
 her tribe. She w'ould eat meat that was cooked ; she 
 liked eggs, the shells of which she broke with her teeth, 
 and then emptied by sucking out their contents. When 
 strawberries were given to her on a plate, she took 
 them up one by one with a fork, and put them into her 
 mouth, holding at the same time her plate in the other 
 hand. She would take in one hand a vessel contain- 
 ing water, and would drink the contents as calmly as a 
 child or a man. But she did not restrict herself to
 
 192 THE MONKEY. 
 
 water, for she eagerly drank all kinds of wine, parti- 
 cularly Malaga. When she had drunk, she wiped her 
 lips and used a tooth-pick in the usual manner, if 
 offered her. Whilst she was on shipboard, she ran freely 
 about the vessel, and played with the sailors. In the menag- 
 erie she frequently played with the blanket which served 
 her for a bed, and sometimes seemed pleased at tearing 
 it. She often amused herself also in the room where, 
 she was kept, by climbing on the bars of the window, 
 as high as the length of her chain would allow. One 
 day seeing the padlock of her chain opened with 
 a key and shut again, she seized a little bit of stick and 
 put it into the key-hole, turning it about, in all directions, 
 trying to see if the padlock could not be opened. 
 Whether or not she at 'length succeeded in her efforts 
 is matter of doubt, but it is certain that on one occasion 
 she made her escape from her chain, and was seen to 
 descend with surprising agilitj' the beams and oblique 
 rafters of the building. With some trouble she was 
 re-taken, for she put forth extraordinary muscular power, 
 and the efforts of four men were found necessary in 
 order to secure her. Two of them seized her by the 
 legs, and a third by the head, whilst 'the other fastened 
 the collar round her body. During the time she was at 
 liberty, she had, amongst other pranks, taken a cork 
 from a bottle of Malaga wine, drunk its contents to the 
 last drop, and then put the bottle back into its place. 
 She would present her hand to conduct the people who 
 came to visit her, and walk as gravely along with them 
 as if she formed part of the company. She would fre- 
 quently sit with persons at dinner, when she would
 
 THE MONKEY. 193 
 
 unfold her towel, wipe her lips, use a spoon or a fork in 
 conveying food to her month, pour liquor into a 
 glass, and make it touch that of a person who drank 
 with her. If invited to take tea, she would bring a cup 
 and saucer, place them on the table, put in sugar, pour 
 out the tea, and allow it to cool before she drank it. 
 All these acts she performed without any other instiga- 
 tion, than the sign or verbal orders of her master, and 
 often even of her own accord. 
 
 184. An interesting animal of this species was brought 
 by Captain Methuen, from the south coast of Borneo. 
 On his arrival in Java from Batavia he was allowed to 
 be at perfect liberty till within a day or two of being put 
 on board the Caesar to be brought to England. While 
 at large he made no attempt to escape, but became 
 violent when put into a large railed bamboo cage. As 
 soon as he felt himself in confinement, he seized the 
 rails of the cage, shook them violently, and endeavoured 
 to break them in pieces; but finding, in grasping several, 
 that they did not yield, he tried them separately, and 
 having discovered one weaker than the rest, worked at 
 it energetically and perseveringly till he broke it and 
 then made his escape. On board ship an attempt was 
 made to secure him by a chain tied to a strong staple, 
 when he instantly unfastened it, and ran off with the 
 chain, dragging it behind, but finding himself troubled 
 by its length, he coiled it once or twice and threw it over 
 his shoulders. This feat he often repeated, and when he 
 found it would not remain on his shoulderhe took it in his 
 mouth. After the failure of several attempts to secure him, 
 he was allowed to wander freely about the ship, soon be-
 
 194 TH 
 
 came familiar with the sailors, and far surpassed them 
 in agility They often chased him about the rigging, 
 and gave him opportunities of showing his adroitness 
 in making his escape. On first starting he endeavoured 
 to outstrip his pursuers by mere speed, but when much 
 pressed, would elude them by seizing a loose rope and 
 swinging out of their reach. At other times he would 
 patiently wait on the shrouds, or at the mast-head, till 
 they almost touched him, and then suddenly lower him- 
 self to the deck by any rope that was near, or bound 
 along the mainstay from one mast to the other, swinging 
 by his hands, and moving them one over the other. The 
 men often shook the ropes by which he clung with so 
 much violence as to make Captain Methuen fear the 
 orang would fall, but he soon found that the power of 
 the creature's muscles could not be easily overcome. 
 When in playful humour he would often swing within 
 arms length of his pursuer, strike him with his hand, 
 and then bound to a distance. Next to the boatswain, 
 the captain was the orang's most intimate acquaintance. 
 He would always follow him to the mast-head, where 
 the captain often went for the sake of reading undis- 
 turbed by the noise of the ship, and having satisfied 
 himself of there being no eatables in his pockets, would 
 lie down by his side, and spreading a top sail over 
 himself, peep from it occasionally to watch the captain's 
 movements. His favourite amusement in Java was in 
 swinging from the branches of trees, in passing from 
 one tree to another, and in climbing over the roofs of 
 houses ; on board, by hanging on his arms from the 
 ropes, and in romping with the boys of the ship. He
 
 would entice them to play by striking them with his 
 hand as they passed and then bounding from them, but 
 allowing them to overtake him and engage in a mock 
 scuffle, in which he used his hands, feet, and mouth. 
 His first object in attacking any one appeared to be to 
 throw him down, then to secure him with his hands 
 and feet, and then slightly to wound him with his teeth. 
 Of some small monkeys on board from Java, he seems 
 to have taken but little notice. Once he attempted to 
 throw a small cage containing three of them overboard, 
 probably because he had seen food given them of which 
 he could obtain no part. There was, however, reason 
 to suspect that he was less indifferent to their society 
 when free from observation, and the captain was one 
 day summoned to the top-gallant yard of the mizen-mast, 
 to overlook him playing with a young male monkey. 
 Lying on his back, partially covered with the sail, he 
 for some time contemplated with great gravity the 
 gambols of the monkey which bounded over him, but at 
 length he caught him by the tail, and tried to envelope 
 him in his covering. The monkey seemed to dislike 
 the confinement and broke from the oraug, but soon 
 renewed its gambols, and although frequently caught, 
 always escaped. The intercourse, however, did not 
 seem to be that of equals, for the orang-otang never con- 
 descended to romp with the monkeys as he did with the 
 boys of the ship ; yet they evidently greatly enjoyed 
 his company, for whenever they broke loose they took 
 their way to his resting place, and were often seen 
 lurking about or clandestinely creeping towards him. 
 They did not become gradually more intimate, for they 
 2 M
 
 1915 Ttt 
 
 appeared as confidently familiar with him when he was 
 first observed as at the close of their acquaintance. But 
 although so gentle when not exceedingly irritated, the 
 orang-otang could be excited to violent rage, which he 
 expressed by opening his mouth, showing his teeth, 
 and also by seizing and biting those who were within 
 reach. Sometimes, indeed, he seemed almost driven to 
 desperation, and on two or three occasions committed 
 an act which in man would have been called a threaten- 
 ing of suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange, when 
 he attempted to take it, he would shriek violently and 
 swing furiously about the ropes, then return and en- 
 deavour to obtain it, but if again refused he would, for 
 some time, roll on the deck like an angry child, uttering 
 the most piercing screams, and then, suddenly starting 
 up, rush furiously over the side of the sliip and dis- 
 appear. When this act was first witnessed it was 
 thought he had thrown himself intot, he sea, but search 
 being made, he was found concealed under the chains. 
 On two occasions only he exhibited violent alarm, and 
 appeared to seek for safety in gaining as high an 
 elevation as possible. On seeing eight turtles brought 
 on board whilst the Caesar was off the island of 
 Ascension, he climbed with all possible speed to a 
 higher part of the ship than he had ever before reached, 
 and looking down upon them, shot out his long lips into 
 the form of a hog's snout, and at the same time uttered 
 a sound which might be described as between the grunt- 
 ing of a pig and the croaking of a frog. After some 
 time he ventured to descend, but with great caution, 
 peeping constantly at the turtles, but he could not be
 
 induced to approach within many yards of them. He 
 ran to the same height, and uttered the same sounds, 
 on seeing some men bathing and splashing in the sea; 
 and afterwards showed nearly the same degree of fear 
 at the sight of a live tortoise. 
 
 185. Of an orang-otang which M. le Compte saw 
 in the straits of Malacca, he says, that all its 
 actions were so imitative of those of mankind, 
 and its passions were so expressive and lively, that a 
 dumb person could scarcely have made himself more 
 clearly understood. This animal was very gentle and 
 affectionate, though it would frequently make a stamp- 
 ing noise with its feet, from anger, as well as joy, 
 when it received, or was refused any kind of food to 
 which it was j artial. Its agility was scarcely credible. 
 With the greatest ease and security it would run about 
 amongst the rigging, vaulting from rope to rope, 
 and indulging in a thousand pranks, as if it were 
 delighted at exhibiting its feats for the diversion of the 
 company. Sometimes, suspended by one arm, it would 
 poise itself and then suddenly turn round upon a rope 
 with nearly as much quickness as a wheel on a sling. 
 Sometimes it would slide down one of the ropes and 
 then climb it again with astonishing agility. It seemed 
 as if there were no posture which this animal could not 
 imitate, or any motion that it could not perform. It 
 has even sometimes being known to fling itself down- 
 wards from one rope to another. He learned artificial 
 tastes of civilization, and preferred tea and coffee to 
 water ; tastes less natural, and more to be regretted, 
 soon followed, for he took to drinking wine, and was so
 
 fond of spirituous liquors, that he was detected in steal- 
 ing the captain's brandy bottle. 
 
 186. One of these animals was for some time the 
 inmate of a ship, where it became quite companionable, 
 and gained the affections of the passengers and crew. 
 So far from exhibiting the sullen and sluggish demean- 
 our which has been attributed to this ape, the siamaug 
 displayed great activity and quickness, skipping about 
 the ropes, and given to harmless tricks. It took a 
 fancy to a little Papuan girl who was on board, and 
 would sit with its arms round her neck, eating biscuits 
 with her. It was of an inquisitive nature, running up 
 the rigging, and watching from its elevated position a 
 passing vessel, and remaining there until the ship was 
 out of sight. In temper it was rather uncertain, and 
 apt to fly into a passion if opposed in any wish. When 
 thus excited, it would ning itself down, just like a 
 naughty spoiled child, roll about the deck with great 
 contortion of limbs and face, strike at everything that 
 came into its way, and scream incessantly with a sound 
 like Ha! ra ! ra. ! It had a strange predilection for ink, 
 and in order to procure this remarkable dainty, would 
 drain the ink-bottle whenever there was an opportunity 
 of so doing, or suck the pens in default of the liquid 
 itself. Being itself destitute of a tail, and fearing no 
 reprisals in that direction, the siamang used to make 
 very free with the tails of some monkeys that lived on 
 board of the same vessel. Catching an xinfortunate 
 monkey by its caudal appendage, away went Ungka, as 
 the ape was named, dragging the monkey after him along 
 the deck until the wretched animal writhed itself free
 
 from its tormentor. At another time Ungka would 
 cany the monkey by the tail up the rigging, irt spite of 
 its squeaks and struggles, and then quietly let it drop. 
 It was sensitive to ridicule ; and when its feelings were 
 hurt, it used to inflate its throat until it resembled a 
 large wen, and looked seriously at the offenders uttering 
 hollow barks at intervals. 
 
 187. A few years ago Ave lived next door to a lady who 
 had a pet monkey which was one of the most imitative 
 and mischievous little beings that ever existed. His 
 imitative nature caused the servants so much trouble 
 that he had not a friend among those of his own house. 
 One day he observed the ladies' maid washing her 
 mistress' lace, and his offers of assistance having been 
 somewhat roughly repulsed by her, chattering and 
 scolding he went forth in search of adventures. Unfor- 
 tunately my windows were invitingly open, and he 
 entered, with -the idea of washing fresh in his head. 
 His spirit of curiosity induced him to open two small 
 drawers from which he abstracted their whole contents, 
 consisting of lace, ribbons, and handkerchiefs. He 
 placed these things in a foot-pan, together with all the 
 water and soap that happened to be in the room, and he 
 must then have washed away with great vigour, for when 
 I returned to my room, after an absence of an hour or 
 so, to my astonishment I found him busily engaged in 
 laundry operations, spreading the torn and disfigured 
 remnants to dry. He was well a\vare that he was doing 
 wrong, for without my speaking to him, he made off 
 the moment he saw me, going very quickly and hiding 
 himself in the case of the kitchen clock in his own home.
 
 200 THE MONKEY. 
 
 By this act the servants knew he had been doing mis- 
 chief, as*this was his place of refuge when in trouble or 
 disgrace. One day he watched the cook while she was 
 preparing some partridges for dinner, and I suppose 
 that in his own mind he considered that all birds ought 
 to be so treated, for he managed to get into the yard 
 where his mistress kept a few pet bantam fowls, and 
 after robbing them of their eggs, he secured one of the 
 poor hens with which he proceeded to the kitchen, and 
 then commenced plucking it. The noise that the poor 
 bird made ; brought some of the servants to the rescue, 
 but they found it in such a pitiful state that in mercy 
 it was at once killed. After this outrageous act Mr. 
 Monkey was chained up, which humiliated him so much, 
 that he steadily refused his food, and soon died. 
 
 188. One of these animals which passed several years 
 in Europe, was remarkable for its amiable temper ; and 
 although by no means free from the little mischievous 
 and pilfering habits that arc so inextricably interwoven 
 in the monkey nature, was so quiet arid gentle as to be 
 left at perfect liberty. He was an adept at unlocking 
 boxes and examining their contents, could unravel the 
 intricacies of a knot, and was possessed of a hand dex- 
 trous and nimble at picking pockets. The last named 
 occupation seemed to afford peculiar gratification, which 
 was increased by the fact that his visitors were accus- 
 tomed to carry nuts, cakes, and other delicacies in their 
 pockets, on purpose for the monkey to find them there.
 
 201 
 
 THE HORSE. 
 
 Nature, Thy daughter, ever-changing birth 
 
 Of Thee the great Immutable, to man 
 
 Speaks wisdom ; is his oracle supreme ; 
 
 And he who most consults her is most wise. YOUNG. 
 
 189. As may be readily supposed, the intrepidity of 
 the horse is often of signal service in the cause of 
 humanity, commanding at once our esteem and admir 
 ation. We know of no instance in which his assistance 
 was so successfully rendered as in that which once 
 occurred at the Cape of Good Hope, and which is related 
 by M. De Pages in his Travels Round the World. " I 
 should have found it difficult to give it credit, had it 
 not happened the evening before my arrival, and if, 
 besides the public notoriety of the fact, I had not been 
 an eye-witness of those vehement emotions of sympathy, 
 blended with admiration, which it had justly excited in 
 the mind of every individual at the Cape. A violent 
 gale of wind setting in from north-north-west, a vessel 
 in the road dragged her anchors, was forced on tke 
 rocks, and bulged, and while a greater part of the crew- 
 fell an immediate sacrifice to the waves, the remainder 
 were seen from the shore struggling for their lives, by 
 clinging to the different pieces of the wreck. The sea 
 ran dreadfully high, and broke over the sailors with.
 
 such amazing fury, that no boat whatever could venture 
 off to their assistance. Meanwhile a planter consider- 
 ably advanced in life, had come from his farm to be a 
 spectator of the shipwreck ; his heart was melted at the 
 sight of the unhappy seamen, and knowing the bold 
 and enterprising spirit of his horse, and his particular 
 excellence as a swimmer, he instantly determined to 
 make a desperate effort for their deliverance. He 
 alighted, and blew a little brandy into his horse's 
 nostrils, when again seating himself in the saddle, he 
 instantly pushed into the midst of the breakers. At 
 first both disappeai-ed ; but it was not long before they 
 floated on the surface, and swam up to the wreck, when, 
 taking Avith him two men, each of whom held by one 
 of his boots, he brought them safe to shore. This 
 perilous expedition lie repeated no seldomer than 
 seven times, and saved fourteen lives but, on 
 his return the eighth time, his horse being much 
 fatigued, and meeting a most formidable wave, he lost 
 his balance, and was overwhelmed in a moment. The 
 horse swam safely to land ; but his gallant rider, alas ! 
 was no more." 
 
 190. Occasionally, there is so much sagacity and affec- 
 tion combined with the intrepidity of the horse, that his 
 conduct would do credit even to the bravest human 
 nature. He has been known to swim to the assistance 
 of a drowning creature, and this without any other 
 impulse than that of his own generous feelings. A 
 little girl, the daughter of a gentleman in Warwickshire, 
 playing on the banks of a canal which runs through his 
 grounds, had the misfortune to fall in, and would in all
 
 probabilit}*- have been drowned, had not a small pony, 
 which had been long kept in the family, plunged into 
 the stream and brought the child safely ashore without 
 the slightest injury. 
 
 19 L The Surrey iron railway being completed, and 
 opened for the carriage of goods from Wandsworth to 
 Mcrtsham, a bet was made that a common horse could 
 draw thirty-six tons for six miles along the road, and 
 that he should draw his weight from a dead pull, as well 
 as turn it round the occasional windings of the road. 
 A number of gentlemen assembled near Mertsham to 
 witness this extraordinary triumph of art. Twelve 
 wagons loaded with stones, each wagon weighing about 
 three tons, were chained together, and a horse belong- 
 ing to Mr. Harwood yoked to the team. He started 
 from near the Fox public-house, and drew the immense 
 chain of wagons, with apparent ease, to near the turn- 
 pike at Croydon, a distance of six miles, in one hour 
 nnd forty-six minutes, which is nearly at the rate of 
 four miles an hour. In the course of the undertaking 
 he was stopped four times, to show that it was not by 
 the impetus of the descent the power was acquired. 
 After each stoppage, a chain of four wagons was added 
 to the cavalcade, with which the same horse again set 
 off with undiminished power. And still farther to show 
 the effect of the railway in facilitating motion, the 
 attending workmen, to the number of about fifty, were 
 directed to mount the wagons; still the horse proceeded 
 without the least distress ; and, in truth, there appeared 
 to be scarcely any limitation to the power of his 
 draught. After the trial, the wagons were taken to the
 
 204 THE HORSE. 
 
 weighing machine, when it was found that the whole 
 weight was little short of fifty-five tons and a half. 
 
 192. A gentleman in Buckinghamshire had in his 
 possession, December, 1703, a three years old colt, a 
 dog, and three sheep, which were his constant attend- 
 ants in all his walks. When the parlour window, which 
 looked into the field, happened to be open, the colt had 
 often been known to leap through it, go up to and 
 caress his master, and then leap back to his pasture. 
 
 193. We have ourselves often witnessed similar signs 
 of affection on the part of an old Shetland pony, which 
 would place its forefoot in the hand of its young master 
 like a dog, thrust its head under his arm to be caressed, 
 and join with him and a little terrier in all their noisy 
 rompings on the lawn. The same animal daily bore its 
 master to school and though its heels and teeth were 
 always ready for every aggressive urchin, yet so attached 
 was it to this boy, that it would wait hours for him in 
 his sports by the way, and even walk alone from the 
 stable in town to the school- room, which was fully half 
 a mile distant, and wait saddled and bridled for the 
 afternoon's dismissal. 
 
 194. During the Peninsular War, the trumpeter of a 
 French cavalry corps had a fine charger assigned to 
 him, of which he became passionately fond, and which, 
 by gentleness of disposition and uniform docility, 
 equally evinced its affection. The sound of the trum- 
 peter's voice, the sight of his uniform, or the twang of 
 his trumpet, was sufficient to throw this animal into a 
 estate of excitement ; and he appeared to be pleased and 
 iiappy only when under the saddle of his rider. Indeed
 
 he \vas unruly and useless to everybody else ; for once 
 on being removed to another part of the forces, and 
 consigned to a young officer, he resolutely refused to 
 perform his evolutions, and bolted to the trumpeter's 
 station, and there took his stand, jostling alongside his 
 former master. This animal, on being restored to the 
 trumpeter, carried him, during several of the Peninsu- 
 lar campaigns, through many difficulties and hair- 
 breadth escapes. At last the corps to which he belong- 
 ed was worsted, and in the confusion of retreat the 
 trumpeter was mortally wounded. Dropping from his 
 horse, his body was found many days after the engage- 
 ment stretched on the sward, with the faithful charger 
 .standing beside it. During the long interval, it seems 
 that he had never quitted the trumpeter's side, but had 
 stood sentinel over his corps, scaring away the birds of 
 prey, and remaining totally heedless of his own priva- 
 tions. When found, he was in a sadly reduced 
 condition, partly from loss of blood through wounds, 
 but chiefly from want of food, of which in the excess of 
 his grief, he could no be prevailed on to partake. 
 
 15)5. On the evening of Saturday, the 24th February, 
 1830, Mr, Smith, supervisor of excise af Beauly, was 
 proceeding home from a survey of Fort Augustus, and, 
 to save a distance of about sixteen miles, he took the 
 hill road from Drumnadrochit to Beauly. The road 
 was completely Ulocked up with and indiscernible amidst 
 the waste of snow, so that Mr. Smith soon lost all idea 
 of his route. In this dilemma he thought it best to 
 trust to his horse, and loosening the reins, allowed 
 him to choose his own course. The animal made way,
 
 206 THE HORSE. 
 
 though slowly and cautiously, till coming to a ravine 
 near Glenconvent, when both horse and rider suddenly 
 disappeared in a snow wreath several fathoms deep. 
 Mr. Smith, on recovering, found himself nearly three 
 yards from the dangerous spot, with his faithful horse 
 standing over him, and licking the snow from his lace. 
 He thinks the bridle must have been attached to his 
 person So completely, however, had he lost all sense 
 of consciousness, that beyond the bare fact as stated, 
 he had no knowledge of the means by which he had 
 made so striking and providential an escape. 
 
 196. Very similar to the above is the following 
 instance related of a hunter belonging to a farmer in 
 the neighbourhood of Edinburgh: On one occasion 
 his master was returning home from a jovial meeting, 
 where he had been very liberal in his potations, which 
 destroyed his power of preserving his equilibrium, and 
 rendered him at the same time somewhat drowsy. He 
 had the misfortune to fall from his saddle, but in so 
 easy a manner, that it had not the effect of rousing him 
 from his sleepy fit; and he felt quite contented to rest 
 where he had alighted. His faithful steed, on being 
 eased of his burden, instead of scampering home, as 
 one would have expected from his habits, (which were 
 somewhat vicious.) stood by his prostrate master, and 
 kept a strict watch over him. The farmer was dis- 
 covered by some labourers at sunrise, very contentedly 
 snoozing on a heap of stones by the road side. They 
 naturally approached to replace him on his saddle; but 
 every attempt to come near him was resolute opposed
 
 THE HORSE. 207 
 
 by the grinning teeth and ready heels of his faithful 
 and determined guardian. 
 
 197. A farmer who lives in the neighbourhood of 
 Belford, and regularly attends the markets there, was 
 returning home one evening in 1828, and being some- 
 what tipsy, rolled off' his saddle into the middle of the 
 road. His horse stood still ; but after remaining 
 patiently for some time, and not observing any disposi- 
 tion in its rider to get up and proceed further, he took 
 him by the collar and shook him. This had little dr 
 no effect, for the farmer only gave a grumble of dissat- 
 isfaction at having his repose disturbed. The animal 
 was not to be put off with any such evasion, and so 
 applied his mouth to one of his master's coat laps, and 
 after several attempts by dragging at it, to raise him 
 upon his feet, the coat lap gave way. Three individuals 
 who witnessed this extraordinary proceeding then went 
 up, and assisted him in mounting his horse, putting 
 the one coat lap into the pocket of the other, when he 
 trotted off, and safely reached home. This horse is 
 deservedly a favourite of his master, and has, we under- 
 stand, occasionally been engaged in gambols with him 
 like a dog. 
 
 198. A person near Boston, in America, was in the 
 habit, whenever he wished to catch his horse in the 
 field, of taking a quantity of corn in a measure by way 
 of bait. On calling to him, the horse would come up 
 and eat the corn, while the bridle was put over his 
 head. But the owner having deceived the animal 
 several times, by calling him when he had no corn in 
 the measure, the horse at length began to suspect the 
 
 N
 
 208 THE HORSE. 
 
 design; and coming up one day as usual, on being 
 called, looked into the measure, and seeing it empty, 
 turned i-ound, reared on his hind legs, and killed his 
 master on the spot. 
 
 199. A baronet, one of whose hunters had never tired 
 in the longest chase, once encouraged the cruel thought 
 of attempting completely to fatigue him. After a long 
 chase, therefore, he dined, and again mounting, rode 
 furiously among the hills. When brought to the stable 
 his strength appeared exhausted, and he was scarcely 
 able to walk. The groom, possessed of more feeling 
 than his brutal master, could not refrain from tears at 
 the sight of so noble an animal thus sunk down. The 
 baronet some time after entered the stable, when the 
 horse made a furious spring upon him, and had not 
 the groom interfered, would soon have put it out of his 
 power of ever again misusing his animals. 
 
 200. It is told of a horse belonging to an Irish noble- 
 man, that he had become restive and furious whenever 
 a certain individual came into his presence. One day 
 this poor fellow happened to pass within reach, when 
 the animal seized him with its teeth and broke his arm ; 
 it then threw him down, and lay upon him every effort 
 to get it off proving unavailing, till the bystanders were 
 compelled to shoot it. The reason assigned for this 
 ferocity was, that the man had performed a cruel 
 operation on the animal some time before, and which 
 it seems to have revengefully remembered. 
 
 201. My neighbour's horse, says White of Selborne, 
 will not only not stay by himself abroad, but he will not 
 bear to be left alone in a strange stable without dis-
 
 THE HORSE. 209 
 
 covering the utmost impatience, and endeavouring to 
 break the rack and manger with his forefeet. He has 
 been known to leap out at a stable-window after com- 
 pany ; and yet in other respects he is remarkable quiet. 
 202. A gentleman of Bristol had a greyhound, which 
 slept in the stable along with a very fine hunter of 
 about five years of age. These animals became mutually 
 attached, and regarded each other with the most tender 
 affection. The greyhound always lay under the manger 
 beside the horse, which was so fond of him, that he 
 became unhappy and restless when the dog was out 
 of his sight. It was a common practice with the 
 gentleman to whom they belonged to call at the stable 
 for the greyhound to accompany him in his walk : on 
 such occasions the horse would look over his shoulder 
 at the dog' with much anxiety, and neigh in a manner 
 which plainly said ''Let me also accompany you." 
 When the dog returned to the stable, he was always 
 welcomed by a loud neigh he ran up to the horse and 
 licked his nose ; in return, the horse would scratch the 
 dog's back with his teeth. One day, when the groom 
 was out with the horse and greyhound for exercise, a 
 large dog attacked the latter, and quickly bore him to 
 the ground ; on which the horse threw back his ears, 
 and, in spite of all efforts of the groom, rushed at the 
 strange dog that was worrying at the greyhound, seized 
 him by the back with his teeth, which speedily made 
 him quit his hold, and shook him till a large piece of 
 skin gave way. The offender no sooner got on his feet, 
 than he judged it prudent to beat a precipitate retreat 
 from so formidable an opponent
 
 210 THE HOESE. 
 
 203. The island of Kriitsand, which is formed by two 
 branches of the Elbe, is frequently under water, when, 
 at the time of the spring- tides, the wind has blown in a 
 direction contrary to that of the current. In April, 
 1796, the water one day rose so rapidly, that the horses 
 which were grazing in the plain, with their foals, sud- 
 denly found themselves standing in deep water, upon 
 which they all set up a loud neighing, and collected 
 themselves together within a small extent of ground. 
 In this assembly they seemed to determine upon the 
 following prudent measure, as the only means of saving 
 their young foals, that were now standing up to the 
 belly in the flood ; in the execution of which some old 
 mares also took a principal part, which could not be 
 supposed to have been influenced by any maternal 
 solicitude for the safety of the young. The method 
 they adopted was this : every two horses took a foal 
 between them, and pressing their sides together, kept 
 it wedged in, and lifted up quite above the surface of 
 the water. All the horned cattle in the vicinity had 
 already set themselves afloat, and were swimming in 
 regular columns towards their homes. But these noble 
 steeds, with undaunted perseverance, remained im- 
 movable under their cherished burdens for the space 
 of six hours, till the tide ebbing, the water subsided, 
 and the foals were at length placed out of danger. The 
 inhabitants, who had rowed to the place in boats, viewed 
 with delight this singular manoeuvre, whereby their 
 valuable foals were-preserved from a destruction other- 
 wise inevitable.
 
 THE HORSE. 211 
 
 204. Even great disparity of kind does not always 
 prevent social advances and mutual fellowship ; for a 
 very intelligent and observant person lias assured me, 
 that, in the former part of his life, keeping but one 
 horse, he happened also on a time to have one solitary 
 hen. These two incongruous animals spent much of 
 their time together in a lonely orchard, where they saw 
 no creatures but each other. By degrees an apparent 
 regard began to take place between these two seques- 
 tered individuals. The fowl would approach the quad- 
 ruped with notes of complacency, rubbing herself 
 quietly against his legs, whilst the horse would look 
 down with satisfaction, and move with the greatest cau- 
 tion and circumspection, lest he should trample on his 
 diminutive companion. Thus, by mutual good offices, 
 each seemed to console the vacant hours of the other ; 
 so that Milton, when he puts the following sentiment 
 in the mouth of Adam, seems somewhat mistaken 
 
 "Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl 
 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape." 
 
 205. Dr. Smith, of the Queen's County Militia, Ireland, 
 had a beautiful hackney, which, although extremely 
 spirited, was at the same time wonderfully docile. He 
 had also a fine Newfoundland dog, named Caesar. These 
 animals were mutually attached, and seemed perfectly 
 acquainted with each other's actions. The dog was 
 always kept in the stable at night, and universally lay 
 beside the horse. When Dr. Smith practised in Dublin, 
 he visited his patients on horseback, and had no other 
 servant to take care of the horse, while in their houses, 
 but Ca3sar, to whom he gave the reins in his mouth. 
 
 2 N
 
 212 THE HOESE. 
 
 The horse stood very quietly, even in that crowded city, 
 beside his friend Caesar. When it happened that the 
 doctor had a patient not far distant from the place 
 where he paid his last visit, he did not think it worth 
 while to remount, but called to his horse and Caesar. 
 They both instantly obeyed, and remained quietly oppo- 
 site the door where he entered, until he came out again. 
 While he remained in Maryborough, Queen's County, 
 where I commanded a detachment, I had many oppor- 
 tunities of witnessing the friendship and sagacity of 
 these intelligent animals. The horse seemed to be as 
 implicitly obedient to his friend Caesar as he could 
 possibly be to his groom. The doctor would go to the 
 stable, accompanied by his dog, put the bridle upon his 
 horse, and giving the reins to Cassar, bid him take the 
 horse to the water. They both understood what was to 
 be done, when off trotted Caesar, followed by the horse, 
 which frisked, capered, and played with the dog all the 
 way to the rivulet, about three hundred yards distant 
 from the stable. We followed at a great distance, 
 always keeping as far off as possible, so that we could 
 observe their manoeuvres. They invariably went to the 
 stream, and after the horse had quenched his thirst, 
 both returned in the same playful manner as they had 
 gone out. The doctor frequently desired Caesar to 
 make the horse leap over this stream, which might be 
 about six feet broad. The dog, by a kind of bark, and 
 leaping up towards the horse's head, intimated to him 
 what he wanted, which was quickly understood, and 
 he cantered off, preceded by Caesar, and took the leap 
 in a neat and regular style. The dog was then desired
 
 THE HOESE. 217 
 
 a great deal of spirit. One day, as he was passing near 
 a town of considerable size which lay on the line of 
 road, the volunteers were at drill on the common ; and 
 the instant that Solus, (for that was the name of the 
 horse) heard the drum, ho leaped the fence, and was 
 speedily at that post in front of the volunteers which 
 would have been occupied by the commanding officer 
 of a regiment on parade or at drill ; nor could the 
 rider by any means get him off the ground until the 
 volunteers retired to the town. As long as they kept 
 the field, the horse took the proper place of a command- 
 ing officer in all their manoeuvres, and he marched at 
 the head of the corps into the town, prancing in 
 military style as cleverly as his stiffened legs would 
 allow him, to the great amusement of the volunteers 
 and spectators, and to the no small annoyance of the 
 clerk, who did not feel very highly honoured by Solus 
 making a colonel of him against his will. 
 
 214. A cart-horse belonging to Mr. Leggat, Gallow- 
 gate-Street, Glasgow, had been several times cured by 
 Mr. Dowiiie, farrier there. He had not, however, been 
 troubled with disease for a considerable time, but on a 
 recurrence of the disorder, he happened one morning 
 to be employed in College-Street, a distance of nearly a 
 mile from Mr. Downie's workshop. Arranged in a row 
 with other horses engaged in the same work, while the 
 carters were absent, he left the range, and unattended 
 by any driver, went down the High-Street, along the 
 Gallowgate, and up a narrow lane, where he stopped at 
 the farrier's door. As neither Mr. Leggat nor any one 
 appeared with the horse, it was surmised that he had
 
 218 THE HOUSE. 
 
 been seized with his old complaint. Being unyoked 
 from the cart, he lay down and showed by every means 
 of which he was capable that he was in distress. He 
 was again treated as usual, and sent home to his master, 
 who had by that time persons in all directions in search 
 of him. 
 
 215. Mr. Astley, junior, of the Royal Amphitheatre, 
 Westminster Bridge, once had in his possession a re 
 markably fine Barbary horse, forty-three years of age, 
 which was presented him by the Duke of Leeds. This 
 celebrated animal for a number of years officiated in 
 the character of a waiter in the course of the per- 
 formances at the amphitheatre, and at Various other 
 theatres in the United Kingdom. At the request of his 
 master, he would ungirth his own saddle, wash his feet 
 in a pail of water, and would also bring into the riding- 
 school a tea-table and its appendages, which feat was 
 usually followed up by fetching a chair, or stool, or what- 
 ever might be wanted. His achievements were generally 
 wound up by his taking a kettle of boiling water from a 
 blazing fire, to the wonder and admiration of the spec- 
 tators. Ray affirms that he has seen a horse that danced 
 to music, which at the command of his master affected 
 to be lame, feigned death, lay motionless with his limbs 
 extended, and allowed himself to be dragged about till 
 some words were pronounced, when he instantly sprang 
 to his feet. Feats of this kind are now indeed common, 
 and must have been witnessed by many of our readers 
 in the circuses of Astley, Ord, Ducrow, and others. 
 Dancing, embracing, lying down to make sport with 
 their keepers, fetching cane and gloves, selecting pecu-
 
 THE HORSE. 219 
 
 liar cards, and many similar performances, are among 
 the expected entertainments of all equestrian exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 2t(5. A few years ago, one of the most attractive of 
 Ducrow's exhibitions was " The Muleteer and his Won- 
 derful Horse." The feats of this pair are pleasantly 
 described in a popular journal, by an individual who 
 witnessed them in 1838 : " The horse," says this writer, 
 ' is a beautiful piebald, perfect almost in mould, and 
 adorned about the neck with little bells. At first, it 
 playfully and trickishly avoids its master when he affects 
 an anxiety to catch it; but when the muleteer averts 
 his head, and assumes the appearance of sullenness, 
 the animal at once stops, and comes up close to his 
 side, as if very penitent for its untimely sportiveness. 
 Its master is pacified, and after caressing it a little, he 
 touches the animal's fore-legs. It stretches them out, 
 and, in doing so, necessarily causes the hind legs to 
 project also. We now see the purpose of these move- 
 ments. The muleteer wishes a seat, and an excellent 
 one he finds upon the horse's protruded hind-legs. A 
 variety of instances of docility similar to this, are exhi- 
 bited by the creature in succession, but its leaping feats 
 appeared to us the most striking of all. Poles are 
 brought into the ring, and the horse clears six of these, 
 one after the other, with a distance of not more than 
 four feet between ! After it has done this, it goes up 
 limping to its master, as if to say, ' See, I can do no 
 more to night !' The muleteer lifts the lame foot, and 
 seems to search for the cause of the halt, but in vain. 
 Still, however, the horse goes on limping. The mule-
 
 220 THE HOUSE. 
 
 teer then looks it in the face, and shakes his head, as if 
 he would say, ' Ah ! you are shamming, you rogue; 
 arn't you?' And a sham it proves to be ; for, at a touch 
 of the whip, the creature bounds off like a fawn, sound 
 both in wind and limb." 
 
 217. One of the earliest equine actors in this country 
 was Banks's celebrated horse " Morocco," alluded to by 
 Shakespeare in Love's Labour Lost, and by other writers 
 of that time. It is stated of this animal that he would 
 restore a glove to its owner after his master had whis- 
 pered the man's name in his ear, arid that he would tell 
 the number of pence in any silver coin. He danced 
 likewise to the sound of a pipe, and told mone}' with his 
 feet. 
 
 218. M. le Gendre mentions similar feats performed 
 by a small horse at the fair of St. Germains in 173'2. 
 Among others which he accomplished with astonishing 
 precision, he could specify, by striking his foot so many 
 times on the ground, the number of marks upon a card 
 which any person present had drawn out of a pack. 
 He could also tell the hour and minute to which the 
 hands of a watch pointed in a similar manner. His 
 master collected a number of coins from different per- 
 sons in the company, mixed them together, and threw 
 them to the horse in a handkerchief. The animal took 
 it in his mouth, and delivered to each person his own 
 piece of money. What is still more wonderful, con- 
 sidering his size, weight, and peculiarity of construction, 
 the horse had been known to pass along the tight-rope. 
 
 219. It is recorded that at the solemnities which 
 attended the wedding of Robert, brother to the king of
 
 THE HOESE. 221 
 
 France ,,in 1237, a horse was ridden along a rope, and 
 that it kept its balance and moved with precision. Our 
 surprise at this rope-dancing faculty may, however, be 
 a little abated, when we learn that the more unwieldy 
 elephant, has actually exhibited the same performance. 
 
 220. In 1794, a gentleman had a horse which, after 
 being kept up in the stable for some time, and turned 
 out into a field where there was a pump well supplied 
 with water, regularly obtained a quantity therefrom by 
 his own dexteiity. For this purpose the animal was 
 observed to take the handle into his mouth, and work 
 it with the head, in a way exactly similar to that done 
 by the hand of man, until a sufficiency was procured. 
 
 221. Again, horses have been taught to go to and 
 from water or pasture by themselves, open the gate, 
 and otherwise to conduct themselves with a propriety 
 almost human. 
 
 222. We have ourselves known a farm boy, who was 
 too small to mount the plough horses, teach one of the 
 team to put down its head to the ground, allow him to 
 get astride its neck, and then, by gently elevating the 
 head, to let him slip backwards to his seat on its back 
 This act we have seen done by the same horse a hun- 
 dred times, and there was no doubt that the animal 
 perfectly understood the wishes of the boy, aud the use 
 of its lowering the head for the purpose of his mounting. 
 
 223. M. de Boussanelle, a captain of cavalry in the 
 regiment of Beauvilliers, mentions that a horse belong- 
 ing to his company being, from age, unable to eat his 
 hay or grind his oats, was fed for two months by two 
 horses on his right and left, who ate with him. These
 
 222 THE HORSE. 
 
 two chargers, drawing the hay out of the racks, chewed 
 it, and put it before the old horse, and did the same 
 with the oats, which he was then able to eat. 
 
 224. In 1828, Mr. Evans of Henfaes, Montgomery- 
 shire, had a favourite pony mare and colt, that grazed 
 in a field adjoining the Severn. One day the pony 
 made her appearance in front of the house, and, by 
 clattering with her feet and other noises, attracted 
 attention. Observing this, a person went out, and she 
 immediately galloped off. Mr. Evans desired that she 
 should be followed ; and all the gates from the house 
 to the field were found to have been forced open. On 
 reaching the field, the pony was found looking into the 
 river, over the spot where the colt was lying drowned. 
 
 225. Foi-rester, the famous racer, had triumphed in 
 many a severe contest; at length, overweighted and 
 overmatched, the rally had commenced. His adversary, 
 who had been waiting behind, was quickly gaining upon 
 him ; he reared, and eventually got abreast : they 
 continued so till within the distance. They Avere 
 parallel ; but the strength of Forrester began to fail. 
 He made a last desperate plunge, seized his opponent 
 by the jaw to hold him back, and it was with great 
 difficulty he could be forced to quit his hold. Forrester, 
 however, lost the race. 
 
 226. In 1753, Mr. Quin had a racer which entered into 
 the spirit of the course as much as his master. One 
 day, finding his rival gradually passing him, he seized 
 him by the legs, and both riders were obliged to dis- 
 mount, in order to separate the infuriated animals, now 
 engaged with each other in most deadly conflict.
 
 THE HOUSE. 223 
 
 227. A friend of mine was one dark night riding home 
 through a wood, and had the misfortune to strike his 
 head against the branch of a tree, and fell from his 
 horse stunned by the blow. The horse immediately 
 returned to the house which they had left, about a mile 
 distant. He found the door closed, and the family gone 
 to bed. He pawed at the door, till one of them, hearing 
 the noise, arose and opened it. and to his surprise saw 
 the horse of his friend. No sooner was the door 
 opened than the horse turned round, and the 'fan sus- 
 pecting there was something wrong, followed the 
 animal, which led him directly tothe spot where his 
 master lay on the ground in a faint. 
 
 228. Equal in point of sagacity with this was the 
 conduct of an old horse belonging to a carter in Strath- 
 miglo, Fifeshire. The carter having a large family, 
 this animal had got particularly intimate with the chil- 
 dren, and would on no account move when they were 
 playing among his feet, as if it feared to do them injuiy. 
 On one occasion, when dragging a loaded cart through a 
 narrow lane near the village, a young child happened to 
 be playing in the road, and would inevitably have been 
 crushed by the wheels, had it not been for the sagacity 
 of this animal. He carefully took it by the clothes with 
 his teeth, carried it for a few yards, and then placed it 
 on a bank by the wayside, moving slowly all the while, 
 and looking back, as if to satisfy himself that the wheels 
 of the cart had cleared it. This animal was one of the 
 most intelligent of his kind, and performed his duties 
 with a steadiness and precision that were perfectly 
 surprising. 
 
 o
 
 224 THE HOESE. 
 
 .'/ 
 
 229. Mr. Pringle, farmer, of Nisbit Hill, rides upon a 
 horse to Dunse railway station, a distance of about two 
 
 miles, and when he dismounts, he orders his horse to 
 
 
 go home, whereupon it turns and walks off" at a slow 
 
 pace. Notwithstanding the cross roads, it finds its way 
 home. 
 
 230. The writer knows a pony that is in the habit of 
 running in the lanes, that can and does open the field 
 gates where it finds a better pasturage than in the 
 lanes. 
 
 2H1. A friend of the writer's was appointed to the sit- 
 uation of district traveller for a Manchester house ; the 
 person he succeeded had been in the habit of taking 
 his glass pretty freely, (for which he was discharged), 
 and his horse for the first three or four rounds, much to 
 the annoyance of my friend, stopped at every house his 
 master had been in the habit of stopping at. 
 
 232. With proper treatment and due care, Shetland 
 ponies become the most docile and fine-tempered animals 
 in the world, but if once they are badly used they soon 
 become as full of tricks and as vicious as a monkey. 
 The only bad habit of which I could never break ours, 
 was opening every gate which hindered his getting out. 
 There was scarcely any common fastening which he 
 could not undo with his teeth, and if he found a weak 
 place in railings, he would push against it till he broke it, 
 and then gallop away for an hour or two where he chose. 
 He also had a peculiar knack of finding out and opening 
 the oak-chest in any stable. When on a marauding 
 excursion of this kind, he knew perfectly well he was 
 doing wrong, and would not let me catch him, although
 
 THE HORSE. 225 
 
 at home he would follow me anywhere, putting his nose 
 into my hand to ask for apples or bread. At all times, 
 however, he allowed any one of the children, particularly 
 my little girl, to catch him, and when caught always 
 came back as quietly. as possible. There was a great 
 deal of fun and conscious roguery in the little fellow's 
 style of mischief, which I could never help laughing at. 
 When idle in his field, nothing seemed to please him 
 so much as a game of romps with any dog who would 
 play with him. When I lived close to Nairn, as soon as 
 ever he heard the horn of the mail-coach, which was 
 blown on its arrival at the inn, he. invariably ran to an 
 elevated part in the field, from which he could see over 
 the wall, and waited there for the mail to pass. As soon 
 as it came opposite his station off he set, galloping 
 round and round the field, with his heels generally 
 higher than his head, and his long mane and tail stream- 
 ing out, evidently showing himself off to obtain the 
 applause of the passengers, to whom he seemed to afford 
 daily amusement, as every head was turned back to see 
 him as long as they possibly could. 
 
 233. There is an interesting fact related of the hero 
 of Poland, indicative of his customary practice of alms- 
 giving. Wishing to convey a present to a clerical friend, 
 he gave the commission to a young man of the name of 
 Jelmer, desiring him to take the horse he usually rode. 
 On his return, the messenger informed Kosciusko that 
 he would never again ride his horse, unless he gave 
 him his purse at the same time ; and on the latter en- 
 quiring what he meant, he replied : " As soon as a poor 
 man on the road takes of his hat and asks charity, the
 
 826 THE HOESE. 
 
 animal immediately stands still, and will not stir till 
 something is bestowed upon the petitioner; and as I 
 had no money about me, I had to feign giving in order 
 to satisfy the horse, and induce him to proceed." 
 
 234. Every one knows the esprit de corps the horse 
 displays in following the hounds, but whether this arises 
 from an innate love of the chace, or from the communi- 
 cation to him of the spirit that he perceives to be actu- 
 ating his rider and others about him, we cannot tell ; 
 something of the same feeling actuates him in other 
 acquired habits, and Colonel Smith has related the 
 following affecting instance of attachment either to the 
 men who had been his companions, or the habits he 
 had acquired, in a charger which had been the property 
 of General Sir Robei't Gillespie. When he fell at the 
 storming of Kalunga, his favourite black charger, bred 
 at the Cape of Good Hope, and carried by him to India, 
 was, at the sale of his effects, competed for by several 
 officers of his division, and finally knocked down to the 
 privates of the 8th dragoons, who contributed their 
 prize money, to the amount of .500. sterling, to retain 
 this commemoration of their late commander. Thus 
 the charger was always led at the head of the regiment 
 on a march, and at the station of Cawnpore was usually 
 indulged with taking his ancient post at the colour 
 stand, where the salute of passing squadrons was given 
 at drill and on reviews. When the regiment was ordered 
 home, the funds of the privates remaining low, he was 
 bought for the same sum by a relative of ours, who pro 
 vided funds and a paddock for him, Avhere he might 
 end his days in comfort ; but when the corps ' had
 
 THE HORSE. 227 
 
 marched, and the sound of the trumpet had departed, 
 he refused to eat ; and on the first opportunity, being 
 led out to exercise, he broke from his groom, and 
 galloping to his ancient station on the parade, after 
 neighing aloud, dropped down and died. 
 
 25. A horse in the depot at Woolwich had proved so 
 unmanageable to the rough-riders, that, at length, no 
 one among them durst even venture to mount him. His 
 mode of throwing or dismounting his rider consisted in 
 lying down and rolling over him, or else crushing his 
 leg against some wall, or post, or paling. All means to 
 break him of these perilous tricks proving unavailing, 
 the animal was brought before the commanding officer, 
 with the character of being " incurably vicious," and 
 with a recommendation, on that account, that he should 
 be " cast," and sold out of his majesty's service. Colonel 
 Quest, hearing of this, and knowing the horse to be 
 thorough-bred, and one of the best actioned and cleverest 
 horses in the regiment, besought the commanding officer 
 to permit him to be transferred into the riding troop. 
 This was consented to, and the transfer was no sooner 
 accomplished, than Colonel Quest determined to pursue 
 a system of management directly opposite to that which 
 had been already attempted. He had him led daily 
 into the riding-school suffered no whip ever to be 
 shown to him while there, but patted him and tried to 
 make him execute this and the other manoeuvre; and as 
 afterwards he proved obedient, rewarded him with a 
 handful of corn or beans, or a piece of bread, with which 
 bribes his pockets were invariably well supplied. In 
 this manner, and in no great distance of time, was the
 
 228 THE HORSE. 
 
 rebel not only subdued and tamed, but rendered so 
 perfectly quiet that a little child could ride him. He 
 became at length taught to kneel down while his rider 
 mounted, and to perform various evolutions, dances, and 
 tricks in the manger, which no other horse in the school 
 could be brought to do. In fine, so great a favourite 
 did be become, that his master gave him the appellation 
 of " The Darling." 
 
 236. A gentleman who was in possession of an ex- 
 ceedingly vicious hunter, happened to be relating some 
 of his bad propensities, to a party of friends at dinner, 
 and among these he mentioned the difficulty there was 
 in trimming his heels. It was never to be accomplished 
 without the aid of several assistants, and even then was 
 attended with great difficulty and danger. During this 
 conversation, in which he defied any of his friends to 
 perform the task, he had forgotten that his youngest 
 child, a boy of about three years of age, was present. 
 This juvenile Nirnrod had been by no means the in- 
 attentive observer which might have been expected 
 from his tender years, for on the next morning in 
 passing through the stable, the father descried to his 
 unspeakable horror, his infant busily employed with a 
 pair of scissors clipping the heels of this outrageous 
 brute. The horse instead of exhibiting his usual 
 determined resistance to the operation, was looking 
 round with the greatest complacency on his pigmy 
 groom, whom the parent expected to see struck dead at 
 his feet. At his father's call, however, he crept away 
 from the animal altogether unharmed. No money 
 would have bought this noble creature from the
 
 THE HOESE. 229 
 
 delighted father. Soon afterwards, when returning 
 from a party in which he had been too liberal in his 
 potations, he slipped from his saddle, and falling 
 tolerably easily, went comfortably to sleep on the road 
 side. This faithful fellow, instead of scampering home, 
 stood by his prostrate master ; and by threatening with 
 his teeth and with his heels, kept every one from him 
 until he had regained sufficient sense once more to 
 seat himself in the saddle, and proceed home. 
 
 237. The tameness of animals on Sundays, in 
 countries where the day is strictly observed, as contrast- 
 ed with their comparative wildness on other days, is, I 
 think, so remarkable as scarcely to admit of a doubt, 
 As it can scarcely be imagined that their instinct can 
 lead them to mark the regular recurrence of the day, 
 and their immunity during it from pursuit and danger, 
 it must probably be accounted for by the fact that, 
 labour being suspended, a general stillness pervades 
 the country, insensibly conveying to their minds a 
 sense of security. Domestic animals, however, and 
 those particularly which are most closely associated 
 with us, and as it were/orm part of our families, become, 
 I am persuaded, perfectly aware of the regular advent 
 of Sunday, and not unfrequently shew that this is the 
 case, by voluntarily adapting themselves to the require- 
 ments of the day. There would probably be no difficulty 
 in collecting a sufficiency of instances in support of this 
 theory to establish it, but I will just mention the 
 following which happens to occur to me. The carriage- 
 horses of a friend of mine, were accustomed on week- 
 days to take their mistress out for an early drive before
 
 230 THE HORSE. 
 
 luncheon, while on the Sundays they enjoyed a perfect 
 rest. On the week-days, they never thought of lying 
 down in the morning before the time they usually went 
 out, but on Sunday mornings they invarinbjy did so, as 
 if determined to make the most of their day's rest. I 
 supposed that they might have been induced to do this 
 in consequence of their beds being made up earlier on 
 those days, or of some other departure from the usual 
 routine of the stable arrangements, but I was told that 
 no variation of the kind was ever made. 
 
 238. The following is an instance of retentiveness of 
 memory in a horse. I was the happy owner of a grey 
 pony, when stationed at Ferozepore, in 1841. In Novem- 
 ber of that year I left that station, accompanied by my 
 gallant grey, and was absent in Afghanistan fourteen 
 months. On my return, I galloped into the station by 
 the road in which I knew my bungalow was situated, 
 and looked about, trying to recognise the place, but 
 owing to additions to the house, and alterations in the 
 garden and neighbouring houses and grounds, I failed 
 in the effort. Not so my pony, who, whilst I was staring 
 about at the many new houses .which had been built, 
 and at the increase of the place in one year, very nearly 
 unshipped me by turning sharply into the accustomed 
 gateway which stood invitingly open. 
 
 239. Their friendships are sometimes incongruous; 
 and so are the friendships of man. The opposites in 
 temper and pursuits occasionally associate with and 
 love each other; and the very opposition of character 
 now and then constitutes the bond of friendship. 
 O'Kelly's Duncannon formed an intense friendship
 
 THE HORSE. 231 
 
 \vitli a sheep. He would lift it into the manger to 
 share his fodder, and would suffer no one to offer it 
 the least molestation. Chillaby, the mad Arabian, 
 whom only one groom dared to approach, had also his 
 peculiar attachment for a lamb ; and the little protege 
 used to employ itself during many an hour in batting 
 away the flies from his nobler friend. The Darley 
 Arabian imbibed a friendship for a cat, which sat upon 
 his back, or nestled as closely to him as she could ; 
 and when he died, she pined away and died too. A 
 farmer's boy had fed and taken great care of a colt. 
 He was working one day in the field, when he was 
 furiously pursued by a vicious bull. The boy ran to a 
 ditch, and got into it just as the bull was close upon 
 him. The furious beast endeavoured to gore him, and 
 would probably have succeeded, had not the colt come 
 to his assistance. This little animal attacked the bull, 
 screaming with rage as he did it, when some labourers 
 who were working near the place, hearing the strange 
 outcry, ran to see what was the matter, and extricated 
 the boy from danger. 
 
 240. During the past week a horse belonging to Mr. 
 Jeffcoat, farmer, of Bishop's Itchington, was taken with, 
 another to work upon the farm. The ground was very 
 slippery, and on becoming disengaged from the team, 
 it immediately made for the village blacksmith's shop, 
 no doubt Avith a view of being " roughed," and this 
 operation having been performed', the animal returned 
 home unattended. 
 
 241. Among the incidents current, is a singular in- 
 stance of sagacity evinced by a pony in the pit at the 
 
 2 o
 
 232 THE HORSE. 
 
 time of the explosion. This little animal, which stands 
 only three feet and a few inches in height, was employed 
 by the stonemasons, and was driven by a boy of the 
 name of Proud. After the shock of the explosion, the 
 boy was found clinging to its neck, and on his being 
 taken away by the escaping party, the pony followed 
 them, but on a new difficulty presenting itself which 
 necessitated the men and boys to crawl, it was thought 
 that the pony must be left behind. From the almost 
 human whining of the diminutive creature, however, the 
 boy was induced to put his handkerchief around his 
 neck, and assist to drag it forward. On his getting into 
 the cage his little charge followed him also, and was 
 with him drawn safely to the bank. 
 
 242. M. Arnauld, in his History of Animals, relates 
 the following incident of ferocious courage in a mule. 
 This animal belonged to a. gentleman in Florence, and 
 became so vicious and refractory, that he not only re- 
 fused to submit to any kind of labour, but actually 
 attacked with his heels and teeth those who attempted 
 to compel him. Wearied with such conduct, his master 
 resolved to make away with him, by exposing him to 
 , the wild beasts in the menagerie of the grand duke. 
 For this purpose he was first placed in the dens of the 
 hyenas and tigers, all of whom he would have soon de- 
 stroyed, had he not been speedly removed. At last he 
 was handed over to the lion, but the mule, instead of 
 exhibiting any symptoms of alarm, quietly receded to a 
 corner, keeping his front opposed to his adversary. 
 Once planted in the corner, he resolutely kept his place, 
 eyeing every movement of the lion, which was preparing
 
 THE HORSE. 233 
 
 to spring upon him. The lion, however, perceiving the 
 difficulty of an attack, practised all his wiles to throw 
 the mule off his guard, but in vain. At length the 
 latter peceiving an opportunity, made a sudden rush 
 upon the lion, and in an instant broke several of his 
 teeth by the stroke of his fore-feet. The "king of the 
 animals," as he had been called, finding that he had got 
 quite enough of the combat, slunk grumbling to his 
 cage, and left the hardy mule master of the battle.
 
 234 
 
 THE ASS. 
 
 To him who in the love of nature holds 
 Communion with her visible forms, she speaks 
 A various language ; for his gayer hours 
 She has a voice of gladness, and a smile 
 And eloquence of beauty, and she glides 
 Into his darker musings, with a mild 
 And healing sympathy, that steals away 
 Their sharpness, ere he is aware. BETANT. 
 
 243. An old man, who a few years ago sold vegetables 
 in London, used in his employment an ass, which con- 
 veyed his baskets from door to door. Frequently he 
 gave the poor industrious creature a handful of hay, or 
 a piece of bread, or greens, by way of refreshment and 
 reward. He had no need of any goad for the animal, 
 and seldom indeed had he to lift up his hand to drive it 
 on. His kind treatment was one day remarked to him, 
 and he was asked whether his beast were apt to be stub- 
 born. " Ah ! master," replied he, " it is of no use to be 
 cruel, and as for stubbornness, I cannot complain; for 
 he is ready to do anything, and go anywhere. I bred 
 him myself. He is sometimes skittish and playful, and 
 once ran away from me ; you will hardly believe it, but 
 there were more than fifty people after him, yet he 
 turned back of himself, and never stopped till he ran 
 his head kindlv into my bosom."
 
 THE ASS. 235 
 
 ?44. At Sal wall, in 1825, an ass was ferociously attacked 
 by a bull-dog ; but the poor animal defended himself so 
 gallantly with his heels keeping his rear always pre- 
 sented to his assailant that the dog was unable to fix 
 on him. He at length turned rapidly round on his 
 adversary, and caught hold of him with his teeth in such 
 a manner that the dog was unable to retaliate. Here 
 the dog howled most repentantly, and one Avould have 
 thought that the ass would have dismissed him with 
 this punishment; but no : he dragged the enemy to the 
 river Derwent, into which he put him over the head, and 
 lying down upon him, kept him under water till he was 
 drowned. 
 
 245. In 1816, an ass belonging to Captain Dundas, 
 then at Malta, was shipped on board the Ister frigate, 
 bound from Gibraltar to that island. The vessel struck 
 on a sand-bank off Cape de Gat, and the ass was thrown 
 overboard, in the hope that it might be able to swim to 
 land, of which, however, there seemed little chance, for 
 the sea was running so high, that a boat which left the 
 ship was lost. A few days after, when the gates of 
 Gibraltar were opened in the morning, the guard was 
 surprised by the ass presenting himself for admittance. 
 On entering, he proceeded immediately to the stable of 
 his former master. The poor animal had not only swam 
 safely to shore, but, without guide, compass, or travelling 
 map, had found his way from Cape de Gat to Gibraltar, 
 a d: stance of more than two hundred miles through 
 a mountainous and intricate country, intersected by 
 streams, which he had never traversed before, and in so 
 short a time that he could not have made one false turn.
 
 THE CAT. 
 
 -f-JM- 
 
 Go, from the creatures thy instructions take ; 
 
 Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield ; 
 
 Learn from the beasts, the physic of the field : 
 
 The arts of building from the bee receive ; 
 
 Learn of the mole to plow, the worm to weave ; 
 
 Learn of the little Nautilus to sail, 
 
 Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale. POPE. 
 
 246. A gentleman in the neigbourhood of London had 
 a tortoise-shell cat, which, though he never fed it, or 
 paid much attention to it, formed an attachment for 
 him equal to that of a dog. It knew his ring at the 
 bell, and at whatever time he came home, it was rubbing 
 against his legs long before the servant came, saw him 
 into the sitting room, and then walked off. It was a 
 very active animal, and usually went bird-catching 
 during the night ; and when its master rose, which was 
 generally early in the morning, the cat was always 
 ready to receive him at the door of his room, and accom- 
 panied him in his morning walk in tho garden, alter- 
 nately skipping to the tops of the trees, and descending 
 and gambolling about him. When he was in his study, 
 it used to pay him several visits in the day, always 
 short ones ; but it never retired till he had recognised 
 it. If rubbing against his legs had not the desired
 
 THE CAT. 237 
 
 effect, it would mount the writing-table, nudge his shoul- 
 der, and if that would not do, pat him on the cheek ; 
 but the moment he had shaken it by the paw, and given 
 it a pat or two on the head, it walked oft'. When he \vas 
 indisposed, it paid him several visits every day, but 
 never continued in the room ; and although it was fond 
 of society generally, and also of its food, it never ob- 
 truded its company during meals. Its attachment was 
 thus quite disinterested, and no pains whatever had 
 been taken to train it. 
 
 2-i7. When M Sonnini was in Egypt, he had an Angora 
 cat, which remained in his possession for a long time. 
 This animal was one of the most beautiful of its kind, 
 and equally attractive in its manners and dispositions. 
 In Sonnini's solitary moments, she chiefly kept by his 
 side ; she interrupted him frequently in the midst of 
 his labours or meditations, by little affecting caresses, 
 and generally followed him in his walks. During his 
 absence, she sought and called for him incessantly, with 
 the utmost inquietude ; and if it were long before he 
 re-appeared, she would quit his apartment, and attach 
 herself to the person of the house where he lived, for 
 Avhom, next to himself, she entertained the greatest 
 affection. She recognised his voice at a distance, and 
 seemed on each fresh meeting with him to feel increased 
 satisfaction. Her gait was frank, and her look as gentle 
 as her character. She possessed, in a word, the dispo- 
 sition of the most amiable dog beneath the brilliant fur 
 of a cat. " This animal," says M. Sonnini, " was my 
 principal amusement for several years. How was the 
 expression of her attachment depicted'upon her coun-
 
 238 THE CAT. 
 
 tenance ! How many times have her tender caresses 
 made me forget my troubles, and consoled me in my 
 misfortunes ! My beautiful and interesting companion 
 at length perished. After several days of suffering, 
 during which I never forsook her, her eyes, constantly 
 fixed on me, were at length extinguished ; and her loss 
 rent my heart with sorrow." 
 
 248. I remember, says a female correspondent, there 
 was a cat with her kittens found in a hole in the 
 wall, in the garden of the house Avhere my father-in-law 
 lived. One of the kittens, being a very beautiful black 
 one, was brought into the house, and almost imme- 
 diately attached himself in a very extraordinary way to 
 me. I was in mourning at the time, and perhaps the 
 similarity of the hue of my dress to his sable fur might 
 first have attracted him ; but however this may have 
 been, whenever lie came into the room he constantly 
 jumped into my lap, and evinced his fondness by pur- 
 ring and rubbing his head against me in a very coaxing 
 manner. He continued thus to distinguish me during 
 the rest of his life, and though I went with my father- 
 in-law's family every winter to Dublin, and every sum- 
 mer to the country, the change of abode (to which cats 
 are supposed so averse) never troubled my favourite, 
 provided he could be with me. Frequently, when we 
 have been walking home after spending the evening 
 out, he has come running down half the street to meet 
 us, testifying the greatest delight. On one occasion, 
 when I had an illness which confined me for upwards of 
 two months to my room, poor Lee Boo deserted the 
 parlour altogether, though he had been always patted
 
 THE CAT. 239 
 
 And caressed by every one there. He would sit for 
 hours mewing disconsolately at ray door, and when he 
 could, he would steal in, jump upon the bed, testifying 
 his joy at seeing me by loud purring and coaxing, and 
 sometimes licked my hand. The very day I went down, 
 he resumed his regular attendance in the parlour. 
 
 249. Madame Helvetius had a favourite cat, which con- 
 stantly lay at her feet, seemingly always ready to defend 
 her. It never molested the birds which its mistress 
 kept ; it would not take food from any hand save hers ; 
 and would not allow any one else to caress it. At the 
 death of his mistress, the poor cat was removed from 
 her chamber, but it made its way there the next morn- 
 ing, went on the bed, sat upon her chair, slowty and 
 mournfully paced over her toilet, and cried most pite- 
 ously, as if lamenting his poor mistress. After her 
 funeral, it was found stretched on her grave, apparently 
 having died from excess of grief. 
 
 250. In the summer of 1800, a physician of Lyons 
 was requested to inquire into a murder that had been 
 committed on a woman of that city. He accordingly 
 went to the residence of the deceased, where he found 
 her extended lifeless on the lloor, and weltering in her 
 bloocl. A large white cat was mounted on the cornice 
 of a cupboard, at the farther end of the apartment, 
 where he seemed to have taken refuge. He sat motion- 
 less, with his eyes fixed on the corpse, and his attitude 
 and looks expressing horror and affright. The follow- 
 ing morning he was found in the same station and 
 attitude; and when the room was filled with the officers 
 of justice, neither the clattering of the soldiers' arms, nor
 
 240 THE CAT. 
 
 the loud conversation of the company, could in the least 
 degree divert his attention As soon, however, as the 
 suspected persons were brought in, his eyes glared with 
 increased fury ; his hair bristled ; he darted into the 
 middle of the apartment, where he stopped for a mo- 
 ment to gaze at them, and then precipitately retreated. 
 The countenances of the assassins were disconcerted ; 
 and they now, for the first time during the whole course 
 of the horrid business, felt their atrocious audacity 
 forsake them. 
 
 251. A cat had kittens, to which she frequently carried 
 mice and other small animals for food, and among the 
 rest she is supposed to have carried a young rat. The 
 kittens, probably not being hungry, played with it ; and 
 when the cat gave suck to them, the rat likewise sucked 
 her* This having been observed by some of the servants, 
 Mr. Greenfield had the kittens and rat brought down 
 stairs, and put on the floor; and in carrying them off, 
 the cat was remarked to convey away the young rat as 
 tenderly as she did any of the kittens. This experiment 
 was repeated as often as any company came to the 
 house, till great numbers had become eye-witnesses of 
 the preternatural affection. 
 
 252. A little black spaniel had five puppies, which 
 were considered too many for her to bring up. As, 
 however, the breed was much in request, her mistress 
 was unwilling that any of them should be destroyed, 
 and she asked the cook whether she thought it would 
 be possible to bring a portion of them up by hand before 
 the kitchen fire. In reply, the cook observed that 
 the cat had that day kittened, and that, perhaps, the
 
 THE CAT. 241 
 
 puppies might be substituted. The cat made no objec- 
 tion, took to them kindly, and gradually all the kittens 
 were taken away, and the cat nursed the two puppies 
 only. Now, the first curious fact was, that the two 
 puppies nursed by the cat were, in a fortnight, as active, 
 forward, and playful as kittens would have been : they 
 had the use oi their legs, barked, and gambolled about; 
 while the other three, nursed by the mother, were 
 whining and rolling about like fat slugs. The cat gave 
 them her tail to play with, and they were always in 
 motion ; they soon ate meat, and, long before the others, 
 they were fit to be removed. This was done, and the 
 cat became very inconsolable. She prowled about the 
 house, and on the second day of tribulation fell in with 
 the little spaniel who was nursing the three other pup- 
 pies. " Oh," says Puss, putting up her back, "it is you 
 who have stolen my children." " No," replied the spaniel 
 with a snarl; "they are my own flesh and blood." "That 
 won't do," said the cat; " I'll take my affidavit before any 
 justice of the peace that you have my two puppies." 
 Thereupon issue was joined; that is to say, there was a 
 desperate combat, which ended in the defeat of the 
 spaniel, and in the cat walking off proudly with one of 
 the puppies, which she took to her own bed. Having 
 deposited this one, she returned, fought again, gained 
 another victory, and redeemed another puppy. Now, 
 it is very singular that she should have only taken two, 
 the exact number she had been deprived of. 
 
 253. We have at present a cat, who has formed a very 
 warm friendship with a large Newfoundland dog. She 
 is constantly caressing him, advances in all haste to
 
 242 THE CAT. 
 
 him when he comes in, with her tail erect, then ruba 
 her head against him, and purrs delightedly. When he 
 lies before the kitchen fire, she uses him as a bed, 
 pulling up and settling his hair with her claws to make 
 it comfortable. As soon as she has arranged it to her 
 liking, she lies down and composes herself to sleep, 
 generally purring till she is no longer awake; and they 
 often lie thus for an hour at a time. Poor Wallace 
 bears this rough combing of his locks with the most 
 patient placidity, turning his head towards her during 
 the operation, arid merely giving her a benevolent look, 
 or gently licking her. 
 
 254. I was on a visit to a friend last summer, who 
 had a favourite cat and dog, which lived together on 
 the best possible terms, eating from the same plate, 
 and sleeping on the same rug. Puss had a young 
 family while I was at the park, and Pincher paid a 
 daily visit to the kittens, whose nursery was at the top 
 of the house. One morning there was a tremendous 
 storm of thunder and lightning ; Pincher was in the 
 drawing-room, and the cat was attending her family 
 in the garret. Pincher seemed to be considerably 
 annoyed by the vivid flashes of lightning which con- 
 tinually startled him, and just as he had crept close 
 to my feet, some one entered the drawing-room, 
 followed by puss, who walked in with a disturbed air, 
 and mewing with all her might. She came up to 
 Pincher, rubbed her face against his cheek, touched 
 him gently with her paw, and then walked to the door; 
 stopped, looked back, mewed all of which said, as 
 plainly as words conld have done, " Come with me,
 
 THE CAT. 243 
 
 Pinclier ; " but Pincher was too much frightened him- 
 self to give any consolation to her, and took no notice 
 of the invitation. The cat then returned and renewed 
 her application with increased energy, but the dog was 
 immoveable, though it was evident that he understood 
 her meaning, for he turned away his head with a half- 
 conscious look, and crept still closer to me ; and puss 
 finding all her entreaties unavailing, then left the room. 
 Soon after this, her mewing became so piteous that I 
 could no longer resist going to see what was the matter. 
 I met the cat at the top of the stairs, close to the door 
 of my sleeping apartment. She ran to me, rubbed 
 herself against me, and then went into the room, and 
 crept under the wardrobe. I then heard two voices, 
 and discovered that she had brought down one of her 
 kittens, and lodged it there for safety ; but her fears 
 and cares being so divided between the kittens above, 
 and this little one below, I suppose she wanted Pincher 
 to watch by this one while she went for the others, for 
 having confided it to my protection, she hastened up 
 stairs. I followed her with my young charge, placed it 
 beside her, and moved their little bed farther from the 
 window, through which the lightning had flashed so 
 vividly as to alarm poor p.usa for the safety of her 
 family. I remained there till the storm had subsided, 
 and all was again calm. On the following morning, 
 much to my surprise, I found her waiting for me at the 
 door of my apartment. She accompanied me down to 
 breakfast, sat by me, and caressed me in every possible 
 way. She had always been in the habit of going down 
 to breakfast with the lady of the house, but on this 
 p
 
 244 THE CAT. 
 
 morning she had resisted all her coaxing to leave my 
 door, and would not move a step till I made my 
 appearance. She went to the breakfast-room with me, 
 and remained, as 1 have mentioned, until breakfast 
 was over, and then went up stairs to her family. She 
 had never done this before, and never did it again : she 
 had shown her gratitude for my care of her little ones, 
 and her duty was done. 
 
 255. A cat who had a numerous brood of kittens, one 
 sunny day in spring encouraged her little ones to 
 frolic in the vernal beams of noon about the stable- 
 door, While she was joining them in a thousand 
 sportive tricks and gambols, they were discovered by a 
 large hawk, who was sailing above the barn-yard in 
 expectation of prey. In a moment, swift as lightning, 
 the hawk darted upon one of the kittens, and had as 
 quickly borne it off but for the courageous mother, who, 
 seeing the danger of her offspring, flew on the common 
 enemy, who, to defend itself, let fall the prize. The battle 
 presently became seemingly dreadful to both parties ; 
 for the hawk, by the power of his wings, the sharpness 
 of his talons, and the keenness of his beak, had for 
 awhile the advantage, cruelly lacerating the poor cat, 
 and had actually deprived her of one eye in the 
 conflict ; but puss, no way daunted by this accident, 
 strove with all her cunning and agility for her little 
 ones, till she had broken the wing of her adversaiy. 
 In this state she got him more within the power of 
 her claws, the hawk still defending himself apparently 
 with additional vigour ; and the fight continued with 
 equal fury on the side of grimalkin, to the great
 
 THE CAT. 245 
 
 entertainment of many spectators. At length victoiy 
 seemed to favour the nearly exhausted mother, and she 
 availed herself of the advantage ; for by instantaneous 
 exertion she laid the hawk motionless beneath her 
 feet, and, as if exulting in the victoiy, tore off the head 
 of the vanquished tyrant. Disregarding the loss of 
 her eye, she immediately ran to the bleeding kitten, 
 licked the wounds inflicted by the hawk's talons on its 
 tender sides, purring while she caressed her liberated 
 offspring with the same maternal affection as if no 
 danger had assailed them or their affectionate parent. 
 
 256. A friend of Dr. Darwin's saw a cat catch a trout, 
 by darting upon it in deep clear water, at the mill at 
 "Weaford, near Litchfield. The animal belonged to a 
 Mrs. Stanley, who had frequently seen her catch fish 
 in the summer, when the mill-pool was drawn so low 
 that the fish could be seen. 
 
 257. A favourite tabby belonging to a shipmaster was 
 left on shore by accident while his vessel sailed from 
 the harbour of Aberdour, Fifeshire, which is about half 
 a mile from the village. The vessel was about a month 
 absent, and on her return, to the astonishment of the 
 shipmaster, puss came on board with a fine stout kitten 
 in her mouth, apparently about three weeks old, and 
 went directly down into the cabin. Two others of her 
 young ones were afterwards caught quite wild in a 
 neighbouring wood, where she must have remained 
 with them till the return of the vessel. The ship- 
 master did not allow her again to go on shore, 
 otherwise it is probable she would have brought the 
 whole litter on board- What makes this the more
 
 246 THE CAT. 
 
 remarkable is, that vessels were daily entering and 
 leaving the harbour, none of which she ever thought 
 of visiting till the one she had left returned. 
 
 258. We have a cat who was a very wild character, 
 often committing depredations in the larder, destroying 
 our young pigeons, and making great havoc among the 
 birds. He was considered so lawless, that, after a 
 consultation on what was best to be done, a decree of 
 banishment was issued against him, and he was sent 
 in a thick linen bag to a cottage at about two miles 
 distance, where he was offered shelter, as he was an 
 expert mouser. We thought we should never see Mr. 
 Tibb again, but found ourselves quite mistaken, for 
 late one evening, about three weeks after, he walked 
 into the kitchen, and greeted every one so kindly, that 
 he met with a more favourable reception than his 
 previous conduct could have warranted him in expect- 
 ing. Whether he has repented of his late misconduct, 
 whether he is conscious that it was the cause of his 
 banishment, or whether he has passed through scenes 
 which have broken his daring spirit, we cannot say ; 
 but all his bad habits are actually conquered, and he is 
 now quite a pattern of domestic propriety. 
 
 259. Still more extraordinary is the instance related 
 by a gentleman who removed his establishment from 
 the county of Sligo to near Dublin, a distance of not 
 less than ninety miles. When about to change his 
 residence, he and his children regretted very much 
 being obliged to leave a favourite cat behind them, 
 which had endeared itself to them by its docility and 
 affection. This gentleman had not been many days
 
 THE CAT. 247 
 
 settled in his new abode, when one evening, as the 
 family were sitting chatting after tea, the servant came 
 in, followed by a cat so precisely like the one left 
 behind, that all the family repeated his name at once. 
 The creature testified great joy in his own way' at the 
 meeting. He was closely examined, and no difference 
 whatever was discernible between the cat in Sligo and 
 that now beside them. Still, it was difficult to believe 
 it was their poor pet ; for how could he have travelled 
 after them; or how could he have found them out? 
 And yet the exact resemblance, and the satisfaction 
 which the poor animal evinced as he walked about, 
 seemingly in all the confidence of being among his 
 friends, with his tail erect, and purring with pleasure, 
 left but little doubt upon their minds that this was 
 indeed their own cat. The gentleman took him upon 
 his lap, and examining him closely, found that his 
 claws were actually worn down, which at once con- 
 vinced him that poor puss had really travelled the 
 whole of the ninety miles' journey. 
 
 260. A friend of mine possessed a cat and a dog, 
 which, not being able to live together in peace, had 
 several contentious struggles for the mastery ; and in 
 the end the dog so completely prevailed, that the cat was 
 driven away and forced to seek shelter elsewhere. 
 Several months elapsed, during which the dog alone 
 possessed the house. At length, however, he was 
 poisoned by a female servant, whose nocturnal visitors 
 he had too often betrayed, and was soon afterwards 
 carried out lifeless into the court before the door. The 
 cat, from a neighbouring roof, was observed to watch 
 2 P
 
 248 THE CAT. 
 
 the motions of several persons who went up to look at 
 him, and when all were retired, he descended and 
 crept with some degree of caution into the place. He 
 soon ventured to approach, and after having frequently 
 patted the dog with his paw, appeared perfectly sensible 
 that his late quarrelsome companion could no more 
 insult him, and from that time he quietly returned to 
 his former residence and habits. 
 
 261. A cat frequented a closet, the door of which was 
 fastened by a common iron latch. A window was 
 situated near the door. When the door was shut, the 
 cat gave herself no uneasiness ; for so soon as she was 
 tired of her confinement she mounted on the sill of the 
 window, and with her paws dexterously lifted the latch 
 and came out. This practice she continued for 
 years. 
 
 262. We might instance cases in which the reasoning 
 process appears to be exhibited ; but let the following, 
 related by Dr. Smellie, in which ingenuity of performance 
 was combined with sagacity, suffice. A cat frequented 
 a closet, the door of which was fastened by a common 
 iron latch ; a window was situated near the door : when 
 the door was shut, the cat gave herself no uneasiness, 
 for as soon as she was tired of her confinement she 
 mounted on the sill of the window, and with her paws 
 dexterously lifted the latch and came out. This practice 
 she continued for years. Many instances of the kind 
 are upon record ; let one, however, suffice of a cat, 
 who having been neglected at the regular dinner hour, 
 which was usually announced by the ringing of the bell, 
 would agitate the bell-wire.
 
 THE CAT. 249 
 
 263. In a cloister in France, where the hours of meals 
 were announced by the ringing of a bell, a cat was 
 always in attendance as soon as it was heard, that she, 
 too, according to custom, might be fed. One day it 
 happened that Puss was shut up in a room by herself 
 when the bell rang, so she was not able to avail herself 
 of the summons. Some hours after she was let out, 
 and instantly ran to the spot where dinner was always 
 left for her, but no dinner was to be found. In the 
 afternoon the bell was heard ringing at an unusual 
 hour ; when the inmates of the cloister came to see 
 what was the cause of it, they found the cat clinging to 
 the bell-rope, and setting it in motion as well as she 
 was able, in order that she might have her dinner 
 served up to her. In this instance the cat must have 
 been in the habit of observing what went forward, and 
 was therefore led to associate the ringing of the bell 
 with the serving up of dinner; and feeling the want of 
 her meal, very naturally applied herself to perform the 
 act which had already preceded its appearance. 
 
 264. An Angora cat belonging to the Charter-house 
 of Paris, having observed that the cook always left the 
 kitchen upon the ringing of a certain bell, and thus 
 left the coast clear for his depredations, soon acquired 
 the art of pulling the bell, and during the cook's 
 absence regularly made off with some of the delicacies 
 which were left unprotected. This trick he repeated at 
 intervals for several weeks, till one day he was detected 
 by a person who was placed in wait for the purloiner, 
 
 205. There was a lady who lived at Potsdam with 
 her children, one of whom ran a splinter into her
 
 250 THE CAT, 
 
 foot, which caused her to scream out most violently. 
 At first her cries were disregarded, and supposed to 
 proceed from crossness ; but at length the eldest 
 sister, who had been asleep, was awakened by the 
 screams, and as she was just getting up to quiet the 
 child, she observed a favourite cat, with whom they 
 were wont to play, and who was of a remarkably gentle 
 disposition, leave its seat under the stove, go to the 
 crying girl, and give her such a smart blow on the 
 cheek with one of its paws, as to draw blood. After 
 this the animal walked back with the greatest com- 
 posure and gravity to its place, as if satisfied with 
 having chastised the child for crying, and with the 
 hope of indulging in a comfortable nap. No doubt it 
 had often seen the child punished for crossness, and 
 as there was no one near to administer correction, puss 
 had determined to take the law into her own hand. 
 
 26(5 A cat having kittened between the tiles and roof 
 of an out-house, at Earley Court, in August 1835, was a 
 short time afterwards accidentally killed, and two out 
 of the three of her kittens were caught in a trap placed 
 there for that purpose ; the third, however, remained in 
 its hiding place eluding all attempts to catch it, when, 
 to prevent its being starved, as it was too young to feed 
 itself, a sort of platform was fixed against the tiles, and 
 food and milk placed within its reach. It so happened 
 that a brood of chickens was in the habit of attending 
 the spot near the kitten's quarters, who by degrees 
 approached them, at first with great timidity, but at 
 last, bolder grown, it ventured to lie down amongst 
 them, while they were seeking their food, and follow-
 
 , THE CAT. 251 
 
 ing wherever they went. It was very amusing and 
 curious to see the kitten soon, instead of following, 
 leading its forces, consisting of about twenty hens, 
 chickens, &c., about the grounds, sometimes catching 
 at their feet, as if going to bite them, and they pecking 
 at the kitten in return, sometimes hiding behind a 
 bush, or concealing itself in the shrubs, and springing 
 unexpectedly in the midst of them purr and rub itself 
 against their sides. One pullet in particular was an 
 especial favourite; it accompanied her every day to her 
 nest, which was under the boards of an out-house, and 
 would then lie down at a short distance. The person 
 who first noticed this circumstance was in the habit of 
 feeding the kitten, and it was therefore less shy with him 
 than any one else. He had observed it in the position 
 described without perceiving the pullet, but when he 
 did, he was induced to watch whether it remained there 
 after she had left her nest. He at length observed her 
 fly off and join the other fowls, when the kitten im- 
 mediately left its place and followed the pullet, setting 
 up its tail and purring as if much pleased. It however 
 did not confine itself to one set of chickens only, but 
 every fresh brood excited its interest, and was more or 
 less taken under its protection, the parent hen not 
 appearing the least alarmed. 
 
 267. That there is merriment genuine human-like 
 merriment, in many of the lower animals, no one can 
 doubt, who has ever watched the gambols of the kid, 
 the cat, the kitten, and the monkey. No experiment, 
 says a recent writer, can be more beautiful than that of 
 setting a kitten for the first time before a looking-glass ;
 
 252 THE CAT. 
 
 the little creature appears surprised and pleased with 
 the resemblance, and makes several attempts at touch- 
 ing its new acquaintance : and at length, finding its 
 efforts fruitless, it looks behind the glass, and appears 
 highly astonished at the absence of the figure. This 
 certainly evinces a degree of intelligence. 
 
 268. Who has not heard of the favourite cat that 
 watched by the couch of its dying master, and that 
 when life was extinct, could scarcely be driven from the 
 room while his corpse remained, and after his inter- 
 ment, though repeatedly driven and carried from the 
 church-yard, was seen to return, regardless of cold, and 
 unmindful of the cravings of hunger. 
 
 269. A friend mentions an anecdote about a cat that 
 they have. The butter and milk was kept in a press in 
 the kitchen, which is fastened by a leather; sometimes 
 the maids found the door open, when the}' felt sure they 
 had fastened it, and some of the butter and milk gone; 
 so they watched, and saw the cat stand upon her hind- 
 legs, so as to be able to reach the leather, which she 
 pulled down \>y her paw, and so opened the door. 
 
 270. We had a cat when I was a child, which would 
 leap up and put her paw on the latch of the door going 
 from the yard into the kitchen, and so open it. I 
 remember this quite well. 
 
 271. A kitten once attached herself to me in a manner 
 which was certainly very remarkable, particularly as I 
 do not remember ever to have cultivated her affections 
 by any other means than those of simple kindness and 
 attention.
 
 253 
 
 THE WOLF, 
 
 Nature never did betray 
 The heart that loved her ! 'Tis her privilege, 
 Through all the years of this our life, to lead 
 From joy to joy, for she can so inform 
 The mind that is within us, so impress 
 With quietness and beauty, and so feed 
 With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues, 
 Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, 
 Xor greetings where no kindness is, nor all 
 The dreary intercourse of common life, 
 Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb 
 Our cheeri'nl faith that all that we behold 
 Is full of blessings, WORDSWOHTH. 
 
 272. A VERY interesting account is given of the attach- 
 ment which a wolf exhibited, even in the hour of 
 death. A large tame wolf, caught at Aspro, and brought 
 up from a cub on ship-board, was exceedingly docile. 
 He was a favourite with the whole crew, but he was 
 particularly attached to the lieutenant. A violent 
 storm came on, and it was evident the ship must be 
 lost. The animal was sensible of the danger. His 
 howls were peculiarly distressing, and he would not be 
 driven from the side of his friend. On the breaking 
 up of the ship, both of them got upon the mast. 
 Sometimes one of -them was washed off, and sometimes 
 the other; but by the eager assistance which they
 
 254 THE WOLF. , 
 
 rendered each other, they again Ind again recovered 
 their hold. At length the lieutenant exhausted by 
 continual exertion, -was almost benumbed. The wolf 
 was equally fatigued ; aud it was partly by clinging to 
 each other and to the mast that they were enabled to 
 keep themselves from being washed away. The mast 
 drifted towards the shore, and was at no great distance 
 from it, when the lieutenant, totally unable to support 
 himself any longer, and remembering the attachment 
 of the animal, even in death, turned towards him from 
 the mast. The beast clapped his fore-paws round his 
 neck, while the lieutenant clasped him in his arms, 
 and they sunk together.
 
 -255 
 
 THE SHEEP. 
 
 Kature, enchanting Xature, hi whose form 
 
 And lineaments divine I trace a hand 
 
 That errs not, and find raptures still renew* d, 
 
 Is free to all men universal prize. 
 
 Strange that so fair a creature should yet want 
 
 Admirers, and be destined to divide 
 
 With meaner objects ee'n the few she finds ! COWPBK. 
 
 273. Amongst other instances of sagacity in sheep, I 
 have often been amused by the perfect knowledge 
 which they have of the boundaries of the farm to which 
 they belong. From being frequently driven back when 
 found wandering, they soon learn the exact boundary 
 lines within which they are left in peace both by the 
 shepherd and his dog. 
 
 274. In December, 1825, Thomas Rae, blacksmith, 
 Hardhills, parish of Brittle, purchased a lamb of the 
 black-faced breed from an individual passing with a 
 large flock. It was so extremely wild, that it was wit) 
 great difficulty separated from its fleecy companions 
 He put it into his field in company with a cow and a 
 little white galloway. It never seemed to mind the 
 cow, but soon exhibited manifest indications of fond- 
 ness for the pony, which, not insensible to such tender 
 approaches, amply demonstrated the attachment to be
 
 256 THE SHEEP. 
 
 reciprocal. The3 r were now to be seen in company in 
 all circumstances, whether the pony was used for riding 
 or drawing. Such a spectacle no doubt drew forth the 
 officious gaze of many ; and when likely to be too 
 closely beset, the lamb would seek an asylum beneath 
 the pony, and pop out its head betwixt the fore or hind 
 legs, with looks of conscious security. At night, it 
 invariably repaired to the stable, and reposed under 
 the manger, before the head of its favourite. When 
 separate, which only happened when effected by force, 
 the lamb would raise the most plaintive bleatings and 
 the pony a responsive neighing. On one occasion they 
 both strayed into an adjoining field, in which w r as a 
 flock of sheep ; the lamb joined the flock at a short 
 distance from the pony, but as soon as the owner re- 
 moved him, it quickly followed without the least regard 
 to its own species. Another instance of the same 
 description happened when riding through a large flock; 
 it followed on without showing any symptoms of a wish 
 to remain with its natural companions.
 
 257 
 
 THE MOUSE. 
 
 Thy desire, which tends to know 
 The works of God, thereby to glorify 
 The great Workmaster, leads to no excess 
 That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 
 The more it seems excess. MILTON. 
 
 275. A SIMILAR action to that of the fox has heen ob- 
 served in a little animal to which it is not common to 
 ascribe more than an ordinary degree of cunning or 
 confidence in its own resources. In a book-case of 
 wainscot, impervious to light, different articles were 
 kept which were more agreeable to the taste of mice 
 than books, when, at midday, the doors were suddenly 
 opened, a mouse was seen on one of the shelves, and 
 so rivited was the little creature to the spot, that it 
 showed all the signs of death, not moving a limb when 
 taken into the hand On another occasion, on opening 
 a parlour door in broad daylight, a mouse was seen fixed 
 and motionless in the middle of the room, and on 
 advancing towards it, its appearance in no way differed 
 from that of a dead animal, excepting that it had not 
 fallen over on its side. Neither of these creatures made 
 an effort to escape, and were taken up at leisure ; nor 
 had they received any hurt or injury, for they soon dis- 
 played every mark of being alive and well.
 
 258 
 
 THE BADGER. 
 
 With wise intent 
 
 The hand of Nature on peculiar minds 
 Imprints a different bias, and to each 
 Decrees its province in the common toil. AKENSIDE. 
 
 276. As two persons passed through a hollow A\ r ay ? 
 their dog started and killed a badger. Being only a 
 little Avay from the village, they agreed to drag him 
 there, as the commune gave a reward for every one that 
 was destroyed. They twisted some twigs, and drew 
 him along the road by turns. They had not proceeded 
 far, when they heard the cry of an animal in seeming 
 distress, and, stopping to see whence it proceeded, 
 another badger was approaching. They endeavoured 
 to drive it away with stones, but it would not be re- 
 pulsed ; it came close to the dead animal, and began to 
 lick it, and continued its mournful ciy. The men had 
 it not in their hearts any longer to repulse him, but 
 they continued to draw the dead one along. The other 
 laid himself down upon his dead companion, clasping it 
 closely, and was thus drawn into the village, where, to 
 the shame of its inhabitants, it was speedily destroyed.
 
 269 
 
 THE RAVEN. 
 
 In nature there is nothing melancholy. COLERIDGE. 
 
 277. MR. THOMPSON, in his Natural History of Ireland, 
 gives the following: It was a common practice in a 
 spacious yard at Belfast, to lay trains of corn for spar- 
 rows, and then to shoot them from a window, only so 
 far open as to afford room for the muzzle of the gun ; 
 neither the instrument of destruction nor the shooter 
 being visible from the outside. A tame raven, which 
 was a nestling when brought to the yard, and probably 
 had never seen a shot fired, afforded evidence that it 
 understood the whole affair. When any one appeared 
 carrying a gun across the yard towards the house from 
 which the sparrows were fired at, the raven exhibited 
 the utmost alarm, by hurrying off with all possible 
 speed, but a ludicrously awkward gait, to hide itself, 
 screaming loudly all the while. Though alarmed for 
 its own safety, this bird always concealed itself near to 
 and within view of the field of action ; the shot was 
 hardly fired, when it darted out from its retreat, and 
 seizing one of the dead or wounded sparrows, hurried 
 back to his hiding-place. I have often witnessed the 
 whole scene. And again, the following communicated to 
 him by Mr. R. Ball : When a boy at school, a tame raveu 
 Q
 
 260 THE RAVEN. 
 
 was very attentive in watching our cribs or bird traps ; 
 and when a bird was taken, he endeavoured to catch it 
 by turning up the crib, but in so doing the bird always 
 escaped, as the raven could not let go the crib in time 
 to seize it. After several vain attempts of this kind, 
 the raven, seeing another bird caught, instead of going 
 at once to the crib, went to another tame raven, and 
 induced it to accompany him, when the one lifted up 
 the crib, and the other bore the poor captive off in 
 triumph. 
 
 278. Another after eating its fill, used to conceal the 
 remaining pieces of food under several loose stones 
 which were close to the shed, and when hungry, re- 
 peatedly have I and other boys watched him going 
 straight to the place where he concealed his first morsel, 
 and so on to the last stone in rotation. 
 
 279. Lord Bacon, it is said, gives an account of a raven 
 that filled up with pebbles some hollow in a tree con- 
 taining water, in order to make the liquid rise up to a 
 point within its reach. Lord Brougham brings it under 
 the head of animal intelligence.
 
 261 
 
 THE PIGEON. 
 
 Deep in the wood thy voice I list, and love 
 Thy soft complaining song: thy tender cooing 1 ; 
 Oh ! what a winning way thou hast of wooing ! 
 Gentlest of all thy race sweet turtle dove. 
 
 280. EVEKY sportsman knows that the common wood 
 pigeon, (the Ring Dove.) is one of the shyest birds we 
 have, and so wild, that it is very difficult indeed to get 
 within shot of one. This wild bird has however been 
 known to lay aside its usual habits, In the spring of 
 1839, some village boys brought two young wood pigeons 
 taken from the nest, to the parsonage-house of a clergy- 
 man in Gloucestershire, from whom I received the 
 following anecdote : They were bought from the boys 
 merely to save their lives, and sent to an old woman 
 near the parsonage to be bred up. She took great care 
 of them, feeding them with peas, of which they are 
 very fond. One of them died, but the other grew up, 
 and was a fine bird. Its wings had not been cut, and 
 as soon as it could fly, it was set at liberty. Such, how- 
 ever, was the effect of the kindness it had received, that 
 it would never quite leave the place. It would fly to 
 great distances, and even associate with others of its 
 own kind; but it never failed to come to the house 
 twice a day to be fed. The peas were placed for it on
 
 262 THE PIGEON. 
 
 the kitchen window. If the window was shut, it would 
 tap with its beak till it was opened, then come in, eat 
 its meal, and then fly off again. If by any accident it 
 could not gain admittance, it would wait somewhere till 
 the cook came out, when it would pitch on her shoulder, 
 and go with her into the kitchen. What made this 
 more extraordinary was, that the cook had not bred the 
 bird up, and the old woman's cottage was at a little dis- 
 tance ; but as she had no peas left, it came to the par- 
 sonage to be fed. This went on for some time ; but the 
 poor bird having lost its fear of man, was therefore 
 exposed to constant danger from those who did not 
 know it. It experienced the fate of most pets ; a stran 
 ger saw it quietly sitting on a tree, and shot it, to the 
 great regret of all its former friends."
 
 263 
 
 THE PARTRIDGE. 
 
 Wonderful indeed are all His works, all 
 
 Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be hnd 
 
 In remembrance always with delight HILTON. 
 
 281. THE following remarkable anecdote may not be 
 considered out of place here, although it is not impro- 
 bable that in this instance the bird was actuated simply 
 by trrag'yi. A partridge, which had her nest in a hedge- 
 row close to a footpath leading to a farm house, in the 
 Isle of Wight, sat there upon thirteen eggs, and appeared 
 so little disturbed by the presence of the passers by, 
 that the farmer one day, from curiosity, put his hand 
 down to see if she would permit him to touch her. 
 The bird however flew off, but, doing so hastily, became 
 caught in the briars surrounding the nest, and he took 
 her up. He then perceived that her crop had been 
 ripped up by a thorn, and to such an extent that its 
 contents escaped through the rent. He took the bird 
 into the house, where his wife, with the assistance of 
 her maid, carefully sewed up, one after another, the 
 wounds in the inner and outer skins of the crop, rubbed 
 in a little salt butter by way of a salve, and set the bird 
 at liberty. Away she flew ; but within a very short 
 time, in spite of all that had occurred, she had actually
 
 264 THE PARTRIDGE. 
 
 returned to her eggs, of which, in due time, she suc- 
 ceeded in hatching twelve. 
 
 282. A hen partridge has been known, on perceiving 
 that her nest was discovered, to cover the eggs over 
 with leaves so completely, that it (the nest) could not 
 have been casually noticed ; and each morning as she 
 laid a fresh egg, she covered all over again. Indeed the 
 nest is always most carefully concealed and covered 
 with the surrounding herbage, and care is taken not to 
 leave any trace to or from it. Montagu mentions one 
 which, being taken with her eggs, continued to sit on 
 them, and brought out the young. He gives an instance 
 of a partridge being taken away with her eggs, in a hat, 
 in which she continued to sit, and hatched them, suit- 
 ing the action to the word. 
 
 283. Mr. Jesse relates a curious anecdote of a partridge 
 which, being disturbed by a plough driven close to her 
 nest, I'emoved the eggs, nineteen in number, assisted 
 perhaps by her mate, to a distance of forty yards, under 
 a hedge, before the return of the plough, an interval of 
 twenty minutes ; such instances have more than once 
 occurred. Of another he says, A farmer discovered 
 a partridge sitting on its eggs in a grass field. The 
 bird allowed him to pass his hand down its back with- 
 out moving or shewing any fear; but if he offered to 
 touch the eggs, the poor bird immediately pecked his 
 hand. Another has been known to fly at and attack a 
 person who picked up one of her young in a road, on 
 hearing its cry.
 
 265 
 
 THE SEA GULL. 
 
 Sounds inharmonious in themselves and harsh, 
 
 Yet heard in scenes where peace for ever reigns, 
 
 And only there, please highly for their sake. COWPBB. 
 
 284. I HAVE known of two instances in which gulls, 
 which had been caught young, and tamed, have con- 
 tinued to keep up their intimacy with those who reared 
 them, after they had gained the full use of their wings, 
 and were at perfect liberty ; though they took advantage 
 of it to go away every year at the breeding season, and 
 might have been supposed to have entirely resumed their 
 natural habits. Both of these instances occurred in the 
 Isle of Wight one at Calbourne, where I well remember 
 " Old Phil," as he was called, year after year, sailing over 
 the village green, and alighting on a low wall at the gro- 
 cer's shop, from which he used to be fed with bits of cheese, 
 of which he was very fond, and other dainties. The 
 other instance was near Sea View, where, I am informed, 
 the gull used to return in the same way, his former 
 tameness not appearing to have been at all affected by 
 his temporary retirement into wild life. Not the least 
 remarkable part of the history of these birds is that, 
 during the breeding season, each of them occasionally 
 brought his mate with him to introduce her to his old 
 friends, and to invite her to partake of their hospitality.
 
 266 THE SEA GULL. 
 
 I dont think indeed, that " Old Phil " ever prevailed on 
 his better-half to come and share his cheese, but she 
 used to keep him company into the village, and some- 
 times amuse herself in a pond hard by, whilst he went 
 to pay his accustomed visit to the grocer. In the other 
 case, near Sea View, my informant tells me the wild 
 gull used to come up and feed with the tame one under 
 his dining-room windows, though she would not ap- 
 proach quite close as long as any one was visible at 
 them, but sat on the grass plat a short distance off, or 
 hovered round until the coast seemed clear. Perhaps 
 there is naturally less fear of man entertained by gulls 
 than by most other birds. One can scarcely be for a 
 few hours at sea, or by the water in a harbour town, 
 without some of them, from curiosity or carelessness, 
 coming round so close to one as to afford sufficient 
 proof of this. Last year, (1858,) whilst fishing at some 
 distance outside the harbour at Stornoway, I threw 
 over, foul-hooked, and brought into the boat, with a 
 short cuddy rod and line, two gulls, as they flew round 
 close to us, allured by the hope of a share in our fish. 
 The -first, when released, not having exhibited the 
 slightest fear, but continued to hover round us, closer, 
 if anything, than before, as if he fancied he had then a 
 special claim to our attention, I thought, on catching 
 the second, I would see to what extent he might be 
 'disposed to entertain friendly relations towards us. 
 Accordingly I took him in my lap, and offered him some 
 nice bits of fish. At first he professed to be angry and 
 pecked at my fingers instead of the fish, as if to ask 
 whether I thought it possible that he would condescend
 
 THE SEA GULL. 267 
 
 to accept my donations under restraint. However, hav- 
 ing accidentally-on-purpose got liold of a piece of fish, 
 down it went; and, apparently thinking that under the 
 circumstances he might do worse, he set to work with 
 no ill will or appetite, and soon got through a good part 
 of a haddock. On regaining his liberty, so far from 
 appearing to resent my compulsory kindness, he rather 
 seemed to wish for a repetition of the same course of 
 treatment, for he continued to fly backwards and for- 
 wards within a few feet of our heads, as if he thought 
 he had been a fool after all. The captain of one of the 
 Dover and Ostend steamers told me that he had seen a 
 gull come and take off the taffrail food which had been 
 placed there for him. 
 
 285. They are naturally fearless birds, and far from 
 shy, and are readily kept in confinement. A gull, 
 which lived for twenty-seven years, used to go away in 
 summer, and pair with another of the wild birds, in the 
 cliffs of the Isle of Wight, returning alone afterwards, 
 and spending its 'time either on a small piece of water, 
 or sitting on the railings of some cottage, or else flying 
 about the country, so tame withal, that it would come 
 into the houses and eat from the hands of persons whom 
 it knew, though not from others. 
 
 2Q
 
 THE NIGHTINGALE. 
 
 All is still; 
 
 A balmy night ! and though the stars be dim, 
 Yet let us think upon the vernal shower 
 That gladdens the green earth, and we shall find 
 A pleasure in the dimness of the stars : 
 And hark ! the Nightingale begins its song. COLERIDGE. 
 
 286. THE late Bishop Stanley relates the following 
 account of one which was reared from the nest in the 
 spring of 1835 : It soon became tame, and was kept 
 in a cage till May 1837, singing always in the winter 
 from Christinas till April, and showing no symptoms of 
 impatience at the usual period of migration; it was 
 
 * 
 
 silent the rest of the year. Last May it was permitted 
 to go out of its cage, which was hung up open, at the 
 door of the office. At first it returned regularly in the 
 evening to its cage, and was taken in, and released 
 again the next morning. As the season advanced, it 
 sometimes stayed out all night in the shrubberies and 
 pleasure-grounds, but if called by any one of the ser- 
 vants, whose voice it knew, would return and feed out 
 of their hand. For a day or two, towards the close of 
 the summer, it seemed rather uneasy, but this soon wore 
 off. As the evenings got cool in the autumn, it returned 
 to its cage before nightfall, and was taken as usual into
 
 THE NIGHTINGALE. 269 
 
 the house ; as the season still further advanced, it was 
 permanently housed, and was expected to sing again at 
 Claris tin as. 
 
 287. lie also mentions a remarkable instance of their 
 removing their eggs, under peculiar circumstances, as 
 communicated to the French Academy of Sciences, by 
 M. Merveaux A pair of these birds had built their nest 
 in his garden, in the lower part of a hedge, containing 
 four eggs, when some water in the neighbourhood rose 
 with such impetuosity as to inundate the garden. He 
 watched them with some anxiety; and one day when 
 the water had reached to within six paces of the nest, 
 he only perceived two eggs. He at first thought that 
 the nest had been abandoned; but coming to it very 
 soon after, he only saw one, and this time he waited to 
 see the result, and was much, astonished to see the last 
 egg disappear with the birds, who, Hying cautiousl}', 
 but rapidly, carried it to a new nest, at the highest part 
 of the hedge, where he saw all the four eggs deposited 
 in safety, and where they were afterwards hatched. 
 
 288. The attachment of this species to its young, and 
 its grief at their loss, have been noticed by many writers, 
 ancient and modern. Our friend, the Rev. E. G. Moor, 
 sends us, on this subject, a memorandum from his 
 journal : One evening, while I was at College, he 
 says, happening to drink tea with the late Rev. J. 
 Lambert, fellow of Trinity College, he told me the 
 following fact, illustrative of Virgil's extreme accuracy 
 in describing natural objects. We had been speaking 
 of those well-known lovely lines in the fourth Georgic 
 on the Nightingale's lamentation for the loss of her
 
 270 THE NIGHTINGALE. 
 
 young, when Mr. Lambert told me that riding once 
 through one of the toll gates near Cambridge, he ob- 
 served the keeper of the gate and his wife, who were 
 aged persons, apparently much dejected. Upon inquir- 
 ing into the cause of their uneasiness, the man assured 
 Mr. Lambert that he and his wife had both been made 
 very unhappy by a nightingale, which had built in their 
 garden, and had the day before been robbed of its 
 young. This loss she had been deploring in such a 
 melancholy strain all the night, as not only to deprive 
 him and his wife of sleep, but also to leave them in 
 the morning full of sorrow; from which they had evi- 
 dently not recovered when Mr. Lambert saw them.
 
 271 
 
 THE PARROT. 
 
 Thus Nature works as if to mock at Art, 
 
 And in defiance of her rival power, 
 
 By these fortuitous and random strokes 
 
 Performing suc-h inimitable feats 
 
 As she with all her wiles could never reach. 
 
 280. IN a pleasant article contributed to Eraser's 
 Magazine, in October, l s> 57, entitled "Jays and Nut- 
 crackers," are collected some anecdotes of birds, with 
 a view of proving that those brought up in confinement, 
 and taught to speak, in time become acquainted with 
 the meaning of the words which they utter. Now 
 whether such cases as those referred to are merely the 
 result of accidental coincidence ; whether having been 
 taught to associate certain words with certain actions, 
 it is only by rote, and mechanical]}', that birds are led 
 to repeat them at the appropriate times, as the} 7 un- 
 questionably do ; or whether they really ever under- 
 stand the meaning of what they say, it would be hard 
 to prove, no matter to what extent instances might be 
 multiplied. Although I confess I do not give birds 
 credit for so much sense as the author of "Jays and 
 Nutcrackers," yet I will contribute an anecdote, for the 
 accuracy of which I can vouch, and which, so far as it 
 goes, certainly tends to prove his theory. A parrot
 
 272 THE PARROT. 
 
 belonging to some friends of mine, was generally taken 
 out of the room when the family assembled for prayers, 
 for fear lest he might take it into his head to join 
 irreverently in the responses. One evening, however, 
 his presence happened to be unnoticed, and he was 
 forgotten. For some time he maintained a decorous 
 silence, but at length, instead of " Amen," out he came 
 with " Cheer boys, cheer." On this, the butler was 
 directed to remove him, and had got as far as the door 
 with him, when the bird, perhaps thinking that he had 
 committed himself, and had better apologize, called out, 
 " Sorry I spoke." The overpowering effect on the con- 
 gregation may be more easily imagined than described. 
 
 290. The parrot of a relation of mine also used, when- 
 ever he dropped anything he was eating, to si\", " Pick 
 up baby's crust," being doubtless prompted by the same 
 train of associations as those which lead another parrot, 
 which I know well, invariably to say, " Thank you," 
 whenever anything is given to him. 
 
 291. The following story is not a bad one, but all that 
 I can say with regard to its authenticity is, si non e 
 vero, e ben trovato : If it be not true, it deserves to be 
 so, for the sake of both master and pupil. Some parrot 
 fanciers had agreed to meet in' a year's time, when each 
 was to shew a bird for a prize, proficiency in talking 
 being by common consent to be the great criterion of 
 merit. On the day appointed, all the rest came, each 
 duly bringing his parrot; one only appeared without 
 his. On being asked why he had not shown one accord- 
 ing to the agreement, he said that he had tried to train 
 one, but that he was such a stupid bird he was quite
 
 THE PARKOT. 273 
 
 ashamed to bring him. The excuse was held to be 
 inadmissible. All the others insisted that, stupid or 
 clever, he must be produced, and his master accordingly 
 went off for and returned with him. No sooner was he 
 introduced, than, looking round at the large assemblage 
 of birds, he exclaimed, " What a lot of Parrots !" The 
 prize was immediately voted to him by acclamation. 
 
 292. The following story has often been recorded 
 before, but it will bear repeating: A tradesman who 
 had a shop in the Old Bailey, London, opposite the 
 prison, bought two parrots, a green and a grey. The 
 green parrot was taught to speak when there was a 
 knock at the street door; the grey, whenever the bell 
 rang ; but they only knew two short phrases of English. 
 The house in which they lived had an old-fashioned, 
 projecting front, so that the first-floor could not be seen 
 from the pavement ; and, on one occasion, they were 
 left outside the window by themselves, when some one 
 knocked at the street door. " Who is there ?" said the 
 green parrot. "The man with the leather," was the 
 reply, to which the bird answered, " Oh ! oh !" The 
 door, not being opened, the stranger knocked a second 
 time. "Who is there?" said green poll. "Who is 
 there?" exclaimed the man; "Why don't you come 
 down ?" " Oh ! oh !" repeated the parrot. This so en- 
 raged the stranger, that he rang the bell furiously. 
 " Go to the gate," said a new voice, which belonged to 
 the grey parrot. "To the gate?" repeated the man, 
 who saw no such entrance, and who thought that the ser- 
 vants were bantering him "What gate?" he asked,.
 
 274 THE PAKEOT. 
 
 stepping back to view the premises. " New-gate," re- 
 sponded the grey, just as the angry applicant discovered 
 who had been answering his summonses. Parrots have 
 been known to mimic the sound of planing a deal 
 board, the mewing of a cat, or the barking of a dog, so 
 accurately as to deceive the closest observers. 
 
 293. The predilection of animals for particular per- 
 sons, was once the means of deciding, very amusingly, 
 a case before a court of justice. It was at a Dublin 
 police-office, and the object of dispute was a pet parrot, 
 which had been stolen from a Mr Davis, and sold to a 
 Mr. Moore. The plaintiff, taking the bird upon his 
 finger, said, " Come, old boy, give me a kiss," which the 
 parrot instantly did. A youth, in the defendant's inter- 
 est, remarked that this proved nothing, as the parrot 
 would kiss anybody " You had better not try," re- 
 marked the plaintiff. Nevertheless, the young man 
 asked the parrot to kiss him. Poll, advanced as if to 
 give the -required salute, but seized the youth's lip, and 
 made him roar with pain. This fact, and the parrot's 
 obeying the plaintiff, in several other requisitions, 
 caused it to be instantly ordered into the possession of 
 its original master. 
 
 294. A parallel case to that of the geese who saved the 
 eapitol of Rome, has happened at Camden, New Jerse3 r . 
 It appears that Mr. John Hutchinson has a very loqua- 
 cious parrot, as well as a well stocked plate chest. One 
 day, some greedy New Jerseymen resolved to try the 
 virtue of silver forks at their own dinner-table, and con. 
 sequently broke into the pantry. As they were just on
 
 THE PARROT. 275 
 
 the point of securing the plate, they heard a loud and 
 awful voice exclaim, " You lazy rascals, I see you! John, 
 bring my revolver!" They made one rush for the win- 
 dow, which they had forced open, and in their trepida- 
 tion got into the yard of a neighbour, who had a tierce 
 dog.- A great noise was the result, and the police 
 awakening, one of the three men was captured. The 
 parrot had saved the plate.
 
 276 
 
 THE WHITETHROAT. 
 
 Song-birds of Nature, ye whose bursting throats 
 People the wild-wood with your mellow notes, 
 I love ye all! G. J. 0. ALLMAN. 
 
 295. I EEMEMBER finding, when a. boy, the nest of a 
 whitethroat, which she had constructed in the stem of 
 a tall hemlock. Whilst engaged in the work of incuba- 
 tion, she appeared to be perfectly devoid of fear, and 
 would not only permit my sister and my self to stroke 
 her on her nest, but would actually take food from our 
 hands, thus proving that her tameness was not merely 
 the result of that mysterious frooyn .that love for her 
 young, which in the female seems to annihilate all sense 
 of fear, but that, apart from it, she had lost that dread 
 of man by which she would at other times have been 
 more or less influenced.
 
 277 
 
 THE LANDRAIL. 
 
 Winter is past 
 And the stormy blast 
 Is hastening away to the northward at last. 
 
 296. THE following well-told relation of the fact it 
 1'ecords, I give as communicated to me by William Robert 
 Shepherd, Esq., of the Dana, Shrewsbury : Rather a 
 singular circumstance occurred to me the other clay. 
 Whilst out with my gun on the 13th instant, at Ludlow, 
 in this county, in going over a grass field, my dog in 
 advance flushed a Corn-Crake, which fled steadily for a 
 short distance and then dropped among the grass. 
 Being desirous of watching its movements, I hurried to 
 the spot where it had alighted, where I saw it stealing 
 through the grass with the stealthiness and rapidity of 
 a mouse, ever and anon raising its head to see the extent 
 of the danger. I was thus watching it, when suddenly 
 it stopped and crouched close to the ground. Motion- 
 ing the dog to stay behind, I crept cautiously to the 
 spot, and as I drew near to it, was surprised to see no 
 attempt at escape. Having reached the place, I care- 
 fully examined the ground for some distance round, but 
 could find nothing. I was just on the point of giving 
 up the search, thinking that the bird had stolen off
 
 278 THE LANDRAIL. 
 
 without my notice, when my attention was attracted by 
 what appeared to me to be a clod of earth lying on 
 the ground among the grass. I walked to it, and on 
 stooping down, was no less surprised than pleased to 
 find the object of my search apparently lifeless. I took 
 it up the head and legs dropped ; to all appearance 
 the bird was quite dead. Being well acquainted with the 
 habits of birds, I immediately detected the imposition ; 
 so placing the bird upoi} the ground, I retired to a short 
 distance under cover of the trunk of a large tree. I 
 had not remained long before I saw the cunning bird 
 gently move, when suddenly starting to its legs, it ran a 
 short distance ; then taking wing, soon disappeared 
 over an adjoining hedge. This is a striking instance 
 of that deep cunning and sagacity which characterizes 
 the habits of some birds; as such, I have thought it 
 worth recording. 
 
 297. Mr. Jesse has given a similar account in his 
 " Gleanings in Natural History," as follows : A gen- 
 tleman had a Corn-Crake brought to him by his dog, 
 to all appearance quite dead. As it lay on the ground, 
 he turned it over with his foot, and was convinced that 
 it was dead. Standing by, however, in silence, he sud- 
 denly saw it open one eye ; he then took it up, its head 
 fell, its legs hung, and it appeared again quite dead. 
 He then put it in his pocket, and before long he felt it 
 all alive, and struggling to escape. He then took it out ; 
 it was as lifeless as before. Having laid it again upon 
 the ground, and retired to some distance, the bird, in 
 about five minutes, warily raised its head, looked round, 
 and decamped at full speeds
 
 279 
 
 THE BLACKBIRD. 
 
 Cheered and chastened 
 
 Onward I hastened 
 
 Blessing 1 the bird for its merry son<j, 
 
 It haunted my heart the whole day long. THOMAS HOOD. 
 
 298. A VERY young blackbird, says Mr. Jesse, was 
 put into a cage, which was hung up under the porch of 
 a lodge ; after the bird had begun to feed, an older 
 blackbird was caught and put into the same cage. This 
 old bird moped, and refused to feed itself, and would 
 probably have died, had not the younger brought it food 
 in its bill, and in every respect treated it as if it had 
 been its mother, nourishing it with the greatest perse- 
 verance for some time. Again, a cat was observed on 
 the top of a paled fence, endeavouring to get at a black- 
 bird's nest which was near it; the lien left the nest on 
 her approach, flew to meet her in a state of great alarm, 
 and placed herself almost within her reach, uttering the 
 most piteous screams of wildness and despair. The 
 cock bird, on perceiving the danger, showed the greatest 
 distress, and uttered loud screams and outcries, some- 
 times settling on the fence just before the cat, who was 
 unable to make a spring, in consequence of the narrow- 
 ness of its footing. After a little time, the cock bird 
 flew at the cat, settled on her back, and pecked her 
 E
 
 280 ' THE BLACKBIRD. 
 
 head with such violence that she fell to the ground, 
 followed by the blackbird, who succeeded in driving her 
 away. A second time the same scene occurred ; the 
 blackbird was again victorious, and the cat became so 
 intimidated at the attacks made upon her, that she gave 
 over her attempts to get at the young ones. After each 
 battle the blackbird celebrated his victory with a song, 
 and for several days afterwards he would hunt the cat 
 about the garden whenever she left the house. He 
 adds that he also knew an instance of a pair of black- 
 birds following a boy into a house, and pecking at his 
 head while he was conveying one of their young into 
 it. He very properly observes that people little think 
 what misery they occasion to birds when they deprive 
 them of the brood which they have been cherishing 
 with so much tenderness and affection. " The cruel 
 parent, says an old author, " that would encourage his 
 childe to deprive a poor birde of her broode, right 
 well deserveth to have his own nest robbed, and to 
 become childless."
 
 281 
 
 THE THRUSH. 
 
 If thou art pain'd with this world's noisy stir, 
 And crazed with its mad tumults, and weighed down 
 With any of the ills of human life ; 
 If thou art sick and weak, or mourn'st the loss 
 Of brethren gone to that far-distant land 
 To which we" all do pass, gentle and poor, 
 The gayest and the gravest, all alike- 
 Then turn into the peaceful woods, and hear 
 The thrilling music of the forest birds. J. MCLELLAN, Juif. 
 
 299. A SHORT time ago, in Scotland, some carpenters 
 working in a shed adjacent to a house, observed one of 
 these birds Hying in and out, which induced them to 
 direct their attention to the cause, when to their sur- 
 prise, they found a nest commenced among the teeth of 
 a harrow, which, with some other farming-tools and 
 implements, were placed upon the joists of the shed 
 just over their heads. The carpenters had arrived soon 
 after six o'clock; and at seven, when they found the 
 nest, it was in a state of great forwardness, and had 
 evidently been the morning's work of a pair of these 
 indefatigable birds. Their activity throughout the day 
 was incessant, and when the workmen left off in the 
 evening, and came again in the morning, they found 
 the female seated on her half-finished mansion ; and 
 Avhen she flew off for a short time, it was discovered that
 
 282 THE THRUSH. 
 
 she had. already laid an egg, though the bottom of the 
 nest was the only part plastered and completed. When 
 all was finished, the male bird took his share in the 
 hatching, and though he did not sit so long, he was 
 very attentive in feeding her when on the nest : the 
 young were hatched in thirteen days. As they grew, 
 and required greater supplies, the entrance and retreat 
 of the old ones through the door was so rapid that it 
 could scarcely be seen, but was only known by the 
 sound as they darted over the heads of the men 
 another proof of the rapidity of flight of even the slower 
 flying birds, when urged by necessity,
 
 THE STORK. 
 
 Go with me if you like, upon report As You LIKE IT, 
 
 300. A FRENCH Surgeon at Smyrna, wishing to pro- 
 cure a stork, and finding great difficulty, on account of 
 the extreme veneration in which they are held by the 
 Turks, stole all the eggs out of a nest and replaced them 
 with those of a hen. In process of time the young 
 chickens came forth, much to the astonishment of the 
 storks. In a short time the male went off, and was not 
 seen for two or three days, when he returned with an 
 immense crowd of his companions, who all assembled 
 in the place, and formed a circle, taking no notice of the 
 numerous spectators, which so unusual an occurrence 
 had collected. The female was brought forward into 
 the midst of the circle, and after some consultation, the 
 whole flock fell upon her, and tore her to pieces ; after 
 which they immediately dispersed, and the nest was 
 entirely abandoned. 
 
 301. The following in many respects, similar case, 
 occurred on the estate of a gentleman of large landed 
 property near Berlin, and is a valuable corroboration of 
 what might, to many, appear as unworthy of credit. A 
 pair of Storks built a nest on one of" the chimneys of 
 his mansion; having a curiosity to inspect it, the 
 
 2 R
 
 284 THE STORK. 
 
 owner climbed up. and found in it one egg, which being 
 about the size of a goose's egg, was replaced by one be- 
 longing to that bird. The storks seemed not to notice the 
 exchange, but no sooner was the egg hatched, than the 
 male bird perceiving the difference, rose from the nest, 
 and flying round it several times with loud screams, dis- 
 appeared, and was not seen again for three days, during 
 which time the female continued to tend her offspring 
 as usual. Early on the fourth morning, however, the 
 inmates of the house were disturbed by loud and dis- 
 cordant cries in the field fronting the house, when they 
 perceived about five hundred storks assembled in a 
 dense body, and one standing about twenty yards before 
 the rest, apparently haranguing its companions, who 
 stood listening, to all appearance, with great emotion. 
 When this bird had concluded, it retired and another 
 took its place, and seemed to address them in a similar 
 manner. This proceeding and noise was repeated by 
 several successive birds, until about eleven o'clock in the 
 forenoon, when the whole flock simultaneously arose in 
 the air uttering dismal cries. The female all this time 
 was observed to remain on her nest, watching their 
 motions with apparent trepidation. In a short time the 
 body of storks made towards her, headed by one bird, 
 supposed to be the male, who struck her vehemently 
 three or four times, and knocked her out of the nest ; 
 the whole mass then followed the attack, until they had 
 not only destroyed the female stork, (who made no 
 attempt either to escape or defend herself,) but the 
 young gosling, and utterly removed every vestige of the
 
 THE STORK. 285 
 
 nest itself. Since that time about four years ago, no 
 stork has been known to build there. 
 
 303 Some hen's eggs were placed in a stork's nest, 
 and the others removed. The female stork, not aware 
 of the change, sat patiently the appointed number of 
 days, till the shells were broken, and the young chickens 
 made their appearance. No sooner were they seen by 
 the old birds, then they testified their surprise by harsh 
 notes and tierce looks, and after a short pause, they 
 jointly fell upon the unfortunate chickens and pecked 
 them to pieces, as if conscious of the disgrace, which 
 might be supposed to attach to a dishonoured nest.
 
 286 
 
 THE SWAN. 
 
 The love of nature's works 
 Is an ingredient in the compound man, 
 Infus'd at the creation of the kind. 
 And, though the Almighty Maker has throughout 
 Discriminated each from each by strokes 
 And touches of his hand, with so much art 
 Diversified, that two were never found 
 Twins at all points yet this obtains in all, 
 That all discern a beauty in his works, 
 And all can taste them : minds that have been formed 
 And tutored, with a relish more exact, 
 But none without some relish, none unmoved. COWPEE. 
 
 303. On the Thames last summer I was amused by 
 watching an old swan feeding her young ones, in what 
 seemed to me a novel and ingenious manner. Sitting 
 on the water with her breast against the bank, she 
 gathered from it the grass as far over as she could 
 reach, and then, turning round her long neck, threw it 
 over her back to the cygnets , who seemed quite up to 
 the manoeuvre and were waiting and scrambling for it 
 in the water behind her. My attention was called to it 
 by the fisherman who was with me, and who, though 
 he had lived all his life by the banks of the Thames 
 said he had never witnessed this before.
 
 287 
 
 THE OWL. 
 
 Sweet the coming' on 
 
 Of grateful evening mild ; then silent night 
 With this her bird, and this fair moon, 
 And these the gems of heaven, the starry train, MILTOX. 
 
 304. WHITE has mentioned a tame barn-owl with which 
 lie was acquainted. A friend of mine has sent me the 
 following particulars respecting a tame white one, which 
 was taken when young, from a nest in the wood at 
 Dilstone, near Hexham in Northumberland, and given 
 by a lady to her children, who brought it up. Great 
 pains appear to have been taken to domesticate this 
 owl, in consequence of which it became familiar. In 
 imitation of its own call, it received the name of Keevie, 
 to which it would readily answer Avhen within hearing, 
 following the sound from whatever part of the premises 
 it might happen to be in. Its usual place of repose 
 during the day was under the branches of an old Scotch 
 fir, which grew down a steep inaccessible bank, where 
 it would sit apparently asleep, but sufficiently awake to 
 endeavour to attract the notice of an} 7 one who passed 
 by its usual cry of Jteevi-, keevie. If the passenger 
 stopped and answered it, it immediately scrambled up 
 the boughs of the fir, till it brought itself to a level with 
 the walk above, in hope of being fed ; but if he went
 
 288 THE OWL. 
 
 on again, unheeding its solicitations, it returned to its 
 former place, and resumed its slumbers. One of the 
 most striking peculiarities in this tame owl is said to 
 have been its fondness for music. It would often come 
 into the drawing-room of an evening, 011 the shoulder 
 of one of the children, and, on hearing the tones of the 
 piano, would sit with its eyes gravely fixed on the in- 
 strument, and its head on one side in an attitude of 
 attention; when, suddenly spreading its wings, he would 
 alight on the keys, and making a dart at the performer's 
 fingers with its beak, would continue hopping about, as 
 if pleased with the execution. After a while the flight 
 of this owl into the woods became longer, and he only 
 returned at dusk to receive his usual supper from the 
 person who was in the habit of feeding him, and whom 
 he readily permitted at such times to take him up, and 
 carry him into the house for this purpose. Bye-and-bye 
 it was observed that he did not devour his meals in the 
 kitchen as formerly, but fled along the passage, dragging 
 the meat after him, till he reached the garden door, 
 when he flew with it to a part of the shrubbery. On 
 being followed, it was discovered that he had brought 
 with him a companion, who, not having courage to 
 accompany him the whole way, remained at a respectful 
 distance to receive his bounty. After having served his 
 visitor in this manner, he returned to the kitchen, and 
 leisurely devoured his own portion. This practice was 
 continued for some months, till at length one evening 
 he was missed, and nowhere to be found; his com- 
 panion, it is said, continued to visit the spot alone for 
 several weeks, uttering doleful cries, but could never be
 
 THE OWL. 289 
 
 persuaded to come near to be fed. It proved in the 
 end, that the favourite had been killed; and its stuffed 
 skin was one day recognized, alas ! in a woodman's hut, 
 by the children who had so assiduously nurtured it and 
 brought it up. 
 
 305. A brown owl had long been in the occupation of 
 a convenient hole in a hollow tree, and in it for several 
 years had rejoiced over its progeny, with hope of the 
 pleasure to be enjoyed in excursions of hunting in their 
 company ; but, through the persecutions of some per- 
 sons on the farm, who had watched the bird's proceed- 
 ings, this hope had been repeatedly disappointed by the 
 plunder of the nest at the time when the young ones 
 were ready for flight. On the last occasion, an indivi- 
 dual was ascending to their retreat, to repeat the rob- 
 beiy, when the parent bird, aware of the danger, grasped 
 her only young one in her claws, and bore it away; and 
 never more was the nest placed in the same situation. 
 
 306. The following curious account has been forwarded 
 to me by Mr. Chaffey, of Dodington, Kent: My old 
 owl, a brown one, I had in my possession twenty-six 
 years. When she was about sixteen years old, she laid 
 two eggs, and sat upon them some time before I dis- 
 covered it. As soon as I did, I took them away, and 
 replaced them with two bantam's eggs, upon which she 
 sat about a fortnight, and then forsook them Last 
 year she again laid two eggs, one of them only having 
 a hard shell, she sat upon the one egg for about a fort- 
 night, when I examined it and found it addled. I then 
 took it away, and procured a hen's egg which had been 
 sat upon about the same time, and which in due time
 
 290 THE OWL. 
 
 she hatched. Never in my life did I see any bird half 
 so tender and careful of their young as she was ; for the 
 first few days she hardly let it have time to feed, taking 
 it by the neck off my hand, and running with it into 
 the dark corner where it was hatched. After a short 
 time it w T ould eat as freely as the old owl. When the 
 chicken was about three month's old, the poor old owl 
 choked herself by swallowing part of a fowl which I had 
 given her for her supper. I had turned the male owl 
 out as soon as the chicken was hatched. He used to 
 come every evening to the place and remain there for 
 hours, till the death of the other bird ; after which, I saw 
 or heard nothing more of him. The chicken grew up a 
 very fine bird. 
 
 307. OWLS have been noticed for an extraordinary 
 attachment to their young. Whether, however, it exceeds 
 that of other birds or animals may be very difficult to 
 say, but they will certainly visit and feed them long 
 after they have been separated from the nest. Some 
 young owls which had been so far tamed as to take food 
 from the hand, were observed to lose all their familiarity 
 on being hung out during the night, in consequence of 
 several visits from the parent birds, who fed them with 
 as much care and attention as if they had been with 
 them without interruption. 
 
 308. Another instance in point was witnessed by a 
 Swedish gentleman, who resided several years on a farm 
 near a steep mountain, on the summit of which two 
 eagle owls had built their nest. One day in the month 
 of July, a young bird having quitted the nest was caught 
 by the servants. This bird was, considering the season
 
 THE OWL. 291 
 
 of the year, well feathered, but the down appeared here 
 and there between those feathers which had not yet 
 attained their full growth. After it was caught, it was 
 shut up in a large hen-coop, when to his surprise on the 
 following morning, a line young partridge was found 
 lying dead before the door of the coop. It was im- 
 mediately concluded that this provision had been 
 brought there by the old owls, which no doubt had been 
 making search in the night-time for their lost young 
 one, and such was indeed the fact, for night after night 
 for fourteen days was this same mark of attention re- 
 peated. The game which the old ones carried to it 
 consisted chiefly of young partridges, for the most 
 part newly killed, but sometimes a little spoiled. It 
 was supposed that the spoiled flesh had already been 
 some time in the nest of the old ones, and that they had 
 brought it merely because they had no better provision 
 at the time. The gentleman and his servant watched 
 several nights in order that they might observe, through 
 a window, when and how this supply was brought, but 
 in vain, for it appeared that the owls, which are very 
 quick-sighted, had discovered the moment when the 
 window was not watched, as food was found to be 
 placed before the coop on these very nights. In the 
 month of August, the attention on the part of the old 
 birds ceased, but it. should be observed that this was 
 about the usual period when all birds of prey abandon 
 their young to their own exertions, and usually drive 
 them off to shift for themselves in distant haunts.
 
 292 
 
 THE FLYCATCHER 
 
 The cold ungenial north suits not this bird, 
 And so he journeys to a land where bowers 
 Are ever green, to visit us again. 
 
 309. THE flycatcher builds every year in the vines 
 which grow on the walls of my house. A pair of these 
 little birds had one year placed their nest on a bough, 
 in a shady lime, perhaps not being aware of the incon- 
 venience which followed; but a hot sunny season 
 coming, before the brood was half fledged the reflection 
 of the wall became insupportable, and must inevitably 
 have destroyed the tender young, had not affection sug- 
 gested an expedient, and prompted the parent birds to 
 hover over the nest all the hotter .hours, while Avith 
 wings expanded, and mouths gasping for breath, they 
 screened off the heat from their suffering offspring.
 
 293 
 
 THE WILLOW-WREN. 
 
 Come, fairy bird, and my sheltering trees 
 Shall shield thy wing from the ruffling breeze. 
 
 310. A further instance I once saw of noble sagacity 
 in a willow wren, which had built in a bank of my field. 
 This bird, a friend and myself had observed as she sat 
 in her nest, but were particularly careful not to disturb 
 her, though we saw she eyed us with some degree of 
 jealousy. Some days after as we passed that way, we 
 were desirous of remarking how this brood went on ; 
 but no nest could be found, till I happened to take up a 
 bundle of long green moss, as it were carelessly thrown 
 over the nest, in order to dodge the eye of any imper- 
 tinent intruder.
 
 294 
 
 THE CROW. 
 
 **-*+ 
 
 " There are certain kinds of intellectual power of what, in 
 men, at least, is commonly called reason common, to a certain 
 extent, to man and to some of the lower orders of creation." 
 
 SALAD FOE THE SOCIAL. 
 
 311. THE common crow is very easily tamed, and is 
 strongly attached to the person who brings him up. I 
 kept one for two years and a half. It flew round about 
 the neighbourhood and roosted every night on the trees 
 of my shnibbery. At whatever distance he was, as soon 
 as he heard my voice, he immediately came to me. 
 He was very fond of being caressed. His memory 
 was astonishing. One Monday morning, after being 
 satiated with food, he picked up a mole which 
 was lying in the orchard, and hopped with it into the 
 garden. I kept out of his sight, as he seldom concealed 
 anything when he thought you observed him. He cov- 
 ered it so nicely with earth, that upon the most diligent 
 search I could not discover where he had put it. As 
 his W 7 ings had been cut to prevent him from flying over 
 the wall into the garden, he made many a fruitless 
 attempt during the week to get in at the door. On 
 Saturday evening, however it had been left open, I saw 
 him hop to the very spot where the mole had been so
 
 THE CROW. 205 
 
 lone; hid, and to my surprise ho came out with it in tho 
 twinkling of an eye. 
 
 :}[>. In the spring of 1791, a pair of crows made their 
 nest on a tree, of which there arc several planted round 
 
 Mr. 's garden; and in his morning walks ho 
 
 had often been amused hy witnessing furious combats 
 between them and a cat. One morning the battle raged 
 more licrcely than usual, till at last the cat gave way. 
 and took shelter under a hedge, as if to wait a more 
 favourable opportunity of retreating to the house. The 
 crows continued for a short time to make a threatening 
 noise; but perceiving that on the ground they could do 
 nothing more than threaten, one of them lifted a stone 
 from the middle of the garden, and perched with it on 
 a tree planted in the hedge, where she sat watching the 
 motion of the enemy of her young. As she crept along 
 under the hedge, the crow accompanied her by nying 
 from branch to branch, and from tree to tree ; and when 
 at last puss ventured to quit her hiding place, the crow 
 leaving the trees, and hovering over her in the air, let 
 the stone drop from on high on her back. That the 
 crow on this occasion reasoned, is self-evident ; and it 
 seems to be little less evident that the ideas employed 
 in her reasoning were enlarged beyond those which she- 
 had received from her senses. By her senses, she may 
 have perceived that the shell of a iish is broken by a 
 fall; but could her senses inform her that a cat would 
 be wounded or driven off the Held by the fall of a stone ? 
 No From the effect of the one fall preserved in her 
 memory, she must have inferred the other by the power 
 of reasoning. (I give this t-nm ynnio Milis.j 
 s
 
 296 
 
 THE ROBIN. 
 
 Thou art the bird whom man loves hest, 
 The pious bird with the scarlet breast, 
 
 Our little English Kobin ; 
 The bird that comes about our doors, 
 
 When autumn winds are sobbing 1 . 
 Thou art the Peter of Norway boors, 
 
 Their Thomas in Finland, 
 
 And Russia far inland, 
 The bird who by some name or other 
 All men who know thce call thee brother. WOBDSWOETH. 
 
 313. A LADY has furnished me with the following 
 striking instance of maternal affection in a red-breast 
 that had built in some ivy against a wall in a garden at 
 Whitburn, near Sunderland, in April 1839. The bird 
 was sitting upon four eggs, when the gardener one day 
 trimmed the ivy so close with his shears, as almost to 
 destroy the nest; in consequence of which the eggs 
 were precipitated to the ground. They lay there till 
 observed by the lady shortly afterwards, who was 
 attracted to the spot by the plaintive cries of the parent 
 bird. It was at first thought that to restore them to 
 the nest would prove useless. The attempt, however, 
 was made ; the eggs, which were nearly cold, were 
 picked up, and placed back again in the nest, after it 
 had been repaired and put together again as well as was 
 possible. They had not been returned to their former 
 situation five minutes, when the bird came, and again 
 took charge of them, and in two days they were hatched ;
 
 THE ROBIN. 297 
 
 the infant brood being from that time, of course, objects 
 of daily interest and observation. Great was the dis- 
 may of the lady, some days afterwards, at finding all 
 the little ones upon the ground, stiff and cold, having 
 fallen through a fracture in the patched nest which was 
 not sufficiently strong to keep them together. She 
 took them up, and perceiving a slight movement in one 
 of them, carried them into the house, where, partly by 
 the warmth of the hand, and partly by the influence of 
 the tire to which they were held, they all gradually 
 recovered. They were then again placed in the nest, 
 which was further patched with a piece of drugget, 
 fastened into the fracture through which they had 
 fallen. They were doomed, however, to go through 
 more trials ; for it happened, some nights after there 
 \vas a heavy rain, which so completely soaked the nest, 
 and the drugget which had been placed in it as a lining, 
 that the young ones were found the following morning 
 almost drowned, and to appearance lifeless. They were 
 again brought to the fire, and thoroughly dried. After 
 which, they were placed in the empty nest of another 
 bird that was substituted for the old one, and fixed in 
 a currant bush a few yards from the wall where the ivy 
 was. The young ones, which were half-fledged when 
 they got this wetting, still continued to receive the 
 attentions of their parents, and in due time they were 
 all safely reared, and flew away. It is stated that it was 
 very curious to observe the familiarity of the old birds 
 during the whole course of these proceedings : they 
 always sat close by, and never seemed the least alarmed 
 at the liberties taken with their progeny 
 
 s 2
 
 298 
 
 THE GOOSE. 
 
 Evil, like us, they shun, and covet good ; 
 
 Abhor the poison, and secure the food. 
 
 Like us they love or hate ; like us they know 
 
 To greet the friend, or grapple with the foe. 
 
 With seeming thought their actions they intend, 
 
 And use the means proportioned to the end ; 
 
 Then vainly the philosopher avers 
 
 That reason guides our heads and instinct theirs. 
 
 How can we justly different answers frame, 
 
 When the effects entirely are the same ? 
 
 Instinct and reason how can we divide ? 
 
 'Tis the fool's ignorance and the pedant's pride. PRIOR. 
 
 314. WITHOUT speaking of the attention due to the 
 goose for its pecuniary worth, beyond this, it has quali- 
 ties, we might almost say, of the mind, of a very singular 
 character ; we mean the unaccountable constancy and 
 affection which it has been known to show, not only to 
 its own species and to other birds and animals, but more 
 particularly to man ; and it is not improbable that these 
 qualities, which, as we shall soon show, were known to 
 the ancients, might have rendered it an object of high 
 esteem, and in some cases sacred ; as. for instance, it 
 was to Juno, the queen of their idol gods. In addition 
 to which it has other qualifications, proving the fallac}- 
 of the proverbial libel, " As silly as a goose." Thus its 
 watchfulness at night time has always been noted ; and
 
 THE GOOSE. 299 
 
 it certainly is endowed with a strong organ of self-pre- 
 servation, for, as lias been well observed, you may drive 
 over cat, dog, hen, pig, or even pigeons, but few, if any, 
 can record an instance of driving over a tame goose ; 
 and as for wild-geese, there is no animal, biped or quad- 
 ruped, so difficult to deceive or approach, their sense of 
 hearing, seeing, and smelling, being so exceedingly 
 acute ; independent of which they seem to act in so 
 organised and cautious a manner when feeding or roost- 
 ing, as to defy all danger. Sportsmen could give 
 instances without number of their utmost skill being of 
 110 avail in attempting to approach these birds ; either 
 a careless step on a piece of gravel, or an eddy of wind, 
 however light, or letting them perceive the smallest 
 portion of their persons, has rendered useless whole 
 hours of maneuvering. 
 
 315. Of its attachment to the human race, says Bishop 
 Stanle} 7 , Pliny, an ancient Roman writer, gives several 
 instances : one only we select, as closely resembling 
 that with which, we shall conclude. A person named 
 Lacydes, a philosopher, had a goose which took so 
 strong a fancy to him, that it would never willingly 
 leave him, by day or night. Wherever he went the 
 goose was his companion ; if he went abroad and walked 
 in the public streets, the bird followed him ; and inliis 
 own house, always forced itself into his presence. The 
 philosopher, struck with this constant and strange 
 attachment, seems to havs considered it as in some way 
 connected with religious feelings; and accordingly, 
 when at last it died, he was .it the expense of bestowing 
 upon it a magnificent funeral.
 
 300 THE GOOSE. 
 
 31(5. Our next instance occurred in Scotland. A 
 goose a year old, formed a similar attachment to a per- 
 son in Elgin, and would follow him any distance, even 
 through the crowd and bustle of the main street. One 
 day, when going down the street, its master went into 
 a hair-dresser's shop to be shaved, whereupon the bird 
 waited patiently till the operation was finished, and 
 then accompanied him to the house of a friend ; after 
 which it proceeded home with him. Change of dress 
 seemed to make no difference in the bird's power of 
 distinguishing its master, for in whatever dress he 
 appeared, the goose recognised him ; and whenever he 
 spoke, it responded with a cry expressive of satisfaction. 
 
 317. Another similar case is on record in Germany. 
 An aged blind woman, who probably might have been 
 in the habit of feeding it, used to be led every Sunday 
 to church by a gander, taking hold of her gown with 
 his bill. When she had seated herself, it retired to 
 graze in the churchyard till she came out again, when 
 it led her home. One day, the clergyman called at her 
 house, and expressing his surprise to her daughter, that 
 her mother should venture abroad ; she replied, " Oh, 
 sir, we are not afraid of trusting her out of sight, for the 
 gander is with her." 
 
 318. The Bishop continues, "We frankly own that so 
 strange and improbable as the above stories appear,' 
 we should neither have inserted, or paid the slightest 
 attention to them, had we not the following testi- 
 mony to their credibility, for the accuracy of which 
 we can readily vouch ; and deeply do we regret that a 
 better fate did not await so extraordinary a bird, which
 
 THE GOOSE. 801 
 
 under more intelligent observers, might have afforded 
 opportunities of ascertaining the extent of so unusual 
 a dcvelopcment of affection. A farmer in Cheshire 
 possessed a flock of geese, one of which, at the end of 
 about three years, without any apparent cause, began 
 to show a peculiar partiality for its master. It first 
 appeared on the bird's quitting its companions in the 
 farm-yard or pond, and stalking after him. These 
 symptoms became daily stronger, and in a short time 
 Avherever the farmer went, whether to the mill, or the 
 blacksmith's shop, or through the bustling streets of a 
 neighbouring manufacturing town, the goose was at hia 
 heels: so persevering! y did it follow his steps, that if he 
 wished to go out alone, 'he was under the necessity of 
 fastening up the bird. The farmer was in the habit of 
 holding his own plough, and on these occasions, the 
 goose as regular! y passed the day in the ploughing field, 
 walking sedately, not with the usual waddling pace of 
 its fellow geese, but with a firm step, head erected, and 
 neck erect, a short way before him, in the line of the 
 furrows, frequently turning round and fixing its eyes 
 intently upon him. When the length of one furrow 
 was accomplished, and the plough turned, the goose, 
 without losing its step, adroitly wheeled about, and 
 thus continued its attendance till the leaving, and then 
 followed its master home; and if permitted, would 
 mount upon his lap as he sat by the fire after dark, 
 showing the strongest signs of affection, and nestling 
 its head in his bosom, and preening the hair of his 
 head with its beak, as it was wont to do its own feathers- 
 Sometimes the farmer would go out shooting, and no
 
 302' THE GOOSE. 
 
 sooner had he shouldered his Run, than his companion 
 was at his post, following him as before, in spite of 
 eveiy obstacle, " getting over," to use the man's own 
 words, " the fences as well as I could myself." All this, 
 it should be observed, continued not only without any 
 encouragement on the part of the farmer, but even in 
 spite of long discouragement on his part. How long it 
 would have continued, or to what extent, we lament, to 
 add, he effectually precluded the world from knowing ; 
 for with an unpardonable inattention to so truly a won- 
 derful case, in addition to an equally unpardonable 
 superstitious fear, he took it into his head that the 
 mysterious affection of the goose foreboded some evil, 
 and in a moment of alarm, he killed the faithful bird. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 COULIAS, PKIMIEB, HIGil-OUSJiGATE, YORK.
 
 000 047 830 s