^. 



THE OTTAWA !(ATURALIST." 



Vol. XVIII. 



OTTAWA, FEBRUARY, 1905. 



No. 1 1 



CANINE INTELLIGENCE. 



By Sir James Grant. 

 The Judge and the Dog. 



What a peculiar animal the dog is ! How full of instinct, in 

 fact almost approaching- common sense, or uncommon sense, if it 

 might so be termed. There is so much in the very expression of 

 his face, the cock of his ear, the grin of his mouth, the wag of 

 his tail and the occasional oblique attitude ot his body, all making 

 up in a most unmistakable way, for the absence of speech, so 

 often uttered by a bark. Is it any wonder the dog takes so im- 

 portant a place in almost every household ? He is far more than 

 ornamental, he is useful, and his characteristics, studied out, 

 even in a moderate way, dernonstrate beyond a doubt, how much 

 there is in this type of the quadruped species. Now and then in 

 this section of Canada we have a real dog show, and for variety 

 and peculiarities of dogs, the wonder is, how so many strange 

 dogs found their way so near the. north pole. In the discharge 

 of my professional duties, I have often been amazed at the sense 

 exhibited by dogs, particularly in the way of observing the sick of 

 the household. Recently, a little Scotch terrier, one ot the small, 

 well cut and shaggy-haired kind, — the little fellow that looks 

 under his long hairy eyebrows, as if he knew more than any other 

 of his class — attracted my attention. This little canine held his 

 own position in the household with great coolness and dignity. 

 When any stranger called, he generally observed the surround- 

 ings in his own peculiar way, and just in accordance with his im- 

 pressions, he would growl as if not perfectly satisfied, or take a 

 good look and walk off quickly to his usual quarters, fully satisfied 



