A CHAPTER ON DOGS. 



sion of the ordinary conversation between man and man. Gall declares that he had often 

 spoken purposely of objects which might interest his dog, taking care not to mention his 

 name, or make any intonation or gesture which might awaken his attention, and that he 

 showed by his behavior that he understood what was said. Lord Brougham says that a 

 most accurate and literal person gave him an account of which the substance was that his 

 shooting-dogs discovered by what they heard that he intended to go into Nottinghamshire 

 on the following day. A mother asked her boy to fetch his sisters clothes, and on his 

 refusing peevishly, she said, to reproach him, ' Oh, Mungo will fetch them;' and the dog 

 immediately executed the commission. We agree with Lord Brougham that these instan- 

 ces of presumed interpretation of our language are probably due to the microscopic eye of the 

 dog for what passes around him, though, as he justly remarks, this only illustrates the more 

 how well animals can profit by experience, and draw correct inferences from things observ- 

 ed by them. Where the words are addressed immediately to himself, it is not difficult to 

 determine that he collects their purport either from the introduction of some well-learnt 

 phrases, or from the tone and action which accompanies them. To take an example which 

 at first sight appears to support the higher view of the understanding of the dog. M. Blaze 

 having one day lost his road, a peasant offered him his dog to escort him to a certain house. 

 ' Take the gentleman,' he said, turning to the animal, ' to such a place, but don't go in, 

 mind you, and come back directly,' — then to M. Blaze, ' I tell him not to go in, because 

 he would fight with the other dogs.' The dog did as he was bid, conducted M. Blaze to 

 the house and returned to his master. Here it is clear that the house to which he was sent 

 was a familiar word like his own name, and equally clear that he had been often scolded 

 for venturing within its precincts, and embroiling himself with his kindred, so that he 

 would readily comprehend the scope of the prohibition from the monitory voice with which 

 it was uttered. It was certainly a beautiful display of docility; but as regards the capa- 

 city of a dog to catch the meaning of words, it proves nothing more than that he attaches 

 ideas to a few customary, well-defined, and expressive sounds. He would seem, however, 

 to have an accurate sense of the lapse of time. That he distingushes Sunday is nothino-. 

 Everything wears such a diiferent aspect that he might identify it at a glance. But he is 

 also conscious of the recurrence of any other day of the week. A dog that belongs to the 

 brother of Sir Thomas Wilde, runs away on the Saturday night, and remains from home 

 till the Monday morning, in order to escape being chained on Sunday. Southey says, in 

 his ' Omniana,' that he knew of a dog which grew up with a Catholic, and was sold to a 

 Protestant, that would never eat on a Friday. His grandfather had one which every Sa- 

 turday, (the killing day of the week,) went a couple of miles to pick up offal at the butch- 

 er's shop. A bull-dog mentioned by M. Blaze, who was accustomed to go on the same 

 errand, kept to the propitious hour, as well as the day. This dog was always present at 

 family prayers, and when the last Pater was commenced, he got up and stood at the door, 

 that he might be ready to go out at the instant it was opened. We suspect that he was 

 instructed here by a slight movement in the circle, or by a variation in the pitch of read- 

 ing; and not, as M. Blaze infers, by his ability to count the number of Paters. The dog 

 also recognizes colors. Prisoners have written letters, according to M. Blaze, on yellow 

 red, or blue paper, and sent them by their dogs, who knew by the tint to whom they were 

 addressed. It is certain that the dog with a little training makes an excellent messenger. 

 Mr. Kirby mentions in his Bridgewater Treatise that one that was accustomed to carry 

 packets to a house went to the kitchen to be fed when he had deposited his charo-e, and 

 as soon as he had done, appeared barking at the parlor window, to give notice that 

 ready to return. Some have gone so far as to knock at the door, or rino- the bell 



