220 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The mongrel seems to have been very slow in developing the play 
instinct which I attribute largely to his being the sole puppy from an 
early period and therefore seeing no other dog but his dam. 
In both the mongrel and the pure-bred puppies hearing progresses 
rapidly to perfection of sensation. Within about 10 days the maximum 
of acuteness is reached and the puppies are then very readily startled by 
noises, 1.e., they are reflexly greatly affected through the ear—much more 
so than through the eye. This fact has been very strongly impressed on 
my own mind again and again. 
As regards voluntary movements, there were differences to be noted. 
The mongrel seemed the sooner to gain control over the hind limbs. 
The same may be said of tail movements. Though one could not trace so 
general a development in the mongrel as in the St. Bernards by a certain 
period, the former had the greater power over his tail both as regards 
variety and vigour of movement, especially the latter. 
There was a comparatively sudden development in this mongrel 
which I can scarcely think is common, but in regard to this point I must 
speak cautiously till further exact observations are made, as I do not wish 
to make statements of mere general impressions with no definite basis of 
observation. | 
The movement of the ears especially, though others also fall into this 
class, following on noises are purely reflex and constitute one of the most 
delicate and early evidences of hearing. But asin the case of the pure- 
bred puppies concussions are earlier and more readily effective than sounds. 
While both the pure-bred dogs and the mongrel recognize a change 
in surroundings and are affected by it, herein lies one of the great ditfer- 
ences between them alike in puppyhood and in after life. 
One may compare the man ‘well born” and surrounded by conditions 
that tend to form the gentleman in the completest sense of the term with 
the pure-bred dog, just as the mongrel represents the peasant whose ances- 
tors and whose surroundings alike are against the highest attainments. 
The mongrel lacks all that refinement, modesty perhaps I may say, 
at all events that delicate appreciation of his own place and that of his 
fellow dogs and human beings which constitute such conspicuous features 
in the psychic whole of the pure-bred dogs. The latter show towards 
each other in a kennel with many together when their owner encourages 
and gives a chance for their exercise, kindness, justice and many qualities 
utterly foreign to the nature of the majority of mongrels. I do not now 
use the term mongrél in the sense of a cross between two pure-bred dogs, 
but in the more popular acceptation of a dog bred from parents that were 
mongrels and perhaps the remoter ancestors quite unknown. 
It is interesting to inquire whether these features of the psychic 
organization are shown in the young puppy and if so, when. 
Almost from the first the mongrel puppy shows an ability to 
scramble for himself in “this rough world” not manifested by the pure- 
