50 MENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANIMALS 
of careful crossing, there will be some cases of reversion 
to the ancestral type. On the whole, however, there 
seems to be a continuous increase in the intelligence of 
animals, which, having been carefully trained, are brought 
together under a well-considered scheme of selection. 
We find amongst all classes of domesticated stock a generally 
continued advance, both physically and mentally. I do 
not propose to mention many cases to illustrate my con- 
tention. Most of us, I suppose, can call to mind some 
facts in connection with this phase of the question. 
Breeders of horses are aware that certain strains of blood 
are likely to lead to the development in individual animals 
of greater sagacity than is common to all. In the case 
of dogs this is particularly noticeable. One old cattle 
dog I had, when I lived at Rodd’s Bay, knew as well as 
any of us when a bullock was to be slaughtered. He was 
full of excitement when cattle, including a beast for 
slaughter, were driven into the yards where the killing 
took place. He anxiously watched the men as they ground 
the knives, and collected the required butchers’ implements ; 
and, other preparations having been completed, he waited 
outside the back door of the house until I came out 
with the gun. Then, with marked approval, he excitedly 
preceded me to the slaughter yard. So far as one 
could judge from his actions, there was no detail which the 
old fellow did not know and keep in his mind. So too, 
an old cat. As a rule he waited at the garden fence, and 
looked towards the yard in which were the cattle ; but 
when I walked down with the gun, he perched himself 
on top of one of the posts and there awaited my return, 
expressing in his own feline fashion his thanks for the 
feast of fresh beef which I brought back with me. Most 
people have read or heard of the marvellous intelligence 
of sheep dogs and cattle dogs. I will limit myself to two 
cases. 
A friend of my own, named Brown, went to Gloucester, 
in New South Wales, to select some cattle which he wished 
to purchase. One of the stockmen went round with him 
to collect the cattle in a large paddock. This man made 
signs to his dog, and told him what was expected of him. 
He rode up one side of the creek with Mr. Brown ; the dog 
