THE DOG'S SENSE OF LOCALITY. 97 



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." 



One of the most remarkable illustrations of the dog's 

 capacity for understanding is probably that given by Mrs. 

 Bowdich, as follows: 



"Professor Owen was walking with a friend, by the side 

 of a river, near its mouth, on the coast of Cornwall, and 

 picked up a small piece of sea- weed. It was covered with 

 minute animals; and Mr. Owen observed to his companion^ 

 throwing the weed into the water, ' If this small piece affords 

 so many treasures, how microscopically rich the whole plant 

 must be ! I should much like to have one.' The gentle- 

 men walked on, but hearing a splashing in the water, turned 

 round, and saw it violently agitated. 'It is Lion!' both 

 exclaimed; 'what can he be about? He was walking quietly 

 enough by our side a minute ago.' At one moment they 

 saw his tail above the water, then his head raised for a 

 breath of air, then the surrounding element shook again, 

 and at last he came ashore, panting from his exertions, and 

 laid a whole plant of the identical weed at Mr. Owen's feet. 

 After this proof of intelligence, it will not be wondered at, 

 that when Lion was joyfully expecting to accompany his 

 master and his guest on an excursion, and was told to go 

 and take care of and comfort Mrs. Owen, who was ill, he 

 should immediately return to the drawing-room and lay him- 

 self by her side, which he never left during the absence of 

 his owner, his countenance alone betraying his disappoint- 

 ment, and that only for a few minutes." 

 The Dog's Sense Dogs have a remarkable sense of locality, 



of Locality. an( j w ju g n( j fa^ wa y to a S p ot t h e y have 



once visited with an unerring instinct under circumstances 

 which make it impossible for them to rely entirely upon their 



7 



