DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 57 



are few more affecting sights than that of a 

 "lost" dog. The dog wants to belong to some- 

 body. 



The cat becomes attached to places more. Its 

 affection and loyalty are lavished on localities. It 

 has a strong homing instinct. And it has a sense 

 which men do not have which guides it almost un- 

 erringly back to its home. Cats may be carried 

 away for miles, and carried in such a way that 

 they cannot see anything on the way to guide them 

 in returning, but when they are released they will 

 find their way back in the most surprising manner. 

 Dogs will do this some, too. Cats are almost in- 

 different to persons, but they cling to their native 

 haunts as they cling to life. 



The homing instinct is still more highly devel- 

 oped in the homing pigeons. The homing pigeon 

 has been carried a thousand miles away from 

 home, but the sense of direction is so unerring in 

 these birds and the longing for their home so 

 strong that after a few circles on being released 

 they will start on tireless wings for their native 

 cote. 



Wild animals do not rove about the world as 

 they are generally supposed to do. They live for 

 the most part in localities. They learn the ins and 

 outs of a locality from their parents and asso- 

 ciates, and are much safer in these familiar sur- 

 roundings than they would be wandering into new 

 and unknown regions. The homing instinct is use- 

 ful to all animals that possess it naturally to 



