FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 201 



AN AUSTRALIAN DOG-STORY. 



[May n, 1895.] 



SEEING the great interest which many of 

 your readers take in the study of canine 

 character and intelligence, I think perhaps 

 the following incident is worth recording. 

 Whilst walking with a lady friend along 

 Studley Park Road, Kew (a residential 

 suburb of Melbourne), on a very quiet 

 afternoon some time ago, we were surprised 

 by a large St. Bernard dog, which came 

 up to us and deliberately pawed my leg 

 several times. Our perplexity at his extra- 

 ordinary behaviour was perhaps not unmixed 

 with a little misgiving, for he was an animal 

 of formidable size and strength ; but as he 

 gave evident signs of satisfaction at our 

 noticing him, and proceeded to trot on in 

 front at intervals looking round to make 

 sure we were following we became in- 

 terested. When we had followed him about 

 forty yards, he stopped before a door in 

 a high garden wall, and, looking round 

 anxiously to see that we were noticing, 



