FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 311 



THE DOG AND THE MATCHES. 



\Sept. 21, 1895.] 



I HAVE a fox-terrier whose idiosyncrasies 

 excite much interest. Professor Lloyd 

 Morgan, of University College, Bristol, 

 chronicled the same in one of his articles 

 dealing with animal instinct. This dog 

 never sees a match lighted without attempting 

 to put it out, and jumps and snaps at it in a 

 most excited manner. When he was quite 

 young, I dropped something on the floor, 

 and as it was growing dark, lit a candle and 

 stooped down to look for it. The dog jumped 

 at the candle and extinguished it. I thought 

 it was done by accident, and relit it. The 

 animal snapped again at the flame, and again 

 put it out. He has often singed himself sub- 

 sequently, but has always persevered, when 

 permitted, till he has put out a match lighted 

 and held within jumping reach, or a lighted 

 candle ; but as paraffin lamps are used in our 

 house, we have thought it rather dangerous 

 to encourage his proclivity lest it might lead 

 to accident. He also, if a small pair of 



