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severely wounding him, after which the terrier disappeared ; but 

 in a few days he returned again, accompanied by a powerful 

 mastiff, when both together fell upon the original assailant, 

 whom they nearly killed. The mastifl' was the watch dog at his 

 master's house, more than a day's journey distant, and had been 

 brought by the terrier for the sole purpose of avenging the in- 

 jury he had received, after which they left in company and 

 proceeded together to their home. Here was displayed a power 

 of combining ideas and of communicating them to one of his 

 kind, when the two acted on the plan they had preconcerted. 



In a work just issued, an anecdote is related of a dog who had 

 lost his master and afterwards became old and blind, passing his 

 time sadly in the same corner, which he rare'y quitted. " One 

 day came a step like that of his lost master, and he suddenH^ 

 left his place. The man who had just entered wore ribbed 

 stockings as his master had done. The old dog had lost his 

 scent and referred at once to his stockings that he remembered, 

 rubbing his face against them. Believing that his master had 

 returned, he gave way to the most extravagant delight. The 

 man spoke ; the momentary illusion was dispelled, the dog went 

 sadh'^ back to his place, and lay wearily down." Here was 

 a double process of reasoning and even a balancing of testimony 

 with a decision that the negative evidence of the strange voice 

 outweighed the aflftrmative proof in the step and the stockings. 



Much evidence favors the belief that animals not only be- 

 come familiar with the words habitually addressed to them, but 

 that they, to a certain extent, understand our language. A dog, 

 belonging to a friend of the writer, would slink from the room 

 with every indication of shame if a fault of which he had been 

 guilty was spoken of m his presence. The author of '* Chapters 

 on Animals'' describes a dog in his possession which clearly- 

 distinguishes between those visitors at the house who are favor- 

 ites with his master and those whom be dislikes, and adds: 

 '' I know not how he discovers these differences in my feelings, 

 except it be by overhearing remarks when the guests are gone." 



The elephant, though one of the clumsiest of animals, exhibits 

 marks of hiirh intellij^cence, and evident Iv understands the Ian- 



