130 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



myself, would almost lead to the belief that the collie under- 

 stands the meaning of a conversation between members of 

 the human family. Entering the drawing-room of a lady 

 who has a celebrated dog of this variety as a pet, I was met 

 with the question, ' What do you think of my dog ? is he 

 not a perfect beauty ? ' After looking him over as he lay 

 on the rug, and with a desire to teaze my hostess, to whom 

 I owed a Rowland or two for her previous many Olivers 

 administered in badinage, I replied, very quietly, ' Yes, 

 certainly, if he had but a collie coat and a little more ruff.' 

 The words were hardly out of my mouth than the dog rose 

 from his recumbent position, seized one of my feet in his 

 mouth, gave it a gentle but vicious little shake, not sufficient 

 to scratch the leather of my boot, and then lay down again. 

 There was no emphasis on my part, and not a word uttered 

 by the lady until after the act was completed, when I need 

 scarcely say that eyes and tongue told me that I was 

 rightly served. Anyhow, it was a remarkable coincidence, 

 and from a long knowledge of the dog I really am inclined 



to believe that G knew I was ' picking holes in his 



coat/ and resented the injustice accordingly. Possibly, as 

 in many human beings, he prides himself most on his only 

 weak point, being absolutely perfect in every other and not 

 much amiss there." 



One could re -produce stories by the score as to the 

 sagacity of this dog, many of them true, some no doubt 

 otherwise. Of late years I have repeatedly seen perform- 

 ing collies on the stage and in the circus ring, and although 

 they, as a rule, go through their tricks well and with pre- 

 cision, they are excelled by the poodle. One I observed 

 at a certain place of entertainment which turned summer- 

 saults fairly well; another trainer, " Professor " Patterson, 



