352 INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS. 



the momentary illusion was dispelled, the dog 

 went sadly back to his place, lay wearily down, 

 and died." Here was a double process of rea- 

 soning and even a balancing of testimony with 

 a decision that the negative evidence of the 

 strange voice outweighed the affirmative proof 

 in the step and the stockings. 



Much evidence favors the belief that animals 

 not only become familiar with the words habitu- 

 ally addressed to them, but that they, to a certain 

 extent, understand our language. A dog, be- 

 longing 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 in his presence. The author of " Chapters 

 on Animals " describes a dog in his possession 

 which clearly distinguishes between those vis- 

 itors at the house who are favorites with his 

 master and those whom he dislikes, and adds : 

 " I know not how he discovers these differences 

 in my feelings, except it be by overhearing re- 

 marks when the guests are gone." 



