LANGUAGE. 99 



up by "pulling one's dress with its claws, and then, having 

 succeeded in attracting the desired attention, it would walk to 

 the street door and stop there, making the same cry until let 

 out" (p. 414) ; also of a cat which, on seeing her friend the 

 parrot " flapping its wings and struggling violently up to its 

 knees in dough," ran upstairs after the cook to inform her of 

 the catastrophe — " mewing and making what signs she could 

 for her to go down," till at last " she jumped up, seized her 

 apron, and tried to drag her down," so that the cook did go 

 down in time to save the bird from being smothered. This 

 gesture-sign of pulling at clothing, in order to induce one to 

 visit a scene of catastrophe, is of frequent occurrence both in 

 cats and dogs. Several instances are likewise given of cats 

 jumping on chairs and looking at bells when they want milk 

 (this being intended as a sign that they desire the bell pulled 

 to call the servant who brings the milk), placing their paws 

 upon the bell as a still more emphatic sign, or even themselves 

 ringing the bell (p. 416). 



Concerning gesture-signs made by dogs (other than point- 

 ing), I may allude to a terrier which I had, and which when 

 thirsty used to signify his desire for water by begging before 

 a wash-stand, or any other object where he knew that 

 water was habitually kept. And Sir John Lefroy, F.R..S., 

 gave me a similar, though still more striking, case of his 

 terrier, which it was the duty of a maid-servant to supply 

 with milk. One morning this servant was engaged on some 

 needlework, and did not supply the milk. "The dog en- 

 deavoured in every possible way to attract her attention and 

 draw her forth, and at last pushed aside the curtain of a 

 closet, and, although never having been taught to fetch or 

 carry, took between his teeth the cup she habitually used, and 

 brought it to her feet " (p. 466). Another case somewhat simi- 

 lar is given on the same page. 



Again, Mr. A. H. Browning wrote me : — " My attention 

 was called to my dog appearing in a great state of excitement, 

 not barking (he seldom barks) but whining, and performing 

 all sorts of antics (in a human subject I should have said 



