SB The Shepherd's Dog. 



many are to be found upon record appertaining to this 

 particular race ; if they are not so numerous as some 

 other sorts, it may be fairly attributed to the little pro- 

 portional chance they have (from their remote and se- 

 questered employment) of displaying those powers im 

 an equal degree with dogs more engaged in the bustle 

 of human society. 



Dr. Anderson (in his translation from Dr. Pallas) 

 introduces the following instance of sagacity in a 

 shepherd's dog, which he considers truly astonishing ; 

 and it will create no surprise with those who are in the 

 least acquainted with their perfections. 



" The owner himself having been hanged some 

 years ago for sheep stealing, the following fact, among 

 others respecting the dog, was authenticated by evi- 

 dence upon his trial. When the man intended to steal 

 any sheep, he did not do it himself, but detached his 

 dog to perform the business. With this view, under 

 pretence of looking at the sheep with an intention to 

 purchase them, he went through the flock with the dog 

 at his feet, to whom he secretly gave a signal, so as to 

 let him know the individuals he wanted, to the number 

 of ten or twenty, out of a flock of some hundreds ; he 

 then went away, and at a distance of several miles sent 

 back the dog by himself in the night time, who pick- 

 ed out the individual sheep that had been pointed out 

 to him, separated them from the flock, and drove them 

 before him by himself, till overtaking his master to 

 whom he relinquished them." 



The shepherd's dog rather shuns than seems anxi- 

 ous to obtain the caresses of strangers, of whom he al- 

 ways appears to be shy and suspicious ; it being re- 



