170 British War Dogs 



the position of the sun), I do not see why migratory birds 

 should not be assisted by similar means." 



Where such eminent men are doubtful, and even at 

 variance, it requires considerable courage to venture an 

 opinion on this knotty subject. It may, however, be of 

 some assistance, if I record a few conclusions reached 

 through many years of observation of the habits of the dog 

 in this connection. It is remarkable, however, seeing that 

 so many clever minds have concentrated on this interesting 

 study, so much of their work has been conducted amongst 

 the less intelligent animals of creation, and that, beyond 

 noting the fact that dogs do have a wonderful homing 

 instinct, very little research has been carried on with their 

 aid. Had half the efforts expended on ants, birds, bees, 

 etc., been directed towards training, and also unravelling 

 the mental riddle, which the dog presents in this respect,— 

 we might by now have discovered invaluable clues, by which 

 man himself might be led to understand many things at 

 present hidden from him. But no ! every animal, from 

 a semi-animated particle of jelly, is preferred, and the dog 

 — the most wonderful animal we have, and the nearest to 

 man in intellect and aspiration of all the animal kingdom 

 — is completely ignored. Even in the knowledge obtained 

 by all the years of patient research as to the homing instinct 

 amongst the lower animals, by what comparative degree 

 can the results be compared to those immediately returned 

 by the dog, in the adaptation of this gift to the need of 

 mankind during the war ? 



I will, first of all, say, that with regard to the homing 

 or migratory instinct in birds, it appears to me, that the 

 process by which they obtain their end is in some ways 

 more obscure than is the case with dogs. For instance, 

 in the case of homing pigeons, the method of their return 



