54 INTRODUCTION. 



which she was too prone, and that her situation liad 

 been occupied by this faithful spaniel, to prevent a re- 

 petition of the attempts. Here wsls fidelity united with 

 great intellect, and wholly free from the aid of instinct. 

 This property of guarding victuals from the cat, or 

 from other dogs, was a daily practice of this animal ; 

 and, while cooking had been going forward, the floor 

 might have ])een strewed with edibles : they would have 

 been all safe from her own touch, and as carefully 

 guarded from that of others. A similar property is 

 common to many dogs, but to spaniels particularly. 



Perhaps the following instance of unwearied con- 

 stancy can hardly be equalled : it was related to me, 

 many years ago, by an old inhabitant of the parish in 

 which it occurred ; and I have so much dependance on 

 the probity of the gentleman who told it to me, that I 

 can venture to answer for its authenticity : — 



In the parish of Saint Olave, Tooley Street, Borough, 

 the churchyard is detached from the church, and sur- 

 rounded with high buildings, so as to be wholly inac- 

 cessible but by one large close gate, and by the windows 

 which look into it. A poor tailor, of this parish, dying, 

 left a small cur dog inconsolable for his loss. The 

 little animal would not leave his dead master, not even 

 for food ; and whatever he ate was forced to be placed 

 in the same room with the corpse. When the body was 

 removed for burial, this faithful attendant followed the 

 coffin. After the funeral, he was driven out of the 

 churchyard by the sexton, who, the next day, again 

 found the animal, who had made his way by some un- 

 accountable means (probably through some cellar win- 

 dow) into the enclosure, and had dug himself a bed on 

 the grave of his master. Once more he was hunted out, 

 and again he was found in the same situation the fol- 

 lowing day. The minister of the parish hearing of the 



