INTRODUCTION. 57 



away for an hour or two, and then returned to look for 

 his mother. Having found her dead body, he laid him- 

 self down by her, and was discovered in that situation the 

 next day by his master, who took him home, together 

 with the body of the mother. Six weeks did this affec- 

 tionate creature refuse all consolation, and almost all 

 nutriment. He became at length universally convuls- 

 ed, and died of grief. 



I have also seen several instances of dogs voluntarily 

 undertaking the office of nurse to others, who have been 

 sick. When we consider the warmth of their feelings, 

 and the tenderness of their regard, this is not to be 

 wondered at, if it happens among those habituated to one 

 another; but I have occasionally observed it amono- 

 those who were nearly strangers to €ach other. One 

 very particular case occurs to my recollection, where a 

 large dog, of the mastiff breed, hardly full grown, at- 

 tached himself to a very small spaniel ill with distem- 

 per ; from which the large dog was himself but newly 

 recovered. He commenced this attention to the spaniel 

 the moment he saw it, and, for several weeks, he con- 

 tinued it unremittingly, licking him clean, following him 

 every where, and carefully protecting him from harm. 

 When the large dog was fed, he has been seen to save 

 a portion, and to solicit the little one to eat it ; and, in 

 one instance, he was observed to select a favourite mor- 

 sel, and carry it to the kennel where the sick animal lay. 

 When the little dog was, from ilhiess, unable to move, 

 the large one used to sit at the door of his kennel, where 

 he would remain for hours, guarding him from interrup- 

 tion. Here was no instinct, no interest; it was wholly 

 the action of the best qualities of the mind. 



In the human species, gratitude has ever been consi- 

 dered as one of the highest virtues. Where shall we 

 see it exhibited in a more interesting point of view than 



E 



