118 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



out a nut which had been concealed in a crevice 

 under the lichen, and sitting up, he began cracking 

 and eating it, taking no further notice of me. The 

 sudden change in him, the hurried search for some- 

 thing, and the result, seemed to throw some light 

 on the question of the animal's memory with refer- 

 ence to his habit of hiding food. It is one common 

 to a great number of rodents, and to many of the 

 higher mammals Canidse and Felidse, and to many 

 birds, including most, if not all, the Corvidse. 



When the food is hidden away here, there, and 

 everywhere, we know from observation that in innu- 

 merable instances it is never found, and probably 

 never looked for again; and of the squirrel we are 

 accustomed to say that he no sooner hides a nut 

 than he forgets all about it. Doubtless he does, and 

 yet something may bring it back to his mind. In 

 this matter I think there is a considerable difference 

 between the higher mammals, cats and dogs, for in- 

 stance, and the rodents ; I think the dog has a better 

 or more highly developed memory. Thus, I have 

 seen a dog looking enviously at another who had 

 got a bone, and after gazing at him with watering 

 mouth for some time, suddenly turn round and go 

 off at a great pace to a distant part of the ground, 

 and there begin digging, and presently pull out a 

 bone of his own, which he had no doubt forgotten 

 all about until he was feelingly reminded of it. I 

 doubt if a squirrel would ever rise to this height ; 



