AND ANGLING SONGS. 223 



made his way to the Gordon Arms, where, if respect to the 

 Clan Howe was not more punctiliously paid, the benefit at least 

 of his society as a toper would be better appreciated. What 

 has been the fate of this sketch I could never discover, but I 

 recollect that the Shepherd himself set a growing value upon it, 

 as a faithful representation, embodying every notable point, of 

 the breed to which his favourites belonged. 



Mention made of the colley or sheep-dog, so extensively 

 employed in the pastoral districts of Scotland, leads me to bear 

 testimony to the amount of sagacity, approaching intelligence, 

 displayed by this variety of the Canis domesticus. The attach- 

 ment shown by the colley to its master, and the anxiety dis- 

 played by it to fulfil his wishes to the letter, have often been 

 commented on. This latter characteristic goes far beyond the 

 spirit of obedience acquired, say in the case of the pointer, by 

 good training. It not only prompts the execution of certain 

 duties, but actually forestalls or anticipates what is required. 

 There is, in fact, that which holds good for a reasoning power in 

 the sheep-dog (and I may class with it the retriever and New- 

 foundland), possessed, for the direct advantage of the human 

 race, by none other of the inferior animals. 



A great many curious instances, falling under personal obser- 

 vation, I could adduce, touching the near approach to intelli- 

 gence manifested by individuals belonging to this variety of the 

 canine tribe. One only of these I shall relate. 



My friend Wilson possessed a favourite dog of the colley breed, 

 by name, Hover, which generally accompanied him on his angling 

 excursions. On one occasion, shortly after it came into his pos- 

 session, we arranged to spend a week or two together at St. 

 Mary's Loch. Accordingly, taking the dog along with us, we 

 proceeded by coach from Edinburgh to Peebles, a distance of 

 twenty-two miles ; and from thence made our way on foot up the 

 Manor Water, passing over the Cramault heights to Meggat and 



