154 LOLA 



scientious care to the work and, in a general way, the 

 results have been much the same as those obtained 

 from Rolf, although, in the matter of detail, there is 

 much that is new ; indeed, many of the observations 

 set down by this investigator raise questions of fascinat- 

 ing interest. Here, again, the author has been able 

 to improve on the method as previously applied by 

 others ; teaching the dog to rap tens and units with 

 different paws, as had been done by Krall's horses, 

 and also introducing a better method of spelling by 

 teaching the proper value of the consonants. 1 Frau- 

 lein Kindermann further applied her tests systematic- 

 ally in order to solve certain problems, proving the 

 animal's ability to the full extent in one particular sub- 

 ject at a time. It is indeed the experience thus gained 

 which gives to this book its special value, even though 

 all the problems submitted may not have been fully 

 solved. I would here draw attention to the fact that 

 the author's dog invariably replies in " High German," 

 whereas Rolf of Mannheim employs the dialect of the 

 Pfalz and the Stuttgart dog, Sepp, expresses his 

 views in Suabian ; indeed, each dog naturally learns 

 the " form of speech " he hears in his own locality. 

 The results that have come under notice seem at times 

 so extraordinary that doubts may arise as to the 

 authenticity of what has here been set down ; yet 

 should we be careful not to reject new evidence be- 

 cause it happens to exceed all we have hitherto known 

 or experienced. For this is a case of exploring new 

 ground, ingress to which has now become possible 

 owing to an entirely new method, and none should 

 take upon themselves to decide in advance what may, 



1 Rolf could only rap with one paw owing to the other fore-pavr 

 having been injured ; he generally leaves out the vowels, these 

 being already contained within the consonants. This habit gives 

 rise to a somewhat curious form of writing. 



