DOG-PSYCHOLOGY AND A CASE OF 

 APOSTASY 



A DOG AND A CAT 



IN turning over an old notebook I have come on the follow- 

 ing anecdotes relating to a dog and a cat, which are, I 

 think, worthy of being placed on record as interesting 

 little bits of comparative psychology. The one illustrates 

 how an acquirement may long remain dormant in the 

 absence of an appropriate stimulus, or be cunningly con- 

 cealed ; and the other shows how the accidental discovery 

 of a posture that relieves the pain of an injury may lead 

 to its being adopted and steadily maintained until the 

 work of healing is complete. 



1. Mrs. L., of Bonchurch, brought home to England 

 with her, after a visit to Spain, a little white poodle which 

 she purchased from some professional dog-trainers in 

 Barcelona. It proved an affectionate, intelligent little 

 creature, but displayed no special talent, and for the first 

 two years it was in Mrs. L.'s possession she did not know 

 that it had been taught any tricks beyond that of begging 

 for food. At the end of that time, however, two little 

 Italian boys came to spend the afternoon with her. When 

 they entered the drawing-room the poodle was resting un- 

 concernedly on the hearth-rug, but the moment they began 

 to talk to each other in Italian, as they did loudly and 

 volubly, it jumped up, manifested excitement and alarm, 

 and forthwith went through a little performance, throw- 

 ing a somersault and attempting to stand on its head and 

 walk on its forepaws, after which it ran and cowered in a 



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