128 INSTINCT. [CH. vir. 



friend Lieut. P d, K.N. then in command of H.M. Cutter 



" Cameleon." " Triton," however, was so attached to his old roving 

 habits, that whenever the cutter went into port he would invariably 

 swim ashore of his own accord, and remain away for several days, 

 always managing, however, to return on board before the anchor 

 was weighed. Such, too, was his intelligence that he never seemed 

 puzzled how to pick out his own vessel from amidst forty or fifty 

 others. Indeed, Lieut. P d, (he lately commanded the " Vul- 

 can,") to whom the question, at my request, was expressly put, 

 believes, (and he has courteously permitted me to quote his name 

 and words,) that, on one occasion, " Triton " contrived to find his 

 own vessel from among nearly a hundred that were riding at anchor 

 in Poole harbour. The dog's being ever so well acquainted with the 

 interior of the craft does not explain why he should be familiar 

 with her external appearance. Did he judge most by the hull or 

 the rigging ? 



220. The Duke of N k so much admired the magnificent 



style in which " Triton " would spring into the strongest sea', that 



Lieut. P d gave the fine animal to his Grace, who, for all I know 



to the contrary, still possesses him. 



221. Who can account for the mode in which a dog or cat, carried 

 a long journey from home, in a covered basket, instinctively, finds 

 its way back ? yet, numerous are the well authenticated instances 

 of such occurrences.* But, enough of this, fortunately I have not 

 undertaken to attempt an elucidation of any of Nature's many 

 mysteries, but simply to show how some of the faculties she has 

 bestowed upon the canine race may easily be made conducive to our 

 amusements. 



* When quartered, years ago, house where his services had ever 



in County Wexford, I used fre- before been required. As it is 



quently to see a fine strong-kuit, certain that he was perfectly blind, 



well-built horse, who could never no faculty we can believe him to be 



see me for he was stone-blind ; possessed of, unless it be memory, 



yet, odd to say, all his progeny had will explain how, at such long 



capital eyes. 1 He had rather a queer intervals, he could recognise the 



temper, as his name, " Kestless," many different places so accu- 



partly implied. During the spring rately ; and if it be attributable 



he was led about the country, and to memory, that of the Senior 



what is very surprising, there was "Wrangler of Cambridge's best year 



always a fight to get him past the can in no way be compared with 



lane or gate leading to any farm- it. 



1 This is the more singular, as, attributed it to the dampness of 



from unexplained causes, diseases the climate. His young English 



of that organ are but too common horses suffered while at Cork as 



in Ireland. One veterinary surgeon much as his Irish ones. 



