CRIME AND CRIMINALITY. \^ 161 



intelligence, of which they are constantly required to make 

 appropriate use. Thus they convey information to their 

 master by peculiar voice- sounds understood, perhaps even 

 heard, only by him. They communicate their own ideas 

 (Walsh). They understand necessarily their master's words, 

 even his looks and actions. They recognise mere strangers 

 from enemies. 



This high intelligence is due, not merely to the special 

 education conferred, but to the close association of the 

 animals with man as his friend and companion, as well as 

 his assistant or servant. Such is the case, for instance with 

 the lurcher the poacher's dog. 



Sir Walter Scott and the Ettrick Shepherd have made 

 us familiar with the history of the sheep-stealing collie, 

 ' Yarrow,' and of other celebrated canine sheep-stealers of 

 the south of Scotland, that figured in its criminal annals. 

 'Yarrow' avoided committing its master by bringing him 

 under suspicion in any way (Watson), pretending, for 

 instance, not to recognise him if they met in public (Scott) . 



Animal criminals watch the human guardians of the law, 

 and take advantage of their momentary inattention : in other 

 words, they wait for, and seize at once suitable opportunity 

 for their illegal performances or practices, obviously knowing 

 them to be illegal. On the French frontiers dogs are em- 

 ployed in the smuggling of lace, as well as of tobacco. 



The following case came to light in Paris in 1874. 1 For 

 a long time various kinds of small wares had disappeared 

 mysteriously from a certain large emporium for the sale of 

 miscellaneous ornamental or fancy goods. All efforts on the 

 part of the quick-witted and observant Parisian detectives 

 had failed to discover the thief. It had never occurred 

 either to any of the employes, or to the police, all of whom 

 were on the alert to suspect a dog that had, nevertheless, 

 been frequently seen in the establishment, but which was 

 naturally supposed to have accompanied some customer or 

 customers. At length the mode of theft was discovered by 

 accident by an inspector of police. It proved that the wily 



1 ' North British Daily Mail,' November 26, 1874. 

 VOL. II. M 



