INSTINCT OF DOGS. 141 



influence of temper and education upon the instinct 

 of dogs. Having taken sea-bathing quarters for my 

 family, about forty miles from my residence in Perth- 

 shire, I walked there over the hills, accompanied by 

 my faithful retriever. When I returned for a week's 

 shooting, I ordered old Gruff to remain behind. After 

 waiting three days, and finding I did not come back as 

 he expected, he started off one night about nine o'clock, 

 made his way through the most intricate bye-paths and 

 short cuts of all descriptions, across a deep ferry, and 

 arrived at home about five next morning, when he was 

 discovered lying at the door. There are many authen- 

 ticated accounts of dogs making much more distant 

 journeys than this ; but the point to be noticed is, his 

 remaining three days, though perfectly at large, and 

 then taking his departure. A keen-tempered dog would 

 have started the next day, at latest, or, by having his 

 attention engrossed with other things, have remained 

 quietly where he was. Even in the former case, he 

 would not have gained half so much credit for sagacity, as 

 every one must have perceived that the patient retriever 

 waited to see whether or not his master would return. 

 Few would give themselves the trouble to remark that 

 his education and apathetic temper favoured him in this 

 particular, and that equal instinct might have been shown 

 in the more hasty resolves and quicker movements of 

 another. It is thus that keen dogs always appear deficient 

 in sense, because they are hurried away by their temper 

 from one thing to another; and their feats are seldom 



