ioo THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



them on the ground, till only the jack remained. He 

 puzzled her, darting away swift as an arrow and seeming 

 to anticipate the enemy. But after a time he, too, was 

 captured. 



They were not injured not the mark of a tooth was 

 to be seen and swam as freely as ever when restored 

 to the water. So soon as they were put in again the 

 pointer recommenced her fishing, and could hardly be got 

 away by force. The fish were purposely left in the tub. 

 The next day she returned to the amusement, and soon 

 became so dexterous as to pull a fish out almost the in- 

 stant her nose went under water. The jack was always 

 the most difficult to catch, but she managed to conquer 

 him sooner or later. When returned to the trough, how- 

 ever, she was done the water was too deep. Scarcely 

 anything could be imagined apparently more opposite to 

 the hereditary intelligence of a pointer than this ; and 

 certainly no one attempted to teach her, neither did she 

 do it for food. It was an original motion of her own : to 

 what can it be compared but mind proceeding by experi- 

 ment ? They can also adjust their conduct to circum- 

 stances, as when they take to hunting on their own 

 account : they then generally work in couples. 



If a spaniel, for instance, one of those allowed to lie 

 loose about farmhouses, takes to. hunting for herself, she is 

 almost always found to meet a canine friend at a little 

 distance from the homestead. It is said that spaniels 



