A Thought-Reading Dog 175 
He knows his multiplication table, and can also add together any combination of four 
figures, such as three times ten and two—further he has not been tried. Within the 
last few years he has made great strides. Whereas he formerly, after seeing it only 
once, learned anything new, he now, wonderful to relate, never requires to be taught 
anything. For instance, photographs of our distinguished Generals are stood upon the 
floor, a question concerning one of them is asked, on the spur of the moment, by any 
one present. This question, such as “Who defended Mafeking?” or “Which are the 
V.C.’s?” is then repeated to “Bob” by his owner. He immediately, without having 
ever been. taught it, puts down either his head or his paw on the photograph in question. 
-As- to the progress he has made in his spellimg—the letters composing the Christian or 
surname of a visitor (or any other short word) are mixed up together. He is told to 
spell the word, of generally six or seven letters—without even hearing it—and this feat 
he accomplishes successfully. Or again cards, with the names of Huropean capitals, 
or of countries, India, China, etc., are brought forward in the same manner, and he 
answers any questions put to him concerning them. On one occasion he was asked, 
“Where are the Boxers?” when he at once went to China. “Where is Lord Curzon ?”— 
to India—and so on, ad libitum. The question now arises—Is it possible for a dog 
to do such things? and some who have seen “Bob” vote him “uncanny.” His 
owner has come gradually to the conclusion that the only possible explanation is— 
thought-transference. This seems to be further carried out by the fact that he does 
his towrs de force—to call them tricks would be an imsult—equally well when~ not a 
syllable is uttered. His owner, while keeping the eyes fixed steadily upon him, merely 
repeats mentally what he is required to do, and the result is the same. Some letters 
from Mr. Edmond Selous on the subject of thought-transference amongst birds appeared 
last autumn in the “ Guardian,’ but we are not aware of any similar instances (as the 
above-mentioned) of mental telepathy between a dog and its master. Strangers who 
have not seen for themselves invariably smile incredulously when told these wonders; 
indeed so extraordinary did such a performance seem that a representative of ANIMAL 
Lire paid a special visit to the West of England this summer in order to see for 
himself, and “Bob” gave a séance exactly as recorded above, with the addition that 
when asked which animal most resembled the ‘“ Okapi,’ went at once to a picture of 
the zebra, picking this out from among others of the tiger, lion, ostrich, and elephant. 
SALUTING LORD KITCHENER.* DYING FOR THE KING, 
* A copy of this photograph was presented to and accepted by Lord Kitchener at Ballater Station, on 
the nineteenth of September, of this year (1902), after his visit to the King. 
