194 Animal Life 
was finished he sat himself erect in front of them to receive the caresses that were 
always bestowed upon him—after which he took up the blocks one by one and placed 
them back in the box where they were usually kept. 
IT am aware that certam dogs have been taught to obey certaim signals, by the 
ald of which they perform feats which deceive the casual spectator and appear to be 
acts of intelligence when, in fact, they are the result of mere trickery; as a rule 
this is admitted by all trainers. But in the instance here related the dog had no 
signal given him except that the name of each letter was called out in the order 
required. I regard this as the most unique feat of abstract trainmg that any dog 
has accomplished, and the high social and professional standing of the owners of 
“Trip” is a guarantee against any deception in the matter. J am personally mdebted 
to them for the story. : 
Professor L , who is now the professor of French in the English High Schoo 
of Boston, Massachusetts, owned a fine setter and retriever. He often gaye evidence 
of high intelligence and great affection. 
On one occasion, Professor Li and a friend were out shooting quail. A covey 
of birds flew across a field overgrown with bushes and bramble. In forcing their 
way through a long, dense thicket the professor got his watch-chain entangled, and a 
gold watch was jerked from it. The owner was not aware of it until they had 
gone far away from the spot, when he discovered the loose chain hanging to his 
waistcoat. Instantly he slapped his hand upon his pocket and realised his loss. At 
that moment the dog laid a dead bird at his feet, wagged his tail, and looked up 
at his master for approval. In his excitement he shook the chain, and said in 
French to the dog: “Ponto, I have lost my watch!” 
The expression on the dog’s face instantly changed to one of deep concern. He 
reared himself upon his master, pawed at his pocket, and smelt and examined the 
chain as if to assure himself of what was wrong. ‘The professor again shook the 
chain at him and repeated the words quoted. The dog promptly turned and started 
back over the route they had come; but instead of following his own trail he cautiously 
pursued that of his master. Proceeding slowly, he kept his nose near the ground, or 
tured it from side to side. From time to time he lifted his head high in the air 
and sniffed, and then resumed his search. The men followed in silence. On reaching 
a certain clump of bushes and briars the dog crept under them, smelt the leaves on 
the ground, turned towards his master, and barked. This provoked the professor, who 
scolded the dog, because, as he explains, he had not been under those bushes nor 
within some feet of them. The dog again crawled under them, paused, looked back, 
and again turned toward his master, who, being so certain that the dog was misleading 
him, spoke to him in a harsh and threatening tone. The dog once more crept under 
the bushes and, thrusting his nose into a bunch of leaves, drew out the watch, brought 
it and gently laid it at the feet of his master, and then crouched down as if begging 
for mercy, because he feared that a blow would be the sequel of the scolding. I am 
glad to say the gentleman assured me that from that hour to the day of his death 
the dog never received from him another unkind word. 
How often we wring the heart of some creature that loves us. Did you never look 
down into the soulful depths of the eyes of your dog? Few things are more painful 
to me than to see a faithful, loving dog crouching in fear at the feet of his master. 
Few things appeal to me more strongly than the unwavering fidelity of a dog. 
I do not mean to dim the lustre of man’s mental achievements or rebuke him 
for not having more respect for the dim glow of soul that lights the eye of every 
well-bred dog, but I insist that man does not lessen his own divinity by admitting 
that of the dog. 
