78 AKIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



The cook had to leave the room for a few moments, 

 when the dog quickly seized the turkey, ran out and 

 placed it in a cleft in a tree. He returned before the 

 cook got back and placed himself before the fire in the 

 same position in which the cook had left him, looking 

 perfectly innocent and unconscious. Unfortunately for 

 for him a man outside had seen the whole proceeding 

 and exposed him. The clergyman writes that the dog 

 evidently intended to establish his innocence by proving 

 an alibi. Here was an example of pure reasoning, in- 

 stinct played no part in this performance. The dog 

 wanted the turkey, but knew that if he stole it and ran 

 off with it in the ordinary fashion, he would be detected 

 and punished. He must secure it without being seen or 

 even suspected. The temporary absence of the cook 

 from the kitchen gave him his opportunity. He caught 

 up the prize, ran out, concealed it in a tree near by, and 

 hurried back to be in his usual place before the cook re- 

 turned. He fully realized if he was absent when the 

 cook got back, that he would be suspected of the robbery, 

 and to disarm all suspicion he must be found in the same 

 position in which the cook last saw him. But for the 

 unlucky presence of a spectator outside his plan would 

 no doubt have succeeded, and when the fitting oppor- 

 tunity came could have carried off and eaten the turkey 

 at his leisure. This defeated his scheme, but that it was 

 well planned and showed admirable reasoning power 

 will not be denied. 



One of the most extraordinary instances of reasoning, 

 shown by a hunting dog, is that related of another re- 

 triever, belonging to Mr. Arthur Nichols, who relates the 

 incident in " Nature." He had been out snipe shooting 

 and the party were returning home, when the dog 

 "flushed" a widgeon. He shot and the duck instantly 

 dived. The dog did not plunge in after it, but ran 

 rapidly down the shore of the narrow stream some fifty 



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