172 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



of its earlier days. A horse belonging to a gentleman of 

 Taunton strayed from a field at Corfe, three miles distant 

 from thence. Aftei a long and troublesome search, he was 

 discovered on a farm at Branscombe, in Devon, a distance 

 of twenty-three miles, being the place where he was foaled, 

 although it is certain that the animal had not been there 

 for ten years, during the whole of which time he had been 

 in the possession of the gentleman who then owned him." 

 Horses seem to have a similar sense of locality to that for 

 which dogs are so famous. A horse will find its way home 

 when its master cannot see a yard before him, instances 

 being recorded of parties lost in the snow which covered 

 all tracks, who only saved their lives by letting a horse 

 loose and following him. Captain Brown gives two 

 instances of horses who on becoming ill, found their way 

 to the veterinary surgeon, who had previously treated them, 

 entirely of their own accord. Instances are recorded also 

 of Cavalry horses, who, on hearing thunder while out grazing, 

 have mistaken it for the sound of cannon and who with 

 great excitement have formed themselves into line and 

 " presented the front of a field of war". Old Hunters who 

 have become coach horses have been known upon hearing 

 the hounds, at the moment of "changing" to dash after 

 them with their harness on their backs and riderless and 

 guideless follow the hunt for hours. These are instances of 

 the ruling passion strong in after life, or perhaps more 

 correctly speaking of the force of habit, of which there are 

 countless illustrations. Kosciusko had a horse which he 

 once lent to a young man whom he employed upon a 

 commission, but who on his return declared that he would 

 never use the horse again unless also supplied with his master's 

 purse; for said he, "as soon as a poor man on the road 

 takes oflF his hat and asks charity the animal immediately 

 stands still, and will not stir until something is bestowed 

 upon the petitioner; and as I had no money about me X 



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