A Singular Instance of Canine Sagacity. 227 



separation lasted for two moaths, till the last week in 

 December, when the black sheep were brought back 

 into the field where the white ones had been left. And 

 now was I witness to another strange episode, the last of 

 the series. Soon as the flock of black sheep entered at 

 the gate, all " baaing " and bleating, as were the white 

 ones inside, the two-mothered lamb — now grown sheep 

 size — made a rush open-mouthed for the nurse from which 

 it had been so long separated, and seized hold of her milk- 

 less teats. But she now repelled it too, though not un- 

 kindly, evincing by looks and gestures that she not only 

 recognised her foster-son, but perfectly understood the 

 situation ! 



A SINGULAE INSTANCE OF CANINE 

 SAGACITY. 



I have a sheep-dog whose sagacity is truly surprising; 

 he seems up to everything short of articulate speech. But 

 think he can, and clearly, as testified by . the expression 

 of his eyes, and the display of cunning with great capa- 

 bility in his actions. 



He is of a strain somewhat remarkable, the bitch, his 

 great granddam, having borne whelps to a dog fox, one 

 of which was his grandsire. This singular cross occurred 

 among the mountains of Breconshire, in a wood adjoining 

 the sheep-farm where the bitch belonged. And the bring- 

 ing forth was in the fox's burrow, inside which the pups 

 were suckled by their dam, and there kept till able to run 

 about. Then these half-bred canines were caught and 

 brought home to the farmhouse, the mother following. 

 It was a curious instance of cross-breeding between the 



