112 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. — [cuap. xiv. 
these men, who was in the habit of wiring hares, and though 
the keepers knew of his malpractices, they were for some time 
unable to catch him in the act, in consequence of his always 
placing his three dogs as videttes in different directions, to warn 
him of the approach of any person. A herd-boy at the farm 
near my house puts his dog to a curious use. A great part of 
his flock are sent to pasture on the carse-ground across the river, 
and when the boy does not want to go across to count them and 
see that they are all right, deterred from doing so by the water 
being flooded, or from any other reason, he sends his dog to 
swim across and collect the sheep on the opposite bank, where 
he can see them all distinctly. Though there are other sheep 
on the carse belonging to different people, the dog only bringe 
his own flock. After they are counted and pronounced to be all 
right by the boy, the dog swims back again to his master. 
Were I to relate the numberless anecdotes of dogs that have 
been told me, I could fill a volume. 
Iam often amused by observing the difference of temper and 
disposition which is shown by my own dogs—as great a differ- 
ence, indeed, as would be perceived among the same number of 
human beings. 
Having for many years been a great collector of living pets, 
there is always a vast number of these hangers-on about the 
house—some useful, some ornamental, and some neither tlie one 
nor the other. 
Opposite one window of the room I am in at present are a 
monkey and five dogs basking in the sun, a bloodhound, a Skye 
terrier, a setter, a Russian poodle, and a young Newfoundland 
bitch, who is being educated as a retriever ; they all live in great 
friendship with the monkey, who is now in the most absurd 
manner searching the poodle’s coat for fleas, lifting up curl by 
curl, and examining the roots of the hair. Occasionally, if she 
thinks that she has pulled the hair, or lifted one of his legs rather 
too roughly, she looks the dog in the face with an inquiring ex- 
pression to see if he is angry. The dog, however, seems rather 
to enjoy the operation, and showing no symptoms of displeasure, 
the monkey continues his search, and when she sees a flea catches 
it in the most active manner, looks at it for a moment, and then 
eats it with great relish. Having exhausted the game on the 
