106 The Dog as a Culprit. 



considerable distance from even the fields of a near neighbour, 

 for whom no particular feeling of regard can be supposed to 

 exist. The mischief is also to be inflicted in such situations 

 and under such circumstances as appear the least likely to be 

 traced, or the source suspected from whence the robber ha3 

 come. As the injury brought on the flock is inflicted at night, 

 it is highly probable that the first will pass without a 

 discovery of the perpetrator. But impunity will bring upon 

 the offender the largest degree of danger, and a watch is 

 kept ; under which circumstances it is that our earliest observa- 

 tions have been made, in pursuing which we have been 

 impressed with the amount of stratagem that has been put in 

 practice, more especially to secure the escape of the criminal, 

 and even to divert the suspicion which might alight upon him. 

 The only failure in calculation of results appears to be, that 

 where it has been successful already, a dog will probably resort 

 again to the same field for the same object, without being 

 aware that a second attempt will probably lead to discovery ; 

 but in all besides, no London pickpocket is better versed in the 

 subtleties of his art. 



As illustrations of the foregoing remarks : A dog was 

 observed to have throttled a sheep, and after having satisfied 

 its appetite, it went down to a neighbouring mill-pool, with 

 what intention it is easy to guess, and there, not aware of 

 being noticed, it washed itself thoroughly, and then came to 

 the bank, where it dragged itself along the ground; after 

 which it went again into the water, rubbed its mouth in the 

 grass, and only after a long time did it venture to return to its 

 home — there, however, to suffer the penalty of the trans- 

 gression, the whole of which had been seen, but of which, if 

 there had not been other evidence, the appearances on the dog 

 could not have been brought as a proof. 



On another occasion, a dog had killed some sheep at the 

 distance of about a couple of miles from his home, and in a 

 secluded situation; but being discovered in the ace, it was 

 shot at with a gun, wounded, and pursued. The farm which 

 was its home was on the east border of a promontory that 

 projected far into the sea ; but instead of proceeding straight 

 to the shelter of its residence, the road to which was not 

 difficult, although intersected with several cross roads, it ran 

 first to a beach far on the west side of the promontory, and 

 from thence swam out among the rocks, on some of which it 

 effected a landing two or three times. It landed finally on the 

 east of its master's farm, and there was observed to wash its 

 bleeding wounds ; after which the parts were rubbed in the 

 earth, and at last it crept up slyly to its own house, where it lay 

 down on the straw with the appearance of being asleep. The 



