424 
MISCELLANEA. 
NEW EXAMPLES OE SAGACITY IN BRUTES. 
When in Ceylon many years ago, a friend of mine, who was 
deputy-quartermaster-general, consulted me about an elephant 
belonging to his department, one that had a deep burrowing 
sore on his back, just over the back-bone, which had long- 
resisted the ordinary mode of treatment employed. After 
due examination, I recommended as necessary the free use 
of the knife, that issue might be given to the accumulated 
matter ; but no one of the ordinary attendants would under- 
take the operation. Being assured by my friend that the 
brute would behave well under it, I undertook it. The 
elephant was not bound ; he was made to kneel down, his 
keeper at his head : with an amputating knife, using all my 
force, I made the incision requisite through his tough in- 
teguments ; he did not flinch, but rather inclined towards 
me when using the knife, and uttered merely a low and sup- 
pressed groan ; in short, he behaved very much like a human 
being, as if conscious, as I believe he was, that the pain in- 
flicted was unavoidable, and that the operation, as I am 
happy to say it proved, was for his benefit. From the 
elephant I will pass to the dog. The then Governor of 
Ceylon, the late Sir Robert Brownrig, had one of more than 
ordinary sagacity ; he always accompanied his master, being 
allowed so to do, except on particular occasions, as on going 
to church, or council, or to inspect the troops, when the 
general always wore his sword. Now, when he saw the 
sword girded on, he would give his attendance no further 
than the outer door; without a w 7 ord being said, he w'ould 
return and wait the coming back of his master, patiently 
waiting upstairs at the door of his private apartment. Here 
is another instance. Once, when fishing in the Highlands, 
I saw' a party of sportsmen with their dogs cross the stream, 
the men wading, the dogs swimming, with the exception of 
one who stopped on the bank piteously howling; after a few 
minutes, he suddenly ceased, and started off full speed for a 
higher part of the stream. I w 7 as able to keep him in view 7 , 
and he did not stop till he reached a spot where a plank con- 
nected the banks, on which he crossed dry-footed, and soon 
joined his companions. — Dr. Davy's e Angler in the Lake 
District .' 
