MISCELLANEA. 479 
of them are by far too cunning to permit themselves to be either 
tied or shut up. 
One old cur in the parish of M-knows the Sabbath as well 
as his master, and takes care to keep out of reach, at a safe dis¬ 
tance from the house, all the morning. He watches the time 
when the family set out for church, and accompanies them. 
During the sermon and prayers he lies quiet, but erects himself 
into a posture of attention and enjoyment when the singing 
commences. Placed directly before the precentor, he points his 
nose upwards, and waits till a high note is reached, when, being 
unable longer to restrain himself, he shuts his eyes and joins 
with a shrill and prolonged howl. To a stranger this accompa¬ 
niment has an odd effect: but the congregation are well 
accustomed to it, and nobody is discomposed by it, or disturbs 
the venerable animal. An anecdote of a different kind, but 
equally exhibiting the sagacity of the colley, we have heard from 
the person who witnessed the circumstances. 
In the winter of 1823, our informant D. took charge, for a few 
days, of the flock of his brother, who was ill. His brother’s dog, 
a docile animal, was easily induced to attend and obey him, 
contrary to the habits of most of the same breed, who refuse to 
make themselves serviceable to any but their master. A severe 
snow storm took place while D.,who had been accustomed to a 
town life, was performing these novel duties. At such times, it 
is scarcely necessary to remind any of our countrymen the snow 
drifts to great depths in one place, while in another the surface 
of the ground is hardly covered. If the wind, for example, 
blows upon the north side of a hill, its force lifts the snow from 
the ground, drives it over the summit, and lodges it on the south 
side. On this south side, perhaps, is situated the round, or 
shelter, in which the flock is penned in severe winter weather 
during the night; but here, though they find protection from the 
blast, no food is to be had—and hence the necessity of removing 
them during the day to more favourable ground, where, by 
penetrating a smaller depth of snow, they may reach the herbage. 
This work of removing a whole flock is very tedious, as they have 
to form a track through the snow. To render it less difficult, the 
shepherd usually takes half a score of the strongest, and drives 
them in the direction he judges most easy ; he then returns for the 
bulk of the flock, who, finding a road opened, form into a long 
line, and thus proceed to the place of feeding. In order still 
more to shorten the time which this necessarily occupies, D. was 
in the habit of taking the advance guard under his own charge, 
and leaving the remainder to that of the dog, who seemed 
perfectly to understand what was expected of him, and brought 
on his drove with a steadiness and deliberation w'hich shewed 
