MORAL FACULTIES OF BRUTES. 
529 
conceive of any punishment more aptly contrived, or more com¬ 
pletely in character: indeed, if it were fully analysed, an ample 
commentary might be written, to shew what a variety of com¬ 
parisons and motives and generous feelings entered into the com¬ 
position of this act.” 
A circumstance happened in our native county, the truth of 
which is undoubted. Two goats, grazing about the ramparts of 
the citadel at Plymouth, got down upon the narrow ledge of the 
rock ; and one of them advancing before the other till it came to 
an angle, was enabled to return; but in its way back met its 
companion, which produced a most perplexing dilemma, as it 
was impossible for them to pass each other, or for either of them 
to turn. Many persons saw them without being able to render 
any assistance. After a considerable time, the one that was ad¬ 
vancing and had not reached the angle was observed to kneel 
down with great caution, and crouch as close as he could lie; 
which was no sooner done than the other walked over him with 
great dexterity, and they both returned the way they came in 
perfect safety. We will not say that this displays any very su¬ 
perior degree of intellectual power, but it demonstrates the act 
of reasoning; it proves that brutes, in spite of all our prejudices, 
can reason, and come to a right conclusion too. 
We will extract one more anecdote of the sagacity of the sheep¬ 
dog, the most intelligent of all the canine tribe; and that saga¬ 
city exerted in the discharge of the duties for which Nature in¬ 
tended him. It is given by the Ettrick shepherd, and it is an 
account of one of his own dogs :— u My dog Sirrah was, beyond 
all comparison, the best dog I ever saw. He was of a surly and un¬ 
social temper, disdaining all flattery and refusing to be caressed ; 
but his attention to my commands and interest will never again, 
perhaps, be equalled by any of the canine race. When I first 
saw him, a drover was leading him with a rope. He was both 
lean and hungry, and far from being a beautiful animal, for he 
was almost black, and had a grim face striped with dark brown. I 
thought I perceived a sort of sullen intelligence in his countenance, 
notwithstanding his dejected and forlorn appearance. 
In his whole figure and his mien 
A sober character was seen 
Of mountains and of dreary moors ; 
4 u 
VOL. V. 
