Animals And Language
[Sept. 1, 1883.]
I can match Mrs. De Morgan's pretty story of her Dido. A wise old dog
with whom I have the privilege to associate was, two or three days ago,
lying asleep in her basket by the fire. I entered the room with my hat
on, and invited her to join me in a walk; but, after looking up at me
for a moment, as canine politeness required, she dropped back among her
cushions, obviously replying, "Thank
repose." Thereupon I observed, in a clear voice, "I am not going on
the road [a promenade disliked by the dogs, because the walls on either
side restrict the spirit of scientific research]; I am going up the
mountain." Instantly my little friend jumped up, shook her ears, and,
with a cheerful bark, announced herself as ready to join the party.
Beyond doubt or question, Colleen had either understood the word "road,"
or the word "mountain," or both, and determined her proceedings
accordingly. Nothing in my action showed, or could show, the meaning of
my words.
If any of your readers who have resided for some weeks or months in a
country where a language is spoken entirely foreign to their own--say,
Arabic, or Basque, or Welsh--will recall of how many words they
insensibly learn the meaning without asking it, and merely by hearing
them always used in certain relations, they will have, I think, a fair
measure of the extent and nature of a dog's knowledge of the language of
his masters. My dog has lived fewer years in the world than I have
passed in Wales, but he knows just about as much English as I know
Welsh, and has acquired it just in the same way.
F. P. C.
More
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A Dog And A Whip
[May 18, 1889.] You have lately published several dog stories. Allow me to send you another for publication should you think it worthy. It was told me to-day by a lady whom I cross-examined to get full details:--"Some twenty years back ... A Dog And His Dinner
[Feb. 16, 1895.] I knew a dog in Ireland--a large retriever--who had been taught always to bring his own tin dish in his mouth, to be filled at the late dinner. For some reason his master wished to make a change, and to feed him twice a... A Dog Nurse
[Feb. 20, 1875.] A patient recently consulted me who was blind and subject to fits. I pointed out to her friends the danger to which she was exposed in case a fit came on when she was in the vicinity of a fire, and they informed me that... A Dog Obeying A Summons
[Jan. 18, 1890.] The enclosed may interest you. I received it this morning. I have no doubt Dr. Barford, of Wokingham, would verify it, but I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance. The following is the story:-- "Dr. Barford's dog ... A Dog On Long Sermons
[Aug. 4, 1888.] During a recent journey in Canada, I met with a striking instance of reason in a dog. I was staying at the Mohawk Indian Institution, Brantford, Ontario. The Rev. R. Ashton, superintendent of the school, is also incumben... A Dog Story
[June 1, 1895.] Perhaps you will allow me to add another to your interesting list of dog stories. In a house where I once boarded there was a large and remarkably sagacious St. Bernard mastiff, who used to come into my sitting-room and ... A Dog Story
[June 8, 1895.] A friend thinks I ought to add to the collection of dog stories appearing in the Spectator, one which is within my own knowledge, and may appear deserving of publication. My uncle, a well-known Chairman of the Bench of M... A Dog That Scorned To Be Jealous
[Jan. 5, 1895.] The following history of canine sympathy may interest your readers. I was once the happy owner of a large and beautiful bull-terrier, Rose, and at the same time of a still dearer, though less beautiful, little mongrel, F... A Dog's Affection
[April 24, 1875.] I saw an anecdote in your paper the other week illustrative of the sagacity of a dog. Kindly allow me to place upon record, as a kind of a companion picture, an anecdote showing the affection of one of the canine speci... A Dog's Courtesy
[Nov. 29, 1890.] In your article on Mr. Nettleship's pictures of animals, you note the delicacy of a dog that has been properly trained in the matter of taking its food. My little dog is not only most dainty in that particular, but stri... A Dog's Humanity
[April 18, 1891.] Possibly it is from an excess of the "maudlin sentimentality" of which physiologists complain in those who protest against cruelty to animals, that I find it almost painful to read such pathetic stories of dogs as the ... A Dog's Remorse
[Sept. 1, 1883.] A remarkable instance of the effect that can be produced upon a dog by the human voice was related to me yesterday. Some of your correspondents would consider it confirmatory of their notion that dogs have mind enough t... A Dog's Sense Of Humour
[March 9, 1895.] Does the following dog-story show a sense of humour? A retriever was in the habit of leaving his bed in the kitchen when he heard his master descending the stairs in the morning. On one occasion a new kitchen-maid turne... A Hen And Puppies
[Sept. 29, 1888.] In reply to Mr. Ainger's question as to there being "any precedent for such close intimacies between animals so widely separated in kind and habit" as the dog and pigeon mentioned in his interesting letter, I can menti... A Jealous Dog
[Jan. 12, 1895.] I was greatly interested in the story of the generosity shown by a dog, as related in the Spectator of January 5th, because of a similar case within my own knowledge, and yet so different, as to prove that the dispositi... A Lesson
[Feb. 23, 1889.] Your correspondent "Roy's" very interesting account of "A Canine Friendship" tempts me to send you the following about two Dandy Dinmonts in this neighbourhood. Friends of mine in Dumfriesshire had in their house two ... A Parcel-carrying Dog
[Feb. 9, 1895.] In illustration of the anecdotal letters about dogs and their habits, in the Spectator of February 2nd, and Mr. Lang's paper in this month's Nineteenth Century, I send you the following story of a dog which I had in 1851... A Pug's Intelligence
[Feb. 1, 1890.] Several newspaper cuttings have been sent to me with the story of my dog which appeared in the Spectator of January 18th, and one or two of them suggest a doubt as to the veracity of the story. I write, therefore, to tel... A Ruse Dog
[March 21, 1885.] A story which came to my knowledge a few months ago may be of interest in connection with the Spectator's series of anecdotes illustrating the intelligence of animals. One summer afternoon a group of children were pl... A Sunday Dog
[Feb. 17, 1877.] A correspondent favoured your readers last week (see page 53) with an interesting anecdote of a dog's intelligence in reference to the use of money. Permit me to relate an instance of a dog's intelligence in reference t... A True Watch-dog
[Aug. 5, 1893.] The "dog" letter in the Spectator of July 15th is wonderfully like my experience, some years ago, with my little red Blenheim, Frisk. She always slept in a basket, close to the hall door. One night she dashed up the stai... Affection
[Sept. 15, 1894.] As you sometimes admit anecdotes of animals into the Spectator, perhaps you may consider the following fact worthy of record. In a hotel where I am staying, being distressed by the cry of anguish of a dog occasionally,... An Act Of Canine Friendship
[Nov. 6, 1880.] I have read from time to time in the pages of the Spectator instances of canine sagacity furnished by your correspondents, which have, no doubt, interested many others besides myself. The following incident occurred last... An Alpine Dog
[July 21, 1888.] I do not think that it was superior intelligence in the Alpine dog over other intelligent dogs which induced him to wait to eat the biscuit till he had seen the giver eat some of it. We have a very sagacious little High... An Australian Dog-story
[May 11, 1895.] Seeing the great interest which many of your readers take in the study of canine character and intelligence, I think perhaps the following incident is worth recording. Whilst walking with a lady friend along Studley Park... An Explanation
[Feb. 9, 1895.] I think I can explain the puzzle of the Scotch terrier and his interment of the frogs, for the satisfaction of your correspondent. A friend of mine had once a retriever who was stung by a bee, and ever afterwards, when t... Animal Intelligence
[Aug. 18, 1883.] Perhaps I should have said the "Intelligence of Animals," but my meaning, in relation to the interesting correspondence in your columns, is no doubt clear. The whole question seems to me to lie in the proverbial nutshel... Animals And Language
[Sept. 1, 1883.] I can match Mrs. De Morgan's pretty story of her Dido. A wise old dog with whom I have the privilege to associate was, two or three days ago, lying asleep in her basket by the fire. I entered the room with my hat on, an... Another Pigeon Story
[Oct. 6, 1888.] Mr. Ainger's letter in the Spectator of September 22nd reminds me of an almost identical friendship that existed some years ago at Grove House, Knutsford. A long-haired mastiff was kept chained as a watch-dog, and when a... Are Dogs Colour-blind?
[Jan. 12, 1884.] Your correspondent, "W. H. O'Shea," has found several dogs "colour-blind," If black is a colour, I can give several instances in which a black retriever dog of mine was certainly not "colour-blind." He had the greatest ... Bully's Short Cut
[Aug. 29, 1874.] I see that you welcome all notes of interest upon our fellow-beings, the dogs. Here is one that seems to prove they have a sense of time and of distance as measured by time. I was walking with my bull-terrier, Bully (... Canine Intelligence
[July 24, 1886.] You often give us pleasant anecdotes of our four-footed friends. You may think the following worthy of record. I have a little dog, a not particularly well-bred fox-terrier. He is much attached to me, and shows by his o... Canine Jealousy
[Dec. 12, 1891.] I am not versed in dog-lore, and it may be that my love for the animal makes me an ill judge of the importance of the following story; but a friend vouches for its truth, and to my mind it has its importance, not from i... Cat-and-dog Love
[April 13, 1878.] Would you allow me, as a cat fancier of nearly thirty years' standing, to corroborate, by a personal experience, Mr. Balfour's testimony in your last issue to the possibility of a genuine attachment between a cat and a... Collies At Work
[March 25, 1893.] At six o'clock this morning, I saw a mountain-shepherd stand at a gate on the hill-top. Seven sheep were on the outside of the gate--six of the shepherd's flock, the other a strayer. The man wanted his own sheep in; so... Communication With Animals
[April 12, 1884.] You did me the honour, some weeks ago, to insert a letter of mine, containing suggestions as to a method of studying the psychology of animals and a short account of a beginning I had myself made in that direction. ... Conscious Automata
[July 31, 1875.] I have lately heard a story that I hope you may think worthy of a place among your illustrations of the thoughtful intelligence of "Conscious Automata." Many years ago, a family having a house in Grosvenor Square, and a... Do Dogs Understand Our Language?
[Aug. 4, 1883.] I think the question has been mooted in your columns as to whether dogs sometimes understand our language. A circumstance that has just occurred leads me to think that it does happen, where they are highly organised and ... Dog And Canary
[Nov. 20, 1880.] I was much interested in the account of the friendship that existed between the young retriever and the donkey whom he released by gnawing the rope. The little incident I send of another retriever may also interest your... Dog And Kittens
[July 1, 1893.] The following story may, perhaps, interest some of your readers:--Willie is a small, rough-haired terrier, a truculent and aggressive character, the terror of tramps, in a skirmish with one of whom he has lost an eye. He... Dog And Pigeon
[Sept. 22, 1888.] The Spectator does not disdain anecdotes of dogs and their doings, and I think the following history, to which I can bear personal testimony, may be found not uninteresting to your readers. At this delightful house in ... Dog Consciousness
[Nov. 2, 1872.] Our terrier Crib took upon himself yesterday to add his testimony to your view of "dog-consciousness," as expressed in the Spectator of the 19th ult. Crib verges on perfection, save that he is frantically jealous of any ... Dog Deceivers
[Feb. 9, 1895.] Your fondness for dogs induces me to send you the following anecdote, which shows their power of acting a part for purposes of their own. Some years ago a fox-terrier of mine was condemned by a veterinary surgeon to cons... Dog Friends
[Feb. 16, 1889.] The following story of friendship between two dogs may, I think, interest some of your readers. Some time ago I used often to stay with a friend in Wiltshire, whose park is separated from the house by a lake which is ab... Dogs And Looking-glasses
[June 23, 1894.] You are fond of odd actions of dogs, so perhaps the following may be acceptable. I have two fox-terriers--young dogs--Grip and Vic. In the morning, at early tea in our bedroom, Vic gets angry with Grip's reflection in t... Dogs' Sense Of Humour The Power Of Imitation In Dogs
[Oct. 22, 1882.] The following anecdote may interest those of your readers who are accustomed to observe the characteristic actions of dogs. I can vouch for its accuracy, as I was an amused eye-witness, and several members of my family ... Features In The Character Of A Dog
[June 10, 1876.] For some time past I have noticed in your journal letters and articles referring to the wonderful powers of dogs. As I was myself much struck by many features in the character of a dog which I knew, illustrating, as I t... Guardian Dogs
[July 15, 1892.] Having read for years your interesting letters and articles on animals in the Spectator, I feel sure you will like to have a thoroughly authentic account of a dog in this neighbourhood. I am allowed to give the name of ... Have Animals A Foreknowledge Of Death?
[April 30, 1892.] In a recent Spectator there is a quotation from Pierre Loti to the effect that "animals not only fear death, but fear it the more because they are aware that they have no future." Pierre Loti is a brilliant novelist, b... Hospital Dogs
[June 26, 1875.] Dr. Walter F. Atlee writes to the editor of the Philadelphia Medical Times:-- "In a letter recently received from Lancaster, where my father resides, it is said:--'A queer thing occurred just now. Father was in the of... How Our Meaning Is Conveyed To Animals
[Aug. 11, 1883.] The following anecdote may interest some of your readers:--Some years ago, when starting for a foreign tour, I entrusted my little Scotch terrier, Pixie, to the care of my brother, who lived about three miles distant fr... Instinct Of Locality In Dogs
[March 4, 1893.] A cat carried a hundred miles in a basket, a dog taken, perhaps, five hundred miles by rail, in a few days may have found their way back to the starting-point. So we have often been told, and, no doubt, the thing has ha... Instinct Or Reason?
[Sept. 1, 1888.] The following incident in dog-life may perhaps find a place in the Spectator. I quote from a letter received a few days ago from my nephew, "T. G. T.," resident in South Africa:--"Johannesburg, Traansvaal.--My dog Cherr... Intelligent Suspicion In A Dog
[July 7, 1888.] The following instance of dog instinct (or reasoning?) will, I think, interest some of your readers. About a fortnight ago, while crossing the Albula Pass, our driver stopped for a few moments at the little restaurant on...