Polynesian., 1844-11-16

iatched the door, she would appear to observe
1t like one learning to 60 through the opera
ton; and when you left the yard she knew
1t, | assure you; for she would turn round
and watch till you were quite out of sight,
then she would 90 straight to the door.
When here, she would commence with as
much elaboration as a doctor would to am
putatc a leg. First, she would try her nose
to unlatch the door. If that did not fetch,
she would turn over her head on one side,
so one horn could be brought in play, and
then move her head up and down till the
horn hit the right spot. She would always
open it, if the door was not fastened by some
artitice which she did not understand. But
when opened, and she was we'll on the floor,
she would eat as if it was to be her last bite.
Not bat Il moment at Il time, however, for
every now and then, she wonld stop, raise
her head, stop chewing, and with the grain,
corn or whatever she could seize, half out of
her mouth, and half in, she would listen with
Il death-likc stiffness, to see if any body was
near. And if she happened to hear the tread
of a man, good heavens she was out of the
barn at such speed that you could not see
her for dust.
81 do not recollcct as ever the old COW
bail any fence, but certainly she used to
tear dorm rods and rods of it. And as to bars
opening into a field, she was second to no
man in letting them down. She would 90 to
the bars and preher nose through between
the rails, then raising up the end of the bar,
to get clear of the friction, she would let it
down with a good deal of grace, | assure
you. In this manner she would take them
down, one by one, and then enter, as usual,
with a great deal of deliberation, and com
mencc the work of depreciation. 1t may be
asked, perhaps, if she would not as often
push the bars the wrong way as the right
l answer, never; for | have watched and
seen her let them down times without num-
Der, and she would never miss, but appeared
to understand the operation equally as well
as any man.
Gas to the fence, she was a complete lev
ellcr. Small as she was, she would take
poles from the fence, with her nose and
horns, that would puzzle two stout men to
place back again. | have seen that old COW
many a time, with all the other cattle at her
heels, come down to the fences. All hands
knew what was going on, for they would
follow her in as much order, as a
goose and goslins will the gander. They
would come down to the fence. On the
other side would be the corn-field, and | con-
ccalcd in it watching the manGuvre. The
fence is imposing, and the bob-tail stops to
consider. Soon the cattle become impatient,
and one Of them goes up behind the old bob
tail and gives her a very gentle hook, in to-
ken to proceed. She shakes that old bob
tail, snorts, comes up to the fence and takes
down the top pole. She then stops, and de-
libcratcly looks round to see if any body is
near. If not, she proceeds, takes down the
second, and then looks about her as before.
After all is accomplished, she enters, with
all the majesty of a conquerer, with her mar
shalled host at her heels, and commences
operations upon the corn.
"The old COW always wore the bell; for
it is the custom among farmers, | believe, to
put the bell upon the worst creature. This
bell did not suit her, for it revealed her Sc
crcts too often. But it was diverting to see
how the old beast would try to smother its
sound. When it came night, she was, as a
general thing, alone. Not only so, but she
would sly away into some thicket, some dark,
hidden spot, some thick clump of bushes,
and then stand as still as the house of death.
This she evidently did, in order to be left out
for the night, to enter upon some mischief;
for at no time was she left out over night,
but the morning found her in the field. We
used to have Il dog that would 90 after the
cows at night, whenever he was bid. But as
soon as this COW heard his yclp, she would
make for some thicket, and there stand in
the same attitude as before.
"Ihcsc are only a part, a small part, of
the old cows manTuvrcs, and specimens of
her intelligence. 1t is important to remark
that she appeared to improve in her knowl-
edge of these things very rapidly indeed; so
that the close of each year, found the old