Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-05-13
= The Memory OF Animals.


animals, there are many proofs. bees, ac-
cording to Huber, who had been FED IN
the autumn with honey at a particular
window, returned in expectant Groves TO
the same place in the spring, when the
window, closed through the winter by an
outer shutter, was reopened. The recog-
milton of their own hives, out of a number
of others, on returning from their excur-
sions, would appear to be from rernem-
brance Of its situation, rather than from
any popularity about the individual hive.
Swallows, on returning from their winter
quarters in southern latitudes, resume
possession of their former summer resi-
dence. A horse will almost always be
found to preserve an acute recollection OF
any spot where he has received a fright,
however many years may have since
elapsed.
We cannot just now call to mind where
we met, long ago, with a very amusing
example of memory in horse-the
charger of the commanding officer OF an
Indian regiment. He was an exceedingly
large and heavy man, and the horse, hay
ing dislike to carry such burden, ac-
quired the habit of lying down on the
ground whenever the colonel prepared to
mount. This, as may be supposed, an
noyed him, and, to avoid the ridicule of
the soldiers, he parted with the animal,
and procured another not so fastidious as
to few stones more or less. We believe
it was year or two-certainly some con-
siderable time-after that the colonel, WIS.,
ing another station, was invited to review
the troops there, and a horse was placed
at his service, which, ON his attempting to
mount, Immediately lay down in full
view of the assembled regiment 1t
turned out to be the identical dismissed
charger, who had at or2e recognized his
former Objectionable owner. Az E
A very interesting anecdote is related
by Frederick Cuvier, showing not only
great power of memory, but also strong
attachment in an animal generally sup
posed to be destitute of all good quail
ties-the wolf A gentleman had trained
up one from infancy till he was as tracta-
Die as a dog, would follow him about
whenever allowed, and become quite low
spirited when he was absent. Being COM
PEELED to leave home, his master made him
over to the Menagerie du Roi, where he
at first dropped and refused to eat, but
gradually became more reconciled to the
situation. After the lapse of year and
a half his master returned home and paid
moment he spoke, and flew to him with
every demonstration of delight and atfec-
ton, planting his fore feet on his shoulders
and licking his face. The same scene &C.
CURED after second separation of three
years duration, the wolf, as before, at once
recognizing his masters voice, and bound
ing toward him as soon as set at liberty by
the keeper. A final parting followed, and
from that time the faithful creature never
appeared to regain his former spirits and
equableI temper, occasionally indeed be-
traylng ominous signs of the ferocity IN
herent in his race.
Stories of elephantine intelligence are
numerous, but most of them too well
known to repeat. One, however, record
ed by traveller, in a paper contributed to
a scientific journal, and which is vouched
for from personal knowledge, is worth a
brief notice The author was on jour-
ney, and several elephants were engaged
to carry his tent and baggage. One OF
them, euphoniously named Fattra Nun.
gul, coming on the scent of a tiger, was
seized with panic and ran off into the
woods, the driver saving himself by cling
ing to the branch of tree and letting
himself down. All attempts to recover
the animal were fruitless, and the party
proceeded on their way, giving up all idea
of seeing him again. Among herd of wild
elephants entrapped eighteen months af-
forwards was found the runaway, who at
first was as uproarious and unmanageable
as.the rest; but upon an old hunter who
knew him well riding up to him on a
tame elephant, pulling him by the ear,
and ordering him to lie down, he immedi-
ately obeyed the familiar word of COM
mand and became perfectly tractable. This
writer also mentions female elephant
which escaped from her owner and was at
large for fourteen gears. On being recap
tured she remembered her former driver
and instantly lay down at his order.
Locke adduces the learning of tunes IS
proof that birds are gifted with memory.
ut can not" he says, with any appear
ance OF reason be supposed--much less
proved that birds, without sense and
memory, can approach their notes nearer
and nearer by degrees to a tune played
yesterday, which, if they have no idea of
it in their memory, is nowhere, nor can
be q pattern for them to initiate, or which
any repeated essays can bring them nearer
to. Since there is no reason why the
sound of a pipe should leave traces in
their brains, which not at first, but by
their rendezvous, should produce the
like sounds; and why-the sounds they
make themselves should not make traces
which they should follow as well as those
OF the pipe, is impossible to conceive"
There is no question that many animals
understand the measurement of time 1t
IS a well-known fact that, on lands where
the crows are habitually shot at, the birds,
q instead OF keeping at a respectful distance
as on the rest of the week, come close up
to the farm-houses on Sundays. having
somehow found out that the guns are then
shelved. r NJ r ~ w
Every one who has travelled much in.
Scotland, more especially in the Highland
districts, must have remarked the large at
tendance of shepherds dogs at church on
Sundays. The popularity is very interest
ing to English tourists, one of whom
states that he was told that many of the
dogs were more regular attendants than
their masters. This gentleman mentions
that, in che parish, the animals, perhaps
demoralized by a black sheep" among
their number, became so quarrelsome and
unmannerly in their behavior that the
minister requested all who had been in
the habit of bringing their dogs to confne
them to the house before leaving for
church. This plan answered exceedingly
well for the first Sunday, but, for the
future, not a single shepherd or farmer
could find his dog on Sunday morning.
They had no notion of being deprived of
their accustomed liberty, and, well know
ing the hour of service, set off to church
without their masters. An attempt was
then made to compromise matters, by
praptinU q largo kQuna1 n1oca IN the