Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-19

and sheriifs; Tor no sooner Is the clamOr
against the prisoners over than the whole
count fall upon the prisoners at the bar
and beat them to death. This accom-.
plished, the court adjourns, and they
all disperse quietly to their homes.
The sparrows also have courts which
they conduct in similar manner, and in
which it is conjectured that some sentry
is punished for delinquency.
Margrave gives q singular account of
the assemblies of the Onarine monkeys
which he had frequently witnessed. They
assemble in the woods, and one Of them,
takes tho highest place in n tree, makes
signal with his hand for the rest to sit
round. AS soon as he sees them placed,
he begins his discourse in q loud and
prccipitatc voice, and the rest observe
profound silence. When he has finished
his speech, he makes q sign with his
hand Tor the rest to reply, at which they
all raise their voices together. until by
another signal they are cnioined TO be
silent. Before the assembly breaks up
there may he repetitious of these scenes.
Very many gregarious birds appoint
sentnels, who keep very strict watch
while the rest of the flock gather food, or
disport themselves at their leisure.
Everybody has seen the sentinel
pcrched upon the top of some tree. where
he keeps sharp lookout, and gives the
signal of alarm upon the approach OF
danger, at which the whole flock instant.
ly take flight. Not only OF the birds of
the air and the beasts of tho field do we
derive our illustrations of the tact that
brutcS communicate with each other; we
may find them in the depths of the sea !;
for it is snid that when The harpoon
strikes a whale. the whole shoal. though
widely dispersed, are made aware of the
presence Of an enemy.
Whether brutes succeed any better in
understanding what we say to them, than
they do in communicating their desires
to Us. it would be difficult To determine
For the most part they address US, and
reply to what We say to them, by their
actions only. But We are able 20 make
out something OF their meaning when
! they address us with their voices; AMI so
also some of the higher animals quite
readily understand what we say to them
when we speak OF matters which they
ieel particularly interested in. 1t is not
worth while tor us to talk of political
questions to our dog, or to say anything
TO him OF a transcendental nature; for,
would pay very little attention to what
we might say, and, in tact, would not
understand word of it at all. But we
speal, to him about his dinner, or about
going to the woods with us to hunt squir.
rels, and he very emphatically signifies to
us that he understands quite we'll what we
are saying He has practical turn of
mind, and will have nothing to do with
any of the sciences and OF all the arts he
cares only for that of living well, and en-
joying himself. In regard 10 this he is al-
ways ready to hear anything to his adj.
vantage.
Some dogs show q remarkable sensi.
tiveness about being made the subject Of
conversation and in illustration of this
We have IN anecdote which Sir Walter
Scott told of his dog Camp, who was q
very wise dog, and had a wonderful fac.
uty for comprehending what was said
about himself. lie had been taught to
understand q great many words, inso-
much that his master felt very positive.
from the progress his dog had made in
language, that the communication be.
tween the canine species and ourselves
might be greatly enlarged. Camp was
very indiscreet one day. however, and
bit the baker who was bringing bread to
the family. 81 beat him." said Sir Wal
ter, land explained the enormity of his
offence; after which, to the last moment
of his life, ho never heard the least al.
lusion to the story, in whatever voice or
tone it was mentioned. without getting
up and retiring into the darkest corner
of the room, with great appearance Of
distress. Then if you said, The baker
was well paid or The baker was not
hurt alter all, Camp came forth from his
hiding-place, capered and barked and
rejoced.n How far the extreme sensi-
tiveness Camp had in regard to this
offence OF his was due to the explanation
he had received Of its enormity, it is i'm
possible to say; though it may be safe
enough to conjecture that the mention of
the baker produced an unpleasant sensa-
ton in the nerves OF his skin, rather than
any pricking of his conscience.
But every dog has his day. and Camp
grew aged and infirm. "When ho was
unable, toward the end OF his lille, to at.
tend me when OH horseback" said his
illustriCus master, she used to watch for
my return. and the servant would tell him
his master was coming down the hill, or
through the moor; and, although he did
not use any gesture to explain his mean
ing, Camp was never known to mistake
him, but either went out at the front to
go up The hill, or at the back to 60 down
to the moorside. He certainly had sing.
ular knowledge of spoken language"
1t is quito likely that the dog catches