Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-07-27
THE HOME 1NsrtNcr1S ANIMALS

A writer says thai the French '.pigeon-
post" has recalled dtention to a subject
that has long and dep interest for natu-
ralists-thc power Of Instinct animals ex-
hibit of finding their way back to spot
from whence they hate been taken, by a
road never before traiersed by them.
Pigeons carrying messages or returning
long distances to tbar ''cotes" most GER
tainly find thcir,Y,; back by means Of
sight. This is eyidened by the flet of
.long .:4:niAg 80 ysss5.,s 7e. t:iily
'or disinclination to fly cv ing fog. But
this means of finding out distant locality
cannot apply in the cases we are about to
record.
At Vancouver's Island gentleman had
house on one side Of Esquimalt harbor,
wherein he and his family resided. They
had favorite cat, which was always made
a great pet. 1t so happened that the own
er of the house had occasion to change his
residence to the other side of the harbor.
The distance in straight line was quite
a mile, while to reach the house by max
ing circuit of the harbor, distance Of
quite four miles must be travelled, and
that through dense forest Of pines, thick
" uudergrown with brushwood. When
the family removed from one house to the
other, pussy was fastened securely into a
basket. and taken in boat across the
harbor. and was not let out of her prison
until she was secured in room at her new
residence.
1t is quite clear in this case that the cat
could not have seen anything of the route
followed by water from house to house.
Strange as it may seem. she made her es-
cape during the night, and when, on the
day following her removal, some Of the
family returned for articles left behind.
there was pussy. somewhat dirty and tired
but in perfect safety. Now, she could
only have reached the residence in two
ways, either by swimming the harbor,
which is BY no means probable. or she
found her way through the forest. where
she had never been before, and through
thick underbrush, without any trail OF
path to guide her; and what makes the
matter far more wonderful is the fact tina.
the cat must have passed close to an In
dian village around which a number OF
half-wild dogs were always prouling.
There is another story Of somewhat sim.
liar character told Of cat, which is. be-
lieye. well authenticated. when living,
says the writer. eat Four-Paths, Clarcn.
don. Jamaica, / wanted cat, and had
one given to me which vas nearly full
grown; il was brought from Morgan's
Valley estate, where il was bred. and had
never been removed from that place BE-
fore. The distance was Eve miles. I,
vas put into canvas bag and carried By
man on horseback. Between the twc
places there we're two riscrs. one Of them
eighty feet broad and two feet and q hall
deep, running strong the ether Is wider
and more rapid. but less deep. Owe,
these rivers are no bridges. The cat wa.
shut UP at Four-Paths for some days, aud
when considered to be reconci.ed to he,
dwelling, she was allowed to 20 abou,
the house. The day after cbtziniug hel
liberty she was missing. and upon my mex
visiting the estate she was brought from
I was quite amazed to learn that the ca
had come back sgaiu. Did she .wim oscu
| the rivers at the fcrds. where the horss
came through With her. or did she ascend
the banks tcr considerable distance il
search Of more shallow place, and wher,
the stream was less powerful! |! Az al
events. she must have crossed the rivers
in opposition 70 her natural habits"
! myself once bad . favorise spaniel cal
led Sport. He was lent to = friend, wh,
came 20 fetch him. Sport vas placed in
dcg-cart and driven to my fricnd's resi-
dence. = distance q over twenty mi!es.-
The cart Vas 30 made that air could Tree
/ " GET in for the dog sobreashe. BAT BY !,
possibility could any part of the road b
seen during the journey. Oa his xrrita