New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-30

and breast, and only 10 DO got OIL ny Puh"s i'"'N
the head. deliberately stitched and plated this
truly rustic costume seems more special 10 shep-
herds than to other farm laborers, though many Of
all sorts cling to it; and when wet 1t cllngs 10
them Our shepherd also carries the orthodox pas
toral crook" for no could he eaten up n sheep
when wanted without itl Even with this his
chances of doing so would he small were II not II
another adjunct living one. possessed OF intelec-
fuality almost euualling his Own-the sheep dog.
In the portrature of an English shepherd to omit
dencation of his dog were to leave the picture III
complete. SO | ask permission to aud thls H. as
transcribed from memorandum laieIy haue re-
laiing to a sheep dog in ;ly own possession mus
runs it, Just as iotted down:
have n sheep dog whose sagacty l. truly sur
prisng; he seems up to everything short oil artlcu-
late speech. But think he can and clearly, as tes'l-
fed by the expression of his eyes and the display Oh
cunning with capablity in his actions lie is OF a
strain somewhat remarkable the bitch, his great
grandam having borre whelps TO a dog FOX, one OF
which was his grandsre. This singular cross oc-
Cured among the Welsh mountains in wood adj
ipining the sheep farm where the bitch belonged.
The narturlton took place IN the foXs burrow, IN
side which the pups were sucked by their dam ana
there kent till able to run about Then these hall
bred CANNES were caught and brought home To the
farmhousc the mother following. 1t was curious
instance of cross breeding between the tame ana
the wild animals, too, so specifically distinct ana
usnallv ot bitter war with one another; still not
unnr.ccdented many similar cases having been re
corded Whether his semi-yulpinc ancestry rad
done ANYTHING to sharpen tho wits oi my sheep-dog
know not But there is nothing 'ulpine III his
nature no fierce ravcninG instincts as might be eN-
pected from such strain; instead, he Is fcnaI Nloy
Gentle aud ancctionatc, and never so happy as
a. Of elepn otI4
the ORDER to fetch them to the fold or up to the foot
of thc shepherd Then his eyes fairly dance with
delight his - hole body qui1ering with anticipated
Measure On getting the word " 20 hc is OF Ike
an arrow from the bow or greyhound unleashed at
q hare. But not with like evil intent; for lac treats
the ovincs tcudcrlv as may be. Necessarily now
and then with his snour he bowls over one that IS
Obstinate. and Will not run the r9ht way; but
never to bite nor tear it. He ia up to AL sorts Oh
sheep-dog doings. and that is being mp to great
deaf. since some of these are positively astounding.
One which was witness to the other day furnished
AS clear evidence of mental ratiocina'ion as could
well he. \ flock Of sheep was being driven along
tie road with two dos attendant besides the
DR.. yer. One of them Kept behind the sheep the
other in advance Of them, and AZ each OPEN gate or
break IN The bordering fences the latter would take
stand and stay there as a sentinel post of guard
TIL the hcadmo-t OF the hock was fairly up to nm,
with tie certainty OF their passing on. Then
would the knowing animal start Oh, and rrsh ahead
again 10 LOOK out for any other open place there
might be along the double line OF fencing. Nor WAS
this all sill greater decree of sagacity on tho
doris part remaining to be rccorded-a very sub
tcne,s Of reasoning for to call il instinct were to
palter with words. When there was break or
glatr in tie fence GOubtlully wide enough to give
ua-,aoc 10 the body Of a sheep, saw the dog stand
rcsaiGing it, evidently poniering on the POSSIBLE
ties OF tie sheep getting through and at length
satisfied they could not. uo to examine the next
opening!
Bob. rs my owr canine is called. can DO all this
with the other shccp-dog tricks, and something
more; a something should have been loatl to be-
lcyc had not actually witnessed it. As all know,
the trk Il troublesome pest 70 the p1or sheep oft
irrtatine them exceedingly: and a good Shepho rl
will now and then do his best endeavor 70 rid them
of tie annoyance by picking the insects Of. Sew
cral times when mine has been so employed have |
seen Bob helping him; the dog burying his snout IN
the shecp's wool, and nosing about till he came
upnn q tick ana then catching the ugly beast and
scrnnching" it between his teeth in the most
busincss-l.kc manner when he would drop it aud
prccced in search Of another. Nor had anything
been done to teach him this; he simply SAW the
shepherd engaged III removing the ticks and killing
them; knew they were something to be destroyed,
! and 40 lent his teeth 10 destroying them. viii
make no comment On this curious proceeding IuT
th.r than to say that witnessing II was stiuck
with a,tOuishnrnt. Wh) could Dave been other
wise And after that who Is the So Pic To deny to
dTmb animals the possession 81 intellect altoEcl ger
| apart from what is termed instinct
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