Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-01

A collie pup, about seven months old vas l pro lYht from to A and from to c by
 train, two different lines of railway Tie l puppy ran away from and found it's way
 , oarh Ill a tcw days to E across a woodc q
 nllly country with one river, the Don, and
 several smaller streams to get over Ano'her instance is even more remarka | bic. Two or three years ago a veterinnry student had mongrei dog in London. which
 Tor set eral reasons he desired to lose. He left 1t lI the streets on three different o,ca slonS, returning himself by tho Under
 ground railway, but tho dog was always
 back soon after him.
 In case of this kind neither sight nor scent can possibly be of any practical as slscancc to the lost dog. But it is evident tnat the topographiCal instinct is not highly developed III all dogs, or they would never get lost at all.
 The sight Of dogs, even by night, is re-
 markedly powerful. A dog will see his
 master Ill tho dark when it is impossible for
 human eyes to sec the dog. Co!lies have a
 way of frequently touching the person they
 may be walking With in the dark as if to
 reassare them If on a dark night say to
 my favorite collie: "Where arc you, Eilly sn
 she comes quietly up and dabs me with her
 nose.
 One example of the power of sight and
 .-oe
 these lines in my garden wigwam Ii is n
 very dark night, and whom l leave I have to make my way up through the orchard anu Kitchen garden by devious paths
 Well, my old Newfoundland sleeps at my feet, have only to catch hold of his lead ing strap and he will guide me safely to the pack kitchen door. I shall have my eyes shut all the time. because there is not the shyhtest use i'll having them open
 nut the power of scent in a dog seems often to survive sight, For instance. n neighbor of mine has retriever who is al- nest totally blind. He shoots over him. nevertheless, and his scent leads hsn di, rectly to tho spot where bird or hare is lv- ing.
 Cats are even more wonderfully gifted with homing instincts than dogs, This is almost too well known to necessitate the auo'lpg of nn example. But as the follow lng IS proof ot one or two other cat char acter1stlcs which may prove interesting to some, give 1t m ertenso. It Is from book Of mine entitled: "Friends in Fur"
 Near this river (Speyl, on one side is the farm of pandilieth; and on the other. but four miles distant, stands the dw.cllnc mousse Of knockan. Once upon q time, then, tho tenants of Dandilieth were removing to hnockan; and after the household furniture Was packed on the carts, a search was madc for the household cat. She was found in a corner of the empty house, on some straw, faithfully nursing her fam fly of three blind kittens. A bed was made for her in the lap of one of the children; and in due time all arrived safe nt knockan, and pussy and her family were duly installed in tho new house. But mssv was not happy. She longed for her old home at Dandilieth; and to think, with her. was to act; and this she did to some pur pose, Tor on the farmer returning next day to his old place for the purpose of convey ing home the farm implements, he was as tonlshed to find the cat in her old corner and he'three kittens safe beside her. Now. as the nearest bridge is twenty miles distant. it IS quite evident that pussy must have swum the Spey five times in single night (three times with kitten in her mouth). to say nothing of the long journeys backwards and forwards between the two farms.n
 When mentioning dogs,I forgot to say that Inelr typographical instinct is well exhibit ed It tunes ln snow-storms and mists or fogs in the Highland hills. Tho life of many q shep- nerd has been saved by his collie in the fol- lowing way. The shepherd finds himself lost in snow or fog, and he turns to his dog l and orders him to 'be off home" He must speak in peremptory tone, almost half angrily, perhaps, else the faithful animal | will not leave him. He does leave him at | last, however, with hanging head and tail notes the direction, and fellows. the command may have to be repeated sey. orai times, but ten to one the shepherd, still | [oaowing his dog, soon finds himself in | ground he knows.