The sun., 1893-02-24
The Science of Dogs.

| Those OF our citizens who are Interested
| in tho question "Why Dogs Wag Their
| Tails" which has recently been discussed In
| the Cbntempordry ReuieU by DIR. LOUIS
| ROBINSON, tho great English authority
| upon the arts and ways OF dogs, have
spiendid opportunity OF acquiring knowl-
edge about it this week by visiting the
Bench Show in Madison Square Garden.
We promptly assent to DIR. RoBINsoN's
statement that tho study Of the tail wag-
ging of dogs is very interesting: but. when
he tells us that the character OF tho wag is
dependent upon some interlocking OF the
machinery of cognute IDEAS" we must
pause. Is IL so now, Doctor? We our
selves are not fully satisfied that 1t is.
though we have had reason to suspect
that 1t may be in some cases. But really
we have not time for n debate before going
to the dog show. and must hurry along
with DR.. ROBINSON. carrying n copy OF the
Contemporary Rcriew. that we may compare
his theories with the object lessons in
the show. "All dogs wag their tails as an
intimat,on that they are happy" says the
Doctor. This is an imperfect diagnosis.
A dog may wag his tail as a symptom Of
the expectancy OF happiness. or. as a scholar
alas not yet realized. and not possible
of full realization until the anticipated
bone is at least partly crunched. ut
which time. the time OF real happi-
ness, the dog has ceased to wag his tail,
and doesn't care crack whether he has
any such thing. We are told that the
movement OF the tail postulates the emo
tion: but we must say word against con-
founding postulation with coincidence.
Again DR.. ROBINSON goes on: lowing to
some incubation OF the nervous mechan-
ism which we cannot unravel. the associa-
ton Of pleasure and wagging has become
inseparable" The rhetoric Of this remark
is abominable, and we cannot put
any faith in the science OF q man who
would try to unravel the inocula-
tion OF the mechanism. We are getting
tired Of DR.. RoBINsoN's speculations. and
feel like throwing the Contemporary Rerie,o
to the dogs But. hullo We must hold on
to it till we look at a rather striking pass
age, from which we learn that the MEM
bers OF pack Of foxhounds grow big with
the most poignant OF all delights when they
first detect the presence Of game, so that.
at this time. they "wag their tails all at
once for the common good" Again. we
learn that setter. when setting game.
understands the supreme importance Of
keeping the tail very still, SO that,
while its tail can be seen to tremble with
emotion. it can never be seen to wag even
though held out in full view. When DR..
ROBINSON gives us solid facts Of this kind.
and he gives many OF them. we can almost
pardon him for presenting us with loose
specuIations and untenable theories.
We must here give warning to all visit
ors to the dog show. While studying
closely the waggery OF the dogs. beware Of
theorizing about 1t. II is worth the study
Of lifetime
The occurrence here OF the word waggery
calls to mind an article recently printed by
the London Spectator upon the humorous
qualities Of dogs. The writer Of it con-
firms a conviction which we have long
entertained. that many OF our dogs are far
more humorous than many OF the humor.
lists who get their pieces into the papers.
II the reader be really desirous OF knowing
"why dogs wag their tails" he can try
few experiments with those of them at the
show held this week-with the bulldog. the
spaniel. the mastiY. the greyhound. the
Skye terrier. the setter. the bloodhound
the poodle. and the others. He will notice
that different kinds Of dogs have different
kinds Of reasons Tor wagging ut different
times their respective tails.