The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-28
SOME NEW DOG STORIES.
Several Instances of Remarkable Canin,
Instinct.

instinct.
About fortnight ago | was given fox
terrier, on condition that if it did not suit
me I should return it to the donor. Last
Sunday evening was sitting in the draw
ing-room with my wife, the dog lying on
the mat by the fire. | said that was dis
satisfied with the dog, and should write
and offer TO return him. My wife urged
me to do so then and there, and after dis
cussing the matter for short time l got
up to pen the letter. AS did so the SER
want came to take the dog for a run prior
to turning in for the night. No sooner
was the garden door opened than off went
the dog, full speed, into the darkness ard
has not been heard of since. He had
always been taken out in the same way be-
fore and had always come in on being
called. Whether he understood the con-
versation l cannot tell. All I can say is
that | can offer no other explanation for
his disappearance. My wife and the SER
want who let the dog out can vouch for the
truth of these particulars. The letter
which l wrote offering to return him lies
before me unposted "to witness if lie."
[ have two dogs-a spaniel and a little
Highland terrier-also a cat. The latter
has a kitten, born last Monday week. All
the rest of her family were drowned, and
this, suppose, has made her rather sus-
picious of being moved about, for on Sat
urday last her hamper was put out in the
yard while the floor of the washhouse was
scrubbed. 1t was put back again in the
usual place, and the cat seemed quite
happy. However, some hours after the
kitten was found to be missing, and the
cat was sitting contentedly on a chair in
the little hall. We all hunted high and
low for the kitten, but could not find it.
At last l returned to the dining room,
where the two dogs were lying be-
fore the fire, and | said casually
to the terrier, % Do show me where
the kitten is!' never really thinking she
understood me, when she solemnly got
up, walked round me, under the table. and
came to my side, then stood looking at
small cupboard, wagging her tail. 1
opened the cupboard, and there lay the
kitten on tea-cosy! | at once called to
my cousin, who had by this time given up
the hunt and was in her own room. She
called to know where it was found, and l
said: GO down in the dining-room and
ask the dogs TO show YOU" She then went
and SAID: Dear dogs, do show me where
the kitty isT' and Immediately the spaniel
got up and went to the cupboard, looking
at the door and wagging her tail. They
certainly both understood what was
hdHLSu Vi IHeIn. L lie Spdlllel was Dorm IN
1887, and has been in my possession since
she was about six weeks old. The terrier
is about the same age, but have only had
her since December, $780,
Apropos of your interesting article on
'Recent Ratlore," in the Spectator of
November 9, the incidents named from H.
c. Barkley's graphic Studies on Rat
Catching" suggest my writing to narrate
clever exploit of retriever dog belong
ing to the housekeeper of a well-known
newspaper office in the Strand. Rats are
constantly caught on the premises, and
the dog, fully aware of their habits,
evinces such ability that his intelligence
is quite worthy of record. Last Sunday he
was heard barking loudly, calling for as
sistance, in the compositors' room, where
there is a rat hole in the floor. The dog
had watched two fine rats come up through
their hole, and Immediately they were
fairly away from their point of entry he
rushed up and sat on the hole to cut off
their means of retreat, barking forthwith
for help. Nothing would induce him to
bulge till board was brought and placed
over the hole, when he started in pursuit
and soon dispatched the intruders. His
master assures me that the dog originated
this ingenious method of procedure, and
that he has practiced it with like success
on several other occasions. - London
Spectator.