Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-21
gullar bearing hIa head hold hIeh in the

GUITAR bearing. his head held high In the
air. his brow corrugated and his man
ner hesitatinK and confused. lie was
evidently trying to grasp fully some hair
he would have passed II over his brow
70 clear his thoughts. Suddenly his en-
tire bearing changed, and. quicker than
can tell II, he began herding the chickens,
driving them close together. WAS stand
ing on the low back porch. and Wren SIT
ting at my feet. with ears cooked strong
~ forward. and eyes almost starting from
their sockets. He was evidently fascl-
mated. yet puzzled. and glanced alter
nately from True 10 me. asking explana-
ton. Every now and then ne would start
up. and then sit down again.
soon True. looking back. saw his little
friend. and saw. too. his intense interest
ana, turning away from the chickens
signalled to Wren, and both dogs dis
appeared around the corner OF the cot
tage. | followed. There they stood;
muzzle 10 fnuzzle. tails Strengthened, ana
trembling with excitement. and the coihe
was as evidently telling the terrier All
about II as J am telling Won. Wren
puzzled look was gone "a a q tmcnt. lie
understood II all perfectly and the two
DOGS turned again 10 the chickens, the
terrier herding with the collie. and, by
the way, occasionally gianclng around at
me, az IL to say: Don you think l nm
doing this thing pretty well?" Again.
True paused, and the same uncertainty
anu ntSlldlloi VI again 'ahAt WV
him; again IL all cleared away. and. sig
Mailing a second time 10 his friend. they
again trotted together around the corner
of the house. / followed them. Again
there was the evident communication OF
the thought; again the instantaneous con-
ception and execution of IL; for the ter
rier remained where he was, only squat
ting, and hiding behind a rain barrel, " lille
the collie ran around the other SIDE OF tne
house, and dropped behind the wheel.
h,r 10 chickens which n4l
been standing together i'm close huddle,
thinking il was all over. began 10 scat
ter about the lawn, catching bugs ara
grasshoppers but, no sooner hau tnis
scattering taken place than out ran the
terrier on one side. and the collie on
the other. and drove them together again;
This entire exhibition actually amazed
me. and next morning, upon reaching the
city, | called at Mr.. Ad. Williams $, OF
flee, knowing he had some highly ralneu
imported collies. and told my story. Mr..
Williams was enthusiastic over II, ana
added: DO you know. Major, my train
cd collies practice this hiding game con
stantly. The sheep won't scatter much
when they are in sight; so, when things
grow dull. they hide. in order to induce
the sheep to wander, that they may nave
the pleasure of driving them together
again"
THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.
Now. please observe. True himself had
never been taught TO herd, thougn ne
came. doubtless, OF a long STRAIN OF
trained herd~rs so that
l. Here is the transmission IN animals
of an educated trait or talent or capacity
by heredity.
2. This trait or talent or capacity lay
dormant until occasion called IL tOrtn,
and then the animal had TO put forth
conscious effort thoroughly 10 recall or
grasp the conception
3. Here is the distinct importation OF
the new or newly yiyihed conception, by
the animal teacher TO his animal pupil
companion, and friend.
4. Here Is the clear and instant COM
prehension of the object lesson, and or
this voluntary importation of the con
ceptiOn. on the part OF that animal pupil,
companion. and friend, though OF another
and perfectly distinct breed having no
line OF trained ancestry behind him.
s. This animal pupil, companion. and
friend not only put the lesson into prac-
tice on the instant, but never forgot II,
and never ceased to practice Ii SO long
as he lived.
Can | be mistaken as TO the eXcepuonal
interest and value of this incident?
have related it to philosophers on both
sides Of the water, and they have, with
out exception, expressed the highest est-
mate Of it, as tending to establish seye-
raj positions Of great Importance in the
Investigation of animal intelligence.
ROBERT STILES.