Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-27
DO ANIMALS THINK

Their Actions Are Often DfHcuIt to
Explain Under Any Other Assump-
tion.
Scientific people have never been able
to agree whether the remarkable INTEL
ligence that Is sometimes observed In
the lower animals Is based upon reason
or instinct. Most of the arguments on
the subject are too flnespun for the
fullest comprehension Of practical
minded people; because most Of them
have a store Of experiences which seem
to prove beyond all doubt that their
brute acquaintances are capable Of a
high development Of human reason.
Mr. James Adams, a reliable citizen
of Bowling Green, who puts In most
Of his time attending to his farming op-
erations; but who delights in partridge
shooting during the winter tells an in
teresting story of favorite setter that
he formerly owned, which story seems
to illustrate beyond a reasonable doubt
that this setter came very near being
able to put down two and two and
write down the sum underneath.
One day, Mr.. Adams, accompanied by
his friend, Rev. w. A. Haffner. went
out partridge shooting. Rev. Mr.. Haff-
ner had a good bird dog along, and Mr..
Adams had the setter referred to. In
the edge Of a clearing they flushed
covey Of birds. Both fired and the
birds settled down along the dry bed
Of a creek.
The dogs went earnestly to work and
the birds were soon located. When the
hunters came up they found Mr.. Haff-
ner's dog at point, while Mr.. Adams
dog was nowhere in sight. Mr.. Hafr-
ner's dog was down in the creek bed,
and the two hunters took their posi-
tions ready for an advantageous shot.
Mr.. Haffner had been doing the best
shooting that day, and Mr.. Adams,
anxious to catch up with him, was es-
pecially keen to get in the first shot.
On account Of the thick underbrush
surrounding, he knew that If he got
shot at all he would have to shoot
quick. The bird flushed and he blazed
away.
The report Of the gun was followed
by a distressed whine on the bank,
twenty or thirty yards away and some
six or eight feet above the sportsmen.
It developed that whatever had become
of the partridge, Mr.. Adams had shot
his dog, which was faithfully pointing
another bird. The poor animal had re-
ceived a charge of shot in the side of
its head, and was bleeding about the
eyes to such an extent that Mr.. Adams
believed he had killed it, or at least
put it's eyes out.
There was no more shooting for Mr.
Adams that day. Leaving the par
tridges. he devoted his attention to the
dog. He looked after the injured ami
NAL as best he could then and there,
and continued his ministrations after
he got home. He was very much graft
fed next morning to find that the setter
was not nearly so badly hurt as he had
thought It's eyesight was all right,
and the only appreciable reminder of
the accident of the previous afternoon
| was a little soreness.
One day, not long after this Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Haffner took another
hunt over the same ground and got up
the same covey of partridges. The
birds, on being flushed, went to the
same dry bed of the creek, and the
hunters, of course, followed. Mr.. Haff-
| ners dog went in and flushed
the birds. Mr.. Adams dog was not
to be seen. Remembering the former
accident, Mr.. Adams was more careful
and refrained from shooting until he
could locate his dog. He looked care
fully about, but saw no sign of the
dog. He carries q small whistle, which
the dog had been trained to answer
under all circumstances. At the sound
of this whistle it would even leave
point. He blew the whistle long and
loud; but in vain. Evident that there
was nothing else beside a tedious
search and he proceeded to make it,
and at length found the dog hundred
yards or so from the dangerous creek
bank. II was sitting down on its tail,
quietly watching for the hunters to get
through with their work and come out
on safer ground.