Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-09-15
Sense Of Direction.

S4aSI tiS iap>C VI SOrlS tllnC. L HIS
faculty is perhaps oftenest seen in the
log, the horse, and the cat, but is
known TO be almost or quite as fully
developed in the OK. The faculty has
been supposed by some naturalists 10
depend upon 4 sixth sense, independent
Of sight or smell Such a theory in
wolves an organ Of sense by which the
needed observations may be carried to
the brain; an organ which must be
distinct from eye, ear and nostril.
Psychologists have not, as yet, found
any such organ in the constitution OF
any animal, nor have they found any
nerve different from those which be-
long 20 our own nervous system. This
is almos; conclusive evidence that ami
mails possess no sense different from
ours.
IL we watch the conduct Of dog
when he is thrown upon his own re-
sources 20 lind his way hcme, w Shall
see that he has made good use OF his
Ave senses up TO this time, and that he
purposes to make good use Of them in
the immediate future. 1t is always as
sumed that the dog has not slept during
the time that he has been carried from
home. II he were to sleep, he would
lose all clue whether he had sixth
sense or not, for in sleep all the senses
are equally dormant.
The case has been submitted OF a
dog taken by rail distance OF two
hundred miles in a circuitous course
and set down fifty miles from home!
He disappears, and the next day is at
his old haunts. He could not have
followed the rail by which he came,
for this would take him a longer time.
He must have struck across country.
The question is, Did he take a direct
line for home, or did he shape his
general course so as 10 come out upon
some familiar spot, miles, it may be,
from his home, and from that point fol-
low remembered paths ? Hunters say
that the latter is most frequently the
case.
Suppose that In the dogs absence
the old home has been burned down
and his masters family have moved
five miles to the right or left, but are
at the same distance from the point
at which ne was set down. He will go
back to the old spot, and from there
will trace the family by scent, il he
traces them at all. He has no sense
to inform him Of the changed position
Of the family, nor of anything more
than would be known to a man under
the same circumstances.
But the case is made clearer by
supposing that the dogs master has
left home, gun in hand, while the dog
has been detained for time. The
man goes straight to the woods, but af-
ter getting out Of sight, makes a turn
so as to bring him to the opposite side
OF the house. II now the dog is let
loose, he takes to the woods at the
point where he saw his master enter.
From there he trusts to his eyes and
nose, keeping close upon his masters
trail.
II the dog had special sense OF
direction, he would not so easily be
thrown off the pursuit Of a deer or a
fox by the animal taking to the water.
Every species of animal that has been
made the prey Of dogs has learned to
battle pursuit by deceiving the sight or
scent OF its pursuers. Such creatures
would have been likely to find out be-
fore this time il the dog had any
special sense, and we should see them
acting upon the knowledge.
The most interesting and perplex-
ing cases are those in which animals
that have been taken some distance
from home in closed cages have yet
found their way back without diff
flculty. This shows highly developed
sensitiveness to every change of direc-
ton.
This faculty Of perception is low In
man, but it may be developed and
trained. There are persons who sleep
hest with the head tova ride the north
Let such a person when travelling on q
sleeping car make it point to decide
upon the course the train is going as
soon as he wakes from sleep in the
night, and he will find himself rapidly
gaining new power to determine direc-
tons.