[To THE EDITOIS OP THE "SPECTATOB.")
Six,—In turning over an old notebook I have come on the following anecdotes relating to a dog and a eat, which are, I think, worthy of being placed on record as interesting little bits of comparative psychology. The one illustrates how an acquirement may long remain dormant in the absence of an appropriate stimulus, or be cunningly concealed, and the other shows how the accidental discovery of a posture that relieves the pain of an injury may lead to its being adopted and steadily maintained until the work of healing is complete.
(1) Mrs. L., of Bonchurch, brought home to England with her, after a visit to Spain a little white poodle which she purchased from some professional dog-trainers in Barcelona. It proved an affectionate, intelligent little creature, but displayed no special talent, and for the first two years it was in Mrs. L.'s possession she did not know that it had been taught any tricks beyond that of begging for food. At the end of that time, however, two little Italian boys came to spend the afternoon with her. When they entered the drawing-room, the poodle was resting unconcernedly on the hearthrug, but the moment they began to talk to each other in Italian, as they did loudly and volubly, it jumped up, manifested excitement and alarm, and forthwith went through a little performance, throwing a somersault and attempting to stand on its head and, walk on its fore-paws, after which it ran and cowered in a corner. It was soon calmed and reassured; but whenever, during the afternoon, one of the boys spoke to it directly in • Italian in a loud and commanding voice it made a feeble attempt to perform. It was obvious that it had been trained as an artiste, and that the sound of the Italian language, resembling that of the Spanish tongue employed by its master, set the old and some- what rusty machinery in motion again.
(2) When we were living at Whitehill, Colvend, in the autumn of 1881, a tortoiseshell kitten from a neighbouring cottage became a paying guest, spending most of its time with us, amply requiting by its pretty ways the tit-bits and petting bestowed on it. It was a good mouser and hunter, and on one of its expedi- tions after big game—rabbits—had the femur of its left hind-leg fractured about the middle of the shaft either by a stone thrown at it or by a trap or tumble. It came home limping painfully, dragging the leg, and for a couple of days was restless and evidently suffered much. At that time it discovered for itself that the easiest position was to lie on a soft-cushioned ottoman or window-seat, with the injured leg hanging over the edge. This position it then adopted and habitually maintained for three weeks. The weight of the limb produced the necessary extension, and union took place in the most satisfactory way without shortening.
am, Sir, &c., JAMES CRICHTON-BROWNE.
Crinclau, Dumfries.
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