[To TIM EDITOR Or TM "sew:nos:1 SIR,—A few weeks ago
an incident occurred to me in con- nection with a Scotch collie that is remarkable in its singu- larity, and that, in my opinion, demonstrated that the animal possessed a reflective mind in a pre-eminent degree. I had walked from the Newport landing-pier to the public road. I required to turn a corner or acute angle to go west of the public road. I was just doing so, when a Scotch collie came rushing along in full chase after another dog. The collie collided with my foot and leg, accidentally getting a blow that would cause it some pain. It kept straight on its course, however. I proceeded in the opposite direction, and the incident vanished from my mind. When about four hundred yards on my way, I was startled by the angry yelping and snarling of the collie. It attempted to snap at my heels, but it was easily beaten off. The collie had failed to catch the dog after which it had started. Evidently the pain of the collision had reminded it that it had a grievance against me, and it attempted to square accounts without the slightest delay. This was ratio- cination, reflection, and action following each other with logical and marvellous rapidity. The collie was a Nemesis of justice. It had been maltreated without cause, and it was to mete out condign punishment to the culprit. Query :— Was the collie, with more reflection, capable of being con- vinced the collision was an accident ? If so, would it have
abandoned retributive punishment am, Sir, &c.,
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