Abstract
I HAVE perused with interest the admirable summary of the “Animal Intelligence” question by Mr. Romanes. On reading the article in question, it occurred to me that I had at hand some memoranda concerning animal intelligence which bear on the presence, not merely of abstract reasoning in dogs, but also upon the presence in dogs of traits of character remarkably resembling those we are accustomed to name “retaliation” and “revenge” in man. I now send you the jottings in question, obtained, I may add, from personal friends. About thirteen years ago, a now deceased medical man residing near Edinburgh, possessed a favourite collie, “Cheviot” by name. The incident I am about to relate, I may mention, was related to me by the son of the gentleman in question, both father and son, along with a perfectly disinterested party, having corroborated the facts. The then provost of the burgh in which “Cheviot” resided, had issued an interdict against unmuzzled dogs during the “dog days,” and “Cheviot” submitted with no good grace to the operation of securing his jaws. Frequently “Cheviot's” master and the members of the family spoke in the dog's hearing, in no measured terms of the cruelty of the provost's order. But the end of the “dog days” came, and “Cheviot's” muzzle was removed. On the afternoon of the day of liberation, the provost called on “Cheviot's” master, to say, that in the morning he had heard a dog whining at his front door. The provost opened the door; “Cheviot” was in waiting, his muzzle in his mouth. One look at the provost, and the muzzle was dropped at his feet, “Cheviot” scampering off in the highest glee, as if delighted to have had the opportunity of laying the cause of his grievance at the door of his enemy.
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WILSON, A. [Letters to Editor]. Nature 20, 147 (1879). https://doi.org/10.1038/020147c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/020147c0
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