y, by a yet
stronger proof of canine intelligence. I shall only, briefly allude
to one dog, whose history will probably be placed in the colonial
archives,--a colley, who knows his master's brand; and who will, when
the sheep get boxed, that is mixed together, pick out; with unfailing
accuracy, all the bleating members of his own flock from amid the
confused, terrified mass. As for the patience of a good dog in crossing
sheep over a river, I have witnessed that myself, and been forced to
draw conclusions very much in favour of the dog over the human beings
who were directing the operation. Some dogs again, who are perfectly
helpless with sheep, are unrivalled with cattle, and I have stood on
the edge of a swamp more than once, and seen a dog go after a couple of
milch cows, and fetch them out of a herd of bullocks, returning for the
second "milky mother" after the first had been brought right up within
reach of the stockman's lash.

Then among my horse friends was a certain Suffolk "Punch," who had
been christened the "Artful Dodger," from his trick of counterfeiting
lameness the moment he was put in the shafts of a dray. That is to say
if the dray was loaded; so long as it was empty, or the load was light,
the "Dodger" stepped out gaily, but if he found the dray at all heavy,
he affected to fall dead lame. The old strain of staunch blood was too
strong in his veins to allow him to refuse or jib, or stand still. Oh,
no! The "Dodger" arranged a compromise with his conscience, and though
he pulled manfully, he resorted to this lazy subterfuge. More than once
with a "new chum" it had succeeded to perfection, and the "Dodger" found
himself back again in his stable with a rack of hay before him, whilst
his deluded owner or driver was running all over the place to find a
substitute in the shafts. If I had not seen it myself, I could not have
believed it. In order to induce the "Dodger" to act his part thoroughly,
a drayman was appointed whom the horse had never seen, and therefore
imagined could be easily imposed upon. The moment the signal was given
to start, the "Dodger," after a glance round, which plainly said, "I
wonder if I may try it upon you," took a step forward and almost fell
down, so desperate was his lameness. The driver, who was well instructed
in his part, ran round, and lifted up one sturdy bay leg after the
other, with every appearance of the deepest concern. This encouraged
the "Dodger," who uttered a groan,