one would
be inclined to imagine that Mr. S----, in training his dog, had only
called into play faculties existing (but latent) before, and that dogs
have in them the natural germs of a fine musical ear. This seems more
likely to be the case, than that the animal's perfect musical taste
was wholly an acquirement, resulting from the training. However this
may be, the Darmstadt dog is certainly a marvellous creature, and we
are surprised that, in these exhibiting times, its powers have not
been displayed on a wider stage. The operatic establishments of London
and Paris might be greatly the better, perhaps, for a visit from the
critical Poodle.

It is now settled, as a philosophical question, that the instruction
communicated to dogs, as well as various other animals, has an
hereditary effect on the progeny. If a dog be taught to perform
certain feats, the young of that dog will be much easier initiated in
the same feats than other dogs. Thus, the existing races of English
pointers are greatly more accomplished in their required duties than
the original race of Spanish pointers. Dogs of the St. Bernard variety
inherit the faculty of tracking footsteps in the snow. A gentleman of
our acquaintance, and of scientific acquirements, obtained some years
ago a pup, which had been produced in London by a female of the
celebrated St. Bernard breed. The young animal was brought to
Scotland, where it was never observed to give any particular tokens of
a power of tracking footsteps until winter, when the ground became
covered with snow. It _then_ showed the most active inclination to
follow footsteps; and so great was its power of doing so under these
circumstances, that, when its master had crossed a field in the most
curvilinear way, and caused other persons to cross his path in all
directions, it nevertheless followed his course with the greatest
precision. Here was a perfect revival of the habit of its Alpine
fathers, with a degree of specialty as to external conditions at
which, it seems to us, we cannot sufficiently wonder.

Such are some of the qualities of dogs in a state of domestication,
and let me hope that the anecdotes related of them will tend to insure
for them that love and gratitude to which their own fine disposition
and noble character give them a claim from us.

It is pleasing to observe that men of the highest acquirements and
most elevated minds have bestowed their sincere attachment upon their
favourite can