lick the hand of the operator, as if grateful for
what he was doing. Those who are in the habit of having dogs
constantly in the room with them, will have perceived how alive they
are to the slightest change in the countenance of their master; how
gently they will touch him with their paw when he is eating, in order
to remind him of their own want of food; and how readily they
distinguish the movements of any inmate of the house from those of a
stranger. These, and many other circumstances which might be
mentioned, show a marked distinction between a domesticated dog and
one that is wild, or who has lived with people who are in an
uncivilized state, such as the Esquimaux, &c. Both the wild and
domestic dog, however, appear to be possessed of and to exercise
forethought. They will bury or hide food, which they are unable to
consume at once, and return for it. But the domestic dog, perhaps,
gives stronger proofs of forethought; and I will give an instance of
it. A large metal pot, turned on one side, in which a great quantity
of porridge had been boiled, was set before a Newfoundland puppy of
three or four months old. At first, he contented himself by licking
off portions of the oatmeal which adhered to the interior, but finding
this unsatisfactory, he scraped the morsels with his fore-paws into a
heap, and then ate the whole at once. I had a dog, who, having once
scalded his tongue, always afterwards, when I gave him his milk and
water at breakfast, put his paw very cautiously into the saucer, to
see if the liquid was too hot, before he would touch it with his
tongue.

Dogs have frequently been known to hunt in couples; that is, to assist
each other in securing their prey: thus associating together and
admitting of no partnership.

At Palermo, in Sicily, there is an extraordinary quantity of dogs
wandering about without owners. Amongst the number, two more
particularly distinguished themselves for their animosity to cats. One
day they were in pursuit of a cat, which, seeing no other place of
refuge near, made her escape into a long earthen water-pipe which was
lying on the ground. These two inseparable companions, who always
supported each other, pursued the cat to the pipe, where they were
seen to stop, and apparently to consult each other as to what was to
be done to deceive and get possession of the poor cat. After they had
stood a short time they divided, taking post at each end of the pipe,
and began to back alt