22 JUNE 1895, Page 16

THE EMOTION OF GRIEF IN ANIMALS.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Six,—Your article on " The Emotion of Grief in Animals," in the Spectator of June 15th, leads me to send you an account of what happened to me. Some years ago I was out riding, accompanied by my two dogs,—an Irish water-spaniel and a bull-terrier. I had a fall, and broke my thigh. The distress of the dogs was touching to see. They ran to and fro, barking and howling, apparently to attract attention. When assistance came, I was carried home on a hurdle, the two dogs trotting one on either side of it ; and when the bearers put the burden down to rest, they jumped on to it, licking my face and hands. For several days the spaniel lay for hours in the carriage-drive, apparently watching for his master. One morning, when the postman delivered the letters, the servant gave the dog my newspaper, and with, "Bring it along, Paddy," he carried it upstairs into my room. His joy at seeing me was worth beholding; and from that day he regularly met the postman, carried the news. paper off, and laid it on my bed. He was scarcely ever after absent from the room or the passage leading to it.—I am,