A CANINE LESSON.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Your correspondent " Roy's " very interesting account of "A Canine Friendship," tempts me to send you the following about two Dandie Dinmonts in this neighbourhood.
Friends of mine in Dumfriesshire had in their house two Dandie Dinmont dogs who were inseparable friends and con- stant companions in all that was going on. One day one of these dogs disappeared unaccountably, and nothing was seen of it for a week. His owners were very vexed, thinking he must have got within the range of some keeper's gun or met with some other accident.
But the absentee's home-keeping companion was greatly distressed ; he moped about, and would not touch any food for several days ; till, unexpectedly on my friend's part, the truant suddenly reappeared and showed himself in the house. The dog who had remained at home, when he saw the arrival of his former friend, looked steadily at him for a few seconds, and then, without further parley, went at him and gave the truant a thoroughly sound thrashing. I always explain this to myself by supposing that the home-keeping dog decided that the truant had caused him for several days needless anxiety and abstinence from food, and that the truant must learn by painful experience that such behaviour could not be lightly condoned by his inseparable companion.—I am,. Sir, &c.,
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