22 NOVEMBER 1946, Page 17

CANINE INTELLIGENCE

Sot,—The note on sheepdogs by Sir William Beach Thomas in The Spectator of November 15th recalls the intelligent behaviour of these dogs at sea which might be emulated by some human passengers. My father farmed for seven years on Maria Island, off the east coast of Tasmania, and often had to take his sheepdogs in a whaleboat across a sometimes rough passage. The dogs were as liable to sea-sickness as human beings, but if they were put in bags they escaped it. When they came on to the boat the dogs would at once dispose themselves to be put in their sea-bags.—Yours very truly, THOMAS DUNBABIN. Australia House, London.