One hundred years ago
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' Sir, — In the Spectator of April 21st there is an article on Apes, in which the following occurs: — "Monkeys, we believe alone among animals, can recog- nise the meaning of a picture." It may interest some of your readers to hear that certain other animals can also do this, — two instances having come under my own observation. A cat, belonging to a little girl I know, was on the child's bed one morning, and made a spring at a picture of a thrush about life-size, which was hanging near. The other case is that of a dog, a female Irish terrier, who is in the habit of run- ning with her mistress's pony carriage. When she sees the pony being har- nessed, she often shows her delight by jumping up at its head and barking. In a certain shop to which she sometimes goes with her mistress, there is a picture of a horse hanging. The dog invariably behaves in exactly the same manner to this, jumping up and barking at it, thus showing unmistakably that she recognis- es its meaning. — I am, Sir, &c.,
JULIA ANDREWS
The Spectator 5 May 1894
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