A DOG-FISH.—Par. [218].
215. But, doubtless, there are mysterious influences and instincts of which the wisest of us know but little.
HON. F. C——H’S RETRIEVER.
216. An old brother officer of mine, the Hon. F. C——h, has a very handsome black retriever that possesses the extraordinary gift of being able to run direct to any game, or even glove, you may leave behind you, however tortuous may be your subsequent path. C——h told me that he has, in the presence of keepers, frequently dropped a rabbit within sight of the dog, and then walked in a circle, or rather semicircle, to the other side of a low hill—a distance, possibly, of nearly a mile—before he desired the dog to fetch it; yet, on receiving the order, the animal invariably set off in an undeviating line straight to the rabbit, unless his attention had been drawn away by playing with other dogs—a license C——h sometimes designedly allowed. The retriever would then shuffle about a little before he went off, but when he started it would be in as direct a line to the object as usual.
217. No one could explain by what sense or faculty he performed this feat. It appears not to have been by the aid of his olfactory powers, for C——h (who is a keen sportsman, and capital shot, by-the-bye) would often purposely manage that the dog, when he was desired to “fetch” the object, should be immediately to windward of it; and in the most unfavourable position, therefore, for deriving any advantage from the exercise of his nasal organs.
218. Capt. G——g, R.N. mentioned to me, that a ship, in which he had served many years ago in the Mediterranean, seldom entered a port that the large Newfoundland belonging to her did not jump overboard the instant the anchor was dropped, swim ashore, and return, after an hour or two’s lark, direct to his own ship, though she might be riding in a crowd of vessels. He would then bark, anxiously, until the bight of a rope was hove to him. Into this he would contrive to get his fore-legs, and, on his seizing it firmly with his teeth, the sailors, who were much attached to him, would hoist him on board.
219. Mr. W——b, of S——a, had a young Newfoundland that from very puppyhood took fearlessly to water, but acquired as he grew up such wandering propensities on land, that his master determined to part with him, and accordingly made him a present to his friend Lieut. P——d, R.N. then in command of H.M. Cutter “Cameleon.” “Triton,” however, was so attached to his old roving habits, that whenever the cutter went into port he would invariably swim ashore of his own accord, and remain away for several days, always managing, however, to return on board before the anchor was weighed. Such, too, was his intelligence that he never seemed puzzled how to pick out his own vessel from amidst forty or fifty others. Indeed, Lieut. P——d, (he lately commanded the “Vulcan,”) to whom the question, at my request, was expressly put, believes, (and he has courteously permitted me to quote his name and words,) that, on one occasion, “Triton” contrived to find his own vessel from among nearly a hundred that were riding at anchor in Poole harbour. The dog’s being ever so well acquainted with the interior of the craft does not explain why he should be familiar with her external appearance. Did he judge most by the hull or the rigging?
220. The Duke of N——k so much admired the magnificent style in which “Triton” would spring into the strongest sea, that Lieut. P——d gave the fine animal to his Grace, who, for all I know to the contrary, still possesses him.