ed to understand what their master
said as well as any individual in the room.

M. Leonard entered into a highly-interesting explanation of his theory
regarding the intellectual powers of animals, and the mode he adopts
to train and subdue horses, exhibiting the defects of the system
generally pursued. His principle is, that horses are not vicious by
nature, but because they have been badly taught, and that, as with
children, these defects may be corrected by proper teaching. M.
Leonard does not enter into these inquiries for profit, but solely
with a scientific and humane view, being desirous of investigating the
extent of the reasoning powers of animals.

It does not appear possible that dogs should be educated to the
extent of those of M. Leonard, unless we can suppose that they acquire
a tolerably exact knowledge of language. That they in reality learn to
know the meaning of certain words, not merely when addressed to them,
but when spoken in ordinary conversation, is beyond a doubt; although
the accompanying looks and movements in all likelihood help them in
their interpretation. We have known a small spaniel, for instance,
which thoroughly understood the meaning of "out," or "going out," when
spoken in the most casual way in conversation. A lady of our
acquaintance has a dog which lives at enmity with another dog in the
neighbourhood, called York, and angrily barks when the word York is
pronounced in his hearing.

A well-known angler was in the habit of being attended by a
pointer-dog, who saved him the trouble of a landing-net in his
trout-fishing excursions. When he had hooked a fish and brought it
near the bank, the dog would be in readiness, and taking the fish
behind the head, would bring it out to his master.

A writer, who endeavours to prove the existence of souls analogous to
the human in animals, relates the following remarkable fact, of which
he was himself an eye-witness. He says:--

"I was with a gentleman who resides in the country, in his study, when
a pointer-dog belonging to him came running to the door of the room,
which was shut, scratching and barking till he was admitted. He then
used supplicating gestures of every kind, running from his master to
the stair behind which his gun stood, then again to his master, and
back to the gun. The gentleman now comprehended something of his dog's
meaning, and took up his gun. The dog immediately gave a bark of joy,
ran out at the door, returned, and