INSTINCT OF REASON?

By F. W. Howard. MONG the dogs I have hunted with those which were the most intelligent and knowing were generally the most satisfactory and efficient. At the same time dogs which did not appear nearly as intelligent in a general way might be better along certain lines. That there is a great difference in dogs, even of the same breed and family, as to intelligence. courage and ability. there is no doubt.

A great many people claim that dogs are not able to reason and that all their actions are governed by instinct. The writer holds the opinion that at least some dogs do reason. A great many things coming under my notice that dogs have done, to me are not satisfactorily explained in any other way.

A good many things done by dogs in hunting seems to me to require reasoning powers. As an instance, an old dog named Boney, trailing a 'coon into the river, would work both banks above and below where the 'coon took water, as for, apparently, in each direction, as he thought the 'coon might have been able to reach in the time elapsed since he took to the water. On one occasion this same day when unable to find where a 'coon had gone in; here he noticed that a grapevine hanging from the drooping limb of a big soft maple, reached into the water out near the middle of the stream. He swam out, examined the vine, gave tongue, then came to shore and barked up the trunk of the tree, up which the 'coon was found to be hiding.

I have often watched this same dog working a 'coon trail along a fence; when unable to find where the trail left the fence, he would carefully examine all the trees standing near enough to the fence to make it possible for a 'coon to jump onto them.

A couple of hounds the writer hunted with several seasons, named Drum and Sport, were very different in many ways, still made a good team. Sport was very fond of a race; but the game "treed" or "holed," Sport lost most of his interest. He much preferred to leave that quarry and go and start something that would keep running. Drum was a fine dog at a den or tree and it was not easy to get him to leave either until the game was bagged. At the time I have in mind they had holed some animal; what it was I am unable to remember. I had encouraged Drum to dig and tried to get Sport to help, thinking the game could be unearthed. Sport plainly disliked the idea of putting in any time digging; he wanted to go and hunt up something that would give him a race; but he wanted Drum to join him. Drum, however, kept steadily at work. Apparently thinking up a plan, Sport went over the hill out of sight and began to tongue. Drum quit work, cocked his ears to

, listen and finally put out over the hill to see what Sport had struck. He came back after being gone a minute or two and resumed work at the hole. Sport came to the top of the hill, then back and began tongueing again. I went to where I could see what he was doing and was a good deal amused. Sport would run along tongueing just as if he had a track, then stop and look back to see if Drum took the hint. He kept this up for quite a while, but meeting with no success, he finally came back and helped finish the job.

Some dogs will learn some things readily themselves that others, after seeing the thing done repeatedly, could hardly be taught to do. One of my dogs, named Bugle, used to spend a good deal of his time in a shop where I was working. The door of the shop fastened with a latch and had a wire spring attached so as to close it. Bugle, when hearing something going on outside he wished to investigate, would rear up on the door, push the latch down with his paw, then push open the door and run out. A big dog, half Dane and half mastiff, belonging to one of the shop owners, also put in a good deal of his time in the shop. He was, or appeared to be, more intelligent than Bugle in some ways. When Bugle opened the door to go out, if Jim, the big dog, was close behind, he had time to go out before the door closed. He was slower than Bugle and oftentimes the door would close in his face. Although he so often saw Bugle do the trick, and in spite of my many efforts to teach him, he never would try to open it, but would wait, whining impatiently, for someone to open it for him.

This trait was characteristic. I remember on a bobcat hunt, Jim's master was with me and had taken Jim to see if he would hunt. During the hunt Jim lost us; we had travelled perhaps two or three miles before we realized that he was missing. We stopped for some time and called, with no success, so thought the dog had gone back to camp. But late in the day, when we reached the camp, the big dog was not there, nor was there any signs of his having been there since we left in the morning. My friend was much worried and at a loss to know what could have happened to Jim.

While cutting firewood a little later we heard a dog barking in the distance. My friend declared that it was Jim. We fired a couple of shots to bring him in; he kept on barking at the same place. We thought he must have some game cornered and made haste to go to him. We were surprised to find that Jim had not been off of a spot 100 feet square, apparently, since he had decided that he was lost. It seemed as if he had more faith in our finding him than that he could hunt us up.

A few years ago the writer enjoyed with a friend a number of 'coon hunts in another part of the State. My friend owned a couple of

'coon dogs. They were hounds; one, a big black and tan, eight or nine years old, was tried and trusty. The other, a tan dog, three years old, gave promise of more than ordinary ability. On one of these hunts the dogs were on separate trails. The old dog was the first to tree. We started in that direction, when the young dog began to bark treed considerably nearer to us. Getting under the tree we soon located the 'coon and shot him; then hurried on towards the old dog. The pup, however, would not leave the tree, but kept on barking and tearing around the butt of the tree. My friend called sharply to him to come and he did come and jumped upon us, then rushed back to the tree. We went back and after some search located another 'coon in the tree. This, the writer thought, gave evidence of a good deal of intelligence and reasoning on the part of this dog. I have hunted with dogs many times which would leave a tree after a 'coon had been killed out of it when there were others up the tree.

Another instance comes to mind where it seemed to me the dogs plainly gave evidence that they possessed reasoning power. We were located in a winter camp and doing a good deal of hunting with dogs. We used three dogs that winter-Turk, the old leader; Nance, a keen, fast bitch, and Ranger, a pup doing his first winter's hunting. We were out before daylight. My friend found a track and laid the dogs on before it was light enough to see good. About the time the dogs took up the trail it had begun to snow-fine at first, but by the time the fox was jumped it was coming thick and fast. The dogs made but one circle within hearing. We held the stands we had taken for an hour or more, then hearing nothing decided that my friend was to go to a bluff about three miles from us, where we thought the fox might have gone, while I was to remain near where he had been jumped. The snow by that time had filled the tracks so we could not locate them by that

means.

The result was, that when we met in camp that evening neither of us had seen or heard anything of the dogs. We did not worry about that, as they knew the country and would make camp when they wanted to; we merely were disappointed at the way the hunt had turned out. It kept on snowing about all that night and by morning rather more than a foot of new snow had fallen. The dogs did not return that day. We began to think we had lost them this time and worried a lot about them.

Very early the next morning we heard scratching. and whining at the door. Nance had returned; she looked as if she had been having a hard time of it, ate ravenously, then flopped down near the stove, where she slept for two hours or more. We expected the other dogs shortly after she appeared, but were disappointed in this. We began to surmise all kinds of things that might have happened to them.

Soon after Nance roused up she wanted to get out; but when out, scratched and yelped at the door. When we opened it to let her in she started off instead. She stopped and looked back, as we did not realize at first what she wanted. She would rush back to us, then start away, whining and yelping and acting a good deal worked up and excited. She plainly wanted us to follow her and we got ready and struck out. She kept on ahead, running back often, as if to hurry us along. Beyond some open country and about five miles from our camp there was another range of timbered, hilly country. It was into these hills Nance led us to where Turk and Ranger stood guard at the foot

of a scraggly oak. A grey fox crouched at the base of a big limb, about 25 or 30 feet from the ground. The dogs were certainly gaunt and hungry looking; their eyes glowed like coals of dull fire. They had torn ground and stratched the bark from the tree; the snow was trampled flat and hard; they could see the fox, and this fact no doubt was influential in holding them so long at the tree. The fox, poor chap, was no doubt more gaunt and distressed than the dogs. My friend put a load of shot into his head as soon as he got in position to do so. We did not get much out of that fox pelt; the dogs fell on him with a frenzy they had never shown before. They tore him fairly in pieces before we could get him away. In fact, they acted so fierce and and crazy we were a little afraid of them.

We marveled and theorized as to what method of reasoning, communication or what name could be given to the way they had taken to get us to the spot. The fox had run very differently from what was usual. The writer has since that time noticed that a fox, when jumped at a distance from his home range, is pretty sure to make a direct line for home about the first thing they do on finding themselves in danger. So it was undoubtedly with this fox; he was on a visit to that locality. Finding the dogs after him, he had put out almost directly for his home grounds. The snow made traveling hard and the dogs had closed up, perhaps sighted him. Nance had cut in ahead and put him up the tree; at least this was the way we sized up the situation.

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DOG QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. B. B., Oxford, Wisc.-Can you tell me the reason my dog seems to have forgotten all he knew about coon hunting? Have raised this dog from a puppy; he hunted with an older, well-broken dog up to his fourth year, when the old dog died. While he hunted with the older dog he was often the one who first picked up a track and several times I am sure he was the first at the tree, barking up in fine shape. Have hunted him two falls since I lost the old dog, but he has not treed a 'coon, although he has started on lots of tracks and works hard.

Answer-Know of a case almost exactly the same. A friend, Mr. Wilbur Berkley, has a very fine-looking dog acting in the same manner and although I have been out with him several times, am not able to say why. Can only say that perhaps your dog is back trailing, or through some ailment has lost his scenting power. You do not state how he works on fox or other game.

R. F. W., Newton, Ia.-I have a skunk dog, half-hound and half-shepherd; he is a good dog to find skunk, but shakes them so hard he nearly always tears the hide badly before I can get the skunk away. Can I break him?

Answer-It is quite natural for a big, strong dog which very much dislikes a skunk's defensive ammunition, but will at the same time tackle them, to shake and mangle the skunk bady. It is doubtful if he can be broken. You might try hunting him with a light muzzle. A dog which will corner a skunk and hold him in one spot, but not tackle, is perhaps the best; but on the other hand these kind often allow a skunk to get into his den or some safe retreat before the hunter can get up to them.

G. E. I., Windom, Minn.-Blood hounds are considered the breed which has the keenest scent and probably they have, but there are many individual dogs of other breeds that can fully equal them. But taken as a breed, the blood hounds are no doubt entitled to the claim.

F. G., Gilbertville, Mass-I am tryng to get a heagle pup to run rabbits with the old dog; so

far he will not go, but keeps around my feet. When the old dog first starts a track he kind of starts out, but comes right back to me.

Answer-Your pup will strike in all right when he gets a little older; he is afraid of loosing you. Have seen them started to work with the old dog by grabbing and holding them everytime the other dog starts; this seems to have the desired result in a very short time. O. G. W., Decorah, Wisc.-You will need to teach your pup not to be afraid of water, one of the first things you do. He will never be a good 'coon dog until he is good around and in the water. 'Coons use water as a method of throwing off dogs whenever possible; besides, they do a lot of their hunting in and along the water. Take the pup with you to the water; go in yourself, take him in; take him out in a boat and make him swim. Do this while the water is warm and pleasant and he will soon get to like it so well that you will often see him swim across the river to get a drink.

F. W. Howard.

44 4 DOG DAYS AND THEIR RELATION TO HYDROPHOBIA.

Epileptic Fits Are Mistaken for Rabies in Many Cases.

By R. R. Scorso.

We are all too familiar with the fallacy that hot weather causes rabies. So deeply rooted has this remnant of the days of witchcraft become in the public mind, that each year as July approaches, city and township authorities throughout the country institute a crusade against the dog, and "finis" to the poor puppy who is unfortunate enough to throw a fit, or even to become excited, for just so sure the cry of "mad dog" will be sounded and in less time than it takes to tell, an army of citizens will be on the trail. Weapons of every description, ancient and modern, from the shotgun to the brickbat, will be brought into use, and after an hour or two of torture, the poor dog will be pronounced "dead," and a mob of men, full of savage excitement, will return to their homes. feeling that they have done the public a great service.

The writer has seen this little act staged many a time.

This reminds me of the story of the man who ran into the house to his wife, crying "I just shot a dog." "Was he mad?" asked the wife, in feverish excitement, "I dun-no, he didn't seem to be pleased a dickens of a lot about it," answered the husband.

The ancients applied the name "dog days" to a period of about forty days, the hottest season of the year, at the time of the heliacal rising of Sirius, the dog star. The time of the rising is now, owing to the procession of the equinoxes, different from what it was to the ancient (July 1st.); and the dog days are now counted from July 3d to August 11th, that is, twenty days before and twenty days after the heliacal rising.

Sirius, the dog star, is the brightest star in the heavens, situated in the mouth of the constellation Canis Major, or the Great Dog. It is estimated to have more than thirteen times the sun's magnitude.

When or what, star-prophet or almanac maker first connected dog days with hydrophobia and contributed to the people this forlorn legacy, I know not, but I do know, that hydrophobia knows no season, hot or cold, it is just as likely to occur at one season as the other. It is happily one of the rarest diseases and seldom met with; not more than one per cent. of the cases reported to have rabies are so afflicted.

Few people ever saw a rabid dog, and few ever will. Those who have will never forget the sight, or will ever mistake it when they see it again. To see a rabid dog, is to see a dog tortured beyond the power of man to describe. It is a picture of matchless suffering that grips one's very soul, and leaves an impression that is ever lasting.

It is this hellish torture that drives him to wander; he goes from place to place in search of solitude and rest; he goes on and on, in an effort to leave behind him the terrible fire that is slowly but surely burning his life out. He does not, as a rule, seek contact, but snaps at objects in his way.

Rabies are not spontaneous; they must be communicated; therefore, if we take proper care of our dogs and acquaint ourselves with a few of the more common symptoms there will be very little danger of our dogs ever being afflicted, and if they are we will be warned in advance and able to avoid all danger.

Here are a few symptoms, that if tempered with common sense, will be worth remembering. A complete change of temper; the affectionate pet retreating from the one he formerly loved best as from a stranger. The cheerful dog becomes morose. Coward becomes brave. But, they all have the look about them that gives one the impression that they see, hear, or smell something that they fear to face. They will lick the urining places of other dogs with a peculiar eagerness. This strange employ ment is one of the surest symptoms. The dog seldom eats proper food, but will chew sticks, old leather, etc. In some cases there is a very deep, hollow, unnatural howl that gives one the shivers to hear. In other cases the dog is perfectly silent. This stage lasts for several days before there is a real outbreak of the disease. The absolute outbreak is indicated by a delirious watching and snapping at imaginary things; or if he comes in contact with any living thing, he will fly into a rage and bite it with savage fury.

Notwithstanding what many writers have said to the contrary, the rabid dog drinks water as long as he is able. In fact, he has an unquenchable thirst. As long as his jaws and tongue are not paralyzed he laps the water: when they are paralyzed, he plunges his muzzle into the water up to his eyes that he may get a few drops of cool water to his burning throat

There is very little slobber from the rabid dog; the increased secretion of saliva soon becomes thick and glutinous; it clings to the corners of the mouth and to the membrane of the fauces.

When a human being has rabies he is said to bark like a dog; but in reality he is only making a violent effort to force this glutinous matter from his throat.

If a rabid dog has his freedom, he will take a mechanical trot, with long strides and rather fast. His tail will be carried low and he will not appear to look to the right or the left, but he will manage to visit nearly every dooryard along his course. If a door is open he is likely to enter, and bite anything that chances in his way. Should a dog rush out at him he will bite it and continue his course as if nothing had happened. No dog will fight a rabid dog.

When we hear the story of a mad dog being covered with froth, we know that he was not rabid. A dog with an epileptic fit may be seen in this condition, but never a rabid dog. Fits are mistaken for rabies more than any other disease; but in recent years stomachitis has been the cause of errors. The average time of the occurrence of rabies after a dog has been

(Continued on Page 24).

GINSENG.

The ginseng market during August showed no change over July conditions, continuing dull and uninteresting. Buyers took only an occasional lot and are apparently waiting for conditions to improve in China before entering the market on an extensive scale. The recent negotiations for a loan by American bankers to the Chinese government met with failure; had this loan gone through it is likely that it would have had a favorable effect on the Chinese market. As it is, the ginseng exporters in this country will have to wait until conditions right themselves in China before much better business may be expected to materialize in this article.

Cultivated ginseng is quoted at $4.50 to $5.25 per pound for best quality; $3.50 to $4.25 per pound for good quality; $3.00 to $3.25 for fair quality; $2.00 for poor quality. Fibre, 75 cents to $1.00 per pound.

QUOTATIONS-WILD GINSENG.
Can., New Eng., N. Y., No. Pa.
No. O., Ind., Ill., Cent. Pa..

Cent. O., Ind., Ill. and So. Pa.

Mich., Ia., Minn., Wis..

Md. and No. W. Va.

So. O., Ind., Ill..

No. Car., Va. and So. W. Va.
Ky., Tenn., Ala. and S. W.

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BOTANICAL DRUGS.

$7.50 to $8.00

6.50 to 6.75

6.25 to

6.50

6.50 to

6.75

6.25 to 6.50 6.00 to 6.50 6.00 to 6.50 5.50 to 6.00

TRAPPING METHODS.

Last fall I started out to trap. First I went out to a meadow, found a few holes; they looked kind of old. I had plenty of traps with me, so I put a trap in each hole. I went over the next day; I had nothing. But the second day I had two big narrow-striped skunks, and a few days later I had another one. That was my big catch in the fall, but the next spring, when it got warmer, I caught nine foxes. In the fall I was pretty late, they were denned up for winter, but the furs were prime. Skunks most always den up on a hill sloping off to the north. I didn't use any bait, for I put the traps in the mouth of the holes.

Last fall I went out to examine a muskrat

den. First, I waded in the water as deep as my boots, then I came to the den. I worked around it and couldn't find the stool, but after hard work I was successful. That's all I know about muskrat dens, for I always trapped along the creeks. I always put my traps at the water's edge, where they ran along the banks. Then I put my traps about an inch under water, took a stick, put it in a bank pointed on one end, and put a half ear of corn' on stick. I was pretty successful, for only one rat got lose. Corn is the only bait I used for muskrats.

First, it you can find a place where there are plenty of weeds and when there is snow on the ground, you can see their tracks. If there is a snow bank, make a hole in it with a stick as thick as a weasel, then put your trap in the snow bank and cover it a little with snow. I have one place that is pretty good. That is a tile froze up. They always crawl in it and search for food. I used the Oneida jump trap, No. 1. They suit me all right. G. A. Obermoller. Nobles County, Minnesota.

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DOG DAYS AND THEIR RELATION TO HYDROPHOBIA.

(Continued from Page 22). bitten is said to be from nine days to six months. As there is no cure for rabies, a dog should be put out of misery as soon as the disease is detected.

While the belief that dog days cause rabies is an ideality, let us not forget the ills that dogs are subject to at this season of the year, and some of the reasons why. Every puppy must have his first summer, and it means to the puppy, just what the second summer means to a baby; every mother knows what that means. A great many puppies are born in late winter and early spring, and when the hot weather of July and August arrives it catches these puppies teething, and like teething babies, their vitality is low, their digestive organs enfeebled and their nerves a wreck. They are in condition to be almost frightened to death at their own shadow. It is about this time that they become

The puppy that has been properly reared to this age in some kennel must undergo a great change when he takes his abode with a new family. He

is kept romping all day; when one member of the family tires, another is ready to start. Then the pup must be trained to retrieve a ball, shake hands, and a few dozen other tricks. If he shows signs of being over-heated he is given a liberal amount of cold water and is taken to a shady place, where he can cool "quickly.” He is given the simple food twice a day, just as the