realize the difference between words, but he gradually got to recognize several, such as 'Food,' 'Out,' 'Bone,' 'Tea,' etc. If he was asked whether he would like to go out for a walk, he would joyfully fish up the 'Out' card, choosing it from several others, and bring it to me or run with it in evident triumph to the door. "A definite numerical statement always seems to me clearer and more satisfactory than a mere general assertion. I will, therefore, give the actual particulars of certain days. Twelve cards were put on the floor, one marked 'Food' and one 'Tea.' The others had more or less similar words. I may again add that every time a card was brought, another similarly marked was put in its place. Van was not pressed to bring cards, but simply left to do as he pleased.[GJ] "Day 1. Van brought 'Food' 4 times, 'Tea' 2 times. " 2. " " 6 " " 3. " " 8 " " 2 " " 4. " " 7 " " 3 " " 5. " " 6 " " 4 " " 6. " " 6 " " 3 " 'Nought' once. " 7. " " 8 " " 2 " " 8. " " 5 " " 3 " " 9. " " 4 " " 2 " " 10. " " 10 " " 4 " 'Door' once. " 11. " " 10 " " 3 " " 12. " " 6 " " 3 " -- -- 80 31 "Thus, out of 113 times, he brought 'Food' 80 times, 'Tea' 31 times, and [one out of] the other 10 cards only twice. Moreover, the last time he was wrong he brought a card--namely, 'Door'--in which three letters out of four were the same as in 'Food.'" These experiments and observations are of great interest. But, of course, no stress whatever must be laid on the fact that _words_ chanced to be printed on the cards instead of any other arrangements of lines. I draw attention to this because I have heard Sir John Lubbock's interesting experiments quoted, in conversation, as evidence that the dog understands the meaning of words, not only spoken, but written! What they show is that Van is able, under human guidance, to associate certain arbitrary symbols with certain objects of appetence; and, desiring the object, will bring its symbol. It would have been better, I think, because less misleading to the general public, had Sir John Lubbock selected other arbitrary symbols than the printed words we employ. Then no one could have run away with the foolish notion that the dog _understands_ the meaning of these words. No doubt if they had been written in Greek or Hebrew, some people would have been interested, but not surprised, to learn that a dog can be taught to understand with perfect ease these languages!