Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England Stories of Animal Sagacity, by W.H.G. Kingston. ________________________________________________________________________ This is rather a charming book, with amusing illustrations. There are numerous tales of how clever various individual animals have been seen to be, and in most cases a little moral is drawn from the story. We have Cats, Dogs, Horses, Oxen, Donkeys, Elephants, Wild Animals and Birds. Any of us who have ever had pets can recall how clever they have been on occasion. I wish Kingston could see those shots on television of squirrels who have learnt to get a few free nuts if they perform some subtle series of tasks, such as jumping from obstacle to obstacle. I have only to look out of the window here to see birds building their nests or guarding their young; in fact I can tell quite enough of what is going on in the street outside, by taking note of the various birds' alarm calls. ________________________________________________________________________ STORIES OF ANIMAL SAGACITY, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. CHAPTER ONE. CATS. I have undertaken, my young friends, to give you a number of anecdotes, which will, I think, prove that animals possess not only instinct, which guides them in obtaining food, and enables them to enjoy their existence according to their several natures, but also that many of them are capable of exercising a kind of reason, which comes into play under circumstances to which they are not naturally exposed. Those animals more peculiarly fitted to be the companions of man, and to assist him in his occupations, appear to possess generally a larger amount of this power; at all events, we have better opportunities of noticing it, although, probably, it exists also in a certain degree among wild animals. I will commence with some anecdotes of the sagacity shown by animals with which you are all well acquainted--Cats and Dogs; and if you have been accustomed to watch the proceedings of your dumb companions you will be able to say, "Why, that is just like what Tabby once did;" or, "Our Ponto acted nearly as cleverly as that the other day." THE CAT AND THE KNOCKER. When you see Pussy seated by the fireside, blinking her eyes, and looking very wise, you may often ask, "I wonder what she can be thinking about." Just then, probably, she is thinking about nothing at all; but if you were to turn her out of doors into the cold, and shut the door in her face, she would instantly begin to think, "How can I best get in again?" And she would run round and round the house, trying to find a door or window open by which she might re-enter it.