HORSE AS WATCH DOG.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 10

HORSE AS WATCH DOG.

1 A horse, which is bettor than! a watch-dog, and has a spoaking.tubo installed between Ills stable and his owner's bedroom, is an example of animal intolligcnco which it would bo hard to excel ovon in a circus. • Tho horse referred to belongs to Mrs. Wad-ham-Petre, of Maida Vale, and is an-old bayhunter of fifteen hands. As a.consequence of good treatment and'- several: years 110 has developed a reraarkablo sagacity. .. ' • His namo is Birthday, i called 110 opened two doors, raising' tlifl- latches with his nose, and came out,.-in r6?pohs'o to the summons. i; . i'. -!-;-' > . Birthday's stahlo is-.-,uiider part of his owner's house, and Mrs. Wa(lha.inJ'etro.has had a trap-door made in the on the second story arid a iSpealHng'"'tube about fivo inches in l dibuioter; fixed 'to ■ run. straight down to the stable, oiul of tho tube is over his maiigfin. ■> ; ■N. ,1. . Birthday is often hearding in tho night; arid, saidi : Mrs. : ' AVadliamPetre, "there, aro about;thirl;y:'different-'calls ho can make. If Igo 'to! tho, trap-door; and.say 'Hello, Boy,'. I can:.tolV by 1 :tho -tono.-of his response whether lib is disturbed by anything or is hungry, ,o'r' merely quite' comfortable and content.,- ! "Tho other night we heard .him neighiiig-

persistently, and'my husbaiiid at- last wontdown to see what was.tho :inatter.-. Tho horse had • cvidontly been disturbed, and, thougli wo found no-traeos df undesirablo visitors; i,t is certain somebody : had' been prowling ;around. Birthday is ovpil bettor than ; a watch-dog, biica'usQ 110 knows oxiictly who is approaching the liouso by ithe :sound df the footsteps.'' ■ Mrs. Wadham-Pctro is now trying to traco an Exmoor -pony which she. sold at Tattorsall's, six .years - ago, becauso'.'it used to shya littlo; in'the streets. Sho .has Coffered'-.'£s: reward ; for. information - of .. -its -whereabouts, as. sho desires to buy it'back --again. :The poiiy/would bo eleven years old.-now';-. and : its former.:,ihistress,, with, whom a groat: pot,".fdc:ls \that nobody Will treat, it'so-kindly as herself. Mr. Wadham-Pctro has ; "travelled more than -1000' miles '• 111 ■ search' of this. pony. • ' • / • . '