FILM AUDIENCE OF DOGS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2027, 17 September 1913, Page 2

FILM AUDIENCE OF DOGS.

CINEMATOGRAPH EXPERIMENT ON THEIR EMOTIONS. To test the effect of cinematograph pictures on the intelligence of anniialp tne Lon on Evening News arranged a entertainment consisting of animal films for an auciience of prize bred dogs. The audience coniisted of three mastiffs, a bull terrier, a bull og, an Iriish terrier, two Great Danes, and two fox terriers. rne first film depicted tne Reigate Dog Show The dogs walked up and had a look at it and then tarn ed away, bored almost to tears says the Evening News "We know all about t!/at," yon could fancy they were saying; they recognised that they were watching something not real flesh and blood. A film showing an elephant apparently walking into tie ictn excited the ( ogs more; but after a few moments' inspection they recognised it as only a pictorial elephant, though the bull terrier assumei an attacking attitude, anl one of the mastiffs and both the Danes bayed loudly. The bulldog and the teiriers also enjoyed a momentary excitement when birds first appeared on the screen. Mr Walter Winans, the famous sportsman, one of the spectators of the entertainment, afterwards sail that dogs did not understand still pictures. A Pomeranian ne possessed would take no notice of a portrait of himself, but went nearly mad when shown a magic lantern mechanical sii e of a pictnre rf a man lying on his back swallowing rats.