It is not long since a friend of mine, early one morning between dark and dawn, saw a lurcher crossing the Thames with a rabbit in his mouth.

Landing very quietly, the dog went to a Gipsy _tan_, deposited his burden, and at once returned over the river.
Dogs once trained to such secret hunting become passionately fond of it, and pursue it unweariedly with incredible secrecy and sagacity.

Even cats learn it, and I have heard of one which is "good for three rabbits a week." Dogs, however, bring everything home, while puss feeds herself luxuriously before thinking of her owner.

But whether dog or cat, cock or jackdaw, all animals bred among Gipsies do unquestionably become themselves Rommanised, and grow sharp, and shrewd, and mysterious.

A writer in the _Daily News_ of October 19, 1872, speaks of having seen parrots which spoke Rommany among the Gipsies of Epping Forest.