It seems the spirit of the Enlightenment is alive and well in the capital.

Defenders of the Greyfriars Bobby statue in Edinburgh's Old Town hope that tourists will stop rubbing the dog's nose for good luck - a habit that had turned it from black to shiny bronze - now that experts have stepped in to turn it back to black.

After locals apparently attempted to end the practice by putting black shoe polish on the nose, the recolouring of the dog's face has now provided a more permanent solution.

While many would argue there is no harm in visitors touching the famous statue, others are indignant at the superstitious habit. Ironically, the effigy of the supremely unsuper­stitious philosopher David Hume on the High Street in Edinburgh has a shiny foot after first students and then tourists starting rubbing it, apparently in a bid to gain wisdom. Had it been the real David Hume, they might have received a sharp kick for their trouble.

Rubbing statues, kissing the Blarney stone, throwing coins in fountains: are these superstitious attempts to improve one's personal fortunes or just a bit of fun? Possibly both but for now, at least, Greyfriars Bobby should stop being a talisman and go back to being just a statue of a famous dog.