CANINE MORALS AND MANNERS. 173 



selection, it seems clear that here we are dealing with an original 

 instinct. 



The pariah dogs of Constantinople and other Eastern cities, 

 which are practically as untamed as their fellow-scavengers the 

 vultures, crows, and jackals, and which probably have only in the 

 slightest degree ever come under direct human_infiuence, have the 

 same habit. 



Each street is the recognized dwelling-place of an irregular 

 pack, and dogs — and in some cases even men — from other quarters 

 are warned off or attacked if they cross the boundary. 



It is said also that the wild dogs of India will drive off a tiger 

 if he strays into the neighborhood of their chosen habitat. Even 

 tame wolves will, without being taught, threaten a stranger if he 

 comes near their master's house, but will take no notice of the 

 coming and going of the regular inmates. 



It would seem, therefore, that the watch-dog's peculiar virtue 

 is directly traceable to the old instinct for guarding the lair of the 

 pack. And in following this instinct the dog indicates that it is 

 not his custom to act single-handed. The very fact that he 

 growls or barks at a stranger shows that a vocal intimation to his 

 fellows of the presence of a possible enemy is part of his plan. 

 Every one has noticed that the barking of one dog will set off 

 others within hearing, so that on a still night an alarm at one 

 spot will disturb a whole suburb. Although no wolves or wild 

 dogs are known to bark in the true canine manner, it is impossi- 

 ble to imagine that so distinct and almost universal a habit of the 

 domestic varieties can have been deliberately initiated by man. 

 Several instances are recorded of Eskimo dogs, and even dingoes 

 and wolves, learning to bark by spontaneous imitation of domestic 

 dogs. Foxes make a noise very like barking when they challenge 

 one another among the hills at night, and it is not difficult to 

 provoke an answer by imitating the sound under appropriate 

 conditions. It seems probable, therefore, that the common an- 

 cestor of our domestic dogs and their wild relatives, which no 

 doubt lived under somewhat different conditions from any mod- 

 ern feral creatures of the kind, was a barking animal. 



As I have already said, the very fact that the dog barks when 

 alarmed is an indication that he is a creature of gregarious in- 

 stincts, and that he is accustomed to act in concert with others. 

 The sound is a signal to his comrades as well as a threat to the 

 intruder. If this be not so, what can be the meaning and inten- 

 tion of the different tones he adopts according to the nature of 

 the provocation, which are capable of conveying to ears afar off 

 an idea of the measure and nearness of the danger ? 



Most of our domestic animals, and all which act under our or- 

 ders and give us willing obedience, are gregarious in their habits 



