i 7 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



when in the wild state. A little thought will show that many of 

 the qualities for which we prize them are dependent upon this 

 fact, and that we are the gainers by turning to our own use the 

 stock of tribal virtues and morals which they bring with them 

 into our service, just in the same way as we gain by appropriating 

 the winter food-store of the bees, and the supply of starch and 

 gluten laid up for future use by many plants. An animal of a 

 troop has perforce certain social duties and obligations, which, as 

 can be shown, are necessary for his own existence as well as for . 

 the welfare of the community. He must learn to give and take, 

 and be prepared to follow and obey the members of greater capaci- 

 ty and experience. It is essential that he should be of a peaceable 

 disposition, as a general rule, among his mates, so as to preserve 

 the harmony of the band; since a pack of dogs, like a house, 

 divided against itself will soon prove its unfitness, and be elimi- 

 nated according to law. He must also be prepared to stand by 

 his fellows, defend them or any of them if attacked, and warn 

 them if danger approaches. 



Seeing that most wild animals of the canine tribe prey upon 

 quarry swifter and larger than themselves, their common welfare 

 depends upon systematic and intelligent co-operation. A single 

 hound following a trail by scent, will frequently be at a loss ; for 

 every now and then it will overrun and miss the line ; but when 

 several are together this will seldom happen, and the pace of the 

 pursuit will consequently be much greater and the chance of a 

 meal more certain. In searching for prey it is necessary for the 

 pack to separate, so as to range a wider area, but the instant a 

 " find " takes place it is important that all should be informed at 

 once, so that a united pursuit may be taken up while the scent is 

 warm. Among all hounds and many wild dogs the signal is given 

 by the voice, but, as will be shown later, the dog has another and 

 very perfect method of signaling in addition to this. For the 

 canine tail, when considered philosophically, turns out to be 

 nothing but an animated semaphore, by means of which impor- 

 tant news can be telegraphed to the rest of the pack, in much the 

 same way as messages are exchanged between different detach- 

 ments of an army by the modern development of military signal- 

 ing, popularly known as " flag-wagging." 



Of course, in hunting all large and swift animals, a great deal 

 can be done by strategy, and this involves a common plan of ac- 

 tion often of an elaborate kind, and the giving and taking of orders 

 by the leaders and other members of the band respectively. The 

 value of quick perception and general intelligence, as well as of 

 a readiness to co-operate, here at once become apparent, for with- 

 out these qualities no such combination could be successfully 

 carried out. Again, when the prey is within reach, it often re- 



