180 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The primary object of a hostile meeting between dogs (as well as 

 between higher animals) is to decide a question of precedence, 

 either general or particular. Now, if we could only settle which 

 was the best man in any dispute by duels a outrance, a great deal 

 of blood would be shed unnecessarily, and many valuable lives lost 

 to the community. The introduction of moral weapons is therefore 

 a great point gained, for injury to one is injury to all. The quick 

 recognition of the superiority of a foe, and the perception of when 

 submission should take the place of valor, is plainly of advantage 

 to the individual, since a pig-headed obstinacy in resistance would 

 frequently lead to elimination. Where in the serious business of 

 life there is an interdependence of individuals associated for com- 

 mon ends, any influence which lessens the severity of internecine 

 conflicts tends to the general well-being. Just as commanding 

 officers have forbidden duels between members of an army in the 

 field, so Nature has among gregarious animals, and especially 

 those of predatory habits, discountenanced strife which might 

 weaken the general efficiency of the pack. 



Few animals excel the dog in the power of expressing emotion. 

 This power is a sure sign of an animal which is habitually 

 in communication with its fellows for certain common ends. 

 Although probably long association with and selection by man 

 have accentuated this faculty, a considerable share of it was 

 undoubtedly there from the beginning, and was of service long be- 

 fore the first dog was domesticated. It is easy to see how impor- 

 tant it is for the general good that the emotions of any one mem- 

 ber of a pack of dogs should be known to the others. If, for 

 instance, one of the number should perceive an enemy, such as a 

 snake or leopard, lying in ambush, his rapid retreat with depressed 

 tail would instantly warn the others of the danger. 



There are many reasons for the tail being the chief organ of 

 expression among dogs. They have but little facial expression 

 beyond the lifting of the lip to show the teeth and the dilatation of 

 the pupil of the eye when angry. The jaws and contiguous parts 

 are too much specialized for the serious business of seizing prey 

 to be fitted for such purposes, as they are in man. "With dogs 

 which hunt by scent the head is necessarily carried low, and is 

 therefore not plainly visible except to those close by. But in the 

 case of all hunting dogs, such as fox-hounds, or wolves which pack 

 together, the tail is carried aloft, and is very free in movement. 

 It is also frequently rendered more conspicuous by the tip being 

 white, and this is almost invariably the case when the hounds are 

 of mixed color. When ranging the long grass of the prairie or 

 jungle, the raised tips of the tails would often be all that an in- 

 dividual member of the band would see of his fellows. There is 

 no doubt that hounds habitually watch the tails of those in front 



