TELE- 

 rilONEH 



772 Lifc-historics of Northern Animals 



and preputial orifices, so tliat the natural excretions in transitu 

 hear with tliem the taint which reveals so much to the next 

 passer-hy of tiu' same species. 



WOLF In order thai this second animal may fmd the depot of 



intelligence cjuickly, it is necessary that his discovery of the 

 place be not left to chance; and, incredible as it may seem at 

 first sif^ht, there is abundant proof that the whole of a region 

 iidiabited by Wolves is laid out in signal stations or intelligence 

 depots. Usually there is one at each mile or less, varying 

 much with the nature of the ground. The marks of these 

 depots, or odour-jjosts, are various; a stone, a tree, a bush, a 

 Buffalo skull, a post, a mound, or any similar object serves, 

 provided only that it is cons|)icuous on account of its colour 

 or |)<)sition; usually it is more or less isolated, or else promi- 

 nent by being at the crossing of two trails. 



Now, a man returning to town goes at once to his hotel or 

 club, glances o\c\ the last three or four names on the register, 

 adds his own, ilun makes a more thorough inspection. And 

 the behaviour of an animal arrived at an odour-post is precisely 

 the same. It approaches, hastily snifls the post, adds its own 

 odour, then makes a nioie thorough investigation. The atten- 

 tion that dogs pay to lam[)-posis in town is precisely the same 

 habit, a trille over-developed through idleness, etc., but it will 

 serve to illustrate. I have many times seen a dog apjiroach 

 the post, sniff, then growl, register, growl again, and, with 

 bristling mane and glowing eyes, scratch fiercely with his hind- 

 teet, and walk oil very stiflly, glancing back from time to time. 

 Again, it is common to see a dog, after the preliminaries, be- 

 come keenly interested, trot about the vicinity, and come back 

 again and again to make his own record more evident. At 

 other times one sees the animal, suddenly aroused by the news, 

 take up a recent trail or fly to the next signal post, and so 

 continue in |nirsuit of \\hate\er it was that was sensed. 



REGIS- Wohes do precisely the s.ime, but I believe tiiey carry it 



TERiNc. ^^^ ,^ higher |)iuli, and there can be no doubt that a newly 



