Ci ray- wolf 773 



arrived Wolf is (juickly aware of the visit that has recently been 

 paid to the signal post — by a personal friend or foe, by a 

 female in search of a mate, a young or old, sick or well, hungry, 

 hunted, or gorged beast. From the trail he learns further the 

 direction whence it came and wliither it went. Ihus the main 

 items of news essential to his life are obtained by the system 

 of signal posts. 



The Wolf, as well as the dog, has further a habit of uri- kxpres- 



SION O 

 SCOKN 



nating or defecating on certain things that appeal to his nose, ^""^ '"' 



without arousing his apjietite. He usually follows this action 

 by vigorously scratching the dust with his hind-feet over 

 and around the object defiled. This treatment is commonly 

 accorded to poisoned baits as well as to traps. I am inclined 

 to think that Wolves have been taken in some of my hidden 

 traps while thus serving them with a Wolf's contempt, and 

 heedlessly going too near while doing so. On other occasions, 

 stones raked into the trap by this scratching have sj)rung them, 

 and tluis they have been fully revealed. 



I am satisfied that scorn — that is, hate with superiority — 

 is among the feelings thus expressed, for I once saw the victor 

 in a fight between two female Coyotes urinate gleefully again 

 and again on her fallen foe as she crouched in a corner of the 

 cage. 



A scent-gland that has long been overlooked is on the base expres- 

 of the tail above; its exact place is marked by a dark spot on anger 

 most of the dogs. In the Gray-wolf this spot is black, the 

 hairs composing the spot are bristly, and there is no under- 

 fur at the place. 



When a dog or Wolf, ready to do battle, approaches 

 a stranger, the tail is raised at base and drooj)ed beyond, 

 so that this gland is at the highest point and the hairs on 

 it are raised. This doubtless allows the escape of more of 

 this scent. 



In play, in battle, or in abject fear, there is no suggestion 

 of this pose of tail. (See Plate LXV.) 



