124 THE PLAY OF ANIMALS. 



the pursuer is far more active and interested in the 

 game than the fleeing one, while with herbivorous ani- 

 mals the contrary is the case; with these, as Dr. Seitz 

 writes, the animal that is fleeing plays the principal 

 part, the other merely co-operating and doing its share 

 in a perfunctory sort of way. The dog offers an excel- 

 lent example of the first class. A dog that sees another 

 approaching, frequently crouches in the open street 

 and remains quite motionless, with all the signs of 

 eager alertness. This instinctive lying in wait is evi- 

 dently rudimentary, for when the other dog comes up 

 the one in ambush rises forthwith and goes to meet his 

 comrade. Sometimes the dog goes so far as to hide 

 himself. Xot long ago I saw a young fox terrier leaping 

 around the corner of a house to hide himself from an- 

 other dog that was coming. Then followed the invita- 

 tion to play, made in a very characteristic manner, Avith 

 legs wide apart, a position well adapted to facilitate the 

 rapid projection of the body in flight. All ready to start, 

 he throws himself from right to left several times, in a 

 semicircle, before the flight really begins. The other in 

 the meantime is a fine picture of hypocrisy, as he glances 

 indifferently about as if the whole affair were nothing to 

 him. Xow, however, the fun begins, as the leader springs 

 forward, though not at full speed, and the other gives 

 chase with enthusiasm. Should the pursuer overtake his 

 mock prey, he tries to seize him in the neck or by the 

 hind leg, just as a dog does when chasing in earnest. 

 The other, without slackening his pace, turns his head 

 to defend himself by biting. Then a tussle often en- 

 sues. At last the players stand with tongues hanging 

 out, breathing heavily, until one of them suddenly 

 whirls around and the play begins anew. The elements 

 involved in all this are lying in wait, hiding, invitation 



