90 THE WAG-TAIL 



own preservation and not friendship for the shepherd who 

 does not fear that bird, which causes their warning, for 

 a hawk will attack birds but never flocks of sheep. 



All day long the wag-tail will follow the herds in their 

 evolution. Now, evening draws near : the shadows of 

 the elms lengthen on the plains; light mists arise in the 

 back ground ; the moon shows her crescent above the 

 dusky woods ; the shepherd is blowing his horn to call 

 his scattered sheep ; pushed by the dogs, the flocks rush 

 forward on the dusty road, bleating noisily, the bellowing 

 cows turn their heads towards their stable, and in the 

 rear, hopping over tufts of grass, wagging their tail and 

 uttering low, shrill cries, the wag-tails accompany the 

 herd to the extremity of the fields. 



