122 A COUNTRY READER. 



their turn 'had their beginnings,, 'because they 

 were of some use to the wild race that adopted 

 them. 



Man observed the habits of the animals when 

 in their wild state, or he captured and tamed the 

 young of the wild animals, and then afterwards 

 found out the ways that were natural to them. 

 Whichever way man learnt of the wild traits, 

 having found them out, in order to make them 

 the most serviceable to him, he either partially 

 suppressed them or modified them, or turned 

 them in some other direction, or he very strongly 

 developed them. 



Why Dogs are Sociable. 



Dogs, as you have just read, lived in packs. 

 Experience had taught the race of wild dogs that 

 union meant strength, meant beating off their 

 enemies, meant a better chance of obtaining a 

 bit of sheep, deer, or even some other larger 

 animal for supper. But when the prey was pulled 

 down and killed, mutual help was at an end. 

 Every dog for himself was then the rule, and so 

 each dog crammed and bolted the utmost 

 amount of food he could swallow, without any 

 regard for the other dogs of the pack. 



The wild dogs, living in packs, had in a 

 measure to give and take, had to learn and obey 

 a rude sort of obedience to the unwritten dog 



