How Animals Talk 



luck to observe a she-wolf leading her pack across 

 the white expanse of a frozen lake in winter; and 

 at such times the cubs have a doggish impulse to 

 run after any moving object that attracts their 

 attention. If a youngster breaks away to rush 

 an animal that he sees moving in the woods (once 

 that moving animal was myself), the mother heads 

 him instantly if he is close to her ; but if he is off 

 before she can check him by a motion of her ears 

 or a low growl, she never wastes time or strength 

 in chasing him. She simply holds quiet, lifts her 

 head high, and looks steadily at the running cub. 

 Suddenly he wavers, halts, and then, as if the look 

 recalled him, whirls and speeds back to the pack. 

 If the moving object be proper game afoot, the 

 mother now goes ahead to stalk or drive it, while 

 the pack follows stealthily behind her on either 

 side; but if the distant object be a moose or a 

 man, or anything else that a wolf must not meddle 

 with, then the mother wolf trots quietly on her 

 way without a sound, and the errant cub falls into 

 place as if he had understood her silent command. 

 You may observe the same phenomenon of silent 

 order and ready obedience nearer home, if you 

 have patience to watch day after day at a burrow 

 of young foxes. I have spent hours by different 

 dens, and have repeatedly witnessed what seemed 

 to be excellent discipline; but I have never yet 



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