HUNTING — FISHING— WARS AND EXPEDITIONS. 29 



tracked animal's strength goes on diminishing until 

 exhaustion and fatigue place him at their mercy. 



Mammals especially, such as Dogs, Wolves, and 

 Foxes, exercise this kind of chase ; it is, exactly, the 

 coursing which Man has merely had to direct for his 

 own benefit. Wild dogs pursue their prey united in 

 immense packs. They excite each other by barking 

 while they frighten the game and half paralyse his 

 efforts. No animal is agile and strong enough to 

 be sure of escaping. They surround him and cut off 

 his retreat in a most skilful manner ; Gazelles and 

 Antelopes, in spite of their extreme nimbleness and 

 speed, are caught at last ; Boars are rapidly driven 

 into a corner ; their vigorous defence may cost the 

 life of some of the assailants, but they, nevertheless 

 become the prey of the band who rush on to the 

 quarry. In Asia wild dogs do not fear even to 

 attack the tiger. Many no doubt are crushed by a 

 blow of the animal's paw or strangled in his jaws, but 

 the death of comrades does not destroy either the 

 courage or the greediness of the surviving aggressors. 

 Their number also is such that the great beast, 

 covered by agile enemies who cling to him and 

 wound him in every part, must at last succumb. 



Wolves hunt also in considerable bands. Their 

 audacity, especially when pressed by hunger in the 

 bad season, is well known. In time of war they 

 follow armies, to attack stragglers and to devour the 

 dead. In Siberia they pursue sledges on the snow 

 with terrible perseverance, and the pack is not delayed 

 by the massacre of those who are shot. A few stop 

 to devour at once their fallen comrades, while the 

 others continue the pursuit. 



Besides these brutal chases wolves seem able to 



