36 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



greater and the chance of a meal more certain. 

 In searching for prey it is necessary for the pack 

 to separate, so as to range a wider area ; but the 

 instant a "find" takes place it is important that 

 all should be informed at once, so that a united 

 pursuit may be taken up while the scent is warm. 

 Among all hounds and many wild dogs the signal 

 is given by the voice ; but, as will be shown later, 

 the dog has another and very perfect method of 

 sienallino- in addition to this. For the canine 

 tail, when considered philosophically, turns out 

 to be nothing but an animated semaphore, by 

 means of which important news can be tele- 

 graphed to the rest of the pack in much the 

 same way as messages are exchanged between 

 different detachments of an army by the modern 

 development of military signalling popularly 

 known as " flao^-wao'crinor." 



Of course in hunting all large and swift animals, 

 a great deal can be done by strategy ; and this 

 involves a common plan of action, often of an 

 elaborate kind, and the giving and taking of 

 orders by the leaders and other members of the 

 band respectively. The value of quick percep- 

 tion and general intelligence, as well as of a 

 readiness to co - operate, here at once become 



