40 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



but still the old loyal instinct to rush to the sup- 

 port of supposed friends in distress is so strong, 

 that a lady's pug has been known to spring from 

 a carriage to take part in a scrimmage between 

 two laro;e collies. 



Among wild dogs the prosperity of the com- 

 munity might be fatally impaired by a lapse of 

 this instinctive loyalty. All who have had to do 

 with hounds know that every pack contains cer- 

 tain individuals whose special talents are invalu- 

 able to the rest. Generally one or two of a pack 

 of beagfles do most of the findinsf when driving 

 rabbits in the furze, and in the case of a lost trail 

 another individual will be, as a rule, the success- 

 ful one in making skilful casts forward to pick up 

 the line of scent. Another, again, will possess 

 quicker vision and greater swiftness in running 

 than the rest, and the instant the quarry comes 

 into view will cease the more tedious method 

 of following, and dash forward at full speed to 

 seize it. 



Among wild dogs pursuing large and powerful 

 game, the need and scope for such specialists 

 would be even greater and more important. If 

 one of these were lost through not beino- well 

 backed up in time of peril, the whole pack would 



