THE DOG. 53 



prey to be fitted for such purposes, as they are 

 in man. With dogs which hunt by scent the 

 head is necessarily carried low, and is therefore 

 not plainly visible except to those close by. But 

 in the case of all hunting dogs, such as fox- 

 hounds, or wolves which pack together, the tail 

 is carried aloft, and is very free in movement. 

 It is also frequently rendered more conspicuous 

 by the tip being white, and this is invariably 

 the case when the hounds are of mixed colour. 

 When ranging the long grass of the prairie or 

 jungle, the raised tips of the tails would often 

 be all that an individual member would see of 

 his fellows. There is no doubt that hounds 

 habitually watch the tails of those in front of 

 them when drawing a cover. If a faint drag 

 is detected suggestive of the presence of a fox, 

 but scarcely sufficient to be sworn to vocally, 

 the tail of the finder is at once set in motion, 

 and the warmer the scent the quicker does 

 it wag. Others seeing the signal instantly 

 join the first, and there is an assemblage of 

 waving tails before ever the least whimper is 

 heard. Should the drag prove a doubtful one 

 the hounds separate again, and the waving 

 ceases ; but if it crrows stronger when followed 



