58 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



concomitant of one form of pleasure, which, 

 apparently, is chiefest among the agreeable 

 emotions when dogs are in the wild state. 

 Owing to some inosculation of the nervous 

 mechanism, which at present we cannot un- 

 ravel, the association of pleasure and wagging 

 has become so inseparable that the movement 

 of the tail now accompanies the emotion what- 

 ever may call it forth. 



An explanation of a similar kind can be found 

 for the fact that dogs depress their tails when 

 threatened or scolded. When running away the 

 tail would be the part nearest the pursuer, and 

 therefore most likely to be seized. It was there- 

 fore securely tucked away between the hind-legs. 

 The act of running away is naturally closely 

 associated with the emotion of fear, and there- 

 fore this gesture of putting the tail between the 

 legs becomes an invariable concomitant of retreat 

 or submission in the presence of superior force. 

 When a puppy taken out for an airing curves 

 its tail downwards and scuds in circles and half- 

 circles at fullest speed around its master, it is 

 apparently trying to provoke its pseudo-cynic 

 playfellow to pursue it in mock combat. It may 

 be observed in passing that this running in 



