6o WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



gestive of crouching preparatory to a rapid bound 

 forwards, as is seen when a cat stalks a bird, and 

 then gathers herself together before the final coup. 



Not unfrequently the tail of a young setter 

 when it sets game may be seen trembling and 

 vibrating as if it had a disposition to wag, which 

 was kept in check by the supreme importance of 

 not disturbing the hare or covey. The tail also 

 is held out in full view like a flag, whereas a rat- 

 catcher's dog on the watch at a hole often droops 

 its tail. 



I think that there can be no doubt that the 

 pointer and setter, in acting in their characteristic 

 manner, are following an old instinct connected 

 with an important piece of co - operative pack 

 strategy, although the peculiarity has been en- 

 hanced by human training and selection, and the 

 sportsmen with their guns have supplanted, and 

 therefore act the part of, the dog's natural com- 

 rades in the chase. 



The writer during his boyhood had charge of 

 a small pack of beagles at a South Down home- 

 stead, several of which were allowed to run loose 

 at night as a guard against the foxes. Amono-st 

 these was an old dog, a part-bred Skye terrier, 

 very sagacious, and well known in all the country 



