OUR FOUR-FOOTED COMPANIONS. 



299 



low from the. dog's intention to attack his enemy, and are 

 thus intelligible. As he prepares to spring upon his ene- 

 my he utters a savage growl, the canine teeth are uncov- 

 ered, and the ears are pressed close backward on the head. 



4. Let us now suppose that the dog suddenly discovers 

 that the man whom he is approaching is not a stran- 

 ger, but his- master ; and let it be observed how completely 

 and instantaneously his whole bearing is reversed. In- 



A Fierce Dog. 



stead of walking upright, the body sinks downward, or 

 even crouches, and is thrown into flexuous movements ; 

 his tail, instead of being held stiff and upright, is low- 

 ered and wagged from side to side ; his hair instantly be- 

 comes smooth ; his ears are depressed and drawn back- 

 ward, but not closely to the head : and his lips hang loosely. 

 From the drawing back of the ears, the eyelids become 

 elongated, and the eyes no longer appear round and star- 

 ing. It should be added that the animal is at such times 

 21 



