Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-30

quently rendered more conspicuous by
the tip being white, and this il almost
invariably the case when the hounds arc
of mixed color.
When ranging tho long grass of tho
prairie or jungle, the raised tips Of the
tails would often be all that an indiyid.
ual member Of tho band would see OF his
fellows. There is no doubt that hounds
habitually watch the tails of those in
front OF them when drawing covert.
II faint drag Is detected suggestive OF
the presence Of fox, but scarcely sufii.
Client 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 on asscmblage
Of waving tails before ever tho least
whimper is heard.
Should the drag prove doubtful one
the hounds separate again and the wav.
ing ceases; buff Il grows stronger when
followed up the wag ing becomes more
and more emphaso until one after an.
other the hounds begin 10 whine md
give tongue. and stream OH In Indian
file along tho limo Of scont.
The whole question Of tail wagging 70
very interesting one. All dogs wag
their tails when pleased, and the move.
ment Is generally understood by their
human associates as an intiination that
they are happy. But when we attempt
TO discover tho reason why pleasure
should DO expressed In this way the OK.
PLANTATION appears Mt first u very difficult
ono. All physical attributes Of living
beings nrc, upon the evolutionary
hypothesis. traceablc to some actual
need, past or present. The old aud de
lightfully conclusive dictum that things
are as they are because they were made
no at the beginning no longer can DO
put forward seriously outside the pulpit
or the nursery.
No doubt in many cascs-as, for In.
stance the origin Of human laughter tho
mystery seems unfathomablo. But this
only results from our defective knowl.
edge Of data upon which TO build the
bridge OF deductive argument. The rea.
son 10 there all the timo could we but
reach It, and almost daily we are able
W tNtoohh hbf NllA lIlNINll-
ly anomalous phenomena which utterly
batiled our predecessors. Probably tho
manner In which domestic dogs express
pleasure Is owing 10 come interlocking
OF the machinery OF oognato ideas. In
order TO understand this better It may
be helpful to consider some analogous
instances with regard TO habits of our
own species.
There can be no question that the |
chief delight Of wild dogs, a. with mod. |
orn hounds and sporting dogs. Is Ia the |
chase and its accompanying excitement
and consequences. One Of the most |
thrilling moments to the human huutcr |
(and doubtless TO the canine, and ono
big with that most poignant OF all de-
lights, anticipation Of plcasurablo ex-
element combined with muscular actiy-
ity, is when the presence Of game Is first
detected. As we have SEGA In WATCHING,
the behavior in puck OF foxhounds'
this Is invariably the time when tails
are wagged for the common good. The
wagging is an almost inyariablo accom-
paniinentof this form OF pleasure, which
IS one Of tho chielest among the agree
able emotions when In tho wild state.
Owing to some incubation Of the
nervous mechanism, which at present
we cannot unraycl, tho association OF
pleasure and wagging has become so in.
separablc that the movement OF the tail
follows the emotion whatever may call
II forth.
An explanation Of similar kind can
DO found for the fact that dogs deprcss
their tails when threatened or scolded.
When running away the tail would be
the part nearest the pursuer, asl there.
fore most likely 10 DO seized. 1t was
therefore securely tucked away between
the hind legs. Tho act of running away
is naturally closely associated with the
emotion of fear, and therefore this yes.
ture Of putting the tail between the legs
becomes I'M inyariablo concomitant Of re.
treat or submission in the presence of
superior force. When II puppy taken
out for an airing curves its tail down.
ward and scuds in circles and half cir.
cles ut fullest speed around its muster,
1t Is apparently trying to provoke its
pseudo-cynic playfellow TO pursue 1t in
mock combat. 1t may be observed that
this running in sharp curves, with FIRE.
qucnt change OF direction, Is a common
ruse with animals which are pursued by
larger enemies, The reason Of 1t Is that
the centrifugal impulse acts more pow
erfully on the animal OF larger bulk.
and so gives the smaller an advantage.