New-York tribune., 1908-07-19
A TALE OF TAILS
They're Mighty Useful Members to
Most of the. AnimM Kingdom.


caudal appendage and minimize its uses, probably
because he shed his away back in the pithecoid
stage. The end of things seems to him futile and
undigniied Yet the tail continues to be most
important member among animals. and the world
could hardly wag without it, Arms and legs are
a modern invention compared with the sinuous ex-
tension that wiggled and waved and acted a
propeller to the early forms of life millions of
years ago. All sentiments and emotions were ex-
pressed by the tail curved erect gently moved
from side to side. constituting a sign language
quite sufficient for the icthyosaurus and other
brainy citizens Of the deep.
Observe the tails when you visit the Zoo, says
c. William Beebe. curator In the New York
Geological Park, in article Ii THE Outing Mag
azine. When you see a dog He down and curl his
tail forward you have hint OF the primitive use
of this member. The animal In wild state, when
the weather was cold, was accustomed to use his
thick hairy tail a rug around his body, and par
tcularly shelter for his nose. While snugly
sheltered he could breathe and smell enemy
through the porous tip. The dog expresses all
kinds of affection by wagging and grief by droop-
ing his tail. A pointer has learned in forty gen.
erations artificial self-control that causes him
to stiffen his body and tail when he scents the
game. When dog puts his tail between his legs
It is a remniscence of ancestral precaution
against pursuing enemy who might bite the trail
ing member.
The cat tribe does not wag but its tal to get
rid of a surplus OF nervous energy when engaged
IN the hunt. The kitten stalking a bird or a Hon
after an OK cur1s and uncurls the tip OF It's tail
This is like nervously tapping his foot
fingers at moments Of stress and excitement. The
jaguar walking on slender bough and the house
cat going to concert rendezvous on top of q back
yr. fence employ their tails keep their balance,
the tight rope artist sways his pole
Sheep have for tails yet the breed
found in Asia Minor and Tartary with a hfty-pound
tail make the appendage serve storehouss for
fat. These enormous extensions fastened on
two sticks. which drag the ground
ried two small wheels.
An important function Of tails h to whisk away
flies and other insects that attack animals un-
protected by long hair or thick hides. Two horses
cows standing bes,def each other. head to tail.
and joining forces to switch off flies illustrate
ingenious application of the proveb that two tails
are better than one. The Wild horse did not have
much tall, because his thick and shaggy coat
shielded him from insects
Most aquatic animals the tail rather than the
limbs to swim with. The alligator paddles along
slowly with his webbed toes but he folds his legs
let's them drift when he wants to go at full
speed by undulating his tail Seals fold their hind
hppers together and them tailfashion. while
penguns swim with their wings and steer with
their tails. Whales used to 1.-Two dry land and
crawl about on four feet When they took to the
water they found it convenient to develop tails
with vertical instead Of horizontal sweep. This
helped them 10 shoot Up quickly from the ocean
depths to get air. The agators tail is power
full that It. can knock over and injurs half dozen
men trying to hold it. The Mexican iguana has a
happy faculty of letting enemy keep the end
of his tail whila he escapes into his burrow. and
nature soon makes up with a growth the ap-
pendage he has lost. The porcupine yibrates his
quilted tail formidable weapon
fossil discovered in Bavaria shows how the
lizards tail evolved into the feathery tuft of a
bird. This link between reptile and bird had
twenty large feathers each side Of it's leathery
tall which served chiefly a rudder In short leap
ing flights More feathers. set closely together.
came in response to need and finally the power to
open and shut fanlike tail of feathers. Curl
osty is the paradise widow finch of Africa, which
has body four inches long and tail a foot in
length After a heavy rain dew the bird can't
fly until the sun has dried its feathers. which puts
IT at the mercy Of its enemies. The beaver uses
Its fiat, broad tail q mason's troweI: the great
ant eater spends no money for umbrellas while II
can arch its large. hairy tail its back. and
the kangaroo Is saved the expense Of chairs by
sitting on Its well muscled tall. The woodpeclcer
employs its stin tail feathers a prop when
climbing trees. The monkeys tail Is well known
fol its nd