The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-01-20

Horse Company In Battle Array.
In these days of general interest in
things military 1t is interesting to
know that certain animals are gov
erned by what appear to be almost
military regulations. Among animals
only the gregarious, of course, show
qualities of leadership and discipline.
Wild horses obey their leader more
implicitly than any soldiers. however
we'll disciplined. Mustangs are wary,
difficult to approach and almost i'm
possible to capture, owing to the devo-
ton with which they follow their lead
er and to code Of signals that they
never disregard.
A short, shrill neigh is a command to
fee; long drawn. far carrying neigh
is the rallying call when the herd is
scattered; squeal orders the stations
to stand ready to fight Off dangerous
beasts. and wild snort indicates the
sight or scent of man. The snort Of II
mustang can be heard half mile or
more.
Certain movements are also impor-
tant as signals. At the first hint of
| danger the horse that detects 1t throws
his head and tail high in the air, stands
motionless and gazes fxedly In the d.
rection from which he anticipates trou.
BILE. Usually that Is enough to put the
entire herd on the alert Should the
enemy prove to be bears, wolves or
any foe against which the drove can
defend Itself the "sisnal horse dashes
forward pranclng from side to side
rearing and striking the ground. Should
their most dreaded enemy, man. be ap-
preaching the horse will circle far in
toward the main body, and as he turns
for one last look he will snort out a
| trumpet-like blast. Then with a rush.
| a roar and CHATTER Of hoofs the entire
herd is gone-the leader in front. the
stations in the rear, the colts In the
| middle.
Even old, well trained work horses
when turned out to pasture will gener-
ally select leader and be governed by
him. The herd commander may be an
old and gentle mare or the widest and
wariest horse Of the drove. In ths lat
Ter case the herd often becomes almost
as difficult to handle as so many Wild
horses. whereas the old mare will keep
her drove In the most tractabie cond!-
ton.
Tho peccaries Of Mexico have bat
tie cry that is never disobeyed-a short.
vicious squeal. quickly repeated and
kept up without ceasing. That noise
drives the little beasts frantic, all with.
Ia hearing rush to get into the fray,
and nothing short Of death stops their
Charge. II the hunter does not shoot
bis peceary SO dead that it cannot emit
q single dying squeal his only safety
lies In instant flight. ,-ssea as
The peccary has also note that
sounds the retreat. 1t is n srunt some
thing like the .'Woof. weof, woofr' of
a bear as he dashes away from danger.
An American guide who lives in So
nora, IN Mexico, can Initiate that motto
and says that he can Stampede a gang
Of the brutes at will with II.
Tho balloons Of Africa probably
have the best military regulations of
any OF the animals. While they are
feeding in dangerous place they set
sentries on every, side--big, wise, vet.
eran balloons That sit perfectly quiet
and keep vigilnnt watch. At sharp
bark Of warning from one of these
outposts every ape ceases his occu-
patton. even the babies hush their cries
on the instant. At another bark all
may resume work or play. or again,
the second note may carry different
message; then the leader gives an or.
der, and all retreat rapidly TO the
denser parts OF tho forest.
When travelling these creatures have
both q front and rear guard. A half
dozen powerful apes scout well In
front OF the main body. now inspecting
the woods from the ground, now climb
ing to the tops of the tallest trees. If
the traveller comes on tribe of ba-
boons he usually sees only one OF the
scouts. which bares his teeth savagely,
banks once and is gone. Farther away
the hunter may observe the whipping
Of branches, as the rest Of the tribe
retreat so rapidly that no man can
overtake them Should the observer
happen upon the rear guard, he will
observe thut they behave differently
from the scouts. Not silent or cautious,
they constantly give quick, sharp COM
mands. now angrily Gliding some lag
ging youngster or giving another a slap
and bite.
As far as we know the balloons are
the only apes or other animals that
post sentry at night. Commonly
they sleep in caves among the cliffs.
and when all have retired to rest you
may be sure that one of their number
will be wide awake, sitting on some
exposed rock or other point Of vantage,
from which he can see in every direc-
don. Not even the leopard, the most
determined foe OF the baboon, dares to
attack them at night unless he can
surprise and kill the sentry. when at.
tackled they will fight In defense Of
their families until the last man" ix
dagH, -.Yo1ib's Combauior.