Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1916-01-14

Feeding and Have Front and heaf
Guards When on the Marcia Wild
Horse Company In Battle Array
In these days OF general interest In
things military 1t Is interesting %
know that certain animals are gov
erned by vA.t appear to be almost
military rec lions. Among animals
only the glcsarious. Of course, show
qualities Of leadership and discipline.
wild horses obey their leader more
implicitly ihan any soldiers. however
well 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 a code Of signals that they
never disregard.
A short. shrill neigh is a command 10
fee; a long drawn, far carrying neigh
is the rallying call when the herd is
scattered: squeal orders the stallion,
to stand ready to fight OF dangerous
beasts. and a wild snort indicates the
sight or scent Of man. The snort Of q
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 fixedly IN the d
rection from which he anticipates trou
BILE Usually that is enough to put the
entire herd on the alert Should the
snemy prove to be bears. wolves or
any foe against which the drove can
defend itself the signal horse" dashes
forward, prancing 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 rs lie turns
for one last look be will snort out
trumpet-like blast Then with a rush
a roar and clatter 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 the 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 tractable condi-
ton
The peccaries Of Mexico have a bat
tie cry that Is never disobeyed-a short
vicious squcal. quickly repeated and
kept up without ceasing. That noise
drives the little beasts frantic, all with
In hearing rush to get into the fray,
and nothing short of death stops their
charge. II the hunter does not shoot
his peccary SO dead that 1t cannot emit
a single dying squeal his only safety
lies in instant fight
The peccary has also note that
sounds the retreat. 1t Is grunt some
thing like the "Woof. wool, woofr' of
a bear as he dashes away from danger.
An American guide who lives in So
nora, In Mexico. Gun initiate that note
and says that he can stampede a gang
Of the brutes at will with it.
The 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 vigilant watch. At sharp
bark OF warning from one of these
outposts every ape ceases his occu-
'Rstion, even the babies hush their cries
* instant At another bark all
~. sgork or play. or again,
may resume ~ ,,eSs--,
the second note may -. - eren'
message; then the leader gives M
der. and all retrent rapidly to fxl
denser parts OF the forest
When travelling these creatures have
both front and a 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 talIest trees. If
the traveller comes on a tribe Of ba
boons he usually sees only one Of the
scouts, which bares bis teeth savagely.
barks 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
oyertake them. Should the observer
happen upon the rear guard. he will
observe that they behaye differently
from the scouts. Not silent or cautious
they constantly give quick, sharp com