Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-07
animal DISCIPLINE
Wild Beasts Obey a Sort of Code
of Military Tactics.
RABooNS AS REAL SOLDIERS.

Feeding and Have Front and Rear
Guards Vixen on the March-A Wild
Horse Company In Battle Array.
In these days of general interest in
things military it 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 bbey their leader more
implicitly than 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
or and to a code of signals that they
never disregard.
A short. shrill neigh is a command to
fee; a long drawn, far carrying neigh
Is the rallying call when the herd Is
scattered; a squeal orders the stations
to stand ready to fight off dangerous
beasts, and a wild snort indicates the
sight or scent of man. The snort of a
mustang can be heard half a mile or
more.
Certain movements are also impor-
tant as signals. At the first hint of
his head and tail high in the air, stands
motionless and gazes ixedly in the di-
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 "signal horse dashes
forward, prancing from side to side,
rearing and striking the ground. Should
their most dreaded enemy, man, be APP
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 a 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 a 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 keen
her drove in the most tractable condi-
ton.
The %peccaries of Mexico have a 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
in hearing rush to get into the fray,
and nothing short of death stops their
charge. If the hunter does not shoot
bis peccary so dead that it cannot emit
a single dying squeal his only safety
lies in instant fight.
The peccaIy has also a note that
sounds the retreat. 1t is q grunt some
tning like the "Woof, wool, woofi" of
pear as he dashes away from danger.
Al American guide who lives in So
nora, in. Mexico, can initiate that note
and says that he can stampede a gang
OF the brutes at will with it.
The balloons of Africa probably
nave the best military regulations of
any or the animals. While they are
ieed1ng in a dangerous place they set
sentr1es on every side-big, wise. vet
ean baboons that sit perfectly quiet
and Keep a vigilant watch. At a sharp
Dark 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,
'ne second note may carry a different
message; then the leader gives an or
uer, n all retreat rapidly to the
aenser parts of the forest.
When travelling these creatures have
ooth a front and a rear guard. A half
aOzen powerful apes scout well in
'front.' of the main body, now inspecting
Tue woods from the ground, now climb
iag TO the tops of the tallest trees. If
ue traveller comes on a tribe of ba-
Ooons he usually sees only one of the
SCOUTS, which bares his teeth savagely,
uarKs once and is gone. Farther away
may ODScINt lue
VI branches, as the rest of the tribe
ietreat so rapidly that no man can
oSertake them. Should the observer
Happen upon the rear guard, he will
OoServe that they behave differently
from the scouts. Not silent or cautious.
eney constantly give quick, sharp COM
mands, now angrily Gliding some lag
sng youngster or giving another a SLAP
and a bite.
as far as we know the balloons are
'ne only apes or other animals that
pOSt a sentry at night Commonly
eney sleep in caves among the cliffs.
anu When all have retired to rest you
"ay be sure that one of their number
wiz be wide awake, sitting on some
eAposed rock or other point of vantage,
4lom which he can see in every direc-
sOn' Not even the leopard, the most
foe of the baboon, dares to