The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-11
,(TS II true ali dogs used to be
wild, onceT asked Harry Deitz.

EITS IT true all dogs used to be
wild, once" asked Harry Deitz,
as he dropped into step along
side Old Man Negley on the latter's
morning walk up Vine street on his
way to days work as neighborhood
handy man. II asked because at the
New York zoo last week saw a red
dish short-haired dog about as big as
pointer and the sign outside his
cage said he was 'Dingo; Australian
Wild Dog"
'The dingo was a wild dog, once"
answered Negley, from his inexhaus-
tible store Of canine knowledge, "but
he has been domesticated long ago,
to a great extent; and he is used as
pet and for working purposes out in
Australia. But, for all that, there are
still a lot Of wild dogs in different
parts Of the world; as wild and as
savage as any wolf. They are living
answer to your question whether or
not all dogs used to bewild. ~
"It's funny you should be asking
that question just now, too. For
friend Of mine dropped in on me one
day last week and he was telling me
about long hunting trip he'd been
on lately, in British East Africa, with
,ome sportsmen who hired him to go
along as cook and handy man. Last
night at the public library was look
ing up some of the things he had told
me. Not that / doubted him, but to
see If he was really right about all
Of them. He was.
"Out there in British East Africa,
and in other parts of the Dark CONT
nent, too, they have these big savage
dogs, ranging in color from pale yell
low to almost black. They are fero-
cious and they attack men as willingly
as they attack deer.
"They hunt together in packs. Some
of the packs contain more than
hundred dogs. Just figure for your
self what it means to have bunch
Of 100 savage brutes like that charg-
ing down at you'll
''They attack leopards as gladly as
they attack more gentle game. As a
rule. you know, leopards love to kill
dogs. 1t Is their favorite meat. But
bunch of these African wild dogs
kill leopards and even lions. They
kill anything they can get.
1.-THE odd thing Is that they seldom
eat more than a small part Of the vic
TINS body and never touch his head
at all. More often they kill from
wanton mischief. and never bother to
eat a mouthful Of their kill. They
drive all the game ont of any region
they choose for a hunting ground, too
all that they don't manage to kill.
my friend described to me the way
pack Of them does when 1t starts
in pursuit of a big antelope or other
fast-running prey. He says one dog
will run at top speed, as close behind
the prey as he can keep up. The rest
spread out in a sort of fan-formation
and they follow this leading dog at an
easier pace, about quarter Of mile
or more behind.
"Then, If the prey tries to turn
sharply to one side or the other, they
can shift their own direction and fol-
low so as to intercept him. If he
keeps straight on, the first dog gets
tired or winded, after while, from
his headlong pace. Then he drops
back to the rest Of the pack.
"At once one of the other dogs
dashes ahead and takes the leaders
place, close behind the prey. In this
fashion. by relays. they run until they
tire out the deer or other animal they
are chasing and at last one Of them
is able to come alongside and attack
him.
IF one of the wild dogs is hurt in
the attack on the prey, all the rest
turn on the wounded dog in fash
and kill him. / have read that some
kinds of wolves do the same thing.
That is a queer trait of animals and
birds.
1.-The other day saw a chicken hit
by a motor car and disabled. Right
away the other chickens rushed at
him and tried to peck him to death.
I don't know If all chickens do this
but that's the second time I've seen it.
It seems to be an inherited trait of
the wild suppose originally all wild
creatures were hungry and they made
a meal of any one of their number
that couldn't defend itself any longer