第 23 节
作者:
忙 更新:2021-02-27 02:14 字数:9322
ate; like rubbing against their masters and being rubbed or patted by them; for from the nursing of their puppies; contact with a beloved object has become firmly associated in their minds with the emotion of love。 The feeling of affection of a dog towards his master is combined with a strong sense of submission; which is akin to fear。 Hence dogs not only lower their bodies and crouch a little as they approach their masters; but sometimes throw themselves on the ground with their bellies upwards。 This is a movement as completely opposite as is possible to any show of resistance。 I formerly possessed a large dog who was not at all afraid to fight with other dogs; but a wolf…like shepherd…dog in the neighbourhood; though not ferocious and not so powerful as my dog; had a strange influence over him。 When they met on the road; my dog used to run to meet him; with his tail partly tucked in between his legs and hair not erected; and then be would throw himself on the ground; belly upwards。 By this action he seemed to say more plainly than by words; 〃Behold; I am your slave。〃 A pleasurable and excited state of mind; associated with affection; is exhibited by some dogs in a very peculiar manner; namely; by grinning。 This was noticed long ago by Somerville; who says; And with a courtly grin; the fawning bound Salutes thee cow'ring; his wide op'ning nose Upward he curls; and his large sloe…back eyes Melt in soft blandishments; and humble joy。' _The Chase_; book i。Sir W。 Scott's famous Scotch greyhound; Maida; had this habit; and it is common with terriers。 I have also seen it in a Spitz and in a sheep…dog。 Mr。 Riviere; who has particularly attended to this expression; informs me that it is rarely displayed in a perfect manner; but is quite common in a lesser degree。 The upper lip during the act of grinning is retracted; as in snarling; so that the canines are exposed; and the ears are drawn backwards; but the general appearance of the animal clearly shows that anger is not felt。 Sir C。 Bell'3' remarks 〃Dogs; in their expression of fondness; have a slight eversion of the lips; and grin and sniff amidst their gambols; in a way that resembles laughter。〃 Some persons speak of the grin as a smile; but if it had been really a smile; we should see a similar; though more pronounced; movement of the lips and ears; when dogs utter their bark of joy; but this is not the case; although a bark of joy often follows a grin。 On the other hand; dogs; when playing with their comrades or masters; almost always pretend to bite each other; and they then retract; though not energetically; their lips and ears。 Hence I suspect that there is a tendency in some dogs; whenever they feel lively pleasure combined with affection; to act through habit and association on the same muscles; as in playfully biting each other; or their masters' hands。 I have described; in the second chapter; the gait and appearance of a dog when cheerful; and the marked antithesis presented by the same animal when dejected and disappointed; with his head; ears; body; tail; and chops drooping; and eyes dull。 Under the expectation of any great pleasure; dogs bound and jump about in an extravagant manner; and bark for joy。 The tendency to bark under this state of mind is inherited; or runs in the breed: greyhounds rarely bark; whilst the Spitz…dog barks so incessantly on starting for a walk with his master that he becomes a nuisance。 '1' ‘The Anatomy of Expression;' 1844; p。 140。An agony of pain is expressed by dogs in nearly the same way as by many other animals; namely; by howling writhing; and contortions of the whole body。 Attention is shown by the head being raised; with the ears erected; and eyes intently directed towards the object or quarter under observation。 If it be a sound and the source is not known; the head is often turned obliquely from side to side in a most significant manner; apparently in order to judge with more exactness from what point the sound proceeds。 But I have seen a dog greatly surprised at a new noise; turning; his head to one side through habit; though he clearly perceived the source of the noise。 Dogs; as formerly remarked; when their attention is in any way aroused; whilst watching some object; or attending to some sound; often lift up one paw (fig。 4) and keep it doubled up; as if to make a slow and stealthy approach。 A dog under extreme terror will throw himself down; howl; and void his excretions; but the hair; I believe; does not become erect unless some anger is felt。 I have seen a dog much terrified at a band of musicians who were playing loudly outside the house; with every muscle of his body trembling; with his heart palpitating so quickly that the beats could hardly be counted; and panting for breath with widely open mouth; in the same manner as a terrified man does。 Yet this dog had not exerted himself; he had only wandered slowly and restlessly about the room; and the day was cold。 Even a very slight degree of fear is invariably shown by the tail being tucked in between the legs。 This tucking in of the fail is accompanied by the ears being drawn backwards; but they are not pressed closely to the head;as in snarling; and they are not lowered; as when a dog is pleased or affectionate。 When two young dogs chase each other in play; the one that runs away always keeps his tail tucked inwards。 So it is when a dog; in the highest spirits; careers like a mad creature round and round his master in circles; or in figures of eight。 He then acts as if another dog were chasing him。 This curious kind of play; which must be familiar to every one who has attended to dogs; is particularly apt to be excited; after the animal has been a little startled or frightened; as by his master suddenly jumping out on him in the dusk。 In this case; as well as when two young dogs are chasing each other in play; it appears as if the one that runs away was afraid of the other catching him by the tail; but as far as I can find out; dogs very rarely catch each other in this manner。 I asked a gentleman; who had kept foxhounds all his life; and be applied to other experienced sportsmen; whether they had ever seen hounds thus seize a fox; but they never had。 It appears that when a dog is chased; or when in danger of being struck behind; or of anything falling on him; in all these cases he wishes to withdraw as quickly as possible his whole hind…quarters; and that from some sympathy or connection between the muscles; the tail is then drawn closely inwards。 A similarly connected movement between the hind… quarters and the tail may be observed in the hyaena。 Mr。 Bartlett informs me that when two of these animals fight together; they are mutually conscious of the wonderful power of each other's jaws; and are extremely cautious。 They well know that if one of their legs were seized; the bone would instantly be crushed into atoms; hence they approach each other kneeling; with their legs turned as much as possible inwards; and with their whole bodies bowed; so as not to present any salient point; thetail at the same time being closely tucked in between the legs。 In this attitude they approach each other sideways; or even partly backwards。 So again with deer; several of the species; when savage and fighting; tuck in their tails。 When one horse in a field tries to bite the hind…quarters of another in play; or when a rough boy strikes a donkey from behind; the hind…quarters and the tail are drawn in; though it does not appear as if this were done merely to save the tail from being injured。 We have also seen the reverse of these movements; for when an animal trots with high elastic steps; the tail is almost always carried aloft。 As I have said; when a dog is chased and runs away; he keeps his ears directed backwards but still open; and this is clearly done for the sake of hearing the footsteps of his pursuer。 From habit the ears are often held in this same position; and the tail tucked in; when the danger is obviously in front。 I have repeatedly noticed; with a timid terrier of mine; that when she is afraid of some object in front; the nature of which she perfectly knows and does not need to reconnoitre; yet she will for a long time hold her ears and tail in this position; looking the image of discomfort。 Discomfort; without any fear; is similarly expressed: thus; one day I went out of doors; just at the time when this same dog knew that her dinner would be brought。 I did not call her; but she wished much to accompany me; and at the same time she wished much for her dinner; and there she stood; first looking one way and then the other; with her tail tucked in and ears drawn back; presenting an unmistakable appearance of perplexed discomfort。 Almost all the expressive movements now described; with the exception of the grinning from joy; are innate or instinctive; for they are common to all the individuals; young and old; of all the breeds。 Most of themare likewise common to the aboriginal parents of the dog; namely the wolf and jackal; and some of them to other species of the same group。 Tamed wolves and jackals; when caressed by their masters; jump about for joy; wag their tails; lower their ears; lick their master's hands; crouch down; and even throw themselves on the ground belly upward