possession of a deer,
whose robust flight may last a long time, one of the couple, the male
for example, pursues him and directs his chase in such a way that the
game must pass by a place where the female wolf is concealed. She then
takes up the chase while the male reposes. It is an organised system
of relays. The strength of the deer becomes necessarily exhausted; he
cannot resist the animation shown by his active foe, and is seized and
killed. Then the other wolf calmly approaches the place of the feast
to share his part of the booty.

The small but bold Hawk called the Merlin also courses in relays in
exactly the same manner. These birds pursue a Lark or a Swallow in the
most systematic manner. First one Merlin chases the bird for a short
time, while his companion hovers quietly at hand; then the latter
relieves his fellow-hunter, who rests in his turn. The victim is soon
tired out and caught in mid-air by one of the Merlins, who flies away
with him, leaving his companion to hunt alone, while he feeds the
young brood.[18]

[18] C. St. John, _Wild Sports and Natural History of the
Highlands_, chap. xi.

The Fox also successfully uses this method of coursing with relays.
There are indeed few animals who possess so many tricks of all kinds
to gain possession of their prey. Constantly prowling about the
fields, he neglects no propitious circumstance, and profits by all the
advantages furnished by the situation of places or the habits of the
game he is seeking. He pursues tired or wounded animals whom he meets,
and easily masters them. If he finds a burrow, he quickly hollows a
hole and brings to light the young rabbits who thought themselves in
safety in the bowels of the earth; he robs nests placed in the
thickets, and devours the young birds. Beehives are not protected
against his greediness by the stings of the swarms; he rolls on the
earth, crushes his assailants, and finally triumphs over the
discouraged insects and gorges himself with honey.

[Illustration: FIG. 3.]

Birds of prey also invent ingenious combinations to reach a good
flier. Most of the great rapacious birds of rapid flight or with
powerful talons are so well organised for the chase that they have no
need of cunning. To see the prey, to seize it and devour it, are acts
accomplished in a moment by the single fact of their natural
organisation. It is rather among those who are less well endowed that
one finds real art and frequent rus