Howl
The expression howling (v. Middle high dt . Hiulen ; v. Hiuwel owl ) denotes the production of drawn out singing tones that can be heard from afar .
Transferred onomatopoeically, the term howling is used for loud audible crying (colloquially cf. crybaby ), as well as for the noise of strong winds .
Animals
Howling is the utterance of certain animals , especially wolves and certain dogs ; for seals see howler .
Wolf howl
With the common howling at night, the wolves consolidate their membership of the pack , their willingness to hunt and mark their territory . The howling can be heard up to 15 km away and is used for animal communication over great distances. It is replied by conspecifics that may be in the vicinity. If a group does not withdraw, this can provoke fights for the hunting ground.
Individual animals howl to signal the search for a partner, as well as to check the territory for the presence of alien herds.
Howling dogs
Similar to the wolves, dogs strengthen their membership of the pack by howling. A dog separated from the pack tries to reconnect to the pack by howling. Domestic dogs howl as soon as the scent of a bitch in heat attracts them but their freedom of movement is restricted. See also: barking .
Other animals
There is also talk of the owl howling , best known of the tawny owl , or the howling of the coyote .
Figurative meanings
Technically, the wide audibility of the howling in the siren is used.
The often eerie impression of howling is not infrequently used in poetry (cf. the Charybde howling in Schiller's Der Taucher ).
