74 Remarks on Trees, with Reference to 



during which time I have slept sixty nights out in the woods, 

 some additional opportunities have occurred to make zoologi- 

 cal observations. 



The Wolf, — In one of the rocky ravines which descend into 

 the Tioga, near its source, is a favourite resort or den of the 

 common wolf (Canis Z/upus). Here I have recently followed 

 the bloody track of a buck, which had evidently been pur- 

 sued, and probably fastened on, by one or more wolves. The 

 carcass was still warm, but a large portion of its flesh was 

 already gnawed away. Three days previously I was present 

 at the killing of one of these animals, a mile or two from the 

 same spot. It is asserted that the common wolf of America 

 is remarkable for its cowardice. Trappers have told me that 

 this animal, when trapped, displays no ferocity, is silent, 

 subdued, and unresisting. One old hunter stated that he 

 has frequently taken a wolf out of the trap, and compelled it 

 to lie down by his side, after threatening or giving it a few 

 blows, whilst he reset his trap. In a case which occurred 

 not twenty days ago, in which I was present, a fine young 

 wolf, about fifteen months old, being suddenly attacked with 

 a club, offered no resistance, but crouching down and coiling 

 up, in the supplicating manner of a young dog about to be 

 chastised, suffered himself to be knocked on the head. Such 

 a circumstance is altogether so unusual, that, although a wit- 

 ness of the fact, 1 feel some difficulty in explaining the cause 

 of so wary an animal permitting itself to be so attacked, and 

 to surrender with so little effort to escape. There was no 

 indication of disease, and it was pronounced to be a healthy 

 animal, so far as could be judged, by numerous individuals who 

 examined it. I conceive it may be chiefly explained by the 

 circumstance of its being taken by surprise, as it was stealing 

 off from a "patch" of laurel (Kalm/a). Be this as it may, 

 it proved a fortunate affair to my companion, as the bounty 

 for the scalp of every wolf is here twelve dollars, and its skin 

 is worth two more. 



313. Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, U. &, 

 Oct. 5. 1835. 



Art. III. Remarks on Trees, voith Reference to their being per- 

 forated by the Titmouse and the Woodpecker. By Charles 

 Waterton, Esq. 



The tree, that noble and gigantic son of earth, is the fa- 

 vourite resort of most birds; and so intimately is it connected 

 with the charming science of ornithology, that he who has 

 neglected to pay attention to it will often find himself at a 



