188 ON THE TOTAL AND PARTIAL 



writer in later times states, but upon what grounds does not transpire, 

 that wolves were not extirpated from Scotland until the end of the 

 seventeenth century. In England several attempts were made to destroy 

 the whole race of these ravenous animals, whose constant depredations 

 rendered such attempts very justifiable*. King Edgar, at about the year 

 972, (not during the tenth century, as the author of the " Menageries " 

 states,) with aviewto their destruction, dispensed with the punishment of 

 those who had committed certain offences, upon their producing a specified 

 number of wolves' tongues ; and the Welch, instead of paying to him 

 their wonted tribute in money, were demanded to produce three hun- 

 dred wolves' heads every year, which great number was furnished, but 

 not without considerable difficulty and the incurring of much risk, for 

 the space of three years, at which time (975) the royal exacter died. 

 After his decease it seems this exaction was abolished, on account of no 

 wolves remaining in Wales at that time. From the death of Edgar 

 the increase of wolves appears to have been allowed to go on in Eng- 

 land, without the interference of the legislature, during the space of 

 three hundred and six years, until at length Edward the First, in the 

 year 1281, issued a proclamation for their destruction f, which seems to 

 have been fully and speedily effected, as no mention is found of their 

 existence in a wild state in this country subsequent to the adoption of 

 this measure. More than four centuries had elapsed after the exter- 

 mination of wolves in England, before they were totally destroyed in 

 Ireland, which land was not rid of them until about the year 1710, 

 when the last presentment for their destruction is said to have been 

 made in the county of Cork. It is affirmed, that occasionally during 

 hard winters, wolves make their appearance in France J ; and that 

 " several were seen in the forests near Boulogne, in 1818." 



* " To look back into the Saxon times we find that in Athelstan's reign, wolves 

 abounded so in Yorkshire, that a retreat was built at Flixton'in that county, to 

 defend passengers from the wolves, that they should not be devoured by them; and such 

 ravages did these animals make during winter, particularly January, when the cold 

 was severest, that our Saxon ancestors distinguished that month by the title of wolf 

 moneth. They also called an outlaw ivolfshed, as being out of the protection of 

 the law, proscribed, and as liable to be killed as that destructive beast." Pennant. 



f Camden, as cited by Pennant, states that certain persons at Wormhill in Derby, 

 held their lands on condition of their pursuing and killing the wolves that infested 

 the country. J. F. 



{ Menageries, vol. i. 



The Zoological Gardens, in Regent's Park, contain a specimen from 

 France J. F. 



