oj the Mackenzie River District, 9 



Canis (Lupus) Occidentalis. var. Griseus (Richardson), 



Grey or Strongwood Wolf, 



Var. White and Barren ground Wolf,* 



Sp. eh. Size that of a large mastiff dog, but stands rather 

 higher. Hair long and not coarse, under fur very thick and 

 woolly. Tail very full but not so long in proportion as that of a 

 fox. Colour varies. In barren grounds, variety generally white, 

 in strong wood, dark grey, length from the tip of the nose to the 

 tip of the tail about 6j feet, weight about 50 lbs. 



This is the only species of Wolf in the Mackenzie River District 

 but I am inclined to divide it into two varieties ; the dark grey, or 

 the strong wood, and the white, or barren ground. These two are 

 doubtless the same species, though in colouring, locality, and habits 

 there is a considerable difference between them. 



The general appearance of both varieties of wolf is rather pre- 

 possessing, resembling a good deal that of the native dogs. The 

 head is full, broad between the ears, and tapering towards the 

 snout. The legs, though rather long, are stout with good muscu- 

 lar development. The paws are large, furnished with strong claws, 

 and well furred. The teeth are long and white ; and the jaws 

 are of immense power. The eyes are placed obliquely, the inner 

 corner tending downwards. The tail is moderately long and very 

 bushy. 



The white wolf is found inhabiting the barren grounds, and the 

 wooded country bordering on them ; its migrations being dependent 

 on the movements of the Rein-deer, its principal food. This kind 

 of wolf lives in considerable bands, which unite in hunting parties 

 to run down or surround the deer, driving them over cliffs, or into 

 rivers or lakes as is most convenient. In size they are smaller than 

 the grey variety, though much larger than the Prairie wolf. Their 

 colour is generally a dirty yellowish white with most commonly 

 a stripe of grey down the back ; but not always. 



The dark grey, or strong-wood variety, which I have styled 

 ** Argentatus " from the resemblance of its color to that of the 

 silver Fox, inhabits the wooded country. It most commonly is 

 seen alone, but as many as 6 have been observed in a band. The 

 only specimens of its skin which I have seen, were received at Fort 

 Resolution on Great Slave Lake, and it is evidently still rarer 



