THE ANTARCTIC WOLF 89 



and one can well imagine that one or two stray 

 wolves might take involuntary passage by this 

 natural ferry. A few specimens introduced at chance 

 intervals would find the penguins and steamer ducks 

 an abundant and defenceless prey; free from 

 molestation by man, and enjoying ample supplies of 

 food, the wolves would soon increase in numbers. 



This brings us to the crux of this Essay. Grant- 

 ing that the wolves had thus been ferried over to the 

 Falklands. should the Cams antarcticus be considered 

 as a species distinct in itself? or as a variety of some 

 other animal modified by long isolation from its 

 original habitat ? And if the latter, from which 

 species is it derived? Old Molina, who in 1776 

 published his "Compendio de la Historia de Reyno 

 de Chile," had no hesitation in declaring the 

 Falkland Island wolf to be identical with the culpeo 

 {Cams magellanicus) of the mainland. As regards 

 inental characters one certainly recognises con- 

 siderable resemblance between the culpeos which 

 on several occasions having to come to stare at 

 Molina in the woods would then depart: and the 

 Falkland wolves which from their very tameness and 

 curiosity caused the worthy sailors of H.M.S. 

 "Dolphin" to beat a retreat. Although this curiosity 

 probably forms part of the mental equipment of all 

 these fox-like dogs at least it alone does not negative 

 the origin of the Antarctic wolf from the culpeo. 

 Even the fur of the culpeo assumes in the southern 



