758 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



In the London Zoo, at present (December, 1904),' is a 

 pair of Wolves, officially called 'Lobo' and 'Blanca.' The 

 male is from western Texas, the female from Arizona; they 

 are good, typical examples of the Gray- or Buffalo-wolf of those 

 high plains. 



They have been there for three years and are supposed 

 to be five years old. They bred last year, producing 9 cubs, 

 and this year 8. The father has always been kept away from 

 the young, so it is not known whether he has any parental 

 feelings. 



These two old Wolves live in harmony except when the 

 keepers come to the cage; both are fond of being noticed, and 

 eager to monopolize all attention; each strives jealously to be 

 next the bars, pushing the other away, barking and growling 

 meanwhile, with bristling mane and evident temper. 



Lobo often springs at his mate as though to bite her, but is 

 always restrained at the last moment by something. What is it, 

 if not a feeling akin to chivalry ? 



In these quarrels, if Blanca sees that she has gone too far, 

 she apologizes by licking Lobo's face in a conciliatory manner, 

 always effectual. 



The fact that the male shows chivalrous feeling, and that 

 the pair continue as mates in the autumn and winter, when the 

 sexual instinct is dormant, are partial evidences that Wolves 

 pair for life. 



D. A. Thornbury, Superintendent of Schools, Grinnell, 

 Iowa, writes me thus: 



"In the latter part of October or early November, 1886, 

 in Mitchell County, Iowa, while we were hulling corn, my 

 brother and myself saw two Gray-wolves come out of the woods. 

 One of them was carrying a dead Cottontail in his mouth. 

 They passed within fifty yards of us, and watched us as they 

 passed. They seemed to know that we had no gun." 



The fact that two Gray-wolves unhungry should be travel- 

 ling together in fall shows a friendly alliance most easily ex- 

 plained by a life attachment between the pair. 



'In 1909 this same relationship continues. 



