762 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



6 very small ones, 7 much larger. She had but 6 teats in 

 commission, so he concluded that this she-wolf had rescued 

 the young of the first female he had shot. 



GROWTH The young ones of the Philadelphia Zoo would whine like 



YOUNG puppies as soon as they were born, and the mother would an- 

 swer and call them in the same manner. 



As soon as they could see they began to play together like 

 the young of the domestic dog. 



At from three to four weeks, according to their vigour, all 

 would come out daily, never at night, and sit or play in the sun 

 about the door of the den, but were ever ready to skurry in 

 again at the slightest alarm. According to Lee Hampleman, 

 my Rocky Mountain guide, the young ones in Colorado first 

 began to follow the mother for short distances from the den 

 in June when they were about three months old. 



FEEDING The question how they are fed has been much discussed; 



and sifting down the evidence of many observers, it may be 

 considered sure that they are simply suckled for about six 

 weeks, during which time the father has little to do with them. 

 Now the mother begins to disgorge solid food for them. Many 

 observers say that they have watched closely but never saw 

 anything of this. Carson, however, states positively and 

 conclusively:" 



"At five or six weeks they began to eat the food disgorged 

 for them by the mother, and later, when they wanted food of 

 this kind, they would jump at her mouth, sometimes several at 

 once, until she supplied them." 



The father soon becomes active, not disgorging, so far as 

 we know, but bringing fresh game to the den. On this point 

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

 also writes me: "My father has many times found in the 

 mouth of the hole in which he took some young Wolves, bodies 

 of Rabbits and chickens, and in one instance he took from the 

 hole the partly eaten body of a lamb." 



" In personal letter. 



