770 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



circumstances, but acts as though he knew his cause was weak. 

 This beginning of property law is of cardinal interest. 



These hoards may be of vital service to the Wolf, but the 

 instinct, as at present developed, is very crude, and scarcely 

 to be compared with the fine providence of Beaver and Squirrel. 



Wolves, as well as dogs, have a singular habit of rolling 

 in carrion, or 'doping,' as it is called. They seem delighted 

 with the opportunity of making themselves reek with stench of 

 the foulest flesh or fish they can find. Although the dogs are 

 without the personal nicety of cats, they do have some habits of 

 cleanliness, and spend a certain amount of time in dressing 

 the fur. Who has not seen a dog bite the burrs out of his coat, 

 or the ice balls from his legs? A dog or a Wolf which is 

 wounded or bleeding will take the trouble to remove the stains 

 from his fur, and the mystery of his rolling in carrion is unex- 

 plained. It cannot be a pleasant smell to him, one would 

 think, because oftentimes it is stuff he will not eat. 



The suggestion that it is based on the sexual instinct does 

 not seem to hold, as female dogs, as well as males, will do it 

 at any time. I know of no satisfactory explanation. 



The usual cry of the Wolf is a long smooth howl. It is 

 quite musical, though decidedly eerie when heard in the woods 

 at night. I cannot distinguish it from the howl of a large dog. 

 Its beginning is also much like the hoot of a horned owl. 

 This is usually the 'muster' or 'rallying cry' — the intimation 

 of the Wolf to his friends that he has found game too strong 

 for him to manage alone. It is the call usually heard at night 

 about the settlers' huts. A second sound is a higher pitched 

 howl, vibrating on two notes. This may be styled the ' hunting 

 song'; it corresponds exactly with the full cry of a pack of 

 hounds on the hot scent. A third is a combination of a short 

 bark and a howl. It seems to mean the 'closing in' for a 

 finish. There are several others that I have often heard, but 

 cannot comprehend. Some of my hunting friends claim that 

 they can discriminate the calls of the she-wolf to her mate and 



