THE FLESH-EATING PREDATORY MAMMALS 131 



end of the Pliocene, and in England from the same period. In 

 the Pleistocene Epoch the wolf spread into Scotland and Ireland, 

 and in Ireland existed in very great numbers — no doubt owing 

 to the fact that it met with no rivalry from hysenas, lions, or 

 other beasts of prey except the bear. In all probability, the wolf 

 of Britain resembled very closely that of modern France and 

 Germany. The fossil bones of British wolves are not in any 

 way to be distinguished from those of existing wolves on the 

 Continent of Europe at the present day. 



The Anglo-Saxon monarchs appear to have taken strong 

 measures to reduce the number of wolves in England and in 

 Wales by levying tributes of wolves' heads or skins. But 

 Mr. Harting, in his interesting chapter on the Wolf in 

 Extinct British Mammals^ brings much evidence to bear to show 

 that, contrary to the accepted opinion of early English historians, 

 wolves were not exterminated in England till the close of the 

 fifteenth century, during the reign of Henry VII. Perhaps the 

 last specimens lingered in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the forest 

 of Savernake, in Wiltshire. The last wolf was probably killed 

 in Scotland about 1743, and in Ireland (Kerry) perhaps as 

 late as 1766. The predatory nature of this animal probably 

 furnishes a sufficiently conclusive argument against its reintro- 

 duction ; though, at the same time, it should be pointed out 

 that, whereas the wolf lends a certain picturesqueness to the 

 forests of France and Germany, it seldom interferes with man 

 except during the height of the winter. Its presence in Epping 

 Forest, in the New Forest, and in other great domains increas- 

 ingly affected by pleasure parties, would greatly add to their 

 romantic interest, and at the same time might wholesomely check 

 the gambols of the beanfeaster and his mate without subjecting 

 them to any worse punishment than a scare. 



Family : URSID^. THE BEARS 



The Bears are more primitive than the dogs, in that they 

 have five completely developed toes on each foot, and are planti- 

 grade ; but they have other features which indicate specialisation, 



