THE BLACK WOLF. 



T one time the Black Wolf of 

 America was considered by 

 naturalists to be only a 

 variety of the common 

 Wolf, but it is now be- 

 lieved to be a distinct species, not only 

 by reason of the color of its fur but 

 from differences of stature, the position 

 of the eye, the peculiar bushiness of 

 the hair and other evidence entitling 

 it to rank as a separate species. This 

 variety is referred to as an inhabitant 

 of Florida, and is described as par- 

 taking of the general lupine character, 

 being fierce, dangerous, and at the 

 same time cowardly and pusillanimous, 

 when they find themselves fairly 

 enclosed. If imprisoned in even a 

 large space, they crouch timidly in 

 the corners, and do not venture to 

 attack man when he enters the cage. 

 Audubon mentions a curious instance 

 of this strange timidity in a ferocious 

 nature, of w^hich he was an eye-witness: 

 "A farmer had suffered greatly from 

 Wolves, and determined to take 

 revenge by means of pitfalls, of which 

 he had dug several within easy reach 

 of his residence. They were eight 

 feet in depth and wider at the bottom 

 than at the top. Into one of these 

 traps three fine Wolves had fallen, two 

 of them black, and the other a brindled 

 animal. To the very great astonish- 

 ment of Mr. Audubon, the farmer got 

 into the pit, pulled out the hind legs 

 of the Wolves, as they lay trembling 

 at the bottom, and with his knife 

 severed the chief tendon of the hind 

 limbs, so as to prevent their escape. 

 The skins of the captured animals 

 were sufficiently valuable to reimburse 

 the farmer for his labor and his 

 previous losses." 



The Esquimaux use traps made of 

 large blocks of ice, constructed in the 

 same manner as our ordinary mouse- 



trap with a drop-door. The trap is 

 made so narrow that the Wolf cannot 

 turn himself, and when he is closed in 

 by the treacherous door, he is put to 

 death by spears. 



Wood says that when Wolves and 

 Dogs are domesticated in the same 

 residence a mutual attachment will 

 often spring up between them, although 

 they naturally bear the bitterest hatred 

 to each other. A mixed offspring is 

 sometimes the result of this curious 

 friendship, and it is said that these 

 half-breed animals are more powerful 

 and courageous than the ordinary 

 Dog. Mr. Palliser possessed a fine 

 animal of this kind, the father of 

 which was a White Wolf and the 

 mother an ordinary Indian Dog. It is 

 a well-known fact that the Esquimaux 

 are constantly in the habit of crossing 

 their sledge Dogs with Wolves in order 

 to impart strength and stamina to the 

 breed. Indeed they are so closely 

 related to Wolves that there can be no 

 question that they are descended from 

 them. 



The Wolf produces from three to 

 nine young in a litter. In January 

 the mother Wolf begins to prepare her 

 habitation, a task in which she is 

 protected or assisted by her mate, who 

 has won her in a fair fight from his 

 many rivals. He attaches himself 

 solely to one mate, and never leaves 

 her till the 3'oung Wolves are able to 

 shift for themselves. The den in 

 which the young cubs are born is 

 warmly lined with fur which she pulls 

 from her own bodv. The cubs are 

 born in IMarch and remain under her 

 protection seven or eight months. 

 They begin to eat animal food in four 

 weeks after birth. 



The Wolf's whelp -wnll at last a Wolf become 

 Though from his birth he find with man a home. 



Arabian Proverb. 



II 



