68 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



The prey is a differential one. Birds are of course largely sought 

 after, but larger game, such as Deer, Sheep and Cattle, are also 

 preyed upon. The greatest damage is done when the animals stalk 

 the country in packs, for it is at such a time deeds of daring are 

 perpetrated which would not be risked under less forceful conditions. 



The food of this bold adventurer, however, is not restricted to the 

 animals mentioned, for, when hunger is upon it and food has to be 

 obtained at all costs, it will partake of carrion and offal as well as 

 smaller fry such as mice, frogs and some kinds of plants. 



Like the sagacious Fox, the Wolf appears on occasions to kill 

 far more food than it can possibly eat, seeming to kill for killing 

 sake. By pursuing this unenviable habit it perpetrates, like the Fox, 

 more harm than it otherwise would do, and thus adds to its depre- 

 dations a series of misdeeds which, for some unaccountable reason, 

 it is unable to withhold. 



Where the ground is rocky, in the thick undergrowth of the 

 forest, beneath the shelter of a fallen monarch, or sometimes in a 

 hole in the ground, such are a few of the chief places chosen by the 

 Wolf as a suitable lair. Here the six to ten cubs are born during 

 the Spring, and these keep company with their parents for some 

 considerable time. 



This is, as might be expected, a very tenacious beast, its speed 

 and endurance being on occasions quite phenomenal. In a similar 

 way to the wary Fox, it is an adept at avoiding traps, and when it 

 does happen to fall a prey to the cunning ingenuity of man, it often 

 evinces much strategy by feigning death in a most realistic manner 

 and eventually making good its escape. 



We are told that its loud and prolonged howl, when listened to 

 during the shadowy stillness of night, is something to be remem- 

 bered, for the cry of one animal is sufficient to lead the inexperienced 

 traveller to suppose that a pack of hungry Wolves may be close 

 upon him. 



TIMBER WOLF. — The Timber Wolf shown in Fig. 56 was born 

 at the Zoological Gardens in London. It was reared by a Retriever 

 bitch, has become extremely tame and docile, and has for a com- 

 panion its foster-brother. 



This species is found in North America, and is a beast of the 

 wooded mountains, hence its popular name of "Timber" Wolf. It 

 is also known as the Great Grey Wolf, for it measures in its largest 

 form some three and a half feet long, exclusive of the bushy tail. 



