RARE AND UNFAMILIAR ANIMALS 301 



attention here is the Crab-Eating Dog (Fig. 241). There are several 

 different kinds of Wild Dogs on the great continent with which we 

 have been so much associated in this section, including the solitude- 

 loving and so-called Maned Wolf, the small Fox-like Azara's Dog, 

 the handsome Colpeo (which is an inhabitant of Tierra del Fuego 

 and Chili), the Short-Eared Dog (of which only one solitary speci- 

 men seems to have been obtained so far), and others. The Crab- 

 Eating Dog, or Carasissi, as it is also known, is a dweller in the 

 forest or jungle, and has acquired the first-mentioned name from its 

 habit of feeding upon various kinds of crustaceous creatures, as well 

 as rodents and birds. In colour it varies a good deal, but may be 

 described generally as brownish-grey on the upper parts, with rufous 

 on the top of the head, as well as on the sides of the body and 

 the outside of the limbs. There is black on the back and on the 

 upper portion of the tail, whilst the tip of the caudal appendage 

 is invariably black. The ears and tail are both prominent, as 

 Fig. 241 displays, and the first mentioned are reddish-brown in 

 colour. 



As this is the last member of the Dog tribe with which we are 

 concerned in this work, a famous legend of the taming of the "Wolf 

 of Agobis," associated with that great lover of animals, St. Francis 

 of Assisi, may here be told. Says Farm and Home — 



"That Wolf was a quadruped without morals; not only had he 

 eaten kids, but also men. All attempts to kill him failed, and the 

 townsfolk were afraid of venturing outside the walls even in broad 

 daylight. One day St. Francis, against the advice of all, went out 

 to have a serious talk with the Wolf. He soon found him, and, 

 'Brother Wolf,' he said, 'you have eaten not only animals, but 

 men made in the image of God, and certainly you deserve the 

 gallows; nevertheless, I wish to make peace between you and these 

 people, brother Wolf, so that you may offend them no more, and 

 neither they nor their dogs shall attack you.' The Wolf seemed 

 to agree, but the Saint wished to have a distinct proof of his solemn 

 engagement to fulfil his part in the peace, whereupon the Wolf 

 stood upon his hind legs and laid his paw on the Saint's hand. 

 Francis then promised the Wolf should be properly fed for the rest 

 of his days, ' for well I know,' he said kindly, ' that all your evil 

 deeds were caused by hunger '—upon which text several sermons 

 might be preached, for truly many a sinner may be reformed by a 

 good dinner and by nothing else. The contract was kept on both 



