EUROPEAN WOLF. 67 



abundance at one time of this animal in the North of 

 England. Remains of the Wolf have been found in the 

 Swiss Lake Dwellings. 



The Common Wolf is about the size of a large dog, 

 but the Eussian variety attains larger dimensions. The 

 colour is generally brown-red, with longer black hair, 

 the under fur or wool thick and dense, and bluish in 

 the ground ; many are of a lighter or paler colour, and 

 again a few are almost red ; the tail is full, of medium 

 length, dark brown above and lighter below ; this 

 appendage is tipped with black ; the ears are generally 

 dark brown, and covered with short velvety fur ; the 

 whiskers are black and few in number. 



The English Wolf was undoubtedly very much of the 

 above description, but of smaller size and darker colour, 

 and was also probably of a fierce disposition. 



Wolves imported from Europe would, no doubt, after 

 the lapse of some years, acquire the former charac- 

 teristics of the English Wolf, viz., its deep colouring and 

 smaller size. 



The Collie or Shepherd's Dog is very similar in size, 

 habits, and colour to the Common Wolf; in fact, there 

 is a greater resemblance to this animal than to any 

 breed of dog ; the habits of Fox-hounds, packs of Boar 

 and Stag-hounds, and the occasional predatory manners 

 of the domestic dog (worrying and slaying Sheep), 

 clearly indicate that the Wolf (who has likewise these 

 characteristics) was their common ancestor. If these 

 hounds were allowed to relapse into the wild state they 

 would re-acquire these habits. 



The Wolf is at times subject to hydrophobia ; its bite 

 is even more fatal than that of the dog. 



Dr. Richardson says, " Black Wolves are more frequent 

 in the Southern parts of Europe than in the Northern, 



F 2 



