WOLF.—Cunis lupus. 
that is unlucky enough to be chased by a pack of Wolves. No matter how swift it may 
be, it will most surely be overtaken at last by the long, slouching, tireless gallop of the 
Wolves ; and no matter what may be its strength, it must at last fail under the repeated 
and constant attacks of the sharp teeth, 
There is something remarkable about the bite of a Wolf. Instead of making its teeth 
meet in the flesh of its antagonist, and then maintaining its hold, as is done by most of 
the carnivora, the Wolf snaps sharply, fiercely, and repeatedly at its opponent or its 
quarry ; delivering these attacks with such furious energy that when it misses its mark 
its jaws clash together with a sound that has been likened to the sudden closing of a 
steel-trap. These sharply snapping bites, so rapidly delivered, are of terrible efficacy in 
destroying an enemy, or bringing down the prey. 
The skeleton of the Wolf which is here presented to the reader affords an instructive 
contrast with that of the lion on page 131, as exhibiting the bony framework around 
which is built the bodily organization of two distinct carnivorous types of animals. 
Putting aside the differences that exist between the feline and the canine dentition, 
the general character of the whole form is worthy of notice, and points out the creature 
as belonging to the group of carnivorous animals which obtains its prey by running 
it down in a lengthy chase, rather than to those predaceous animals which destroy their 
prey by a single powerful spring. The limbs are larger in proportion than those of the 
lion, and the bones are more slenderly made. The head and neck are very differently 
formed. Those of the lion are intended to serve the purpose of an animal which leaps 
upon its prey, fixes its teeth im the flesh of its quarry, and there hangs until it has 
