WOLF. 29 



short, thickset hair, and the other with long and harsh 

 hair. 



14. Turnspit. The name of Turnspit is derived from 

 its employment, which, in former times, was the turning 

 of meat, whilst it roasted at the fire. This was done with- 

 in a broad kind pf wheel, in the same manner as squirrels 

 turn their cylindrical cages. The legs of the Turnspit 

 are short and crooked, and the body long and stout. 

 The tail curls upon its back. The colour is generally a 

 dusky grey, spotted with black ; or entirely black, with 

 the under parts whitish. 



Wolf. Savage, voracious, and cruel in an excessive 

 degree, these noxious beasts are held by mankind 

 in universal abhorrence and dread. In almost all the 

 forests of the European continent they are abundant, 

 issuing forth, during the stillness of night, and destroy- 

 ing, with indiscriminate slaughter, every living creature 

 which they have the power to overcome. Unless atten- 

 tively watched, they oftentimes commit dreadful ravages 

 in the sheep-folds. Formerly they were very abun- 

 dant in England, so much so, that, in the tenth cen- 

 tury, an annual tribute^was imposed upon one of the 

 Welsh princes, of three hundred Wolves' heads. The last 

 Wolf known to have been killed in Scotland was in the 

 year 1680, and the date of the complete extinction of 

 these animals in Ireland is 1710. We find no particu- 

 lar mention of Wolves in England, after the year 1281. 

 Wolves are chiefly found in forests, and, in some 

 countries, they hunt in packs, like hounds. When op- 

 pressed by cold and hunger, they have even been known 

 to attack mankind ; and their cruelty is the more dread- 

 ful, since they add sagacity to strength, and cunning to 



