60 THE WOLF. 



on one of the Welch princes into a yearly tribute of three 

 hundred wolves' heads. Some hundreds of years after, 

 these animals had increased to such a degree, as again to 

 become an object of attention to the government, and great 

 rewards were given for destroying them. Camden informs 

 us that certain lands were held upon condition of hunting 

 and destroying the wolves which infested the country. 

 In the reign of Athelstan, they were so abundant in York- 

 shire, that it was found necessary to build, at Flixton, near 

 Scarborough, a place of retreat for the protection of trav- 

 ellers against their attacks. The month of January was 

 called by the Saxons " Wolf-month," on account of their 

 extreme ferocity at that snowy period of the year. They 

 have now, for a long time, been extirpated both in England 

 and Ireland ; and their numbers are much diminished 

 throughout Europe, in consequence of the increase of pop- 

 ulation, and the extension of agriculture. 



About the year 1764, an animal of this kind committed 

 the most dreadful ravages in some particular districts of 

 Languedoc, and soon became the terror of the whole coun- 

 try. According to the account given in the Paris Gazette, 

 he was known to have killed twenty persons, principally 

 women and children ; and public prayers are said to have 

 been offered for his destruction. 



When their necessities are urgent, they become inspired 

 with the courage, or rather the recklessness of desperation, 

 and having made an attack, they are seldom driven back 

 until many are killed ; and when obliged to retreat, they 

 soon return to the charge ; and instead of being intimidated 

 Jby opposition, will rush upon certain destruction. 



The common Wolf is of a brownish gray color. A spe- 



