THE WOLVES. 137 



employing them to extirpate their common enemy ; 

 particularly as in times of peace their garrison 

 duties are any thing but important. The Prussian 

 government alone has displayed an active anxiety 

 to at least abate the evil ; * and in Switzerland, for 

 more than two centuries, when a wolf appears, the 

 church bells ring an alarm; each person takes his 

 rifle, all the dogs are out, and in a short time he is 

 killed or driven back to France or Savoy, 



The ferocity of these animals is often of a very 

 treacherous character. We were told by a butcher 

 of New York that he had brought up, and believed 

 that he had tamed, a wolf, which he kept for above 

 two years chained in the slaughter-house, where it 

 lived in complete superabundance of blood and 

 offals. One night having occasion for some imple- 

 ment which he believed was accessible in the dark, 

 he went in without thinking of the wolf. The 

 butcher wore a thick frieze coat, and while stooping 

 to grope for what he wanted, he heard the chain 

 rattle, and instantly he was struck down by the 

 animal springing upon him. Fortunately a favourite 

 cattle-dog had followed his master, and he rushed 

 forward to defend him. The wolf had hold of the 

 man s collar, and being obliged to turn in his own 

 defence, the butcher had time to draw a sticking- 

 knife, with which he ripped his assailant open. 



But although these examples, and others related 



* See, 0:1 this subject, the interesting remarks of Dr Weii* 

 •enhom. 



