134 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



impart a mystery to them which has been heightened 

 by fear, and the natural proneness of man to magnify 

 tales of horror. 



Wolves are too suspicious to be often taken in traps ; 

 and when pursued, they run with their noses almost 

 touching the ground, their eyes glowing like fire, the 

 hair of their head and neck bristled up, their tail drawn 

 close to their legs. Their usual height at the shoulders 

 is about two feet and a half. Their young are born in 

 caverns or gloomy recesses, and the female wolf is furi- 

 ous in their defence. They often fight with each other ; 

 and it is said if a wounded wolf come among his 

 fellows, he is immediately torn in pieces and devoured. 



Mr. Lloyd, in his Field Sports in the North of Europe, 

 tells us of a peasant who in the neighbourhood of St. 

 Petersburgh met with the following narrow escape : 

 1 He was pursued by eleven of these ferocious animals, 

 while he was in his sledge. At this time he was only 

 about two miles from home, towards which he urged his 

 horse at the very top of his speed. At the entrance of 

 his residence was a gate, which happened to be closed 

 at the time ; but the horse dashed this open, and thus 

 his master and himself found refuge in the court-yard. 

 They were followed, however, by nine out of the eleven 

 wolves ; but very fortunately, at the very instant these 

 had entered the enclosure, the gate swung back on its 

 hinges, and thus they were caught as in a trap. From 

 being the most ferocious of animals, now that they 

 found escape impossible, they completely changed, and 

 so far from offering molestations to any one, they slunk 

 into holes and corners, and allowed themselves to be 

 slaughtered, almost without making resistance.' 



A more tragic occurrence happened to an unfortunate 



