LARGE GREY WOLF. 291 



hardy ruminants great difficulty in obtaining a 

 sufficiency of food. 



Although I started soon after daylight, and was 

 on my feet till night, I only saw three head of 

 cariboo, and these were all so wary that I could 

 not come within anything approaching justifiable 

 shooting distance. All of these were males, and 

 their new horns were only sufficiently developed 

 to be ornamental. One male, taller by over an 

 inch than its fellows, I spent an hour trying to stalk; 

 but all was useless, the brute marked my every move- 

 ment, noted each dodge I put in execution, and satis- 

 fied itself by keeping just sufficiently from me to 

 laugh at my futile efforts. At length, in a fit of des- 

 peration, probably temper, I fired at him a long shot. 

 Although I made allowance for the distance by 

 giving plenty of elevation, my bullet lobbed close to 

 his feet. A frightened start, a movement of a few 

 hurried paces, a halt and toss of the head, and the 

 splendid animal walked away at no faster pace than 

 that common to a Blackheath donkey. But that 

 my supply of ammunition was limited, I should have 

 persevered. The first essay was encouraging, and 

 its shortcomings might have been corrected. 



I saw this day the largest grey wolf that has yet 

 come under my observation. The scoundrel looked 

 most ragged and gaunt, but carried himself very 

 jauntily. Perfectly aware of my presence, there 

 was no attempt to escape observation, for, though 

 all his movements were hurried, they were per- 



