THE DOG FAMILY 



Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson' i Gnen 



WOLF CUBS 



These are evidently the /oner-brothers of Romulus and Remus 



the antelope, they lay down 

 quietly. After about ten 

 minutes or so, the smaller of 

 the two got up and trotted 

 off to the rocky hills, and 

 suddenly appeared on the 

 ridge, running backwards and 

 forwards like a Scotch collie 

 dog. The larger wolf, as soon 

 as he saw that the antelope 

 were fully occupied in watch- 

 ing his companion, got up 

 and came as hard as he could 

 gallop to the nullah. Un- 

 fortunately he saw us and 

 bolted; and his companion, 

 seeing there was something 

 wrong, did the same. Now, 

 it is evident that these 

 wolves had regularly planned 



this attack. One was to occupy the attention of the antelope, the other to steal up the water- 

 course and dash into the midst of them. At another time a brother-officer of mine was stalking 

 a herd of antelope which were feeding down a grassy valley, when suddenly a wolf got up before 

 him, and then another and then another, until fourteen wolves rose out of the grass. They were 

 extended right across the valley in the shape of a fishing-net or jelly-bag, so that as soon as the 

 herd had got well into the jelly-bag they would have rushed on the antelope, and some must have 

 fallen victims to their attack." They have been known to join in the chase of antelopes by dogs. 

 Captain Jackson, of the Nizam's service, let his dogs course an antelope fawn. A wolf jumped 

 up, joined the dogs, and all three seized the fawn together. He then came up, whipped off the 

 dogs and the wolf, and secured the fawn, which did not seem hurt. The wolf immediately sat 

 down and began to howl at the loss of his prey, and in a few moments made a dash at the officer, 

 but when within a few yards thought better of it, and recommenced howling. This brought 

 another wolf to his assistance. Both howled and looked very savage, and seemed inclined to 

 make another dash at the antelope. But the horse-keepers came up, and the wolves retired. 



The Indian wolf, if a male, stands about 26 inches high at the shoulder. The length of 

 head and body is 37 inches ; tail, 17 inches. 



The same species practically haunts the whole of the world north of the Himalaya. It varies 

 in colour from almost black to nearly pure white. In the Hudson Bay fur-sales every variety 

 of colour between these may be seen, but most are of a tawny brindle. The male grows to a 

 very great size. One of the largest ever seen in Europe was for years at the London Zoo. It 

 stood 6 feet high when on its hind legs, and its immense head and jaws seemed to occupy one- 

 third of the space from nose to tail. Horses are the main prey of the NORTHERN WOLF. It will 

 kill any living creature, but horse-flesh is irresistible. It either attacks by seizing the flank and 

 throwing the animal, or bites the hocks. The biting power is immense. It will tear a solid mass 

 of flesh at one grip from the buttock of a cow or horse. In the early days of the United States, 

 when Audubon was making his first trip up the head-waters of the Missouri, flesh of all kinds 

 was astonishingly abundant on the prairies. Buffalo swarmed, and the Indians had any quantity 

 of buffalo meat for the killing. Wolves of very large size used to haunt the forts and villages, 

 and were almost tame, being well fed and comfortable. Far different was the case even near 

 St. Petersburg at the same period. A traveler in 1840 was chased by a pack of wolves so 



