THE DOG FAMILY 



Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] 



[Parson's Green 



RUSSIAN WOLF 



Note the expression of fear ai.J ferocity on the face of this wolf; also the enormously powerful jaws 



Among these were three 

 terriers, with which it made 

 friends. There were plenty 

 of wild foxes near, some of 

 which occasionally laid up 

 in the laurels in a shrub- 

 bery not far from the 

 house. These laurels were, 

 in fact, a fairly safe find for 

 a fox. It was the particular 

 sport of the terriers to be 

 taken to " draw " this bit of 

 cover, and to chase out any 

 fox in it. On these ex- 

 peditions the tame fox 

 invariably accompanied 

 them, and took an active 

 part in the chase, pursuing 

 the wild fox as far as the 

 terriers were able to main- 

 tain the hunt. 



In Central Asia the 

 wolves lie out singly on 

 the steppes during the 



summer, and feed on the young antelopes and the lambs and kids of the Tartar's flocks. The 

 Kirghiz organise wolf-killing parties, to which as many mounted men and dogs come as can be 

 brought together. In order to aid the dogs, the Tartars often employ eagles trained to act like 

 falcons, which sit on the arm of the owner. As the eagle is too heavy to be carried for any time 

 in this way, a crutch is fastened to the left side of the saddle, on which the bearer of the falcon 

 rests his arm. When a wolf is sighted, the eagle is loosed, and at once flies after the wolf, and 

 overtakes it in a short time, striking at its head and eyes with its talons, and buffeting it with its 

 wings. This attack so disconcerts the wolf that it gives time for the dogs to come up and seize it. 



The habits of the Siberian wolf are rather different from those in West Russia, and the set- 

 tlers and nomad Tartars of Siberia are far more adventurous and energetic in defending themselves 

 against its ravages than the peasants of European Russia. Being mounted, they also have a 

 great advantage in the pursuit. The result is that Siberian wolves seldom appear in large packs, 

 and very rarely venture to attack man. Yet the damage they do to the flocks and herds which 

 constitute almost the only property of the nomad tribes is very severe. 



Both the Russians and Siberians believe that when a she-wolf is suckling her young she 

 carefully avoids attacking flocks in the neighbourhood of the place where the cubs lie, but that 

 if she be robbed of her whelps she revenges herself by attacking the nearest flock. On this ac- 

 count the Siberian peasants rarely destroy a litter, but hamstring the young wolves and then 

 catch them when partly grown, and kill them for the sake of their fur. Among the ingenious 

 methods used for shooting wolves in Siberia is that of killing them from sledges. A steady horse 

 is harnessed to a sledge, and the driver takes his seat in front as usual. Behind sit two men 

 armed with guns, and provided with a small pig, which is induced to squeak often and loudly. 

 In the rear of the sledge a bag of hay is trailed on a long rope. Any wolf in the forest near 

 which hears the pig concludes that it is a young wild one separated from its mother. Seeing the 

 hay-bag trailing behind the sledge in the dusk, it leaps out to seize it, and is shot by the passen- 

 gers sitting on the back seat of the sledge. 



