QUADRUPEDS. 31 



found in considerable numbers throughout a great extent, if not 

 the whole of North America ; at present it is only known as a re- 

 sident of the remote wooded and mountainous districts where man 

 has just commenced to fix his abode. 



The common wolf of America is considered to be the same 

 species as the wolf of Europe, and in regard to habits and man- 

 ners, gives every evidence of such an identity. Like all the wild 

 animals of the dog kind, they unite in packs to hunt down animals 

 which individually they could not master, and during their sexual 

 season, engage in the most furious combats with each other for the 

 possession of the females. 



The common wolf is possessed of great strength and fierceness, 

 and is what is generally called a cruel animal, tearing the throat of 

 his victim, drinking its blood, and rending it open for the purpose 

 of devouring its entrails. The great strength of its jaws enables 

 the wolf to cany off with facility an animal nearly as large as 

 itself, and makes its bite exceedingly severe and dangerous. Aged 

 or wounded animals, as well as the hinds and fawns of the deer, 

 sheep, lambs, calves and pigs, are killed by these wolves, and the 

 horse is said to be the only domestic animal which can resist them 

 with success. They gorge with much greediness upon all sorts of 

 carrion, which they can discover at great distances ; and where 

 such provision is to be obtained in great plenty, they become very 

 fat and lose their ferocity to a singular degree. 



When this wolf has been caught in a trap, and is approached 

 by man, it is remarked to be exceedingly cowardly, and occasion- 

 ally suffers itself to be beaten without offering the slightest resist- 

 ance. If a dog be set upon a wolf thus captured, the assault i? 

 patiently endured so long as his master is present ; but as soon as 

 the wolf is freed from the restraint imposed by the presence of his 

 captor, he springs upon and throttles the dog, which, if not speed- 

 ily assisted, pays the forfeit of his presumption and temerity with 

 his life. The voice of this wolf is a prolonged and melancholy 

 howl, which, when uttered by numerous individuals at once, is dis- 

 cordant and frightful. The period of gestation, <fec., in this species 

 is in every respect, analogous to that of the common dog. 



Animals exposed to so much suffering from hunger, we may 

 readily believe, are in no way exclusive in their preference of food, 

 and these wolves may be said to feed on every creature they can 

 master, or on the remains of any animal left by the natives. 



The common wolf is about four feet and a half in length, 



