THE ■WOLr.] 



THE DOG, AND ITS VAEIETIES; 



[tUE tVOLF. 



and only two years previously, that a peasant, 

 one day in his sledge, was pursued by eleven 

 of these ferocious animals. 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 re- 

 sidence was a gate, which happened to be 

 closed at the time ; but the horse dashed this 

 open, and thus himself and his master 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 

 animals, the nature of these beasts, now that 

 they found escape impossible, became com- 

 pletely changed : so far, indeed, from offering 

 molestation to any one, they slunk into holes 

 and corners, and allowed themselves to be 

 slaughtered almost without making resis- 

 tance." There is not a single characteristic 

 of the dog in this anecdote. Supposing that 

 eleven dogs, hounds, mastiffs, bulls, or terriers, 

 had pursued a man into his yard, and found 

 themselves thus suddenly enclosed, would they 

 have slunk into holes and corners, and ex- 

 hibited such symptoms of fear and cowardice ? 

 On the contrary, we think that every one of 

 them would have been more ardent than 

 another in seizing their prey, and making a 

 victim of the man who had given them such a 

 run. Further on we shall give an instance of 

 a pack of native wild dogs of India pursuing 

 Colonel Sykes ; but exhibiting no such traits 

 of fear, although deterred from an actual 

 attack by the report of fire-arms. The cowar- 

 dice of the wolf presents, in our opinion, a 

 perfect contrast to the courage of the dog. 



It is said, that the mere act of striking a 

 light with flint and steel has often the effect 

 of intimidating a wolf; and that the rattling 

 of a chain not unfrequeutly answers the like 

 purpose. In the event of a person, when un- 

 armed, being attacked by these bloodthirsty 

 brutes, these things are worth knowing ; for, 

 although apparently trifliug in themselves, 

 they might be the means of saving his life. 



In some parts of Scandinavia, when people 



are travelling, during the winter-time, over 



extended plains, lakes, &c., which are known 



to be much frequented by wolves, it is the 



368 



custom to attach a long rope to the back of 

 the sledge. The serpentine motion that this 

 makes when the vehicle is proceeding, has, 

 it is said, the effect of deterring these animals 

 from making their attacks. 



The common wolf of North America differs 

 in some respects from its European relative, 

 and is perhaps a distinct species. It wants 

 the gaunt appearance, the comparatively long 

 jaw and tapering nose, the high ears, long legs, 

 slender loins, and narrow feet of the European 

 wolf. Its frame also is more compact, the fur 

 finer and thicker, the muzzle more obtuse, tho 

 head larger and rounder, and the forehead 

 broader and more arched. The limbs are 

 shorter, and the tail more fox-like and bushy. 



Dr. Eichardson, in his Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana, enumerates several varieties of tliis 

 North American wolf, depending on colour — - 

 viz., the grey, the white, the pied, the dusky 

 or clouded, and the black. Black wolves 

 abound on the Missouri ; and, according to 

 the Indians, black and grey wolves occur in 

 the same litter. The dusky, or clouded wolf, 

 was regarded by Say as a distinct species, and 

 named by him Canis nuhiliis. 



The American wolf agrees in its general 

 habits with the wolf of the European conti- 

 nent, though it appears to be less formidable as 

 far as man is concerned. Indeed, Captain 

 Lyons, in his observations on the wolves 

 of Melville Peninsula, states that both Englisli 

 and Esquimaux were accustomed to pass them 

 without any weapon, or even a stick ; " the 

 animals, however, exhibited no sym^ptoms of 

 fear, but rather a kind of tacit agreement not 

 to be the beginners of a quarrel, even though 

 they might have been certain of proving vic- 

 torious." 



These wolves hunt in packs, and when 

 pressed for food, assume an astonishing de- 

 gree of boldness. , They will seize the Esqui- 

 maux dogs before their masters' faces, and 

 carry them off — although this species of dog 

 is brave in attacking the bear, but is terrified 

 at the wolf. They have been known not 

 only to steal provisions from under a man's 

 head in the night, but even to enter the 

 bivouac of a traveller, and carry off some of 

 his dogs, "During our residence at Cumber- 

 land House, in 1S20," says Dr, Eichardson, 

 " a wolf which had been prowling round the 



