220 FAMILY CANID^E; WOLF. 



are evidently formed for bruising hard substances ; and the ani- 

 mal probably lives upon Mollusks and Crustacea, as well as upon 

 Fish. 



195. The family CANIDJE, or Dog tribe, will not detain us 

 long ; since the number of distinct forms which it contains 

 (according to the classification here adopted) is small ; and 

 several of the most interesting questions relating to them have 

 been already discussed. If the idea put forwards in the 

 Introductory Chapter ( 14), that the Dog and Wolf are of 

 the same species, should prove correct, we shall be of course 

 led to regard the Wolf as the type of the family. This animal, 

 as is well known, is no longer an inhabitant of our own country ; 

 having been completely extirpated from England many centuries 

 ago, and more recently from Scotland and Ireland. The last 

 record of their existence in England in any formidable numbers, 

 was in the year 1281 ; but it is stated, that in 1577 they were very 

 destructive to the flocks in Scotland; and in Ireland they were ex- 

 terminated only at the beginning of the last century. The Wolf 

 is still spread, however, through almost every part of the Conti- 

 nent of Europe, and Northern Asia ; especially in mountain and 

 forest districts, and where the population is scanty. It is ex- 

 tremely destructive to domesticated animals in the districts where 

 it abounds ; as is shown by the following official report made to 

 the Russian Government, of the slaughter committed by the 

 Wolves of the district of Livonia, a tract about 250 miles long 

 by 150 broad, in the year!822. Horses, 1841 ; cattle, 1807 ; 

 calves, 733 ; sheep, 15,182 ; lambs, 726 ; goats, 2545; kids, 

 183 ; swine, 4190 ; young pigs, 312 ; dogs, 703 ; geese, 673 ; 

 fowls, 1243. It seldom attacks Man, however, except when 

 pressed by hunger, and when associated with others of its kind. 

 The general aspect of the Wolf is well known. Its frame is 

 robust but gaunt, its gait skulking and irresolute, its physiog- 

 nomy has a wild and sinister expression, and its character is 

 marked by mingled ferocity, cunning, and cowardice. It is 

 habitually cautious and suspicious, so that it is not easy to 

 take it in traps ; and when pursued it rushes along with great 

 velocity ; but when brought to bay, it defends itself with the 



