36 ANIMALS OF THE 



The season for coupling does not continue 

 above twelve or fifteen days j and usually com- 

 mences among the oldest, those which are young 

 being later in their desires. The males have no 

 fixed time for engendering ; they pass from one 

 female to the other, beginning at the end of De- 

 cember, and ending at the latter end of February. 

 The time of pregnancy is about three months and 

 a half; and the young wolves are found from 

 the latter end of April to the beginning of July. 

 The long continuance of the wolf's pregnancy is 

 sufficient to make a distinction between it and the 

 dog ; did not also the fiery fierceness of the eyes, 

 the howl instead of barking, and the greater du- 

 ration of its life, leave no doubt of its being an 

 animal of its own particular species. In other 

 respects, however, they are entirely alike ; the 

 wolf couples exactly like the dog, the parts are 

 formed in the same manner, and their separation 

 hindered by the same cause. When the she- 

 wolves are near their time of bringing forth, they 

 seek some very tufted spot, in the thickest part 

 of the forest : in the middle of this they make a 

 small opening, cutting away the thorns and briars 

 with their teeth, and afterwards carry thither a 

 great quantity of moss, which they form into a 

 bed for their young ones. They generally bring 

 forth five or six, and sometimes even to nine at a 

 litter. The cubs are brought forth, like those of 

 the bitch, with the eyes closed ; the dam suckles 

 them for some weeks, and teaches them betimes 

 to eat flesh, which she prepares for them by chew- 

 ing it first herself. Some time after she brings 



