ANIMALS OF THE 



until their second winter ; from whence we may 

 suppose that they live fifteen or twenty years ; 

 for, allowing three years for their complete growth, 

 this multiplied by seven gives them a life of 

 twenty-one ; most animals, as has been observed, 

 living about seven times the number of years 

 which they take to come to perfection. Of this, 

 however, there is as yet no certainty, no more 

 than of what huntsmen assert, that in all the 

 litters there are more males than females. From 

 them also we learn, that there are some of the 

 males who attach themselves to the female, who 

 accompany her during her gestation, until the 

 time of bringing forth, when she hides the place 

 of her retreat from the male, lest he should devour 

 her cubs ; but after this, when they are brought 

 forth, that he then takes the same care of them 

 as the female, carries them provisions, and, if the 

 dam should happen to be killed, rears them up 

 in her stead. 



The wolf grows grey as he grows old, and his 

 teeth wear, like those of most other animals, by 

 using ; he sleeps when his belly is full, or when 

 he is fatigued, rather by day than night ; and 

 always, like the dog, is very easily waked. He 

 drinks frequently; and, in times of drought, 

 when there is no water to be found in the trunks 

 of old trees, or in the pools about the forest, he 

 comes often, in the day, down to the brooks, or 

 the lakes in the plain. Although very voracious, 

 he supports hunger for a long time, and often 

 lives four or five days without food, provided he 

 be supplied with water. 



