156 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



the wolves have enlarged; or it may be a natural 

 cave. In the woods it may be in a huge hollow 

 tree. Almost invariably a pair has a den to 

 themselves. I have heard of a few instances 

 where two litters of wolf puppies were found 

 in the same den; but probably the second lit- 

 ter, in an emergency, had been moved into the 

 den for safety. 



Wolves within the bounds of the United 

 States are not ferocious; they do not attack 

 human beings. That they were once fero- 

 cious is probable; but years ago they learned 

 the folly of exposing themselves to human be- 

 ings. 



Notwithstanding all this, the wolf is not a 

 coward. He is brave enough when anything 

 is to be gained by being brave. The spectacu- 

 lar, reckless, grand-stand bravery that is pretty 

 certain to be accompanied by death does not 

 appeal to the wolf. Instances are on record, 

 however, where numbers of wolves have risked 

 their lives in order to save or to try to save 

 a wounded companion, either from men or 

 from animals. 



A man captured and brought home a number 

 of wolf puppies and placed them in a box in- 

 side a high picket fence. He thought the 

 mother might come to their rescue and pre- 

 pared to entrap her. He took off a picket of 



