(i'2 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Formerly numerous in England. 



and kicking the rope, he drew her forth, to the 

 astonishment of all the spectators. 



Wolves were once so great a nuisance in this 

 country, that rewards were formerly proposed 

 for their destruction ; but happily the race has 

 here been long extirpated. King Edgar at- 

 tempted to effect this beneficial purpose, by re- 

 mitting the punishment of petty crimes on pro- 

 ducing a certain number of wolves' tongues; and 

 in Wales, certain taxes were commuted for an 

 annual tribute of wolves' heads. Some centuries 

 afterwards they increased to such a degree, as to 

 require the serious attention of government, and 

 great rewards were given for destroying them. 

 Camden informs us, that certain lands were held 

 on the condition of hunting and destroying the, 

 wolves that infested the country. In the reign" 

 of Athelstan, wolves abounded so much in York- 

 shire, that a place of retreat was built at Fli^ton, 

 near Scarborough, for the protection of passen- 

 *gers against their attacks. 



The ravages of these animals being the most 

 terrible in winter, when the ground is covered 

 with snow, and food the most difficult to procure, 

 our Saxon ancestors distinguished the month of 

 January by the appellation of wolf-month. An 

 outlaw was also among them denominated wolf- 

 shed, or one that was out of the protection of 

 human society, and liable to be destroyed by the 

 wolves. 



