OF NATURAL HISTOE.y. 383 



them. He delights in blood, and gluts himfelf with it till 

 he is intoxicated. He tears the body for no other purpofo 

 than to plunge his head into it, and to drink large draughts 

 of blood, the fources of which are generally exhaufted before 

 his thirft is appeafed. The tiger is perhaps the only animal 

 whofe ferocity is unconquerable. Neither violence, reftraint, 

 nor bribery, have any effect in foftening his temper. With 

 harfli or gentle treatment he is equally irritated. The mild 

 and conciliating influence of fociety makes no impreflion on 

 the obduracy and incorrigiblenefs of his difpofitlon. Time, 

 inftead of foftening the ferocioufnefs of his nature, only exaf- 

 perates his rage. He tears, with equal wrath, the hand 

 which feeds him, as that which is raifed to ftrike him. He 

 roars and grins at the fight of every living being. Every 

 animated obje£l he regards as a frefh prey, v/hich he devours 

 before hand with the avidity of his eyes, menaces it with 

 frightful groans, and often fprings at it without regarding 

 bis chains, which only reftrain, but cannot calm his fury. 



In temperate climates, the wolf feems to exceed all other 

 animals in the ferocity and rapacioufnefs of his difpoiition. 

 When prefled with hunger, he braves every danger. He 

 attacks all thofe animals which are under the protection of 

 man, efpecially fuch as he can carry off with eafe, as lambs, 

 kids, and the fmaller kinds of dogs. When fuccefsful in 

 his expeditions, he returns often to the charge, till, after be- 

 ing chafed and wounded by men and dogs, he retires, dur- 

 ing the day to his den. In the night he again ilTues forth, 

 traverfes the country, roams round the cottages, kills all the 

 animals wdiich have been left without, digs the earth uuder 

 the doors, enters with a terrible ferocity, and puts every liv- 

 ing creature to death, before he choofes to depart, and carry 

 off his prey. When thefe inroads happen to be fruitlels, ha 

 returns to the woods, fearches about with avidity, follows 

 the track and the fcent of wild beads, and purfues them till 



