SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 629 



some secret covert, and when the time of parturition arrives, 

 select some fitting place, as a hole in the earth, a crevice of 

 a rock, or even a hollow tree, and prepare a bed with soft 

 moss, which the female lines with the fur of her own body, 

 which at that season is easily detached. The cubs, like all 

 other dogs, are born blind, and remain so for ten or twelve 

 days. During this period, ere light has dawned on the eyes 

 of the young, the male, it is said, seeks to destroy them. The 

 fact is questionable ; but if it were true, it would not be with- 

 out parallel, as in the case of the Wild Hog, the Rabbit, and 

 other animals, to whom this remarkable instinct is given. 

 But whatever the truth be with respect to the "Wolf, the pa- 

 rents, it is well known, combine their cares to rear their 

 young. The male pursues the chase, and brings food to his 

 mate when suckling her whelps. When the young can eat 

 of solid food, both parents busy themselves in obtaining it, 

 the one keeping watch while the other is absent, and ready 

 to die rather than abandon the charge. It is said that they 

 bring to their hole little animals alive, as leverets, moles, and 

 even mice, which they teach the young to kill. After a time 

 the whelps are led forth, and taught by the parents to worry, 

 to run, to follow the smaller animals, and even, it is said, to 

 bear pain without flinching. The lessons being concluded, 

 the male assumes the independent habits proper to him ; but 

 the female retains the whelps near her for a considerable time 

 to defend them, until at length, in obedience to the instincts 

 which are given her, she quits her long-cherished offspring, 

 that they may perform the functions proper to them. 



The habits of the Wolf have been again and again de- 

 scribed. His appetite for food seems to be insatiable, and 

 his craving for it incessant. The tiger, when he has devoured 

 the flesh, and lapped the blood, of his victim, lays himself 

 down to repose in his lonely lair : the wolf seems to know no 

 pause in his work of havoc ; except that, like every carnivor- 

 ous quadruped, he demands a long period of sleep to repair 

 the wants of the system. This sleep he takes during the day 



