266 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 1787. 



On the supposition that Mr. Brookes's bitch was lined by no dog but the wolf, 

 which I think we have no reason to doubt, the species of the wolf is ascer- 

 tained; but I chose to trace this breed still further; and hearing that Lord 

 Pembroke's bitch had also bred, I was anxious to know the truth of it ; and, 

 finding his lordship was in France, I took the liberty of writing to Lord Herbert, 

 and received in answer the following letter:* 



BufFon, whose remarks in natural history are well known, made experiments 

 to ascertain how far the wolf and dog were of the same species, but without 

 success. He says, " A she-wolf, which I kept 3 years, though shut up very 

 young, and along with a greyhound of the same age, in a spacious yard, could 

 not be brought to agree with it, nor endure it, even when she was in heat. She 



Sir, — About 17 or 18 years ago, the late Lord Monthermer and I happened to see a dog- wolf 

 at Mr. Brookes's, who deals in animals, and lives in the New Road. The animal was remarkably 

 tame ; and it struck us, for that reason, that a breed might be procured between him and a bitch. 

 We promised Mr. Brooke's a good price for puppies, if he succeeded. In about a year a bitch 

 produced 9 ; of which Lord Monthermer bought one j and I had another, which was a bitch. 

 Lord Monthermer's died of fits in about 2 years : mine lived longer, and had puppies only once. 

 One I gave to Lord Pembroke j but what became of it I do not remember. It was grand-daughter 

 of the wolf by the dam, and got by a large pointer of mine. It might be considered, that Mr. 

 Brookes's word was not suflScient proof that the puppies were really got by the wolf 3 but the 

 appearance of the animals, so totally different from all others of the canine species, did not leave a 

 doubt on our minds 3 and I remember Hans Stanley, who had adopted BufFon's opinion, was 

 thoroughly convinced on seeing mine. The animals had the shape of the wolf refined : the fur 

 long, but almost as fine as that of the blaek fox. lam. Sir, &c. Clanbrassil. 



Jan. 7, <787. 



* Sir, IVilton-house, Dec. 20, 1786'. 



The half-bred wolf-bitch you allude to was given, as I have always understood, to Lord Pembroke 

 by Lord Clanbrassil. She might perhaps have been bought at Brookes's by him. She had 4 litters, 

 one of ten puppies, by a dog between a mastiff and a buU-dog. One of these was given to Dr. 

 Eyre, at Wells, in Somersetshire, and one to Mr. Buckett, at Stockbridge. The 2d litter was of 

 9 puppies, some of which were sent to Ireland, but to whom I know not. This litter was by a 

 different dog, but of the same breed as the first. The 3d litter was of 8 puppies, by a large mas- 

 tifl:^ Two of these were, I believe, sent to the p>resent Duke of Queensberry. The 4th litter 

 consisted of 7 puppies 5 2 of which were sent to M. Cerjat, a gentleman who now resides at Lau- 

 sanne, in Switzerland, and is famous for breaking dogs remarkably well. These 2 puppies were 

 however naturally so wild and unruly, that he found it impossible to break them. She died 4 years 

 ago, and the following inscription was put over the place where she is buried in this garden, by 



Lord Pembroke's orders. 



Here lies Lupa, 



whose grandmother was a wolf, 



whose father and grandfather were dogs, and whose 



mother was half wolf and half dog. She died 



on the 16th of Oct., 1782, aged 12 years. 



I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any better account ; but if you think proper to write 



to Lord Pembroke, who is at Paris, I am convinced he will be very happy to give you any further 



information. I am, &c. Herbert. 



