VOL. LXXVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TfiANSACTIONS. 267 



was the weaker, yet the more mischievous; provoking, attacking, and biting 

 the dog, which at first only defended himself, but at last killed her." And in 

 another part of his work, he makes the following observation: " The dog, the 

 wolf, the fox, and the jackal, form a genus, of which the different species are 

 really so nearly allied to each other, and of which the individuals resemble each 

 other so much, particularly by the internal structure and parts of generation, 

 that it is difficult to conceive why they do not breed together."* 



This part of natural history lay dormant till Mr. Gough, who sells birds and 

 has a collection of animals on Holborn Hill, repeated the experiment on a wolf- 

 bitch, which was very tame, and had all the actions of a dog under confinement. 

 A dog is the most proper subject for comparison, as we have opportunities of 

 being acquainted with its dispositions and modes of expressing its sensations, 

 which are most distinguishable in the motion of the ears and tail ;' such as prick- 

 ing up the ears when anxious, wishing, or in expectation ; depressing them 

 when supplicant, or in fear; raising the tail in anger or love, depressing it in 

 fear, and moving it laterally in friendship; and also in raising the hair on the 

 back from many affections of the mind. This animal became in heat in the 

 month of Dec. 1785; and as Mr. Gough had some idea of breeding from wild 

 animals, as monkeys, leopards, &c. he was anxious to have the wolf lined by 

 some dog; but she would not allow any dog to come near her, probably from 

 her not being accustomed to be with dogs, and being always chained. She 

 was held however while a greyhound lined her, and they were fastened together 

 exactly as the dog and bitch. While in conjunction she was pretty quiet; but 

 when at liberty, she endeavoured to fly at the dog. In this way she was twice 



• In the supplement to his works, he gives the following account which had been sent to him. 

 " A very young she-wolf, brought up at the Marquis of Spontin's, at Namur, had a dog, of nearly 

 the same age, kept with it as a companion. For 2 years they were at liberty, coming and going 

 about the apartments, the kitchen, the stables, &c. lying under the table, and on the feet of those 

 who sat round it. They lived in the greatest familiarity. The dog was a strong greyhound. The wolf 

 was fed on milk for 6 months ; after that, raw meat was given her which she preferred to that 

 which was dressed. When she ate no one durst approach her j but at other times people might 

 do as they pleased, provided they did not use her ill. At first she made much of all the dogs which 

 were brought to her j but afterward she gave the preference to her old companion, and from that 

 time she became very fierce if any strange dog approached her. She was lined for the first time on 

 the 25th of March J this was firequently repeated while her heat continued, which was ifidaysj 

 and she littered the 6th of June, at 8 o'clock in the morning j the period of gestation was therefore 

 73 days at the most.* She brought forth 4 young ones of a blackish colour, some of whose feet, 

 and a part of the breast, were white ; in this respect taking after the dog, who was black and white. 

 From the time she littered she became surly, and set up her back at those who came near her : did 

 not know her masters, and would even have killed the dog, had it been in her power." — Orig. 



* This is a longer period than in the bitch by at least lo days ; but as the account was made from the first time of her 

 being lined, and she was in heat for a fortnight, and lined in that time, it is very probable, if the time was known when 

 •he conceived, that it would prove to be the same period as in the dog. — Orig. 



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