68 THE WOLF OF TARTARY. 



nearly so, in the immense zone which we are considering. Except a 

 species of lynx, the Chilason or Chulon, whose existence has been 

 recognized in the north of Tartary; and a few tigers which adventure 

 into Mongolia, we may say that the Asiatic Steppes, and, therefore, 

 also those of Europe, are exempt from these inconvenient guests. 

 The most dangerous, and almost the only enemy which man and the 

 herbivora have reason to dread, is the Wolf. This animal, now very 

 rare in Western Europe, where his race will soon disappear, is still 

 found in great numbers in the wild Lithuanian forests, in Russia, and 

 all Northern and Central Asia. To him, as to other animals of the 

 Canidce, cold appears more favourable than heat, and it is in 

 countries where the average temperature seldom rises high he attains 

 his greatest dimensions. In Lithuania wolves are often met with 

 which measure three feet and a half in length, without the tail. 

 Those of Northern Asia are also of a great size and nerve, of terrible 

 strength and audacity ; they have been seen to pounce on a sheep, 

 and carry it oif at full speed. They intrude in quest of victims into 

 the towns, the villages, and the encampments : combat to the last with 

 their enemies; and when vanquished die without a groan. Generally 

 they lurk in the woods and forests ; but hunger, according to the 

 proverb, drives them forth from their lairs. Then they assemble in 

 vast hordes ; they pursue, they assail, they defend, with ingenious 

 tactic, skilfully availing themselves of the disposition and accidents 

 of the ground. Their manoeuvres vary according to the nature of 

 the game or the enemy. In general, if a man preserve an upright 

 bearing and a bold countenance, they will not attack him ; they 

 follow him stealthily, however, prepared to pounce upon him if. 

 unhappily, he should stumble or falter. But the wolves of Tartary, 

 far from sharing in this deference towards the lord of creation, dis- 

 play a singular bitterness against him. " It is remarked," says the 

 Jesuit missionary Hue, " that the Mongolian wolves attack man more 

 willingly than any animals; one sees them sometimes galloping through 

 innumerable flocks of sheep, without inflicting any injury, in order to 

 dash upon the shepherd. In the neighbourhood of the Great Wall they 



