THE WOLF. 181 



1817, the animal had already become sufficiently scarce to make 

 a considerable increase in the premiums both necessary and 

 practicable. Twelve dollars were now given for an adult female, 

 ten for an adult male, eight for a young one, four for a cub, and, 

 as before, one for a foetus. This continued persecution of the 

 wolves, caused them to become so scarce, that notwithstanding 

 the tempting rewards, only 1449 dollars were paid from 1831 to 

 1836 inclusive, for a total number of 256 wolves destroyed 

 during that time ; although during the latter years of that 

 period, the number of wolves had been rapidly increasing, owing 

 to the use of fire-arms having been, to a great degree, prohibited 

 in Poland after the revolution. Though they make more fre- 

 quent inroads into the neighbouring countries, no human lives 

 have been sacrificed by the wolves in the province of Posen ; 

 but we may judge that the destruction of men from that cause, 

 must be very serious in Poland itself. According to the 

 papers, four girls, of different ages, the eldest sixteen years, 

 were torn to pieces in August, 1837, in the parish of Briala, 

 district of Rawa, not far from their houses -, and if such things 

 happen in summer, what must be the audacity of the wolves in 

 winter ! The present increase of the wolves in Poland exem- 

 plifies, in a very striking manner, how quickly the political state 

 of a country reacts upon its indigenous animals ; and until the 

 Russian government shall have found means to keep down the 

 wolves in Poland, the task of destroying them in the province of 

 Posen, will be beset with serious complications and difficulties. 

 Though the lives of the Prussian subjects are not much threat- 

 ened by the stray wolves of Poland, yet they commit such 

 depredations on the live stock, that a society is now forming, 

 for the purpose of paying extra premiums of five times the 

 amount of those allowed by government ; so that, for instance, 

 any one who kills an old female wolf, will receive seventy-two 

 dollars. The contributions of the members will be in proportion 

 to the value of their respective live stock $ and it is, therefore, 

 to be hoped the province will be kept pretty clear, even under 

 the present unfavourable circumstances. 



