18-2 THE WOLF. 



In the Prussian provinces on the left bank of the Rhine, seven 

 old females, six old males, one young wolf, and twenty-six cubs 

 were killed in 1836, and 256 dollars were paid as rewards for 

 their destruction." * 



The Belgians chase the wolves when the snow is on the 

 ground ; but owing to the want of snow in the winter of 1 834 

 the chase did not take place, until the wolves, finding the sus- 

 pension of hostilities favourable to their propensities, had killed 

 great numbers of cattle in the middle of the day at Liege, 

 Luxembourg, Namur, and Hainhault, and then the government 

 ordered a chasse gentrale, which, as it was wittily remarked, 

 afforded the people more sport than a General Chasse. 



In winter, when wolves find their prey to be scarce in their 

 natural haunts, they become exceedingly bold, intrude into the 

 sheep-folds, enter the villages, and even the towns. Indeed, the 

 testimony of unquestionable witnesses, fully confirms Thomson's 

 awful description of their ferocity at that season : 



"By wintry famine rous'd from all the tract 

 Of horrid mountains which the shining Alps, 

 And wavy Appenine, and Pyrenees, 

 Branch out stupendous into distant lands, 

 Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave ! 

 Burning for blood ! bony, and gaunt, and grim ! 

 Assembling wolves in raging troops descend, 

 And, pouring o'er the country, hear along, 

 Keen as the north wind sweeps the glossy snow. 

 All is their prize. They fasten on the steed, 

 Press him to earth, and pierce his mighty heart ; 

 Nor can the bull his awful front defend, 

 Or shake the murdering savages away. 

 Rapacious, at the mother's throat they fly, 

 And tear the screaming infant from her breast. 

 The god-like face of man avails him nought. 

 E'en beauty, force divine ! at whose bright glance 

 The generous lion stands in soften'd gaze, 

 Here bleeds a hapless, undistiriguish'd prey." 



(The Seasons: Winter.} 



Matthew Aphonin, a Russian naturalist of the time of Linnaeus, 

 says that the wolf is afraid of a rope stretched across the ground, 



* Abridged from Mag. Nat. Hist. Second Series, vol. ii. (1838), p. 123. 



