THE WOLF. 



473 



Wolves display boldness after they had pulled down a 

 Deer; but they always gave Way when a shot was fired 

 among them. The experience of Mr. Dickson corresponds 

 in all points with my own. 



When pursued by Wolves, Deer make for the nearest 

 water, in which they have a chance to escape, being able to 

 swim much faster than their enemies. Should the river or 

 lake be narrow, the Deer generally swim either up or down, 

 seldom straight across; frequently landing, after a detour, 

 on the same side in which they entered the water. By this 

 means the Wolves are i)uzzled and put off the scent. If 

 there are thick weeds or brush along the shore, a Deer fre- 

 quently sinks his body under water so that no part will 

 appear above the surface but his head, and by this means is 

 enabled to evade the cunning of his pursuers. On glare-ice, 

 the Wolf soon ends the chase. When frightened, the 

 Deer falls at every bound, and is easily overtaken. 



Should the Deer be driven into a strong rapid, and the 

 Wolves attempt to follow, they get swept off their feet, and 

 are carried down the rapids. Should one of them hold his 

 own, and approach close enough, a large buck will often kill 

 him with a blow of his sharp hoof. Courageous hounds are 

 often killed in the same manner. When there is a crust on 

 the snow which will bear the Wolves, but which is not 

 strong enough to support the Deer, vast numbers of the 

 latter are killed by those sanguinary marauders. 



From personal experience, I have no hesitation in assign- 

 ing to the Wolf of the Ottawa Valley — the typical Gray 

 Wolf of North America — if not a preeminence in size and 

 weight, at least an equality in magnitude, and in all other 

 amiable characteristics of the genus Lupus^ with his blood 

 relations of any other land. 



