Wolves and Wolf Nature 



. The dog is usually regarded as the most 

 intelligent of quadrupeds. Perhaps we think 

 him so because we see more of him than we 

 do of any other domestic animal, and perhaps 

 a part of his intelligence is derived from his 

 long association with man ; but at all events it 

 is very great by comparison with that of the 

 other animals which we know. 



Wolves are only wild dogs, and their intel- 

 ligence should be of a high order. That it is 

 so, all who have had much opportunity for 

 observation are agreed. The Indian recog- 

 nizes the wolf as the embodiment of craft and 

 smartness, as is shown by the name for scout 

 in the Indian sign language. He also regards 

 the wolf as a friend, and among some tribes 

 there are people who claim to understand the 

 language of the wolves, and to hold communi- 

 cation with them, receiving friendly warning 

 of the approach of danger. From the hilltop, 



the wolf barks at the Indian hunter as he 



152 



