THE WOLF. 231 



Although the Wolf is the most gluttonous of 

 quadrupeds, devouring even his own species when 

 pressed by hunger, yet his rapacity does not exceed 

 his cunning ; always suspicious and mistrustful, he 

 imagines every thing he sees is a snare laid to be- 

 tray him. If he finds a Kein-deer tied to a post, to 

 be milked, he dares not approach, lest the animal 

 should be placed there only to entrap him ; but no 

 sooner is the Deer set at large, than he instantly pur- 

 sues and devours it *. Such how^ever is his extreme 

 cowardice, that should the animal stand at bay, and 

 act on the defensive, he will scarcely dare to attack 

 it. A Cow or Goac, by turning upon and butting 

 him with its horns, has often been known to put 

 him to flight -!•. 



In Norway the Wolves are frequentlj^ killed by 

 means of a poisonous s])ecies of Lichen ;|:, which the 

 inhabitants put into the dead body of some animal 

 and lay in their haunt. Sometimes they are caught 

 by means of a hole dug in the ground, and covered 

 with a trap-door; Vx'hich falls and lets them in, and 

 afterwards shuts again. In these pits the cowardly 

 animal has been found in a corner, along with other 

 beasts, which his fears would not sufler liim to touch. 

 Instances have occured even of peasants falling into 

 these traps, and sitting quietly with a Wolf till re- 

 leased by the hunter >§,. 



* Schaeffcr, 33 1. t Poutoppidan, ii. 18. 



X Lichen \' ulpinuin of Linnrous. § PQiitoppidan, ii. 19. 



Q4 



