234 THE WOLF. 



in the inmost recesses of the forests. After having 

 fixed on the spot, they make it smooth and plain 

 for a considerable space, by tearing up with their 

 teeth all the brambles and brushwood. They then 

 prepare a bed of moss, ii which they bring forth 

 iive or six young. The mother suckles them foi- 

 some weeks ; and soon teaches them to eat flesh, 

 which she prepares by tearing it into small pieces. 

 She then brings them Field-mice, young Hares, 

 Partridges, and living Fowls ; which they at first 

 play with, and then kill : when this is done, she 

 tears them to pieces, and gives a part to each of her 

 young. In about six weeks these leave their den, 

 and follow the mother, who leads them abroad to 

 some neighbouring pool to drink ; she conducts 

 them back again, or, when any danger is appre- 

 hended, obliges theui to conceal themselves else- 

 where. When they are attacked, she defends them 

 with intrepidity ; losing every sense of danger, and 

 becoming perfectly furious. Slic never leaves them 

 till their education is finished, and they have ac- 

 quired talents fit for rapine. 



In the Wolf there is nothing valuable but his skin, 

 which makes a warm and durable fur. His flesh is 

 so bad, that it is rejected with abhorrence by all 

 other quadrupeds ; and no animal but a Wolf will 

 voluntarily eat a Wolf. The smell of his breath 

 is excessively offensive : since, to appease hunger, he 

 swallows, almost indiscriminately, every thing he can 

 And ; as corrupted fiesh, bones, hair, and skins half 

 tanned, and even covered with lime. In short, the 

 Wolf is in an extreme degree disagreeable ; his as- 



