292 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



wolf. Their proportions indicate vigour and agility, while 

 ferocity and rage, though not unmingled with intelligence 

 and penetration, are painted on their physiognomy. It is 

 of the mixture of these qualities that their nature may be 

 said to be compounded, and the most prominent charac- 

 teristic trait, which they manifest, is a capriciousness and 

 mutability of temper almost inconceivable. They are ob- 

 served to pass in a few moments, and without any appa- 

 rent cause, ^from affection to menace, from anger to love, 

 from indifference to rage. Their passions are capable of 

 being raised to such a pitch, as to become the means of extin- 

 guishing the vital principle within them. Many of them 

 have been known to expire from the consequences of their 

 fury. They present without contradiction, the most strik- 

 ing example of a complete development of that faculty of 

 animal activity, called sentiment or passion. In a state of 

 liberty, the intelligence which they possess, serves as a 

 corrective to this tendency, or more properly speaking, a 

 prevention of its full manifestation. They quickly recog- 

 nize every thing that may be hurtful to them, and avoid it 

 with the utmost care. Uniting penetration and dexterity, 

 they at once discover their enemy, render his wiles fruit- 

 less, and in spite of his opposition, know how to accom- 

 plish their purposes and satisfy their desires. Thus, fero- 

 cious as they are, they never attack but from a distance, 

 either by menacing cries, or flinging the branches of trees. 

 Their cunning and promptitude in laying waste a planta- 

 tion are so great, that the utmost vigilance and alacrity are 

 scarcely sufficient to prevent them from executing their de- 

 vastations. When danger, however, presses closely upon 

 them, they know how to avail themselves of their natural 

 strength and weapons. F. Cuvier relates a circumstance 

 of one of these animals, having wounded his keeper very 

 dangerously, because the latter had merely threatened him 

 with a stick. He cites this not only as an instance of the 



