THE WOLF. 



261 



the same litter partake of several minor varieties in form and color, it is very possible that the 

 so-called species may be nothing more than very distinctly marked varieties. These voracious 

 and dangerous animals are found in almost every quarter of the globe ; whether the country 

 which they infest is heated by the beams of the tropical sun or frozen by the lengthened winter 

 of the northern regions. Mountain and plain, forest and field, jungle and prairie, are equally 

 infested with Wolves, which possess the power of finding nourishment for their united bands 

 in localities where even a single predaceous animal might be perplexed to gain a livelihood. 



The color of the common Wolf is gray, mingled with a slight tinting of fawn, and diver- 

 sified with many black hairs that are interspersed among the lighter colored fur. In the older 



^ 



SOUTH AMERICAN WOLF.— Canis jubatus. 



animals the gray appears to predominate over the fawn, while the fur of the younger Wolves 

 is of a warmer fawn tint. The under parts of the animal, the lower jaw, and the edge of the 

 upper lip, are nearly white, while the interior face of the limbs is of a gray tint. From this 

 latter circumstance the Norwegians, with their usual superstitious dislike to calling an animal 

 by its right name, dignify the Wolf by the title of "Graabeen," or Gray-legs. The equally 

 superstitious Finns prefer the name of "Loajalg," or Broad-foot. Between the ears the head 

 is almost entirely gray, and without the mixture of black hairs, which is found in greatest 

 profusion along the line of the spine. 



When hungry — and the Wolf is almost always hungry — it is a bold and dangerous animal, 

 daring almost all things to reach its prey, and venturing to attack large and powerful animals, 

 — such as the buffalo, the elk, or the wild horse. Sometimes it has been known to oppose 

 itself to other carnivora, and to attack so unpromising a foe as the bear. Mr. Lloyd records 

 an instance of this presumption on the part of the Wolves. 



During a bear-hunt, when the hunting party was led by a dog that was following the 

 footsteps of a bear, a small herd of Wolves, few in number, suddenly made their appearance, 

 pounced on the dog, and devoured it. They then took up the trail, and when they came up 



