Abyssinian Wolf 60 1 



The Abyssinian Wolf (Cam's simensis) 



This handsome wolf was discovered by Riippell during his travels in 

 Abyssinia in the first half of this century. It is described in his time— 

 circa 1835 — as being found in most of the various provinces of that 

 country. Like the wolf of Europe and other parts of the world it seems 

 to have hunted in packs, and to have preyed on domestic sheep and the 

 smaller of the wild animals. It was, however, apparently never looked 

 upon as dangerous to mankind. 



Since Ruppell's time little has been heard of this wolf and scarcely any 

 fresh or recent information is to be obtained concerning it. From its 

 predatory habits it is probable that the Abyssinians, so soon as they began 

 to acquire fire-arms, turned their attention to its destruction, and that in 

 consequence it has become much scarcer than it used to be. 



Riippell acquired a specimen captured in the mountains of Semyen 

 (Samen or Simen), which is now, I believe, still to be seen in the British 

 Museum. This specimen is figured in Mr. St. George Mivart's monograph 

 on the Canidre, and from this excellent coloured plate a very good idea is to 

 be gained of its shape, characteristics, and brilliant colouring. Mr. Mivart 

 thus refers to this wolf: " A very distinct species, and has no special affinity 

 to any of the numerous varieties of the common wolf." 



In size the Abyssinian wolf is about on a par with "a large sheep-dog." 

 The general colouring is a yellowish rufous brown — rich fox-colour — with 

 white round the mouth, about the eyes, on the inner margins of the ears, 

 upon the chest, the front of the fore-legs — below the wrists — and of the 

 hind-legs below the knees, round the vent, beneath part of the tail, inside 

 the thighs and on the hinder portion of the stomach. The upper part of 

 the tail to about the middle is barred with dark markings, the dark 

 terminal portion ending in a black tip. Those lower parts of the body 

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