THE LARGE GAME OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. 445 



Too cunning to fall either into trap or ambuscade, yet of 

 late years the numbers of the Spanish wolf have been largely 

 reduced by means of poison : they will, however, doubtless hold 

 their own in Spain for centuries to come. 



Like the bear, the wolf is also divisible into two distinct 

 breeds, or races. There is the large grey wolf (the common 

 kind), and the Lobo serrano, or mountain- wolf, which is smaller, 

 darker, and more rufous in colour. 



The following table shows the respective weights in English 

 pounds (25 to the arroba), of the two types of wolf, both of 

 which are found in all parts of Spain : — 



Males. Females. 



Lobogrande ... 125 to 150 ... 100 to 112 lbs. 

 Lobo serrano ... 75 „ 90 ... 60 „ 75 „ 



The gait of the wolf, when driven into the open, is a slow, 

 slouching gallop ; but he goes much faster than he appears to 

 do. Well might the Lusitanian farmer tell Latouche, with an 

 imitative gesture : " Corre, corre, corre ; mas o diablo mesmo 

 nao o apanhava " — " Slowly he bounds, bounds along ; but the 

 devil himself could not overtake him ! " 



Fox (Canis vulpes — var., melanogaster) . 

 Spanish • Zorro. 



The Spanish foxes are all of the black-bellied species, or 

 variety ; but the majority lack the jet black underparts that 

 distinguish Indian examples — being rather clouded, or marbled, 

 than pure black. We have, however, shot one (in November) 

 which was far more typically coloured — quite black below and 

 on legs — than the average, which are generally greyer and more 

 silvery than our British fox. A few show a white crescent on 

 the breast. They run about 1 5 lbs. in weight, and 48 inches in 

 length. 



Foxes are not hunted in Spain except by the Calpe Hounds 

 at Gibraltar. 



