^o THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



The clever dog had found them all, and brought them all 

 together. 



If you look at a collie you will see how well suited it is for a 

 hardy, outdoor life. The long, thick coat of hair keeps it warm 

 even on the coldest night ; the bushy tail covers its paws and nose 

 when it lies down to sleep; while its limbs are very strong. It 

 is indeed a wonderful dog in every way, and is one of the most 

 useful four-footed servants that man has. 



THE WOLF 



Just as the lion is a kind of cat, so the Wolf is a kind of dog. 

 If, for example, you could examine the legs of a wolf, you would 

 find that they were exactly like those of a dog; slender, and yet 

 very strong, with just the same kind of stout but blunt claws. 



For a wolf does not use its claws as a lion does, in tearing down 

 its prey. The way in which a wolf kills its victims is by springing 

 up at them as they are running along, and snapping over and over 

 again at their throats, so as to tear their flesh, and weaken them by 

 loss of blood. 



Its claws, therefore, are not sharp, like those of the cat, neither 

 are they drawn back into sheaths while not in use. The con- 

 sequence is, that as fast as they grow they are worn away by 

 rubbing against the ground. 



If the wolf finds the body of some animal that has already 

 been killed, it will not take the trouble to hunt for prey, but will 

 eat such as it finds. 



Wolves as a rule are not courageous, and will not attack even 

 an unarmed man unless they are very hungry But in the winter, 

 when food is scarce, they become very savage and desperate, and 

 lose all sense of fear. 



How timid the wolf is at other times is shown by the simple 

 manner in which hunters prevent it from stealing their game. 

 All that they have to do is to plant a short stick in the ground, 

 beside the body of the dead animal, and to tie a narrow strip 

 of calico or linen to the top. This flutters about in the wind, and 

 so frightens the wolf that it will not even approach it. 



