72 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



Like most members of the dog tribe they have an extremely 

 keen sense of smell, and this enables them to track their prey over 

 vast distances. 



When a party of travellers has been pursued by a pack of 

 wolves, they have sometimes saved their lives by throwing out 

 various objects, such as coats and cloaks, from their carriage. As 

 each was thrown out, the wolves stopped for a time to cautiously 

 examine it; and in this way they were kept at a distance until a 

 village was reached. 



It has been found, too, that in Norway the wolves are so much 

 afraid of the telegraph wires, that they have never been known to 

 pass underneath them. 



Wolves prefer as a rule to hunt in packs, particularly in the 

 winter, when they are forced to run great risks in order to obtain 

 food. It is said that when combined in this way they conduct 

 their hunting on a definite plan, each member of the pack having 

 a certain duty to perform. This combination is, however, purely 

 selfish, for they have no feeling of affection towards one another. 

 If a wolf be wounded, his companions will tear him to pieces and 

 eat him on the spot. 



While the wolf is still young it is easily tamed, and will soon 

 learn to follow its master like a dog. It is said that in such 

 a case it loses all desire for a wild life, and will never even try 

 to rejoin its companions, even if it should be permitted to wander 

 about as it pleases. But it can never be taught that it must not go 

 into the poultry-yard and kill the chickens; and therefore it is not 

 very often caught and kept as a pet. 



THE JACKAL 



When a lion has slaughtered a large animal, such as a buffalo 

 or a deer, he is seldom able to make more than one hearty meal 

 upon the carcass of his victim, for, even while he is eating, a num- 

 ber of hungry jackals are almost sure to assemble, and anxiously 

 await their opportunity to seize upon the remnants of the feast. 

 And as soon as he has finished his repast and retired into the 



