CHAPTER IV 



LOVERS OF THE CHASE AND SOME OTHERS 



WOLF. — We shall make acquaintance during the progress of 

 our present expedition with several members of the Dog tribe, and 

 towards the conclusion one or two other kinds of animals. Whilst 

 it must be admitted that all perhaps are not strictly entitled to 

 inclusion as lovers of the chase, there is bound to be some amount 

 of overlapping in a work of this description, and a certain amount of 

 licence must be allowed. 



The Wolf is rightly entitled to premier honours in this chapter, 

 and in Figs. 54 and 55 we have presentments of two specimens from 

 far-away Siberia, showing, in Fig. 54, the normal type, and in 

 Fig. 55 a magnificent albino. 



Both photographs depict the animal in excellent poses, the first 

 showing the large head, long body, massive limbs and skulking gait, 

 and the second portraying a far happier-looking individual with 

 body erect and standing at attention as it were. 



The general Dog-like form of the Wolf shown in Fig. 55 is 

 particularly striking, and it is small wonder perhaps that interesting 

 associations are inseparably connected with these wild denizens when 

 one remembers the many kinds of their domestic brethren whom 

 man has for so long made his companions. There can be no con- 

 fusion in the animals constituting the Dog tribe. They possess 

 strong characteristics which cannot be mistaken, and all of them, 

 except the curious Cape Hunting Dog which we shall meet with 

 shortly, are clothed in a somewhat sombre coat. 



That we are only able to make acquaintance with a small selection 

 of the Dog tribe will be apparent when it is stated that there are 

 probably about forty distinct species. Although, as has been hinted 

 in passing, the general colour of their coats presents a remarkable 

 uniformity, it should also be mentioned that in these Wild Dogs there 

 is a noticeable tendency for "either individual or seasonal variation, 

 both in respect of colour, and also as regards the length of their 



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