THE WOLF. 11 



The Wolf, in certain districts, is more abundant 

 than the bear, as on the St. John River, and in 

 many of the northern parts of the country. A 

 considerable difference of opinion exists among natu- 

 ralists, as to whether or not there is any real difference be- 

 tween the European and American animals. Richardson* 

 distinguishes the latter as having a thicker fur and a 

 more robust form than the other; a nose less pointed, 

 and profile not so straight ; with shorter legs and 

 ears, and a more bushy tail. Bairdf considers it 

 difficult to occupy a middle ground between consider- 

 ing all the American wolves as one species with many 

 varieties, or making all the varieties into as many distinct 

 species. Until better means of comparison and determi- 

 nation indicate otherwise, he prefers to consider them all 

 as one species, and assuming this to be distinct from the 

 European one, which however is not yet proved, employs 

 Richardson's provisional name of Canis occidentalis for it. 



The variety now under notice (C. occ. var. griseo- 

 albus), which is the only one found in Canada, is fre- 

 quently observed to exhibit very different shades of 

 colour ; generally speaking, however, it is of a reddish- 

 bro^v^l tint, grizzled with scattered white hairs. The tail 



* Fauna Borealis Americana, 

 t Eepoft on Zoology of Pacific Routes : WasUngton, 1857. 



