400 MAMMALIA. 



carcasses, rather denotes foresight than ferocity ; the Wolf is not, 

 therefore, the monster of cruelty pictured bj^ Buffon. 



The Wolf often destroys Dogs, its most deadly enemy; and 

 resorts to stratagems the better to accomplish its purpose. Should 

 it see a Puppy about a farm-yard, it approaches, and attracts atten- 

 tion by frisking and making all kinds of gambols to gain its 

 confidence. When the j'oungster, seduced by these overtures, 

 responds to them, and leaves the friendly shelter of his home, 

 it is immediately overpowered, and carried off. Against a 

 vigorous Dog, capable of defending itself with success, the 

 stratagem is different. Two Wolves arrange between them- 

 selves the following plan : — One shows itself to the hoped-for 

 victim, and endeavours to make the Dog follow its track into 

 an ambuscade, where the second Wolf is concealed. Both sud- 

 denly assail it at once, and through their combination obtain 

 an easy victory. 



Under ordinary circumstances the Wolf does not molest Man, 

 but even flics from his presence. In cases of extreme hunger, 

 on the contrary', it attacks him, looking out for an miguarded 

 moment in order to take him unawares. If the Man is on horse- 

 back or accompanied by a Dog, its first efforts are directed against 

 the quadrupeds. 



During the winter, when the ground is covered with snow, in 

 the great plains of Germany, in the vast ste23pes of Russia and 

 Poland, Wolves are most dangerous. "Hunger drives the 

 Wolf from the wood," says a proverb. Allied in immense 

 troops they range the country in every direction, and become a 

 terrible scourge. 



In those plains of Siberia that are infested by Wolves a 

 sledge journej' is far from agreeable, for frequent!}^ a band 

 of these ferocious brutes persistently follow travellers. If the 

 sledge stops for onlj' a second, the Men and Horses are lost ; 

 safety exists only in flight. The struggle on such occasions is 

 fearful. The Horses, mad with terror, seem to have wings. 

 The Wolves follow on their track, their ej'es flashino- with 

 fire. It is a terrible situation to be placed in to behold these 

 black spectres tearing across the surface of the white shroud 

 of snow, thirsting for your blood. From time to time a re- 

 port is heard ; a Wolf falls. More audacious than the others, 



