402 MAMMALIA. 



but it was replaced in 1797 by an ordinance wbicb directed that 

 every three months there should be battues for the destruction of 

 Wolves, Foxes, and other obnoxious animals, when it was decided 

 that a bounty of fifty francs should be paid for the head of every 

 full-grown Wolf, and twenty francs for that of a young one. 

 This ordinance is still in force. The battues are ordered by the 

 Prefet, on the requisition of the forest agents. The Mayors 

 of each commune name the inhabitants who are to take part 

 in them; and a fine of from sixteen to one hundred francs is 

 imposed upon those who refuse to share in these measures for 

 public safety. 



In 1818 the amount of bounty was lowered to fifteen francs 

 for a female Wolf not in young, twelve francs for a male Wolf, 

 and six francs for a whelp. 



According to M. d'Houdetot, an authentic hunting authority, 

 there are 1,200 Wolves annually destroj'ed in Trance, divided as 

 follows : Mature male Wolves, 300 ; female Wolves, 200 ; whelps, 

 700. 



Wolves are not hunted with hounds that run by scent, for 

 it would only be possible to overtake them with Greyhounds, 

 as they are endowed with great speed and endurance. The 

 method generally adopted for their destruction is to post the 

 hunters around the covers which a Wolf frequents. These 

 measures being taken, the grizzly marauder is started by Blood- 

 hounds, specially trained for the purpose. The Wolf dashes 

 past the sportsmen, either successfully running the gauntlet or 

 getting shot. 



For the destruction of this animal every measure is permissible ; 

 snares, spring-traps, pit-falls, and even poison are justifiable, — 

 methods which would be reckoned unworthy of a sportsman if 

 employed against a Stag, Roebuck, or Hare. 



Although the Dog and Wolf manifest towards each other deep 

 and instinctive hatred, progeny resulting from a cross of the two 

 animals has been obtained. 



The coupling of the Dog with the she Wolf is more rare than 

 that of the Wolf with the bitch ; although there are instances 

 of the former.* 



Buffon has stated that the Wolf is not capable of aflfection, 



* On this point the best authorities disagree -with the Author. — Ed. 



