88 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



a small dog which was sitting behind him. During my journey 

 from Tornea to Stockholm, I heard everywhere of the ravages 

 committed by wolves, not upon the human species or the 

 cattle, but chiefly upon the peasants' dogs, considerable num- 

 bers of which had been devoured. I was told that these 

 were the favourite prey of this animal ; and that, in order to 

 seize upon them with the greater ease, it puts itself into a 

 crouching posture, and begins to play seversil antic tricks, to 

 attract the attention of the poor dog, which, caught by these 

 seeming demonstrations of friendship, and fancying it to be 

 one of his own species, from the similarity, advances towards 

 it to join in the gambols, and is carried off by its treacherous 

 enemy. Several peasants that I conversed with mentioned 

 their having been eye-witnesses of this circumstance." 

 The "Wolfs Mr. Lloyd in his " Field Sports in the North 

 Cowardioe. of Europe" gives a remarkable illustration of 

 the cowardice of the wolf when caught in a trap. "A 

 peasant near St. Petersburg," says Mr. Lloyd, "when one 

 day in his sledge, was pursued by eleven of these ferocious 

 animals. At this time he was only about two miles from 

 home, towards which he urged his horse at the very top of 

 his speed. At the entrance to his residence was a gate, which 

 happened to be closed at the time; but the horse dashed 

 this open, and thus himself and his master found refuge 

 within the court-yard. They were followed, however, by 

 nine out of the eleven wolves; but, very fortunately, at the 

 instant these had entered the enclosure, the gate swung back 

 on its hinges, and thus they were caught as in a trap. From 

 being the most voracious of animals, the nature of these 

 beasts — now that they found escape impossible — became com- 

 pletely changed: so far, indeed, from offering molestation to 

 any one, they slunk into holes and comers, and allowed 

 themselves to be slaughtered almost without making resistance." 

 Hunted by Many terrible stories are told of the depreda- 

 Woives. tions caused by packs of wolves, especially in 



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