1 54 EXTINCT BRITISH ANIMALS. 



Many names of places compounded with " Wolf " 

 still remain to attest probably the former existence of 

 this animal in the neighbourhood. Wolmer — i.e., 

 Wolfmere or Wolvemere— is an instance of this. 

 Wolfertonis another. Besides these, wehaveWolfscote, 

 Derbyshire ; Wolfhamcote, Warwickshire ; Wolfer- 

 low, Hereford ; Wolfs Castle, Pembroke ; and Wolf- 

 pits, Radnorshire ; the last named very suggestive, as 

 indicating probably a former burial-place for the 

 carcases of Wolves brought in during the period of 

 their persecution in Wales. In the parish of West 

 Chiltington, near Pulborough, Sussex, on the south 

 edge of the lower greensand formation which over- 

 looks the Weald, is a spot called " Wolfscrag," where, 

 tradition says, the last Wolf of the Weald was killed. 

 Three fields in the neighbourhood still bear the respec- 

 tive names of Great Den, Little Den, and Far Den 

 fields. 



Wolfenden in Rossendale, and Wolfstones in 

 Cliviger (Lancashire), both attest the existence of 

 this animal there when those names were imposed.* 

 Many other instances, no doubt, might be adduced. 

 In the parish of Beckermont, Cumberland, is a small 

 hill, commonly called " Wotobank." A traditionary 

 story, of great antiquity, says that a lord of Becker- 

 mont and his lady and servants were one time 

 hunting the Wolf ; during the chase this lord missed 

 hi3 lady ; after a long and painful search, they at last, 



* Whitaker, " History of Whalley," i. p. 74. " The first mention 

 of Rossendale by name is in the memorable story of Liwlphus, Dean 

 of Whalley, who, at a place called Ledmesgreve, cut off the tail of a 

 Wolf in Minting " (torn. cit. p. 316.) 



