THE WOLF 103 



date of their final extinction is, unknown. The lateness of this, however, 

 even in an insular area like ours, gives an idea of the difficulty of keeping 

 down the pest on the Continent ; yet, in North America, the Wolf dis- 

 appears before civilisation far more quickly. It is curious, also, that he 

 is not nearly so dangerous to man as in the Old World, though equal 

 to his relatives there in size and power. In America, by the way, this 

 species is generally distinguished as the " Timber " Wolf, to distinguish 

 it from the " Prairie Wolf" or Coyote, to be noticed later. 



The she-wolf brings forth in spring, and deposits her litter in a 

 thicket, or an earth dug out by herself or appropriated from some 

 other animal ; the whelps number usually about half-a-dozen, and are 

 suckled about six weeks. After this the female gives them meat dis- 

 gorged from her stomach, and brings them some unfortunate little 

 creature to kill. Her mate takes no interest. in the litter, except that 

 he will devour them if he has the chance. Although adult at the age 

 of a year, a Wolf does not attain its full development till twice that 

 age, and lives to about fifteen. 



The note of the Wolf is the well-known howl ; in the wild state 

 it does not bark, but may learn to do so in captivity, from hearing 

 tame Dogs. It lives well in confinement, and breeds freely; it will 

 also in this condition — and even when wild, as noted above — cross with 

 Dogs. Wolves brought up from early youth have been known to dis- 

 play all the -affection and fidelity of Dogs ; but they have serious faults 

 from the point of view of a lover of pets. They are very nervous 

 animals, and are seldom to be trusted with children. 



Considering the close relationship of the Wolf with the Dog, it is 

 curious that their normal attitude to each other is one of ferocious 

 animosity; but very probably this is due to the proverbial aversion 

 often existing between relations. Domestic Dogs, at any rate, hate as 

 well as fear the Wolf, and Wolf-hounds are among the best agents to 

 use in exterminating it. They are, however, usually afraid of the 

 quarry, for a Wolf is almost invariably more than a match for a Dog 

 of the same size, owing to his tougher skin and more powerful teeth, 

 as well as to his better training. 



