THE WOLF IN SCOTLAND AND ELSEWHERE. 73 



inhabiting mountainous districts existed which differed in some 

 respect from that which inhabited the Lowlands. There is, 

 however, no evidence to support such an hypothesis, and we 

 must therefore suppose that the epithet is employed by Drum- 

 mond merely as a poetical embellishment. It is worthy of note 

 that there is a melanistic form of the European Wolf, which is 

 said to be most common in the Pyrenees, and which may have 

 existed in Scotland when Drummond wrote. 



An oral tradition, which assigns no date to the occurrence, 

 and which is probably of little value, indicates the vicinity of 

 Bridge of Allan as the locality in which a Wolf was last killed in 

 Scotland. In Koxburghshire are several local names which 

 indicate the presence of Wolves in that county. There is, for 

 example, near the confluence of the Teviot and the Kule, the farm 

 of Spittal-on-Eule, which very probably derives its name from 

 having been one of those " spittals " or places of refuge which 

 were provided for the benefit of travellers in danger from Wolves. 



Boccaccio has a description of the mode in which Wolves 

 attack a Horse. The incident which he describes is supposed to 

 take place in a forest between Kome and Alagna ; so an English 

 version prints the name, but doubtless Anagni, about twelve 

 miles north-west from Frosinone and about forty-five miles from 

 Kome, is the town which is meant. The hero of the tale, Pietro 

 Boccamazza by name, being overtaken by night in the forest, 

 tethers his Horse to an oak, which he climbs for safety. Pre- 

 sently a pack of Wolves appears. The story proceeds thus : 

 " Now, as for Pietro, he had but a dismal night of it, for he saw 

 his Horse soon surrounded by a number of Wolves, which made 

 him break his bridle, and he endeavoured to make his escape, 

 but was so encompassed that he could not, and he defended 

 himself with kicking and biting for some time, till at last he was 

 pulled down and torn all to pieces, and, having devoured him to 

 the very bones, they went away." 



In conclusion, it may be remarked that if, as is alleged, 

 James I. introduced a foreign variety of the Eoedeer into Great 

 Britain (thereby adding one more reason why Wolves should be 

 exterminated), he cannot have been quite as indifferent to the 

 interest of the chase as Drummond supposed him to be. 



Hobart, Tasmania. 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. XIV., February, 1910. G 



