Feb. 9, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



48 



THE WAYS OF WOLVES. 



THE wolf's season of courtship conies on in February 

 in this country and runs a little into March. As it 

 approaches he may be observed as falling into an uneasy 

 spirit, as if in anticipation of some great event about to 

 happen to him, but not knowing whether it may be of 

 evil or good. His eyes grow brighter and his ears more 

 pricked up. He is less inclined to stay in his covert, and 

 the mysterious spirit increasing upon him, he presently 

 finds himself trotting all about in broad daylight. Also 

 he howls more at this season than any other, particularly 

 when it is in full headway; and this gives much color of 

 truth to the view of those who hold that the long howl, 

 melancholy as it seems to be, is merely a song of love, 

 intended to fascinate the female ear. When he comes to 

 a full understanding of what ails him, he no longer steps 

 about as one who would hide himself, but waxes quite 

 audacious. The female in the meantime has become 

 aware that she is a personage of much importance, and 

 does veritably put on many airs and practice many gam- 

 bols which she had not before thought of. She, too, quits 

 her secret places even in daylight, and goes abroad full of 

 curiosity to see and be seen. Now both sexes come 

 together in packs, and there are many outrageous fights 

 between the males as to which shall possess some coveted 

 beauty. From all I can discern, it is not left to the 

 choosing of the female as to what wolf shall be her mate, 

 but she is a prize to be fought for, yielding herself con- 

 tentedly to that one who has badly whipped or killed 

 some others who would have her. Thus these love affairs 

 would never be taken as such by one not acquainted with 

 the wolf's ways; on the contrary, he would only see in 

 them scenes of death and terror. It is a fact, according 

 to my observation, that there are many more male than 

 female wolves, perhaps as 8 to 3, or 4 to 3: hence it fol- 

 lows that the male who would have a mate, can only 

 secure her through hard fighting and many grievous 

 wounds. Thus the old saying that "Faint heart never 

 won fair lady" applies welf to wolves. 



When thus in pack the wolf becomes quite imprudent, 

 not caring much whether he gets out of man's way or 

 not. If thus pressed, I think he might attack man, but 

 am not sure that such an instance has occurred. Should 

 a dog, however, then venture among them, as dogs some- 

 times do, attracted by the noise, he is instantly set upon, 

 and he is fortunate indeed if he escapes without being cut 

 entirely to pieces. 



At such times, if one will well rub the sole of his boots 

 with asafeetida, and then go abroad in the woods, he will 

 soon find that he is tracked by such wolves as are not yet 

 better entertained elsewhere. They will follow him to 

 his house, and sometimes bite at the corners thereof, as if 

 they would tear a way in. If not so, they will sit around 

 and howl greatly. I cannot account for this behavior, 

 unless they suspect that a female wolf had taken refuge 

 in the house. 



However, an excellent friend of mine tells me that his 

 father, having a mind to kill some wolves, went into the 

 woods with his heels greatly smelling of asafoetida; hav- 

 ing first selected a tree into which he should climb with 

 his rifle. The wolves beset liim forthwith in eager num- 

 bers, pressing after him so closely that the hunter lost 

 his head, making all possible speed to the chosen tree, 

 and climbed it so hastily that he dropped his rifle. He 

 had barely fixed himself in his perch when the wolves 

 were rearing upon the trunk and tearing the bark with 

 their teeih. Now the moon was at full tide, and the 

 wolves should have readdy perceived that my friend's 

 father was no she-wolf. He never undertook this method 

 of killing wolves again, and was sometimes heard to say 

 that the first gray hairs came into his head that night 

 while fleeing to the tree with the vociferous wolves close 

 at his odorous heels. I marvel what the wolves would 

 have done had they caught him. 



"When the wolf has won his mate he escorts her to a 

 home, whether his own or hers I cannot say. This is 

 often in a narrow valley or gorge between rugged hills, 

 whose sides are strewn with great rocks or covered with 

 forest. Their bed may be in a cavern or in a difficult 

 nook hidden among stones, or sometimes in a hollow log. 

 It is simply a heap of dead and dry leaves. Here for some 

 days they give themselves up to mock merriment after a 

 manner of dogs, playing hide and seek, running short 

 races, wrestling, tumbling, rolling. Some of my back- 

 woods friends who have watched them intently in these 

 sports, describe them as having a high old time, also as 

 manifesting very much tender feeling for one another. 



About 80 days after the beginning of these, curious 

 doings, they are rewarded for their pains by an interest- 

 ing litter of puppies, usually from three to seven. The 

 sports now cease, and hard work begins with the male 

 parent to support his family, which duty he discharges 

 faithfully and affectionately. He does not permit the 

 mother to go far from the little ones, but leaves her at 

 home to watch over them, while he goes forth to maraud 

 for food for both. In this he differs entirely from the 

 domestic dog, who seems to care very little if at all for 

 either mother or young. Then he becomes a terror to 

 sheep and pigs. But should he discover a sow in the 

 woods with pigs, and find her too much to be managed 

 by himself alone- for sows are very courageous and dan- 

 gerous in defensj of their young— he hastens to his mate 

 and acquaints her with his discovery. Then both sally 

 forth, and while one rallies the sow with threatening- 

 movements in front, the other darts in behind and 

 snatches a pig and aAvay. This is repeated till each is 

 supplied with one or more pigs, as they may want. When 

 the young get their eyes open they too demand their 

 share, and the father's labors are much increased. It is 

 a singular fact that he seems to love them more tenderly 

 than the mother; for he stays by them, furnishing them 

 food, instructing them in the art of capturing prey, long 

 after the mother has ceased to care for them. When she 

 would wean them she becomes harsh to them, absenting 

 herself for longer and longer periods, soon losing all sense 

 of natural affection. When they are about half grown, 

 the father also casts them adrift to shift for themselves. 

 I presume, however, that they find it not hard to secure 

 a living, for at that time there are plenty of young 

 animals and birds which they may readily catch. 

 Though they are but young wolves, the Father, whose 

 creatures they also are, provides them with their daily 

 food. 



He who is skilled in knowledge of wolves has little 

 trouble in finding the place where they are rearing their 

 young. Every evening between sunset and dark the 

 male gives mouth, making the gorge resound with a 

 couple of his long howls; also every morning between 

 dawn and sunrise he tosses the same resonant music in 

 the air, which at those still hours is heard far and wide. 

 The eager puppy hunter gives ear, and having heard a 

 few times marks the way Unerringly, as the hunter of 

 wild honey marks the way by the flight of the bee. 

 Thither goes he, and his practiced eye soon detects the 

 very locality. He marks the soniewat trampled leaves, 

 on which a drop of blood here and there leads him to 

 the spot where the babes are sleeping or having their 

 little gambols. Now, if he has marked well, lie has 

 probably already seen the father wolf crouched on a rock 

 high on one side of the gorge, and the mother wolf simil- 

 arly crouched on the opposite side, watching in silence 

 what is going on below. They see the puppy hunter 

 enter their beloved recess and take the puppies in his 

 hand, storing them in a sack; and still they crouch on 

 the overhanging rock. When he lias started away, 

 downward they dash to their recess, and if any puppies 

 have been left they are instantly borne to some other 

 place. 



Now, why does not the wolf fight ? For he is truly a 

 mighty man of war. I have thought that in his secret 

 heart he might feel a pride and pleasant feeling in that 

 his children are to become the companions and friends of 

 man; something that he himself wants but never hopes 

 to attain; therefore that he cheerfully disarms. How- 

 ever, this may be but mere fancy. 



After the wolf has won his mate I know not whether ^ 

 he continues this relationship from year to year, or dis- 

 charges her when they have reared itheir young, to enter 

 the lists next season for a new one. But a friend of mine 

 who has great experience of wolves believes that their 

 marriage is tor life, giving this instance in demonstration: 

 That he had closely watched a pair for four years, rear- 

 ing then - young at the same place, each having some 

 marked features by which he was able to distinguish 

 them from all other wolves. After four years the female 

 was shot, and the male appeared next season at the same 

 place with a new mate. 



The male wolf very readily associates with the female 

 of the domestic dog at certain times and half breeds are 

 the result; but I question if the female wolf over so asso- 

 ciates with the domestic dog. If such cases occur the 

 union would seem to be unfruitful, for I have never seen 

 a half wolf in the wild state, nor have I heard of a well 

 authenticated case. Besides, the female wolf has so many 

 lovers of her own race ready to fight and die for her that 

 she could hardly choose a dog if she would. 



I had intended in this paper to speak of the wolf as 

 tamed by man, but that must be deferred. N. A. T. 



Abilene, Texas, Jan. 13. 



CHAT ABOUT SNAKES. 



IX. 



I SUPPOSE that many of my readers will consider my 

 snake experiences incomplete without some reference 

 to the " oft discussed subject" of snakes swallowing their 

 young. I never had but one sensation in that line, and 

 as the evidence was not direct; but circumstantial, they 

 can draw their own conclusions. I once received a letter 

 from my friends, Messrs. Thrall & Mumford, New Har- 

 mony, Indiana, saying they had expressed me a lot of 

 snakes, and in one of the boxes would be found a female 

 garter snake (E. sirtalis) with a number of young ones. 

 On opening the described box I found only the female, 

 but noticed that she seemed in very good condition. She 

 was placed in a case alone, and the next morning the 

 keeper reported that she had given birth to young ones 

 during the night. On going with him I found the old 

 one showing a diminution in bulk, and counted some 

 fifteen youngsters about her. It is needless to say that 

 I drew a strong inference from the occurrence. 



32. . 



I have a very distinct recollection of once acting as a 

 human python trap in rather an unexpected manner. 

 Having found the usual afternoon resort of a blueback 

 (Cepluxlophus pygmteus), I seated myself at the foot of a 

 tree for the purpose of shooting it, and as the cover was 

 rather thin, I had thrown a lot of partially dried leaves 

 over my extended legs for the purpose of concealing 

 them. J was very much interested in watching the 

 actions of a party of the banded ichneumon {Hespestes 

 fasciatus) in front of me, when they suddenly disap- 

 peared. Judging that they had seen something, I re- 

 mained immoyable, and turning my eyes over my right 

 shoulder saw a python, about seven feet in length, worm- 

 ing along in a direction that would take it straight across 

 my knees. He had not accomplished half the passage 

 when the gun was dropped and he was clutched by one 

 hand just back of the head, and the other some four feet 

 along the body. His jaws opened with an angry hiss and 

 he vainly attempted to bite, while the free portion of 

 his body whipped around my right arm, giving it such a 

 squeeze that the marks were visible several days after. 

 With my arms spread and extended in front of me it was 

 a hard job to gain my feet, but finally succeeding I broke 

 through the bush, and on coming to its edge, a shout to 

 my keepers attracted their attention and they met me 

 with an empty sack, into which my capture was hastily 

 dropped. The moment it was done my arms fell almost 

 powerless by my sides from the continued muscular effort 

 in straining against the powerful on -like contractions of 

 the python, but rubbing soon restored their normal use 

 and feeling. 



XI. 



" Mr. Thompson, here's a whopper which I kflled just 

 now, in the road out there," said a lad who came into my 

 yard dragging a large puff adder (Vipera aiHetans) after 

 him. It was the first one I had seen, and of course his 

 head was dissected and fangs extracted. As he seemed 

 as if he had, a short time previous, eaten a hearty meal, 

 I opened him to find out of what it consisted, and to my 

 surprise found him filled with a tapeworm of more than 

 double his length. Soon after my arrival in Natal, I had 

 been cautioned by a physician to" bo careful and eat only 

 well-cooked meat, as a precaution against tapeworm, a 

 very common complaint, particularly among the na- 

 tives, who preferred all flesh just warmed. My adder 

 experience gave me a hint, which, on following it, proved 

 that nearly everything which came under my knife 

 suffered more or less from tmiia. As I have said, the 



Zulus were severe sufferers, and it may be of interest to 

 the medical profession to know that their remedy is a 

 strong decoction of the male fern, taken fasting. On in- 

 quiry, I learned that it was their antidote before they 

 ever saw a white man. 



XII. 



Many of my friends, knowing of my propensity for 

 crawling through the bush, would frequently ask if I 

 were not afraid of meeting snakes. I met them so seldom 

 that the possibility never entered my mind, and if I did, 

 the chances were that, either alive or dead, they would 

 find their way into the pockets of my shooting jacket, I 

 once met one', bent on a plundering expedition, in which 

 he evidently showed fair reasoning powers. For several 

 mornings I regularly visited a very thick portion of the 

 bush to wa tch the construction of the nest of Smith's 

 weaver bird (HypliautornLs oculanus). (The black -throat- 

 ed weavei- of' the colonists.) Contrary to the usual habits 

 of the genus, they do not assemble in colonies, but are 

 found only in pairs, in the densest bush, and construct a 

 curious retort-shaped nest of thread-like bark fibres, placed 

 on the tip of a branch, in order to foil the plundering 

 monkeys and snakes. One morning on getting in the 

 vicinity of the nest, the notes of alarm from the birds 

 notified me that something was interfering with then 

 domestic affairs. Cautiously approaching, I saw a small 

 brownish snake, about three feet in length, attempting to 

 rob the nest, but the slender twig to which it was attached 

 would not hear his weight. After several unsuccessful 

 attempts, he desisted and remained quiet, coiled 

 around a larger branch. He then raised his head and 

 swang it back and forth a few times, as if to take in the 

 surroundings, started down the tree and began to climb 

 one close at hand. Casting my eyes upward I instantly 

 divined his intention. There was a large limb near 

 enough to the nest for him to reach it, and as he crawled 

 out on it a load of shot cut him nearly in halves. Picking 

 him up and dropping him into my pocket, I went my 

 way, surprised at his attempt to take advantage of the 

 weaver's lack of precaution. On my return home dissec- 

 tion proved what I suspected. It was the Dasypeltis in- 

 ornatus, a snake provided with those peculiar gular teeth 

 for the especial purpose of feeding on birds' eggs. 



XIII. 



I frequently spent several days at a time on one of the 

 sugar plantations, near Durban, and late one afternoon 

 my host and myself were enjoying our post-prandial pipes 

 under his veranda, when a sharp bleat of the little blue 

 buck caught our ears. 



"There's a confounded snake catching a buck," said my 

 friend. '"Let's go and kill the brute." 



"Have a little patience and I'll catch it for you." 



"Not a bit of it; I can stand your birds, bugs and but- 

 terflies, but not a snaue do you bring about this house. 

 It's bad enough to have them sneaking about at night and 

 catching the chickens, besides scaring the lives out of the 

 coolies, while cutting cane." 



"He'll hot be brought on the premises, as I'll hang him 

 up in a tree until to-morrow, when I'll take him away. 

 You spoke of then scaring coolies while cutting cane. 

 What's a coolie's fright and a few chickens to the service 

 they do in ridding yoiu* plantation of the cane rats (Aula- 

 codus swindernianiis)'? which annually gnaw r down quan- 

 tities of your crop?" 



"Whew! I never thought of that, and have always 

 killed them on sight. You shan't attempt to capture him, 

 and the first one of my help I see killing one, will catch 

 it." 



"Well ! I suppose I must lose a fine specimen and con- 

 tent myself with the knowledge that I have taught you a 

 little common sense." 



"Be quiet! and, if the acknowledgment of my not 

 knowing my own business will not satisfy you, go and 

 catch him, but not another one shall you ever take off this 

 estate, and I have found out that the snake crop must be 

 protected if I want to grow sugar." 



Taking the coverlid off my bed, I walked along the 

 edge of the canefield, which was close to the house, and 

 found the python, just as he had finished the buck. So 

 soon as he saw me he attempted to reach cover in the 

 cane, and on my cutting him off, coiled for a fight. The 

 coverlid was tossed over him, and its edges tucked under 

 until they were brought together, when he was thrown 

 over my shoulder, carried to the house, dropped into an 

 empty sugar sack and hung up in a tree, as I had pro- 

 mised. 



XIV. 



Many years since I was crossing the Atlantic in a 

 steamer with a collection of animals, among which were 

 two pythons, one of which had a singular trick of man- 

 aging to get out of his box and coiling on top of it. My 

 live stock was between decks, just abaft of one of the 

 partitions across the vessel, and the emigrants' luggage 

 had been piled up so as to form a wall to keep intruders 

 away from the cages. I had a green keeper in charge and 

 I found out he was in the habit of giving snake exhibi- 

 tions to the emigrants, in order to show his prowess and 

 obtain free beer, Bending the points of the hooks down 

 which secured the top of the case, I forbade any more 

 performances, but on going down on the following day, 

 found the python occupying its favorite position, when 

 I screwed down the lid and gave the keeper a strongly 

 worded lecture. The next day, while standing on deck, 

 the keeper hastily approached and said, "That snake," 

 but no more, for my hand stopped further utterance. 

 "Shut up," I savagely answered and hastened below, fol- 

 lowed by the chop-fallen keeper. A thorough search 

 failed in finding the truant, and I "uncorked the vials of 

 my wrath" on the keeper, who acknowledged giving an- 

 other snake show and forgetting to screw down the lid of 

 the box. For two mortal days the thoughts of that snake 

 gave me no peace — I could not sleep, and wandered about 

 expecting every moment it would ton up in the berth of 

 some hysterical female passenger, and I would be keel- 

 hauled for my seeming negligence. We were just off 

 Fire Island, and I was on deck chewing the end off a pipe 

 stem, when one of the quartermasters shot out of the 

 forward gangway, followed by several of the crew, and 

 shouted, "There's one of those infernal snakes loose be- 

 low." I sprang forward with the intention of embracing 

 him, buttoned down and said, "Yes! and has been for 

 the last two days. Just show me where it is and I'll 

 catch it." Going below, to where they had been break- 

 ing out the emigrants' baggage, a large chest was gingerly 

 tilted up from the top of another, and there lay the py- 

 thon coiled between them, the heavy cleats of the upper 



