W O L 
W O L 
fceflides become extremely urgent, he boldly faces 
Certain deftrudion ; attacks women and children, 
and fometimes ventures even on men ; becomes 
furious bv his continual agitation; and at length 
terminates his miferable exiRence in the moft out- 
rageous madnefs. 
This animal, as well externally as internally, fo 
nearly refembles the dog, that he feems modelled 
on the fame plan ; and yet he only exhibits the 
reverfe of the medal. If fimilar in form, his na- 
ture is fo different, that he only pofTefTes the bad 
qualities of the dog, without any of his amiable 
ones. Indeed, fo much do they differ in tlieir 
difpofitions, that no two animals can have a 
ftronger antipathy to each other. A young dog 
Ihudders at the fight of a Wolf; he even fhuns his 
fcent, which, though unknown, is fo repugnant 
to his nature,_that he approaches his mafter with 
trembling, and feems to implore his protedion. 
A ftronger dog, v^ho has fome degree of confi- 
dence in his own powers, briftles up at the fight, 
teftifies his animofity, attacks him with courage, 
endeavours to put him to flight, and exerts all 
his might to be freed from fuch a hateful intruder. 
They never meet witnout either flying or fight- 
ino;; and dieir combats are generally fatal to one, 
if not both. If the Wolf happens to get the maf- 
tcrv, he tears and devours his prey: the more ge- 
nerous doq;, on the contrary, contents himfelf with 
the vidoryj he leaves him where he falls, either 
as food for birds of prey, or for oth^r Wolves, 
fince they devour each other; and, when one Wolf 
happens to be defpcrately wounded, the reft track 
him by his blood, and are fure to treat him. with 
unrelenting feverity. 
The dog, even in his favage ftate, is not cruel j 
he is eafily tamed, and continues firmly attached 
to his mafter. The Wolf, when early fecured, 
becomes tame, but has never any attachment; in 
him nature predominates over education; with 
age, herefumes his natural inftinfts; and, as foon 
as opportunity ferves, returns to his original re- 
treats. 
Dogs, even thofe of the dulleft fort, feek the 
fociety of other animals ; they are naturally dif- 
pofed to follow and accompany other creatures not 
belonging to their own tribe; and even inftinc- 
tively take care of flocks and herds. The Wolf, 
on the contrary, is an enemy to all fociety; not 
even alTociating with thofe of his kind. When 
feen together in packs, they are not to be confi- 
dered as peaceful focieties, but combinations for 
•war : they teftify their hoftile intentions by their 
loud howlings; and, by their fiercenefs, difcover 
their defign of attacking fome large animal, a 
ftag, a bull, or a maftiff. The inftant their pro- 
je<5t is compleated, their fociety is at an end ; they 
then feparate, and each returns in filence to his 
folitary retreat. 
Nor are there any ftrong or permanent attach- 
ments even between the male and the female ; 
they feek each other only once a year, and conti- 
nue but a few days together. They always cou- 
ple in winter ; at which time feveral males are 
feen following one female : and this afTociation is 
ftill more bloody than the former ; they difpute 
moft cruelly, growl, bark, fight, and tear each 
other ; and when one Wolf happens to be pre- 
ferred by the female, the reft of the males fre- 
' quently unite their force to deftroy him. 
The feafon of copulation does not continue 
above twelve or fifteen days ; and ufuallv com- 
VOL. II. 
mences amdhg the oldeftj the yoilng ones Being 
more late in their defires. Tiie maies, who havC 
rio fixed time for engendering, pafs from one fe- 
male to another, beginning at the end of Deciem- 
ber, and eildirtg about the commencement of 
March. The time of pregnancy is about three 
months and a half ; and the yoUng Wolves are 
found from the latter end of April to the begin- 
ning of July. 
The period of the Wolf's geftation forms a fuf- 
ficient diftindlion between him and the dog, did 
not the fiery fiercenefs of his eyes, his tremendous 
howl, and the greater duration of his life, alfo ren- 
der himunqueftionably an animal of his oWn par- 
ticular fpecies. In other refpeds, however, they 
are entirely fimilar : the Wolf couples exadlv like 
the dog; the generative parts are formed in the 
fame manner ; and their feparation is hindered by 
the fame caufe. 
When the (he Wolves are near their time of 
parturition, they feek fome very tufted fpot, in 
the thickeft part of the foreft ; in the middle of 
which they make a fmali opening, cutting away 
the thorns and briars Vv^ith their teeth ; and after^ 
wards carry thither a great quantity of mofs, 
which they form into a bed for their progeny. 
They generally bring forth five or fix, and fome- 
times nine, at a litter. Their cubs are produced, 
like thofe of the bitch, with their eyes clofed ; the 
dam fuckles them for fome v/eeks ; and early ha- 
bituates them to eat flefh, which fhe prepares for 
them by firft chewing it herfelf. Some time af- 
ter, fhe provides them ftronger food, fuch as 
hares, partridges, and birds ftill alive. The young 
Wolves begin by playing with them, and con- 
clude with killing them. The dam then ftrips 
them of their feathers, tears them in pieces, and 
diftributes a ftiare to each cub. 
The young do not leave the den where they 
were originally produced till nearly two months 
old ; and then they follow their dam, who con- 
ducts them to the neareft watering place. If ap- 
prehenfivc of danger, fhe immediately conceals 
them in fome fecure retreat, or brings them back 
to their former abode. In this tnanner, they fol- 
low hex for feveral months ; and, when attacked^ 
fhe is refolute in their defence, exerting uncom- 
mon ftrength and ferocity. Though at other 
times more timorous than the male, at that feafon 
ftie becomes bold and intrepid. It is not, how- 
ever, till the young are about ten or twelve months 
old, and until they have fliied their firft teeth and 
compleated the new, that fhe confiders them as 
capable of fhifting for themfelves : then, when 
they have acquired ftrength from nature, and have 
learned induilry and courage from her example, 
fhe declines all future care of them, being again 
engaged in rearing a new offspring. 
The male and female W olves generally begin 
to feel the acceffes of defire at the age of two 
years. It is probable that the females of this fpe- 
cies, as well as of moft others, arrive at maturity 
fooner than the males ; but it is certain that they 
never defire to copulate till their fecond winter : 
from whence we may fuppofcjthat they live fifteen 
or twenty years ; for, allowing three years f6r their 
compleat growth, this, multiplied by feven, gives 
them a life of tv^renty-one; moft animals having 
been obferved to live about feven times the num- 
ber of years which they take to arrive at perfec- 
tion. 
The Wolf becomes grey as he grows old, and 
5 ^ his 
