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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
the last of these animals was killed in Ireland, according to 
Eichardson, in 1770, or, according to Sir James Emerson 
Tennent, subsequently to 1766. 
In the foregoing observations, no reference has been made to 
44 were-wolves,” nor has any matter been introduced touching 
the fabulous or superstitious aspect of the wolf’s history in the 
British Islands. All such allusions have been purposely avoided, 
in order to confine the subject within reasonable limits. 
Before concluding, however, we may perhaps be excused for 
citing so respectable an authority as Sir Thomas Browne, who, 
in his 46 Enquiries into Vulgar and Common Errors,” has alluded 
to the popular notion that wolves cannot live in England. 
In vol. iii., p. 344, of his 44 Works,” (Wilkin’s edition), he 
says : — 44 Thus because there are no wolves in England, nor have 
been observed for divers generations (1646), common people 
have proceeded into opinions, and some wise men into affirma- 
tions, that they will not live therein, although brought from 
other countries.” 
He also notices the popular belief that 44 a wolf first seeing a 
man begets a dumbness in him,” a notion as old as the time of 
Pliny, who wrote : 44 In Italia , ut creditur , luporum visus est 
noxius , vocemque homini , quem prius contemplatur adimere .” 
In France, when anyone becomes hoarse, they say, 44 II a vu le 
loup .” * 
44 The ground or occasional original thereof,” says Sir Thomas 
Browne,f 44 was probably the amazement and sudden silence the 
unexpected appearance of wolves doth often put upon travellers, 
not by a supposed vapour or venomous emanation, but a 
vehement fear, which naturally produceth obmutescence, and 
sometimes irrecoverable silence.” 
A critic, adverting to this passage, has somewhat wittily 
remarked : 44 Dr. Browne did unadvisedly reckon this among 
his vulgar errors, for I believe he would find this no error if he 
were suddenly surprised by a wolf, having no means to escape 
or save himself! ” 
* Howell’s Familiar Letters, vol. iv., p. 52. 
t Op. cit., vol. ii., p. 422. 
