WOLF. 
m 
wolves begin by playing with them, and end 
by killing them. The dam then strips them of 
their feathers, tears them in pieces, and gives to 
each of them a share. They do not leave the den 
where they have been littered, till they are six 
weeks, or two months old. They then follow the 
old one, who leads them to drink to the trunk of 
some old tree, where the water has settled, or at 
some pool in the neighbourhood. If she ap- 
prehends any danger, she instantly conceals them 
hr the first convenient place, or brings them back 
to their former retreat. In this manner they 
follow her for some months ; when they are at- 
tacked, she defends them with all her strength, 
and more than usual ferocity. Although, at 
other times, more timorous than the male, at that 
season she becomes bold and fearless ; willing 
perhaps to teach the young ones future courage by 
her own example. It is not till they are about ten 
or twelve months old, and until they have shed 
their first teeth, and completed the new, that she 
thinks them in a capacity to shift for themselves. 
Then, when they have acquired arms from nature, 
and have learned industry and courage from her 
example, she declines all future care of them, 
being again engaged in bringing up a new pro- 
geny. 
The wolf grows grey as he grows old, and 
his teeth wear like those of most other animals,, 
by using. He sleeps when bis belly is full, or 
when he is fatigued, rather by day than night ; 
and always, like the dog, is very easily waked. 
He drinks frequently ; and in times of drought, 
when there is no water to be found in the trunks 
of old trees, or in the pools about the forest, he 
comes often, in the day, down to the brooks, or 
the lakes in the plain. Although very voracious, 
he supports hunger for a long time, and often lives 
Yol i. k. k 
