THE WOLF.

THIS rapacious and destructive animal, which is found in almost all the temperate and cold regions of the globe, is larger, stronger, and more muscular, than the dog, and is in general of a pale greyish colour. They associate in large packs, and such is their voracity, that they often spread desolation into the districts which they invade.

Though naturally a cowardly animal, when pressed by hunger it braves every danger, attacking boldly the stronger animals, and even man himself. "During the day," says Buffon, "he hides himself in the thickest coverts, and only ventures out at night. He then sallies forth over the country, keeps peering round the villages, carries off such animals as are not under protection, attacks the sheepfolds, scratches up and undermines the thresholds of doors where they are housed, enters furious and destroys all before he begins to fix upon and carry off his prey. When

these sallies do not succeed, he returns to the thickest part of the forest, content to pursue such smaller animals as, even when taken, afford him but a scanty supply. He then goes regularly to work, follows by the scent, opens to the view, still keeps following, hopeless himself of overtaking the prey, but expecting that some other wolf will come in to his assistance, and is content to share the spoil. At last, when his necessities are very urgent, he boldly faces certain destruction; he attacks women and children, and sometimes ventures even to fall upon men, becomes furious by his continual agitations, and ends his life in madness."

Wolves are capable of bearing hunger for a long time, and so voracious that they will feed on any animal substance. In countries exposed to the horrors of war, they follow armies, and assemble in troops upon the field of battle; tear up such bodies as have been carelessly interred, and devour them with insatiable avidity.

Every country infested by this savage animal affords numerous anecdotes illustrative of the cruelty and ferocity of its disposition. A gentleman

attached to the British embassy at the court of St. Petersburg, related the following to Mr. Lloyd, who gives it in his "Field Sports of the North of Europe." "A woman, accompanied by three of her children, was one day in a sledge, when they were pursued by a number of wolves. On this she put her horse to a gallop and drove towards her home, from which she was not far distant, with the utmost possible speed. All, however, would not avail; for the ferocious animals gained upon her, and at last were on the point of rushing on the sledge. For the preservation of her own life and that of the remaining children, the poor frantic creature now took one of her babes, and cast it a prey to her blood-thirsty pursuers. This stopped their career for a moment; but after devouring the poor little innocent, they renewed the pursuit, and a second time came up with the vehicle. The mother, driven to desperation, resorted to the same horrible expedient, and threw her ferocious assailants another of her offspring. To cut short this sad story, the third child was sacrificed in a similar manner. Soon after this the wretched creature reached home in safety. There she re