_Cross between a Wolf and Hound._--May I call the attention of such of your
correspondents as are versed in natural history, to an account that I have
lately received from a gentleman of intelligence, education, and undoubted
veracity. I am informed by him that he has lately seen, in the south of
France, a she-wolf that had been caught at a very early age, and brought up
on very friendly terms with a kennel of hounds. The animal had come to its
maturity when my friend observed it and its good understanding with its
canine neighbours had never been interrupted. So far from it, indeed, that
the she-wolf has had and reared a litter of pups by one of the dogs, and
does duty in hunting as well as any dog of the pack. Buffon states that he
had found that an experiment continued for a considerable time, to bring
about the like result between the like animals, never showed the least
appearance of success. The circumstances which he mentions as to the
capture and habits of the she-wolf are nearly the same as I have above
described, and from the failure of the experiments, Buffon doubted the
possibility of any sexual conjunction between these kinds of animals. Some
of your correspondents may be able to say how far subsequent observation
confirms Buffon's conclusion.