This is a fierce and savage beast, resembling in form and size the
Newfoundland dog. It hunts in packs, and attacks deer, sheep, and
sometimes even man himself. When taken young, it may be tamed. It is
found in the northern portions of both continents. In North America,
there are several varieties.
_Miscellaneous Anecdotes._--Mr. Cuvier gives an account of a wolf that
had all the obedience and affection that any dog could evince. He was
brought up by his master in the same manner as a puppy, and, when full
grown, was sent to the menagerie at Paris. For many weeks, he was quite
disconsolate at the separation from his master, refused to take food,
and was indifferent to his keepers. At length he became attached to
those about him, and seemed to have forgotten his old affections.
On his master's return, however, in a year and a half, the wolf heard
his voice among the crowd in the gardens, and, being set at liberty,
displayed the most violent joy. He was again separated from his friend;
and again, his grief was as extreme as on the first occasion.
After three years' absence, his master once more returned. It was
evening, and the wolf's den was shut up from any external observation;
yet, the moment the man's voice was heard, the faithful animal set up
the most anxious cries, and, on the door of his cage being opened, he
rushed to his friend, leaped upon his shoulders, licked his face, and
threatened to bite his keepers when they attempted to separate them.
When the man again left him, he fell sick, and refused all food; and
from the time of his recovery, which was long very doubtful, it was
always dangerous for a stranger to approach him.
A story is told of a Scotch bagpiper, who was travelling in Ireland one
evening, when he suddenly encountered a wolf who seemed to be very
ravenous. The poor man could think of no other expedient to save his
life, than to open his wallet, and try the effect of hospitality; he
did so, and the savage beast swallowed all that was thrown to him with
such voracity, that it seemed as if his appetite was not in the least
degree satisfied.
The whole stock of provisions was of course soon spent, and now the
man's only resource was in the virtues of his bagpipe; this the monster
no sooner heard than he took to the mountains with the same
precipitation with which he had left them. The poor piper did not
wholly enjoy his deliverance; for, looking ruefully at his empty
wallet, he shook his fist at the departing animal, saying, "Ay! Are
these your tricks? Had I known your humor, you should have had your
music before your supper."
In Sweden, frequent attacks are made upon the people by wolves, during
the winter, as they are then often in a famishing condition. In one
instance, a party of sixteen sledges were returning from a dance on a
cold and starlight night. In the middle of the cavalcade was a sledge
occupied by a lady; at the back of the vehicle sat the servant; and at
her feet, on a bear skin, reposed her favorite lapdog. In passing
through a wood, a large wolf suddenly sprang out, and, jumping into the
sledge, seized the poor dog, and was out of sight before any steps
could be taken for his rescue.
A Swedish peasant was one day crossing a large lake on his sledge, when
he was attacked by a drove of wolves. This frightened the horse so much
that he went off at full speed. There was a loose rope hanging from the
back of the vehicle that had been used for binding hay; to the end of
this a noose happened to be attached. Though this was not intended to
catch a wolf, it fortunately effected that object; for one of the
ferocious animals getting his feet entangled in it, he was immediately
destroyed, owing to the rapidity with which the horse was proceeding.
The poor man at length reached a place of safety. Though he had been
dreadfully frightened during the ride, he not only found himself much
sooner at the end of his journey than he expected, but richer by the
booty he had thus unexpectedly gained--the skin of a wolf in this
country being worth about two dollars and a half.
A peasant in Russia was once pursued in his sledge by eleven wolves.
Being about two miles from home, he urged his horse to the very extent
of his speed. At the entrance to his residence was a gate, which being
shut at the time, the frightened horse dashed open, and carried his
master safely into the courtyard. Nine of the wolves followed them into
the enclosure, when fortunately the gate swung back, and shut them all
as it were in a trap. Finding themselves thus caught, the animals
seemed to lose all their ferocity; and, as escape was impossible, slunk
into holes and corners, molesting no one, and offering no resistance.
They were all despatched without further difficulty.
The prairie wolf is said to be wonderfully cunning and sagacious.
Instances have been known of his burrowing under ground to procure the
bait from a trap, rather than run the chance of being caught above.
Many and curious are the devices prepared to ensnare this animal, but
very few have succeeded. This variety of wolf is common in the prairies
of the western country, where it hunts deer by running them down.
Sometimes a large number associate together, and, forming a crescent,
creep slowly towards a herd of deer, so as not to alarm them. They then
rush on with hideous yells, and drive the poor animals towards a
precipice, seeming to know that, when they are once at full speed, they
will all follow one another over the cliff. The wolves then descend at
leisure, and feed upon their slaughtered victims.
A farmer in France, one day looking through the hedge in his garden,
observed a wolf walking round a mule, but unable to get at him on
account of the mule's constantly kicking with his hind legs. As the
farmer perceived that the beast was so well able to defend himself, he
did not interfere. After the attack and defence had lasted a quarter of
an hour, the wolf ran off to a neighboring ditch, where he several
times plunged into the water.
The farmer imagined that he did this to refresh himself after the
fatigue he had sustained, and had no doubt that his mule had gained a
complete victory; but in a few minutes the wolf returned to the charge,
and, approaching as near as he could to the head of the mule, shook
himself, and spouted a quantity of water into the animal's eyes, which
caused him immediately to shut them. That moment, the wolf leaped upon
him, and killed the poor animal before the farmer could come to his
assistance.
In the commencement of the reign of Louis XIV., of France, in the depth
of winter, a party of dragoons were attacked, at the foot of the
mountains of Jurat, by a multitude of wolves; the dragoons fought
bravely, and killed many hundreds of them; but at last, overpowered by
numbers, they and their horses were all devoured. A cross is erected on
the place of combat, with an inscription in commemoration of it, which
is to be seen at this day.