The most remarkable instance of this with which we have met is the following, which shows the Wolf to be—what one would never suspect him to be—capable of that almost superhuman affection, which is sometimes exhibited by Dogs:—“A lady near Geneva had a tame Wolf, which seemed to have as much attachment to its mistress as a Spaniel. She had occasion to leave home for some weeks. The Wolf evinced the greatest distress after her departure, and at first refused to take food. During the whole time she was absent he remained much dejected. On her return, as soon as the animal heard her footsteps, he bounded into the room in an ecstasy of delight. Springing up, he placed one paw on each of her shoulders, but the next moment he fell backward and instantly expired.”[125]

YOUNG WOLVES.

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LARGER IMAGE]

There are several varieties of the Wolf besides the common European kind, most of which have been considered by different authors as distinct species, and some of which are even now so considered, though the differences between them are so very slight and unimportant, that it seems hardly advisable to look upon them as anything more than geographical species—varieties produced by difference of climate and other surroundings.

“The Black Wolf is a name given to a variety which is most frequent in Southern Europe, and particularly in the Pyrenees, and to the south of those mountains, where they are more common than the ordinary Wolf, which the Black Wolf equals in stature, and, if anything, exceeds in strength. Cuvier says it is found, but very rarely, in France.”

The Wolf found in Palestine, the subject of so many references in the Old Testament, is, according to Canon Tristram, a very well-marked variety. He says of it:—

“The Wolf is the dread of the shepherd from one end of the country to the other, and a single Wolf is far more destructive than a whole pack of Jackals. Again and again I have put up the Syrian Wolf and fired at it without success. Near Beersheba, in the hill country, in the forests of Bashan and Gilead, in the ravines of Galilee and Lebanon, and in the maritime plains, it is alike distributed. I never saw two together, and I never heard of them hunting in packs. It is much to be wished that some traveller may be able to secure a specimen for examination, for it may possibly prove to be a distinct variety. It is of a lighter fawn colour than any European Wolf I ever saw, and appears decidedly larger. I can confirm the statement of Dr. Russell, that the natives speak of another larger and fiercer species called ‘Sheeb,’ but I could never obtain any clear definition of the distinctions between the two.”

The Wolf of India, abundant in the open country, rare in the wooded districts over the whole of the great peninsula, is considered, by authorities such as Mr. Blyth and Dr. Jerdon, as a distinct species, and is called Canis pallipes.

“The Wolves of the Southern Mahratta country,” says Mr. Elliot, “generally hunt in packs, and I have seen them in full chase after the Goat-Antelope (Gazella Bennettii). They likewise steal round a herd of Antelopes, and conceal themselves on different sides, till an opportunity offers of seizing one of them unawares, as they approach, whilst grazing, to one or other of their hidden assailants. On one occasion three Wolves were seen to chase a herd of Gazelles across a ravine in which two others were lying in wait. They succeeded in seizing a female Gazelle, which was taken from them. They have frequently been seen to course and run down Hares and Foxes; and it is a common belief of the Ryots that in the open plains, where there is no cover or concealment, they scrape a hole in the earth, in which one of the pack lies down, and remains hid, while the others drive the herd of Antelopes over him. Their chief prey, however, is Sheep; and the shepherds say that part of the pack attack and keep the Dogs in play, while others carry off their prey, and that if pursued they follow the same plan, part turning and checking the Dogs, whilst the rest drag away the carcass till they evade pursuit. Instances are not uncommon of their attacking man. In 1824, upwards of thirty children were devoured by Wolves in one pergunnah alone. Sometimes a large Wolf is seen to seek his prey singly. These are called Won-tola by the Canarese, and reckoned particularly fierce.”