e howl which they delight in setting up at
night, is one of the most melancholy sounds possible. They vary much in
colour, being white, black, grey, brown, etc. Their digitigrade walk,
sharp muzzle, oblique eyes, and hanging tail, in their wild state, are
less conspicuous in domestication, and they then gradually assimilate
themselves in appearance to our hounds.

Innumerable are the true histories which have been transmitted to us
concerning wolves. Their nightly prowling, their quiet, untiring
perseverance in pursuit, their skulking disposition, their artful
stratagems, all impart a mystery to them which has been heightened by
fear, and the natural proneness of man to magnify tales of horror.

Wolves are too suspicious to be often taken in traps; and when pursued
they run with their noses almost touching the ground, their eyes glowing
like fire, the hair of their head and neck bristled up, their tail drawn
close to their legs. Their usual height at the shoulders is about two
feet and a half; their young are born in caverns or gloomy recesses, and
the female wolf is furious in their defence. They often fight with each
other; and it is said, if a wounded wolf come among his fellows, he is
immediately torn in pieces and devoured.

Mr. Lloyd, in his "Field Sports in the North of Europe," tells us of a
peasant who, in the neighbourhood of St. Petersburgh, met with the
following narrow escape:--"He was pursued by eleven of these ferocious
animals, while he was in his sledge. At this time he was only about two
miles from home, towards which he urged his horse at the very top of his
speed. At the entrance of his residence was a gate, which happened to be
closed at the time; but the horse dashed this open, and thus his master
and himself found refuge in the courtyard. They were followed, however,
by nine out of the eleven wolves; but very fortunately, at the very
instant these had entered the enclosure, the gate swung back on its
hinges, and thus they were caught as in a trap. From being the most
ferocious of animals, now that they found escape impossible, they
completely changed, and so far from offering molestation to any one,
they slunk into holes and corners, and allowed themselves to be
slaughtered, almost without making resistance."

A more tragic occurrence happened to an unfortunate woman, also in
Russia, and is related by the same gentleman:--"A woman, accompanied by
three of her children, was one day in a sledge,