from Egypt to Lapland, and is most
probably the variety that formerly haunted these islands. The wolves of
Russia are large and fierce, and have a peculiarly savage aspect. The
Swedish and Norwegian are similar to the Russian in form, but are
lighter in color, and in winter, totally white. Those of France are
browner and smaller than either of these, and the Alpine wolves are
smaller still. Wolves are very numerous in the northern regions of
America; "their foot-marks," says Sir John Richardson, "may be seen by
the side of every stream, and a traveler can rarely pass the night in
these wilds without hearing them howling around him."[1] These wolves
burrow, and bring forth their young in earths with several outlets, like
those of a fox. Sir John saw none with the gaunt appearance, the long
jaw and tapering nose, long legs and slender feet, of the Pyrenean
wolves.

India, too, is infested with wolves, which are smaller than the
European. There is a remarkably fine animal at the Zoological Gardens,
born of a European father and Indian mother, which, in size and other
respects, so closely partakes of the characteristics of his sire, that
he might well pass for pure blood.

Among the ancients, wolves gave rise to many superstitious fictions. For
instance, it was said that they possessed "an evil eye," and that, if
they looked on a man before he saw them, he would forthwith lose his
voice. Again, we find the Roman witches, like the weird sisters of
Macbeth, employing the wolf in their incantations:

"Utque lupi barbam variae cum dente colubrae
Abdiderint furtim terris."

HOR. _Sat._ viii. lib. i.

There was a myth prevalent among the ancients, that in Arcadia there
lived a certain family of the Antaei, of which one was ever obliged to be
transformed into a wolf. The members of the family cast lots, and all
accompanied the luckless wight on whom the lot fell, to a pool of water.
This he swam over, and having entered into the wilderness on the other
side, was forthwith in form, a wolf, and for nine years kept company
with wolves: at the expiration of that period he again swam across the
pool, and was restored to his natural shape, only that the addition of
nine years was placed upon his features. It was also imagined that the
tail of the wolf contained a hair, which acted as a love philtre and
excited the tender passion. The myth of Romulus and Remus having been
suckled by a wolf, arose from the simple c