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is extant, we believe that they are all of one and the same blood.

Shun could not allow himself to be called emperor as long as Yaou lived. His first work was the construcDuring the latter days of Yaou's reign, Shun per- tion of a sphere, in which the celestial bodies were formed the most arduous duties of the empire for twenty-indicated by precious stones of different colours. A eight years. Yaou reigned altogether ninety-nine years, similar sphere is still in the imperial observatory. a period never exceeded by any monarch; and finally When he entered upon his duty, he offered sacrifices sunk into the grave, 2238 B. C. to the supreme emperor, to hills and rivers, and to the Shun was descended from one of the preceding whole host of heaven; thus he was sure that none of emperors, but his family being poor, he exercised the minor divinities could be offended with him. How alternately the trade of a husbandman, potter, and degraded are even the best of men! On his tour fisherman. He had a step-mother and a half-brother, through the empire he paid respect to all the gods by both of whom combined with his father to disquiet him continual sacrifices. These tours, though called hunts, to the utmost. When he was already a colleague of were made with the sole object of examining into the the emperor, married to two beautiful females, and pos- state of the country, and redressing all kinds of grievansessed numerous servants and riches, he pined away ces. He reduced the criminal laws to a code, which from being unable to conciliate the good will of his forms at this day the basis of the Chinese laws. parents. His unwearied love was repaid, however, by Sze-ma-tseen gives some examples of his punishments. the most inveterate hatred. Once he was ordered by To reform the northern barbarians, he sent Kwan-tow, Koo-sow, his father, to ascend a barn; and as soon as an officer in disgrace, to the Tsung mountain. Kwan, he had reached the roof the father took away the ladder, who, without success, engaged in draining the marshes, and set fire to the barn, in order to burn his son ; Shun, was exiled to the Yu mountains. In order to render however, escaped unhurt. At another time he was the southern savages more tractable, the San-meaou compelled to descend into a well, which was immedi-nation was sent thither to establish colonies amongst ately covered by his brother Seang; but Shun escaped them, whilst Kaou went amongst the eastern barbarians by a secret passage, while Seang, ignorant of the fact, to teach them better manners. Thus he inflicted punrejoiced at his having accomplished his unnatural de- ishment in such a manner, as at the same time to rensign. He divided Shun's property, giving the cattle to der others happy. As punishments had hitherto been his parents, and retaining for himself his bow, spear, extremely barbarous, consisting in branding the face, shield, and musical instruments. He then proceeded cutting off both nose and ears, &c. ; he abolished these to visit his sisters-in-law, whom he henceforth consider- inhuman modes of punishing, enacted effectual laws ed as his own wives; there he found, to his great to prevent crime, and thus proved a great benefactor to astonishment, Shun, sitting upon a bed, and playing his country. Chinese historians endeavour to persuade the guitar; but recovering from his confusion at this us that during the time of Yaou and Shun, no capital unexpected sight, he said: "I longed to see you." crimes were committed, so great was the influence of Shun did not upbraid his brother with this horrible a virtuous example; but if this had been the case, what crime, but gave him an appointment in the government. necessity existed to abolish cruel punishments which For these and similar acts, Shun's filial piety is lauded were never inflicted, and to create others equally seto the skies; his example had a powerful influence over vere, but not so revolting to human feelings? the whole nation, who were all transformed into dutiful children.

During the reign of Yaou, Shun's attention was directed towards the draining of marshes, in which the indefatigable Yu was engaged. China extended at that time, according to the ancient maps, from 23° to 40° of latitude, and from the 6th degree west from Peking to 19 degrees east. The imperial residence was then in Kee-choo, a territory east of Shan-tung, where Yu commenced the draining of the waters, and the confining of the rivers to their beds. This was a Herculean task, but Yu's wisdom and prudence were equal to it. He visited every place, opened canals, drained marshes, led the smaller rivers into the ocean, burnt down the jungle and weeds, and thus rendered the empire habitable. But this was not all; he examined the nature of the soil, and easily discovered what it was best calculated to produce. Accordingly, he instituted land and other taxes, and ordered the barbarians to pay tribute.*

All this detail may justly excite surprise; for those taxes are levied, not only on grain, and other things, which are necessary for the maintenance of human life, but on articles of the greatest luxury, which are only found amongst the most civilized nations. How a country, which was only a few years before reclaimed from marshes and jungle, could pay so great taxes, with scarcely any inhabitants upon it, we surely cannot explain. It is almost a hopeless task to reconcile all the accounts of the Shoo-king, in which truth is blended with traditional fictions. Besides these taxes, many tracts of lands were allotted for the maintenance of the court, others for the publick weal; and some hundred acres for the habitation of barbarians.

When Yaou died, deeply regretted by all the people, Shun withdrew from office for three years, in order to bewail the loss of this great emperor, and to yield the throne to Yaou's son. But the people deserted the son of Yaou to follow Shun, with joy proclaiming him emperor, so that he at length reluctantly yielded to their wishes.

To record all the eulogiums bestowed upon Shun would be tedious; his reign was most peaceful, his subjects were virtuous. He raised to great honours the descendants of the foregoing dynasty, who had long lived in obscurity. In order to see his actions in a true light, he permitted every body to accuse him, whenever they chose; his officers were kept in good order by a tribunal invested with the power of punishing and rewarding. He was not only wise, but also brave. Neither demons nor apparitions could terrify him, nor showers of rain, nor peals of thunder, make him tremble.

To lessen the cares of government, he associated Yu with himself upon the throne. Anxious to fulfil his duty towards the invisible powers, he appointed a minister to officiate at the sacrifices offered to heaven, earth, and the imperial ancestors. If Shun was so wise a prince, we doubt the veracity of his falling into so gross idolatry as worshipping the material heaven and earth. It was his wish to make the most practical doctrines known to all the people, and therefore they were repeated in songs, and thus learnt from early infancy. Considering his ministers as his feet and hands, he was particularly anxious that the executors of his commands should be trustworthy and zealous. To remind them of their duty, he pointed out to them the symbols in their robes of state. Some had a sun, moon, and stars embroidered upon them; "This," he said, "points out the knowledge of which we ought to be possessed, in order to rule well. The mountains inyetdicate the constaney and firmness of which we stand in need; the dragon denotes that we ought to use every

The modest Shun, when he was called to participate in the throne, long refused so high an honour, upon the plea of being unworthy to reign, but Yaou conferred upon him the dignity without the least hesitation; * See the Shoo-king, Part II. Chap. I.

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means to inspire the people with virtue; the beauty and examination we have been unable to detect any other variety of the colours of a pheasant remind us of the important difference between them than that which re good example we ought to give, by practising the va- sults from their colour; and we are told by Dr. Richrious virtues. In the upper robe, we behold six differ-ardson "that the gradations of colour between charent kinds of embroidery, which are to remind us of the acteristick specimens of the Cross and Red Fox are so virtues to be engraven in our breast. The vase, which small, that the hunters are often in doubt with respect we are used to see in, the hall of the ancestors, is a to the proper denomination of a skin." Such gradasymbol of obedience and of filial piety; the aquatick tions exist in the excellent series of skins in the So-herb is a symbol of purity and disinterestedness; the ciety's Museum; and a similar variation in the Eurofire, of zeal and love for virtue; the rice, of the plenty pean species, from its usual dull tawny to an arrangewhich we ought to procure for the people; the hatchet ment of colours exactly corresponding with that of the is a symbol of justice in the punishment of vice; and American Cross Fox, and distinguished by the same the dresses Foo and Fuh, are symbols of the discern- name, has been remarked by zoologists from the revival ment which we ought to have of good and evil." of natural history down to the present day: but although the earlier naturalists, whose ideas of a species were very unsettled, constantly distinguished between these latter races, it seems now to be universally acknowledged that the difference is merely accidental.

sup Canis fulvus. Var. decussatus.

In a group of animals so intimately connected with each other as the Foxes, in which the difference of size is but trifling and that of form depends only on minute peculiarities, while the colouring of each varies most extensively, though always it would seem through a uniform series of gradations, it is next to impossible to determine by the mere inspection of their skins the precise limits of the species. It is therefore not at all surprising that modern zoologists, with M. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire at their head, should have looked upon the Cross Fox of America as a distinct species from the Red, from which it differs so remarkably in the colour of its fur. But the observations of living specimens of both in their native country has induced Dr. Richardson to regard the one as a mere variety of the nother; and the opportunity which we have ourselves had of making a similar comparison has enabled us to form a decided opinion of the correctness of that genbtleman's views upon the subject. On the most careful

The distinguishing peculiarities of the American Cross Fox consist in the dark iron gray of the fore part of its head; the blackish stripe passing from the head along the back and intersected by a similarly coloured band extending downwards over the shoulders; the pale colour of the sides, the tawny occasionally disappearing altogether; and the deep black of the legs and of all the under parts of the body. Its fur is generally considered finer than that of the Red Fox, and the comparative rarity of the animal renders it much more valuable,

In manners and disposition the two animals appear to be precisely the same.

The Swift Fox inhabits the open plains of the western part of the United States, particularly those upon the Missouri River, and forms its dwelling by burrowing in the soil. It is called the "Burrowing Fox" by Lewis and Clark; but as all foxes burrow more or less, Mr. Say* thought it proper to give it the name of Swift Fox, since its surpassing swiftness is a much more distinctive attribute of the species.

The velocity of this little animal is most extraordinary, and from all we can learn it surpasses that of all other animals. Its course along the ground has been compared to the flight of a bird; and the animal at full speed is said to resemble a line drawn rapidly over the surface, so impossible is it to distinguish any of the parts of its body on account of the surprising velocity of its motion."

The Swift Fox has not been described by more than one or two naturalists, and fully perhaps by none. Mr. Say gives a full account of the peculiarities of the skull of this animal in order to prove its specifick distinction from the Red Fox. The following short sketch is by Mr. Say. you e'ndebull sunl

'The entire length, from the insertion of the superior incisors to the tip of the occipital crest, is rather more than four inches and three-tenths; the least distance between the orbital cavities nine-tenths of an inch; between the tips of the orbital processes less than one inch and a tenth; between the insertions of

*This distinguished naturalist and scholar recently died at New Harmony, Indiana. He is a loss to the nation; and his death must be particularly and deeply regretted by every lover of Natural History. No man living has done so much for American Zoology as Mr. Say. As

the lateral muscles at the junction of the frontal and | to entitle them to be regarded as distinct species parietal bones half an inch. The greatest breadth of Most English writers mistake, however, when they this space on the parietal bones thirteen-twentieths of an inch.

tell us that the range of the species under present consideration extends 'unto the most southern provinces of the United States;' for on the contrary M. Cuvier's observation is true, that this animal is confined to the colder regions of the north.

"The hair is fine, dense and soft. The head above is fulvous, verging on ferruginous intermixed with gray; the fur being of the first mentioned colour, and the hair whitish at base, then black, then gray, then The Red Fox of the United States, which we debrown. The ridge of the nose is somewhat paler, and scribed in our last number, is the same species as the a more brownish line passes from the eye to the nos- common European Fox, which these writers endeavour trils, (as in the C. Corsac.) The margin of the up-to distinguish from the Northern Red Fox. The disper lip is white; the orbits are gray; the ears behind tinction between the two species is said to have been are paler than the top of the head, intermixed with first set forth at the commencement of the present black hairs, and the margin, excepting at tip, white; century, by M. Paliso de Beauvais in a paper read the inner surface is broadly margined with white before the French Institute. The distinction seems hairs; the space behind the ears is destitute of the in- to be tolerably well-grounded; and the characters of termixture of hairs; the neck above has longer hairs, the Northern Red Fox as compared with the common of which the black and gray portions are more con- and European species are thus defined by Dr. Richardspicuous; beneath the head is pure white. The body son in his Funa Boreali-Americana. is slender and the tail rather long, cylindrical and black.'

Mr. Say took notes of the external characters of this animal, but they were unfortunately lost, and he was obliged to set forth the characters of the species from 'nothing but the head and a part of the neck of one individual, and the cranium of another.' We are not aware that the swift fox has ever been taken alivehe has certainly never been exhibited; he is mentioned by various travellers, but they speak of him only as burrowing in the earth, and being astonishingly swift of foot.

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In the Hudson's Bay region a description of Red Fox is found that heretofore has been sometimes confounded with the Red Fox of the states and the common European species, sometimes generically distinguished as Canis Vulpes. The great Cuvier is said to have been of opinion, though that opinion was probably founded upon an examination of skins alone, that the Northern Red Fox is a mere variety of the common species, which he thought attributable to the effects of climate. Others, however, are of opinion that the differences in physiognomy and manners, as well as in general appearance, are sufficiently striking

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"Each were observed to have dark markings on the sides of the muzzle, posterior parts of the ears, and fore part of the legs; the tails of both have an intermixture of black hairs, and are tipped with white. The northern Fox, however, differs in its long and very fine fur, and in the brilliancy of its colours. Its cheeks are rounder, its nose thicker, shorter, and more truncated. Its eyes are nearer to each other. Its ears are shorter, the hair on its legs is a great deal longer, and its feet are much more woolly beneath, the hair extending beyond the claws, which are shorter than Red Fox differs from the European one in nearly the those of the European Fox. In short the Northern same characters that distinguishes the gray American Wolf from the Pyrenean one-in the breadth and capacity of its feet for running on the snow, the quantity of long hair clothing the back part of the cheeks, which in conjunction with the shorter ears and nose give the head a more compact appearance. The Northern Red Fox has a much finer brush than the European one, and is altogether a larger animal."

Several of the peculiarities here enumerated, such as the greater length and fineness of the hair and the woolliness of the feet beneath, which during the winter entirely covers the tubercles, are, it is true, nothing more than the usual consequences of a northern climate; and alone they would by no means entitle the American animal to be regarded as a distinct species. But the remarkable differences in the form of the head and in the expression of the physiognomy, which can only be properly appreciated on a comparison of living specimens, are, it appears to us, decisive of the quesIf the northern Red Fox be correctly described by M. de Beauvais, and after him by M. Desmarest and M. F. Cuvier, it is sufficiently distinguished from that of the common species by the prolongation backwards of the line of attachment of the temporal muscles and by several minor peculiarities. The tip of the tail, it should be observed, is not always white; but it is constantly distinguished by a lighter colour than the rest, and appears never to become black as is sometimes the case in the European species.

tion.

The Red Foxes of the north, we are informed by Dr. Richardson, are so abundant in the wooded district in the Fur Countries that about eight thousand skins are annually imported from thence into England. They burrow in the earth during the summer, but prefer the shelter of a fallen tree during the winter, probably because the severity of the climate would expose them to the danger of having their burrows frozen up. They hunt chiefly during the night, and prey upon the smaller animals of the rodent order; but they also devour fish and animal food of every kind, and

are frequently seen abroad during the day. There which differs considerably in texture and colour, from seems to be much difficulty in catching them on ac- the influence of climate and of seasons, is commonly of count of their extreme suspiciousness, which often a grayish yellow, the shades of which are variously inrenders the precautions of the hunter unavailing. The termingled; as he advances in age it becomes lighter, traps which are set for them are occasionally per- and in high northern latitudes frequently turns comfumed with assafoetida, castoreum, and similar sub-pletely white, a change which also takes place in many stances, of the scent of which the Foxes are said to be other animals inhabiting the polar regions. fond. When pursued they run for a short distance with great swiftness, but their wind soon fails and they are speedily overtaken.*

THE WOLF.

Canis Lupus. Linn.

Entirely dependant upon rapine for his subsistence, the nose of the Wolf is fully equal to that of the sharpest-scented hound. The size and speed of the elk and of the stag are insufficient to protect them from his violence; he pursues them with equal swiftness and cunning, and, when he has succeeded in running them down, finds little difficulty in rendering them his prey. To effect this purpose with the greater certainty he frequently unites himself with a numerous train of his fellows, who are however bound together by no other tie than the common object of their pursuit ; and when this is once attained immediately separate and proceed each to his own retreat, whence they again emerge to reunite in the common cause whenever the necessary stimulus is supplied. In inhabited countries he seldom ventures to show himself openly or in packs, but sleeps away the greater part of the day in the shelter of the forest, and only prowls abroad by night when impelled by the cravings of his appetite. The sheep-cote and the farm-yard become then the scenes of his ravages; and such is his ingenuity, and so great the rapidity of his motions, that he will frequently carry off his prey almost before the eyes of the shepherd, although the warning voice of the watchful dog had given timely notice of the approach of the marauder. His ferocity is sometimes carried to such a pitch that he becomes dangerous to man; and when hard pressed by famine, to which in spite of all his skill in the chase and his sagacity in the pursuit of meaner rapine he is by no means a stranger, he will fall at unawares upon the solitary and unprotected traveller, or, prowling about the habitation of the villager, carry off from it his unsuspecting and defenceless children.

This sullen and forbidding-looking animal, the most ravenous and ferocious that infests the more temperate regions of the earth, of many parts of which he is the terrour and the scourge, is distinguished from the humble, generous, and faithful friend of man, the domestick dog, by no very remarkable or striking character; and yet Happily for England this formidable beast has long there is something in his physiognomy, gait, and habit, been extirpated from its woods; but the comparative which is at once so peculiar and so repulsive, that it extent of his domain has been thereby but little reduced. would be almost impossible to confound a Wolf, how- It may be roughly stated as comprehending the whole ever tame, with the most savage and the most wolflike northern hemisphere, of which only very small portions of dogs. For the separation of the two species, Linnæus are exempted from his ravages. He is easily tamed had recourse to the tail; and having determined that when young, and may even (according to M. F. Cuvier, that of the dog was uniformly curved upwards he at- who has published a history of a domesticated individual, tributed to that of the Wolf a completely opposite direc-bordering in many particulars very closely on the martion, that is to say, a curvature inwards; assigning, at the same time, a straight or a deflected position to those of all the other animals of the group. The deflected, or down-pointing, direction is, however, equally common in the Wolf with the incurved; and this petty distinetion, which has little to do with structure, and still less with habits, is hardly deserving of serious attention. More obvious and more essential differences will be found in the cast of his countenance, which derives a peculiar expression from the obliquity of his eyes; in the breadth of his head, suddenly contracting into a slender and pointed muzzle; in the size and power of his teeth, which are comparatively greater than those of any dog of equal stature; in the stiffness and want of pliability of his limbs; in his uniformly straight and pointed ears; and in a black stripe which almost constantly, and in nearly every variety of the species, occupies the front of the fore leg of the adult. His fur,

* The London Sporting Magazine for December relates the singular fact, that in April 1829 one Will Norris of Feltham near Canterbury, found 'three fine cubs' whose mother had been shot by some 'malicious vulpecide,' which he carried home to his cotHis wife, 'kind-hearted Nan,' took the little captives into her lap and suckled them. 'Nan continued to suckle the trio till they were able to forage for themselves. This affords us the first instance to our knowledge of wild animals being nursed by a woman!-ED. FAM. MAG,

tage.

vellous, but of the truth of which the well known character of that scientifick naturalist is a sufficient guaranty) be rendered susceptible of the highest degree of attachment to his master, whom he will remember after prolonged and repeated absence, and caress with all the familiar fondness of a dog. Such traits as this are, however, to say the least, very uncommon; and he is, even in captivity, generally speaking, ill-tempered and morose.-T. Menag.

The wolf, is the enemy of all society; he does not even keep much company with those of his kind. When they are seen in packs together, it is not to be considered as a peaceful society, but a combination for war; they testify their hostile intentions, by their loud howlings, and, by their fierceness, discover a project for attacking some great animal, such as a stag or a bull, or to destroy some more redoubtable watch-dog. The instant their military expedition is completed, their society is at an end; they then part, and each returns in silence to his solitary retreat. There is not even any strong attachments between the male and female; they seek each other only once a year, and remain but a few days together; they always couple in winter; at which time several males are seen following one female, and this association is still more bloody than the former; they dispute most cruelly, growl, bark, fight, and tear each other; and it sometimes happens that the majority kill the wolf which

has been chiefly preferred by the female. It is usual for the she wolf to fly from them all with him she has chosen; and watches this opportunity when the rest are asleep.

The destruction of this animal is accomplished in various ways. He is hunted in some countries with greyhounds and harriers by men on horseback; he is surrounded and wounded by men and large house-dogs; he is secured in traps; he is poisoned by carcasses, prepared and placed for that purpose, and is caught in pit-falls. "Gesner tells us of a friar, a woman, and a wolf, being taken in one of these, all in the same night. The woman lost her senses with the fright, the friar nis reputation, and the wolf his life." All these disasters however, do not prevent this animal's multiplying in great numbers, particularly in countries where the woods are plenty. France, Spain, and Italy, are greatly infested with them; but England, Ireland, and Scotland, are happily set free.

which proves the dog and the wolf to be of the same species. It were to be wished that this fact were better ascertained; we should then know to a certainty in what degree the dog and wolf resemble each other, as well in nature as in conformation; we might then, perhaps, be enabled to improve the breed of our dogs, by bringing them back to their native forms and instincts; we might, by crossing the strain, restore that race of those bold animals which the ancients assure us were more than a match for the lion."

However this animal may be useful in North America, the wolf of Europe is a very noxious animal, and scarce any thing belonging to him is good, except his skin. Of this the furriers make a covering that is warm and durable, though coarse and unsightly. His flesh is very indifferent, and seems to be disliked by all other animals, no other creature being known to eat the wolf's flesh except the wolf himself. He breathes a most fætid vapour from his jaws, as his food is indiscriminate, often putrid, and seldom cleanly. In short, every way offensive, a savage aspect, a frightful howl, an unsupportable odour, a perverse disposition, fierce habits, he is hateful while living, and useless when dead.-Goldsmith.

King Edgar is said to be the first who attempted to rid this kingdom of such disagreeable inmates, by commuting the punishment for certain crimes into the acceptance of a number of wolves' tongues from each criminal.* However, some centuries after, these animals were again increased to such a degree as to The common wolf is about four feet and a half in become the object of royal attention; accordingly Ed-length, including the tail, which is rather more than a ward the First issued out his mandate to one Peter foot long. The height, before, is two feet three inches, Corbet to superintend and assist in the destruction of behind, it is two feet four inches. The tail is bushy them. They are said to have infested Ireland long bending downwards, having upon it hairs upwards of after they were extirpated in England; however, the five inches in length.-Godman. oldest men in that country remember nothing of these animals; and it is probable that there have been none there for more than a century past. Scotland also is totally free.

The species is very much diffused in every part of the world, being found in Asia, Africa, and America, as well as Europe. The wolves of Senegal resemble those of France, except that they are larger and much fiercer than those of Europe. Those of Egypt are smaller than those of Greece. In the east, the wolf is trained up for a show, being taught to dance and play tricks; and one of these thus educated often sells for four or five hundred crowns. "It is said that in Lapland the wolf will never attack a raindeer that is seen haltered; for this wary animal, being well acquainted with the nature of a trap, suspects one whenever it perceives a rope. However, when he sees the deer entirely at liberty, he seldom fails to destroy it.

This animal as we have seen infests the whole of North America and indeed nearly all forest countries. When the Pilgrim fathers first landed upon this continent, and settled amid forests that

'Ne'er had felt the encroaching axe,'

their lonely cabins were unceasingly disturbed by the nightly howlings of these hideous animals. During winter, when food was most difficult to be procured, the primitive settlers were scarcely enabled to preserve their flocks and herds from the attacks of the wolvesthe boldest house-dog would be overcome by them, and ordidary enclosures were no defence for their cattle, sheep or hogs. When in packs they were not afraid "The wolf of North America is blacker and much and rider; but the horse commonly resists their attacks to attack men upon horseback and destroy both horse less than those in other parts of the world, and approaches nearer in form to the dog than those of the with success. The weapon of the horse's defence is ordinary kind. In fact they were made use of as such his heels; and it is said that upon the plains of the by the savages till the Europeans introduced others; Missouri and the North-western Territory, not unfreand even now, on the remoter shores, or the more inland parts of the country, the savages still make use of quently may be observed a troop of wild horses collectthese animals in hunting. They are very tame and ed together and standing in a line with their heels all gentle; and those of this kind that are wild, are neither towards the enemy, successfully defending themselves so large nor so fierce as a European wolf, nor do they against quadruple their number. As American settleever attack mankind. They go together in large packs ments have extended themselves, and enterprise and by night to hunt the deer, which they do as well as any dogs in England; and it is confidently asserted industry have laid bare the bosom of the earth, the that one of them is sufficient to run down a deer.‡ wolf has retired. He is now found in considerable Whenever they are seen along the banks of those numbers only in the wilds of the west; stragglers, rivers near which the wandering natives pitch their huts, however, are occasionally found in New England, and it is taken for granted that the bison or the deer are not in fact in all parts of the states where there are wooded far off and the savages affirm that the wolves come with the tidings, in order to have the garbage, after the and mountainous retreats. These stragglers seem to animal has been killed by the hunters. Catesby adds a be more ferocious and blood-thirsty than their brethren circumstance relative to these animals, which, if true, who roam in less restricted limits; frequently have invalidates many of Mr. Buffon's observations in the foregoing history. He asserts, that these being the we known in New England twenty and thirty sheep only dogs used by the Americans, before the arrival killed in one night, and it has been supposed by one of the Europeans among them, they have since engen-wolf that must have taken greater delight in destroying dered together, and that their breed has become prolifick; the lives of the sheep than in sucking their blood.

* British Zoology, p. 62.

+ Brooke's Natural History, vol. i. p. 198.

* Dictionnaire Raisonnec. Loup.

We have known five hundred sheep killed in one neighbourhood before the ferocious destroyer could be

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