88 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

a small dog which was sitting behind him. During my journey
from Tornea to Stockholm, I heard everywhere of the ravages
committed by wolves, not upon the human species or the
cattle, but chiefly upon the peasants’ dogs, considerable num-
bers of which had been devoured. I was told that these
were the favourite prey of this animal; and that, in order to
seize upon them with the greater ease, it puts itself into a
crouching posture, and begins to play several antic tricks, to
attract the attention of the poor dog, which, caught by these
seeming demonstrations of friendship, and fancying it to be
one of his own species, from the similarity, advances towards
it to join in the gambols, and is carried off by its treacherous
enemy. Several peasants that I conversed with mentioned
their having been eye-witnesses of this circumstance.”
The Wolps Mr. Lloyd in his “Field Sports in the North
Cowardice. of Europe” gives a remarkable illustration of
the cowardice of the wolf when caught in a trap. “A
peasant near St. Petersburg,” says Mr. Lloyd, “when one
day in his sledge, was pursued by eleven of these ferocious
animals. 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 to his residence was a gate, which
happened to be closed at the time; but the horse dashed
this open, and thus himself and his master found refuge
within the court-yard. They were followed, however, by
nine out of the eleven wolves; but, very fortunately, at the
instant these had entered the enclosure, the gate swung back
on its hinges, and thus they were caught asin a trap. From
being the most voracious of animals, the nature of these
beasts—now that they found escape impossible—became com-
pletely changed: so far, indeed, from offering molestation to
any one, they slunk into holes and comers, and allowed
themselves to be slaughtered almost without making resistance.”
Hunted by Many terrible stories are told of the depreda-
Wolves. tions caused by packs of wolves, especially in