The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-25
HORSES AND WOLVES.

HORSES AND WOLVES.
In state Of freedom, says the Portfolio,
the horse is powerful enemy to contend
with. Valiant in disposition, and endowed
by nature with consciousness of his strength
he is able to wage fearful war when occasion
requires. The horses of the Russian step
pes, which are congregatcd together under
the care ofa hcrlsman, in large droves or
"taboons, are often called upon, especially
in the spring season, when the foals are deli.
cate, and the wolves rendered desperate by
hunger, to defend their young from the at
tacks of these ravenous animals. A travel
Ter in Russia says that at such times
"The Russian wolf trusts rather to cum
ming than t6 strength. For party Of
wolves openly to attack taboonat MONDAY
would be to run upon certain destruction,
and, however severely the wolf may be
pressed by hunger, he knows his own weak
ness too well to venture on 80 absurd an act
of temerity. At night, indeed, if tho taboon
happen to be little scattered, and the
wolves in tolerablc numbers, they will some
times attempt rush, and general battle
ensues. An admirable spirit Of coalition
then displays itself among the horses. On
the first alarm, stations and mares come
charging up to the threatened point, and Mt
tack the wolves with an impetuosity that Of
ten puts the providers to instant flight. Soon
however, If they feel themselves sufficiently
numerous, they return, and hover about the
taboon till some poor foal struggles few
yards from the main body, when 1t is seized
by the enemy, while the mother, springing
to its rescue, is nearly certain to share its
fate. Then it is that the battle begins in
real earnest. The mares form u circle, with
in which the foals take shelter. We have
seen pictures in which the horses are repre-
scntcd in circle, presenting their hinder
hoofs to the wolves, who thus appear to
have the free choice to fight or let it alone.
Such pictures are the mere result Of imagi-
nation, and bear very little resemblance to
the reality, for the wolf has, in general, to
pay much more dearly for his partiality to
horseaesh. The horses, when they attack
wolves, do not turn their tails towards them,
but charge upon them in a solid phalanx,
tearing them with their teeth, and tramp
ling on them with their feet. The stations
do not fall into the phalanx, but gallor
about with their streaming tails and erected
names, and seem to act at once as generals,
trumpetcrs and standard bearers. Where
they sec wolf they rush upon him with
reckless fury, mouth to mouth, or IL they
use their feet as weapons Of defence, it is al
ways with the front, and not with the hind
or hoof that the attack is made. With ont
blow the stallion often kills his enemy OF
stuns him. If so, hc snatches the body uT
with his teeth, and filings it to the mares,
who trample upon it till 1t becomes hard to
say what kind of an animal the skin be-
longed to. If the stallion, however, fail to
strike home blow ut the first onset, he !,
likely to fight a losing battle, for eight or
ten hungry wolves fasten on his throat, and
never quit him till they have torn him to
the ground and if the horse be prompt
and skilful in attack the wolf is not def
cicnt in agacity, but watches for every
little advantage, and is quick to avail him
self of it but let him not hope, even IL he
succeed in killing horse, that he will be
allowed leisure to pick the bones the ta-
boon never fails to take ample vengeance,
and the battle almost invariably terminates
in the complete discontinue of the wolves,
though not, perhaps, till more than one stall
lion has had leg permanently disabled, OF
has had his side marked for life with the i'm
press of his enemy's teeth. ..
These grand battles happen but seldom,
and when they DO occur, II is probably al-
ways against the VOLTS wish. His system
of warfare is a predatory one, and his policy
is rather to surprise outposts, than to medi-
tate general attack. lie trusts more to
his cunning than his strength. He will
T creep cautiously through the grass, taking
, especial care to keep to lceward Of the tn.
, boon, and he will remain crouched in am
bush till he pcrcciycs mare and her foal
grazing little apart from the rest. Even
then he makes no attempt to spring upon
, his prey, but keeps creeping nearer, and
, nearer, with head leaning on his fore feet,
and wagging his tail in friendly manner,
to initiate as much as possible the move
mcnts and gestures ofa watch dog. If the
, marc, deceived by the trcacherous pantomi'
me, venture near enough to the enemy, he
will spring Mt her throat, and despatch her
before she has had time to raise an alarm ;
then sciring on the foal, he will make OF
with his booty, and will often lie out OF
sight before either hcrl or herdsman suspect
his presence. Il is not, however, that the
wolf succeeds in Obtaining 80 easy victory
If tho marc detect him, an instant alarm Il
. raised, and should the tabunshik bc near
the wolf seldom fails to enrich him with q
skin, for which the fur merchant is at al
times willing to pay him ten or twelve rou
/; bles. The VOLTS only chance on such occa
. sions, is to make for the fnt ravine, dow
: which he rolls head foremost, gymnasti
: feat tina. the tabunshik, on his horc canno
venture to initiate" -
0 " Ex-Gov. Blglcr. IS. Senator from
Pennsylvania, Is an open buchanan man