Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-11-15
10. ne o,fard Democrat.
THE WILD ANIMALS OF MAINE.
TnE woLr.-Icani. Lupu.l
BY ]. G.. Rich.

This animal - t1und throughout the StAi'
more Or les abundant In Oxford County
only an occasional specimen remains. al
though few years ago they were quits
plenty and Troublesome here.
In Washington AMI Penob.cO, counties
thry Ar now vcry abundant and are hen,ed
for their skins and bounty.
This family includes the Dog. JaekNl,
Fo1anI Lyeaon. And are called the " Ca.
nid.r. - or the Canine family hy naturalist.
and agree In den,i,ion. and in the shape Oi
their feet and numbers Of their toe. and
form OF toc-uails. a. also in The sloneAtiOu
ct the murile or n'se.
Ol TIE wolf there are .sveral specie. VIZ.
The grey. the ped. the clouded or du'kv,
the white ani the BLACK These all are
North American. snd are probably d'''in.
rur.h-i rior- hy c,lor than any other trait
ard aha, b. singular. dia-rrnt ooior' often
occur IN the sane lii,lr. OF a, least ih'
black and grew. on the Missouri River. &C
CUrilng O. Indian hunters
In the prc.rn, article. however, W shall
oOnnne our,elyc. to the grew woli Of th''
State. which d, the only color occurring
here.
| may describe toe wolf in the followin:
manner BODY long and gaun,, height, al
the forwArd shoulder. two isst siI inches
Of great muscular strength and robu., form
IL. gait o. a Kind Of lazy SNllOP. very 'rre-o-
luis or .kulking; il appearance savage, yet
sinister. and its uatgrc fcrccious, with great
cunning and more or le-s cowArlice -
wary and suspicion. !. he ,hA, IL Is almost
impos-iblc 10 take him in trAT-. believe,
however. b. !. sometimes caugh, by fencing
in live sheep or lamb in rOugh wicket,
with a path around the sane, AM inserting
the trap IA the path, covered 10 make II
look natural, Als, where path made by
animal. crosse. brook. trap may be ~
on aI rock m the middle % The strcan
and covered with moss. They Are more IRE
qusnily. however. destroyed by p1islu.
Their uoi-, resembles tbc long Continued
howl % the common dog, BY which 'hey
hail each other. and - collect In druV~-, Of
racks and ~hen hungry, ,hsir auiaeiiy or
b,ldn.s. D. certainly vsrv rcnarsabIe,- ,-tr
such time. they sill attack nan or has,
TIE mo1-s and deer az their c.mmnn rr-y,
bu, ,hey uss art6cr rather than 'pc'i O.
corquer the-e animal. They torn a circl'
or .-tni circle. AMI march up .lNly and slo~'
lv. and either drive them over s1me prrci
r.c,. " corner them and iasten TO then
threats
The Wolf bred. IN the spring, brIpgin.
forth from Eve TO nine Ata bi'th. The,
choose ,ome remote and ISOLATED par; Of th'
forest l1r their hahtAtion in the breedin;
.ea.lu. and generally den in some ereviee o
= mountain ledge. ~ ferocious are they a
tho.s time. that they would attack part,
Of men .,nsle handed TO protect their young
Their TODD 10 Away, animal, and, like 'h
dog. are not particular about its ire-snes
or pu,riiiiy
Like the fox. they seldom hole or den 70
storm or cold ,.,ill. believe they know
where they can Gee ilr shelter in case o
hard pur.gii or other necessity.
Their sense o. .rne!l !. very keen, TO who
they trust with certainty for their food an
prey.
The bate Of the wolf - very severe. oi'e
taking oat The b,,ien part. and - Po"r'
ful ar, they that they often kill several dog
before they ara Go,lIy overcome. II one
ap,ck OF sll,-. wound q by bant'nar
ths rsuuud r will al~ay. stop ani devou
their vpuui-i i~ll,w When tWo uf she'
~ O, f.hunc. the weaker Of them mu'
yield to d-ath.
Many ycar- aso tie volt "a. very pl.n,
here IN she rrs,ln % tho., tUmH gos) Lake
and many arc the legends Ws have h.teuo
Co.. ave lay upon the green ooush. IN Ou
camp he ~rh fellow hunters. 10 some dsn'
rart ol the forest. during Ion: anI SOl
winter. ui:ai. n The Wild woods Of Main'
We now occasionally 80 the track VI th
wolf in the snow. but ~ few are they her
ia OI'ori Cogn,y that they seldom sho
themselves.
SIR samuel Poor. Of And1ver. not mao
ycars asi saw one ou the arm oi Rietardso
IAks lie wa. alone. and armei ~iih noil
inr bot log rule with which be had bee
measuring timber. The wolf came cut froI
the .huru aud at down on the Ics dirccil
in she path Of Mr. Poor. Who came up W.T.!
m q few rot. Of hlm, and then stops
They looked at each other very steadily 4
.o.ns time. whcn saddenly the soli gave "
oi hi. peculiar hoWis, and soon after %
came another wolf, who by degrees w0aI
wax Out towards it. fellow. then stop AT
y.eS Sir POJr. untl fbailv they both (,
vssy near hua lie sIoJI AZ ground. al
alter 81. ping their cyc- lor a hall hsaF q
nprv. they finally walked a '0wari. 81
SHORE. Add ies h'm P'.'.
\ man vas driven .nto los cabin
Mair'd, Fr'nkin C"unIy. not many Jrn
az, BY ioa' wal'r- a"d a. be Juml'd al
on the beam ,'vrhead III w.l'v. came rGsi
IN Ca 80 tnr dor. =, ei.,,g srre ta,y to b
heels. IT, Immediately worked along q
bsim. ,nJ - Ang o the DOR wit hl, iOo
Thea knocking OF iss l0Sg shingles iro