Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-16
COMO.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THOSE CAP
TURED WOLVES.
Especial to vlrginlan-Pilot.)

Especial to Virginian- Pilot)
Como, HEREFORD Co., N. c., Oct. 15.-
So many conflicting statements have
been made, and SO great diversity of
opinion prevails, in regard to the
wolves which have been caught here
that perhaps succinct statement of
facts may interest the public. 1 may
say that there are three still here in
captivity.
First, are these genuine wolves wild
dogs, or an amalgamation? Every
writer on natural history is agreed up
on the salient characteristics of the
Woil no matter of what country or
cline These characteristics are not
ohiy physical, but also define his ami
maj instincts. There Is remarkable
resemblance physically between the dog
ana the wolf. and SO close, as upon
caSual inspection to mislead and mis-
take the identity of one from the other.
While resembling each other very much
IN their outer makeup, no two ami
mas are more unlike in disposition or
instinct. The dog. by nature, is brave.
royal and true. affectionate and kind.
purely wild dog. can be easily tanned
ana domcsticated, and will in n very
short time develop the lofty traits so
peculiar to his better educated brother.
Many instances are on record proving
this. Baker, the great Ceylon and Afri-
can hunter, says that, i'll his faithful
and brave pack, the wild dogs, which
he caught and tanned, were. at least in
courage, superior to the civilized spec
linens, and at the same time as loyal
ana as easily controlled. The dog is by
nature extremely grateful, and evinces
his recognition of a kindness by unmis-
taxable signs. He will follow his mas
ter to the death. The wolf is the re-
verse OF all this. There is but one in
stance on record wherein Il wolf in cap
tiVity has ever manifested affection for
his master. Gordon Cummins relates
this. No matter what favors or caress-
es you shower upon the wolf, whether
by fondling or by feeding, he receives
1t all in sullen silence. and though kept
In captivity Il long time. he exhibits not
IL single trait of dog nature. AsBin, the
dog is social animal; the wolf. on
the contrary, never associates even
with his kind except for warlille pur-
poses or for provocation. AS soon as
the expedition ends. the troop scpa-
rates, and each seeks his own lair. The
male of the wolf manifests no affection
for the female, and only seeks her So
cicty at stated periods. They never
combine i'll troops, save to attack ami
mails OF strength greater than theirs.
Again. the wolf (Buifon, Cuvicr and
Bakery is extremely fond of human
flesh, and often, on the frozen lakes
of Sweden. in the gloomy wales of Nor
way, on the icy wastes of Lapland, on
the snow swept plains of Russia he or
SaniZes and attacks and devours man.
The doS-thc widest in Africa, in Au-
Stralia, In Peru-haS never developed
this instinct. No matter how long, nor
how kindly the miscreat wolf is kept
in captivity, the instant tho collar is
slipped he flies to the nearest and
densest forest. The dog. meeting his
kind. recognizes him. approaches him
and endeavors to establish q relation
ship. The wolf has no such tendencies
1t is remarkable fact that, though
wolf has been chained to large elm
at Como, close to the road and close
to the store of Mr.. G. Il. Picot. for now
some two months. no dog (and hun
dreds have observed IT'D has ever APP
preached him. n great many gentle
men have in vain attempted to induce
or persuade their dogs to draw near.
Not one yet has been found that will
go any where near him. This wolf is
young and therefore, small. and it can
not be his size which repels them. Every
hunter knows that the dog will not
eat the flesh of Il coon, cooked or raw;
this wolf dcvours 1t with amazing gusto
and relish. This wolf has been petted
and fondled. fed and caressed, even by
children. yet in no instance has it re-
paid kinlneSS by q Wag of his tail
This is very undoE Ike.
Now as to his physical structure. 1t
differs from Il dog in only n few but
wcll-marked characteristics The dor
carries his tail usually uplifted, the
foot of the wolf is comnle;eIv webbed
like that OF n duck. Does This hold
with n do.rp The hinder legs of thc
wolves nre much more curved than
those of the dog. a few biologists
and among them the learned lleeper of
Delaware park have dubbed these
wolves dogs. because of n diversity of
color among them. Writers of great
repute. viz: PAM Dnchnillee Irving
livingston. radically differ from the
learned gentleman. for they state that