If the Wolf confined himself to Sheep and Dogs, matters would be bad, indeed, but still endurable; unfortunately, however, this horrible savage likes human flesh just as well as “flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats.” A single Wolf hardly ever dares attack a man, for he is essentially a cowardly animal, but a child may be now and then carried off, and a man or a body of men may be attacked by an immense troop of Wolves, and then, unless they can get to a village or some other shelter, their fate is sealed. They may kill the Wolves by dozens, expend all their ammunition, making every shot tell, fell the howling monsters till their swords are hacked like Falstaff’s, but it is all of no avail: each falling Wolf is replaced by a fresh one hungrier and more vigorous than himself, and the end, unless succour come, can only be death by the teeth and a grave in the maw of perhaps hundreds of Wolves. It is related that, in 1812, twenty-four French soldiers were attacked by Wolves, and after a hard fight, were all slain and devoured; their comrades found only the remains of their arms and uniforms, together with a few bones, and the bodies of two or three hundred Wolves who had fallen in the unequal struggle, only to add to their comrades’ banquet. [Illustration: COMMON WOLF.] The destruction wrought by these animals in countries where they abound is very great. “In 1823, in Livonia, a declaration made to the authorities stated, as having been carried off by Wolves, 15,182 Sheep; 1,807 Oxen; 1,841 Horses; 3,270 Goats; 4,190 Pigs; 703 Dogs; and 1,873 Fowls and Geese.” The Wolf, savage though he be, is quite tamable; he has often shown great devotion to his master, and has, in fact, behaved in every respect like an affectionate Dog, a very interesting fact, as bearing upon the evolution of Dogs from wild _Canidæ_. The most remarkable instance of this with which we have met is the following, which shows the Wolf to be--what one would never suspect him to be--capable of that almost superhuman affection, which is sometimes exhibited by Dogs:--“A lady near Geneva had a tame Wolf, which seemed to have as much attachment to its mistress as a Spaniel. She had occasion to leave home for some weeks. The Wolf evinced the greatest distress after her departure, and at first refused to take food. During the whole time she was absent he remained much dejected. On her return, as soon as the animal heard her footsteps, he bounded into the room in an ecstasy of delight. Springing up, he placed one paw on each of her shoulders, but the next moment he fell backward and instantly expired.”[125] [Illustration: YOUNG WOLVES.]