Var. B. L upus albus. White Wolf.
White Wolf. Lewis and Clark, vol. i. p. 107; vol. iii. p. 263.
Canis lupus—albus. Sabine. Franklin's Jourri., p . 655.
White Wolf. Icones. Franklin’s Joum., p. 312. Lyon’s Private Joum., p. 297*
Wolves totally white are not uncommon in the most northern parts of America,
particularly in districts nearly destitute of wood*. They are occasionally seen
also on the plains of the Missouri. A Yellow Wolf, mentioned by Lewis and
Clark, (vol. i. p. 40) may be perhaps classed with the white variety.
D E S C R I P T I O N .
The White Wolf figured in Captain Franklin’s narrative above referred to, was killed near
Fort Enterprise, in February, 1821. Its ears were short and erect. Its fur was long and
of a yellowish-white colour over the whole body, the nose alope having a slight tinge of gray.
Length of head and body . - ..
tail . . ,
Height at both fore and hind quarters
Girth behind the fore-legs , • ,
Its Dimensions were as follows :—
------ F e e t. r In ch e s. •
. 4 4 Girth before the hind legs * . .
. 1 7 Length of fore-leg and foot with toe-nails
• 2 1 0 . ,, hind ditto ditto ditto
• 2 6
Var. C. L upus Sticte. Pied Wolf
Wolves having1 black colours instead of gray/ distributed in large patches on
the sides, are sometimes seen in the fur countries, associated with the Common
Gray Wolves. On the banks of the Mackenzie, I saw five young wolves leaping
and tumbling over each other, with all the playfulness of the puppies of the
domestic dog, and it is not improbable that they were all of one litter. One of
them was pied, another entirely black, and the rest shewed the common gray
colours. I was unable to procure a specimen of the Pied Wolf.
* Muller informs us that white wolves are found on the Jenisei; and Regnard says that the Lapland wolves “ are-
almost all of a whitish-gray colour ; -there are some of them white.” I t ' is desirable that these Siberian or Lapland
wolves should be compared with the Pyrenean races.
PL A TE.
Pub lish ed , By J o h n - Murray. J a n u a r y . 18.