WOLCOTT, Ronan, 1679-1767; b. Windsor, Conn.; commissary of the Connecticut troops in the expedition against Canada in 1711. He served also in the succeeding French wars, and rose to be maj.gen. He was governor of Connecticut, 1761-65, after serving several terms in the legislature, in the council, and on the bench of the county court, and of the superior court. He was also deputy-governor. He was the author of Poetical Meditations (1725), and a poem called A brief Account of the Agency of the Honor able John Winthrop, Esq., in the Court of King Charles IL WOLF (corresponds to Lat. vulpes, a fox), the name of a wild animal of the same genus with the dog, and of which it is indeed doubtful if it constitutes a distinct species; while, as to the different kinds of wolves found in different parts of the world, it must be deemed at, present wholly uncertain whether they are to be regarded as species or varieties, although they have, provisionally, received specific names. There exists among them the same close resemblance as in the different kinds of dog, with a similarly marked distinction of characters, which. however, it is difficult to state as specific characters are generally stated. The same difficulty, therefore, occurs in the natural history of wolves as in that of dogs, although the number of different forms is not so great. In their most important characters, and those which, as least subject to variation, are generally regarded as best marking specific distinction, they agree not only with each other, but with dogs. The opinion, that the wolf is the parent of the dog, or of some of the kinds of dog, is favored by the identity of the period of gestation, a point which seems to be pretty well established, and which, in such a question, is to be regarded as of great importance. Dogs and wolves also intermix, but it is not yet fully ascertained that the offspring will continue fertile among themselves. It is further observed that wild races of dogs, whether originally wild, or having become wild (feral races), resemble wolves in many respects, in their dull uniformity of color, in their lengthened muzzle, lengthened limbs, lank form, and gaunt aspect, and even in the bushiness of the tail. It has been alleged, as a reason against supposing the wolf and the dog to be really of the same species, that the wolf is incapable of domestication and of attachment to man. This, however, is not the case. Both the common wolf of the old
world and the wolves of America have been found capable of domestication, when taken young, and instances are on record of their having displayed an attachment to their master like dogs.
The WOLF (Canis lupus) inhabits Europe and the northern parts of Asia, its range extending from the Arctic regions as far s. as the northern parts of Africa and of India. It is of a yellowish or tawny-gray color, with strong coarse hair, which is longest n the ears, neck, shoulders, and haunches, but particularly on the throat; the muzzle is black, the upper lip and chin white. The ears are erect and pointed, the muzzle sharp; the legs rather longer than those of the shepherd's dog; the tail bushy, but not curling; the eyes oblique, giving a peculiar vicious expression to the counte nance. The wolf is swift of foot, and hunts deer and other animals, packs of wolves associating for this purpose; it also often commits great ravages among sheep, and attacks calves, but seldom full-grown oxen. It seldom attacks man, unless hard pressed by hunger, when it becomes very dangerous. The hungry wolves which sometimes descend, in severe winters, from the forests of the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountains, are much dreaded by the inhabitants of neighboring regions; and terrible stories are told of travelers chased by packs of wolves in the forest-covered plains of the e. of Europe and in Spain. In general, the wolf is cowardly and stealthy, approaching sheepfolds and farm-buildings by night, in search of prey, and readily scared by any demonstration of watchfulness, fleeing from dogs, and not readily exposing itself within range of shot. It defends itself, however, with great vigor, when compelled to do so. It is not easily trapped, being extremely cautious, and appearing to understand the nature and purpose of a trap almost as well as those by whom it is set. Wolves have often been known even to approach a trap so skillfully as to devour the bait without harm to themselves, getting at it from below.