Journal of Proceedings.
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dent of the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, who wrote as follows to
'Land and Water' for July 19th, 1884 :
" Some short time since a gentleman called upon me at the gardens
and offered to present to the Society an animal that he believed to be a
prairie wolf. He mentioned some particulars concerning its history that
caused me not at once to accept his offer, fearing that the animal might
prove to be a useless mongrel. At the same time I asked his address, and
promised to call and see the animal. Accordingly, I went to Leytonstone,
and on my arrival I inquired for Mr. R. Payze, and found the gentleman
who had so kindly offered the animal in question. He was very pleased
to meet me, and introduced me to what I at once pronounced to be a
veritable prairie wolf (Canis latrans).* The history of this animal I
give as near as possible in Mr. Payze's words. In the month of May last
year some men who were on their way to London with cartloads of hay
told him, on their coming through some part of Epping Forest [" near
Ongar," is the locality given in some narratives], they had found or
caught three fox cubs, and they had them in a sack tied to the tail of the
cart. Believing them to be fox cubs, he bought one of them for a few
shillings, and the men went on their way towards London. The animal
was at that time so small that it could be put into a pint pot, and I
have every reason to believe the following narrative will fully explain
what otherwise would appear a mystery. Mr. Payze introduced me to
Mr. Swan (who was formerly a servant to Colonel Howard), and he told
me that some few years ago four cubs were brought to England in a ship
belonging to Mr. J. R. Fletcher, of the Union Docks, and were turned
down (supposed to be fox cubs) in Ongar Wood, which joins Epping
Forest. These cubs were brought home in a box and kept for a few
days at Colonel Howard's, Goldings, Loughton. They were then taken
to Mr. Arkwright's, formerly master of the Essex Hunt, and were turned
out at Marl's Farm, and the man Swan was present when they were
turned out. I have also been informed that from time to time an
animal, supposed to be a large gray fox, has been hunted, but never
caught, always escaping into the forest. I think it highly probable that
some of the same kind as the animal now in the gardens still exist in the
forest, as this species of wolf is not much larger than a large male fox,
and not having any scent like the fox, would not be likely to get killed
by foxhounds or followed any great distance by them."
The editor of ' Land and Water' supplemented this account as
follows :
" Subsequently, in company with Mr. Bartlett, we visited Epping
Forest ; and from the inquiries made we have little doubt as to the fact
of the animal in question having been born in the forest. Swan and
other persons who have been acquainted with the forest for many years
told us they well recollect the circumstance of the ' strange animals
from foreign parts' being turned down, and we expect shortly to have
further confirmatory evidence from others who were present on the
occasion. When first born, the prairie wolf might readily be mistaken
for a cub fox. Mr. Payze, who is a lover of animals, and has from time
to time kept many tame foxes, was under the impression until quite
recently that ' Charlie,' as the animal is called, was a fox. As it
developed, however, he noticed several points quite distinct from the
common fox, and as, moreover, the animal (although quite quiet with his
children) showed unmistakable snappish tendencies towards strangers,
he decided to consult Mr. Bartlett, with the result that the superintendent
* This determination was hot correct, see post.—Ed.