Quotation from the Hubbard book; Neolithic Dew-ponds and Cattle ways - 1905 I just loved this book for its inaccuracies.
The month which we now call January our Saxon ancestors called wolf-monat, to wit, wolf-moneth, because people are wont always in that month to be in more danger to be devoured of wolves, than in any else season of the year; for that, through the extremity of cold and snow, these ravenous creatures could not find of other beasts sufficient to feed upon. Richard Verstegan, Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities 1673
I collect stories, this one appeals because it is my birthday month, as indeed Jennies as I have just found out. I love the wolves as well and have written of them before.
Here for instance is a video talked over by Monbiot on the Wolves of Yellowstone Park a video that talks about trophic cascade* .
Well I started writing this yesterday then remembered a book I had called 'Reliquaries' a delightful compendium of stories and poems, stranded through with two line sayings. So having ordered this year's book, I read through. The essay on 'The Last Wolf in Britain' has many towns and villages describing the slaying of the poor old wolf, till at last it was no more. Though of course there have been introductions in Scotland in confined areas of modern wolves.
But then came across the 'Green Children of Woolpit' a medieval story of two children that appeared in Suffolk, now either you take the story without the explanation or you listen to this, rather arrogant chap, (Cummings will take him to his heart, the very essence of weird comes to mind). The theories are interesting of course.... and somewhere at the beginning is a wolf pit as well.
*"Trophic cascade, an ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators and involving reciprocal changes in the relative populations of predator and prey through a food chain, which often results in dramatic changes in ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling."
Here for instance is a video talked over by Monbiot on the Wolves of Yellowstone Park a video that talks about trophic cascade* .
Well I started writing this yesterday then remembered a book I had called 'Reliquaries' a delightful compendium of stories and poems, stranded through with two line sayings. So having ordered this year's book, I read through. The essay on 'The Last Wolf in Britain' has many towns and villages describing the slaying of the poor old wolf, till at last it was no more. Though of course there have been introductions in Scotland in confined areas of modern wolves.
But then came across the 'Green Children of Woolpit' a medieval story of two children that appeared in Suffolk, now either you take the story without the explanation or you listen to this, rather arrogant chap, (Cummings will take him to his heart, the very essence of weird comes to mind). The theories are interesting of course.... and somewhere at the beginning is a wolf pit as well.
*"Trophic cascade, an ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators and involving reciprocal changes in the relative populations of predator and prey through a food chain, which often results in dramatic changes in ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling."
I grew up just a few miles from Woolpit and always knew the Green Children story. In more recent times Woolpit had loads of pits around where gravel and sand were excavated and bricks made.It's an interesting village.
ReplyDeleteI think the theories that the two children were Flemish stray immigrants is maybe near the truth, with some sort of dietary disorder, but an interesting story. Your area has a lot of interesting history, always loved the churches on your blog.
DeleteI'll return to your links later as I'm the only one up and doing at the moment (and heading for 9 o'clock too - shame on them!!)
ReplyDeleteI knew the Woolpit story from one of my folklore books, and the trophic cascade was something we watched a programme on - the Yellowstone one you have put a link to I believe. Amazing how one small thing like that can have such an amazing beneficial effect.
The thought of so many places claiming to have killed the "last wolf in Britain" is chilling in this day and age, with knowledge as it is now, but I dare say sheep farmers sleep better in their beds for it having happened.
You have some wonderful-sounding books btw.
I had forgotten all about the Reliquiae book till the wolves popped up so it was lovely to reread it again.
ReplyDeleteI expect introducing beavers to the river round here is also an experiment in the trophic cascade as they alter the river and create a different environment for small creatures to thrive.
We also have the traditional tale of the Babes in the Wood that was about two children found in Wayland Wood in Norfolk. Not green this time but abandoned and looked after by robins. Interesting post Thelma.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting Rachel, though the robins may have had a hard job. The Roman children Romulus and Remus were of course taken care of by wolves.
DeleteLast night our fox cried out again and again and disturbed the city dog that is visiting us this week. Both ancestors of the wolf?
ReplyDeleteYes, the dog is probably descended from the wolf, from those first moments by the camp fire, and the smell of cooking meat I bet.
DeleteInteresting. In the US there is a family known as the Blue Fugates whose skin can be quite blue.
ReplyDeletehttps://historycollection.co/the-fugate-family-of-kentucky-had-blue-skin-for-generations/2/
Fascinating, and sad they had to hide away but luckily science came to their rescue and the gene slowly died out as they married out into the community. But definitely parallels with the green children of Woolpit.
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