MAMMALIA — WOLF 



147 



THE PRAIRIE, OR BARKING WOLF.i 







siw^ 



This wolf frequents the prairies or natural meadows of the west, where 

 troops or packs, containing a considerable number of individuals, are fre- 

 quently seen following in the train of a herd of buffalo or deer, for the 

 purpose of preying on such as may die from disease, or in consequence of 

 wounds inflicted by the hunters. At night they also approach the en- 

 campment of travellers, whom they sometimes follow for the sake of 

 the carcasses of animals which are relinquished, and, by their discordant 

 howlings close to the tents, effectually banish sleep from those who are 

 unaccustomed to their noise. According to Say's observation, they are more 

 numerous than any of the other wolves which are found in North America. 



The barking wolf closely resembles the domestic dog of the Indians in 

 appearance, and is remarkably active and intelligent. Like the common 

 wolf, the individuals of this species frequently unite to run down deer, or a 

 buffalo calf which has been separated from the herd, though it requires the 

 fullest exercise of all their speed, sagacity, and strength to succeed in this 

 chase. They are very often exposed to great distress from want of food, 

 and in this state of famine are under the necessity of filling their stomachs 

 with wild plums, or other fruits no less indigestible, in order to allay in some 

 degree the inordinate sensations of hunger. 



In confirmation of the sagacity of this wolf, Ave shall quote from Say, to 

 whom we owe all that has yet been made known on this species, some 

 anecdotes respecting it. " Mr Peale constructed and tried various kinds of 

 traps to take them, one of which was of the description called a 'live trap, 1 

 a shallow box reversed and supported at one end by the well known kind 

 of trap-sticks usually called the ' figure four,' which elevated the front of the 

 trap upwards of three feet above its slab flooring; the trap was about six 

 feet long, and nearly the same in breadth, and was plentifully baited witu 

 offal. Notwithstanding this arrangement, a wolf actually burrowed under 

 the flooring, and pulled down the bait through the crevices of the floor • 



1 Canis latrans, Say. 



