540 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of cows, and making selection of one, two, or three of them, will go 

 in front of the cow, and by fierce attack seek to separate her from her 

 calf and distract her attention, while others sneak behind and disable 

 or kill the calf. If the cow is a good fighter and drives them away 

 from the wounded calf, they bide their time until she is obliged to go 

 for a drink or food, and then have a feast upon veal. Their method 

 of chasing the antelope shows that they understand well the habits 

 of different animals. An antelope when running takes a circle of two 

 or three miles, and then returns to the starting-point. So the wolves 

 combine and establish relays (as it were) on this circle : the first lead- 

 ers running the frightened animals half a mile, perhaps, they drop out> 

 and the next relay does the same, and thus by relays they worry the 

 antelope until it falls exhausted; they then give a peculiar cry or bark, a 

 summons which calls the pack together to the feast. It is a fine sight to 

 look upon a number of antelopes running freely across the hills, now 

 out of sight in a hollow, then leaping, heads up, over the ridge, show- 

 ing enjoyment in every motion. Often, when one is out riding, they 

 will run parallel to the road, or the carriage, a long way. They are 

 not wise animals, and often fall victims to their curiosity. A red rag 

 on a stick thrust in the ground, or some other small object attracts 

 them : they stop to look, get closer to investigate, and are thus brought 

 within gunshot of the wily hunter lying in ambush who prepared the 

 decoy. There was a time, on the ranch, when we were subject to 

 the depredations of some animal carrying destruction among the sheep 

 after they were put up for the night in one of the corrals near the 

 hills. This corral, in which one of the "bands" was inclosed, was 

 about four miles from the house, the herder in charge having a cabin 

 close by. The dogs did not make the usual disturbance, but seemed 

 completely cowed when the robber was about. This sign, as well as 

 some others, seemed to indicate that the foe was a mountain-lion. 

 The creature kept carefully out of sight, but managed to raid at night, 

 with much destruction ; so the owners and herders in turn mounted 

 guard at night, armed. The wary creature did not approach the 

 inclosure while it was thus guarded, but it was evident he was near, 

 though never seeming to come by the same path twice, and watch- 

 ing the guard. One of the men left his post at daylight, but before 

 sunrise the enemy seized the advantage and killed a sheep for his 

 breakfast. Another morning the herder having been on guard, went 

 in for his morning meal, thinking all safe. Hearing a suspicious sound 

 he sprang to the door, and opened it, but too late, as the form of a 

 beast disappeared in the brush. After a little time a light snow fell, 

 and an endeavor was made to track the unknown. Following up the 

 mountain-side at length, upon a hill, in rather a secluded, rocky place, 

 commanding a good lookout, the beast's lair seemed to be found, but 

 ho was not at home. Poisoned meat was several times placed con- 

 veniently for him, but, though it seemed sometimes to have been carried 





