752 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



spread ears, and pale, straw-coloured eyes are characteristic. 

 Unfortunately for those who propose a friendly study of the 

 living Wolf, the skull furnishes the most reliable means of 

 identification. 



Life-history. 



RANGE The Wolf most common in Manitoba is probably the 



Gray-wolf or Buffalo-runner. But it seems likely that in the 

 timbered country we have also the Timber-wolf or Cants 

 nuhilus Say. At present it is impossible to decide any of these 

 points with certainty. 



Map No. 42 shows what little is known of their ranges. It 

 is quite possible that all these forms are races of two or even 

 more species. The type localities are given for the principal 

 forms that have been recognized. 



INDIVID- The home-region usually corresponds somewhat with the 



RANGE size of the animal. It is probable that the Wolf's home area 

 is larger than that of any other of our non-migratory animals, 

 because it is a large animal — therefore compelled to find much 

 food — a flesh-eater, whose food supply is notoriously uncer- 

 tain, and a swift-footed animal that can travel great distances. 

 Dr. James R. Walker and others of Pine Ridge, S. Dak., 

 told me that in 1902 an enormous white Wolf had been living 

 around there for three years. It was usually seen within 15 

 miles of Pine Ridge. 



In New Mexico, several Wolves were well known by their 

 individual marks and believed to be permanent residents of 

 a region about 30 miles across. In Dakota, near Medora, 

 was a well-known Wolf, called Mountain Billy; he was so 

 named because he was always found near a certain mountain 

 called Sentinel Butte. This would limit his range to a radius 

 of a dozen miles. 



An extraordinary story of Wolf endurance is related by 

 Archbishop Tache, of St. Boniface, Man.' A large Wolf had 



'■ Esquisse sur le Nord-ouesl, dc V Ameriqne, 1901 (original edition, 1868), pp. 120-1. 



