Coyote 791 



black; its under side whitish basally, becoming pale fulvous on 

 distal half and tipped and edged with black."^ {Merriam}) 



The first of the above colour descriptions fits word for 

 word and hair for hair to the typical male Gray-wolf described 

 in the Wolf chapter (pp. 750-1). The only difi^erence I find on 

 comparing many skins of Gray-wolf and Coyote is in the under- 

 fur of the back, which usually is gray-brown in the former, 

 and sienna-brown ih the latter. There are many exceptions, 

 however, so that we must look to the size of the animal, with 

 its cranial and dental character, for reliable diagnosis. 



Four races of the large Coyote are recognized: 



latrans Say, the typical form. 



nebracensis Merriam, similar but "everywhere paler; 

 backs of ears buff instead of fulvous; skull and 

 teeth smaller." 



texensis Bailey, like nebracensis, " but darker, brighter- 

 coloured, and with lighter dentition; smaller, 

 brighter, and more fulvous than latrans." 



lesfes Merriam, very similar to latrans in size and 

 colour, "cranial characters as in nebracensis, but 

 skull and teeth averaging somewhat larger." 



Life-history. 



While we speak broadly of the Coyote as though it were 

 one species, it should be remembered that scientists recognize 

 at least a dozen kinds that are closely akin and yet have their 

 own peculiarities and habitat. But they agree in their general 

 style and character; the Coyotes everywhere are sons of the 



^ The Winnipeg specimen measured above agrees fairly well in colour with this 

 description, but has the lips fulvous, a black spot on the forepart of each fore-leg, 

 and a large black spot on the base of the tail over the gland. The under-fur every- 

 where is plumbeous, except on the throat, where it is pure white. 



' Revision of Coyotes, Proc. Bio. Soc, Washington, Vol. XI, pp. 19-33, March 15, 

 1897. 



