798 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



they will sit and watch, but are ever ready to skurry home on 

 the slightest alarm. 



A glimpse of their life at this time was secured by Professor 

 John Macoun, of Ottawa, Ont., while exploring near Crane 

 Lake, Sask., in 1884. On June 23, he came on a Coyote family 

 — father, mother, and at least 3 young ones. At his approach 

 all ran into the den. 



As they get older. Barton says that the cubs scratch out 

 little pockets leading from the main den. In digging after 

 them, these are frequently covered over and escape notice, so 

 that some of the little ones are never found. 



I have a most interesting photograph by William McFad- 

 den, of Denver, showing 9 young Coyotes playing about the 

 door of the house. This was taken in June. The young were 

 about one-third grown; both parents were seen in attendance 

 on them, and when they found that the home was discovered, 

 they moved the young ones elsewhere. (Plate LXXI.) 



This habit is quite general among Coyotes. Barton 

 writes that on May 21, 1905, he found a den in a ravine 

 a mile out of Boissevain, Man. The mother was running 

 around and the pups squealing deep in the hole. But when 

 he went back next day to dig them out, the litter had been 

 moved evidently to a distance, for a careful search in the 

 neighbourhood failed to locate them. 



In July the young are half grown. They now begin to 

 run with their parents and learn the arts of hunting. At this 

 season the mother especially guards and trains them carefully. 

 Her warning call of danger is a very distinctive cry — a pro- 

 longed, quavering yelp or squall, rising in pitch towards 

 the end. 



" I remember [says Barton] on one occasion I was hunting 

 a young Coyote, when the mother coursed along a neighbouring 

 height uttering this cry. I had two foxhounds in leash, they 

 were after her, but a few minutes later came racing towards 

 me in terror, closely pursued by the mother. They were so 

 embarrassed by the leash and she was so active that she ran 

 around and bit tliem as often as she chose." 



