FIGHT- 

 ING 



808 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



On March i8, 1883, I had an experience that shows 

 somewhat of the mind of the Prairie-wolf. 



About 9 A.M. I was leaving the barnyard with team and 

 sleigh to get a load of wood. As I rounded the stable I came 

 into full view of a dead calf that was lying on the open prairie 75 

 yards away. A Wolf was tearing at the calf; he saw me plainly 

 but went on with his eating. Of course I had no gun; I knew 

 that if I stopped now to get a gun the Wolf would run. So I 

 kept straight on. I passed within 30 yards of him; he watched 

 me, but kept on eating. After I was 300 yards away I turned 

 back by another road, intending to go cautiously to the house 

 and get the gun, but the moment I left the beaten road that 

 watchful Wolf seemed to divine my purpose, and ran as though 

 already the lead were flying after him. 



A similar incident is narrated by Dr. W. T. Hornaday." 



"The delicacy of the Coyote's judgment in keeping always 

 beyond fair gun-shots is truly wonderful. If he is not a mind- 

 reader his actions belie him. Twice in Montana, each time 

 for two weeks, have I tried my utmost to shoot a Coyote; but 

 during those periods not one would offer more than a running 

 shot at three hundred yards or more. Twice, however, — and 

 immediately after the above, — when riding quite unarmed, 

 have Coyotes sat down beside the trail, waited for me to ap- 

 proach within forty yards, then yawned in a bored manner, and 

 slowly trotted off^. It is my belief that those animals knew 

 perfectly well my inability to shoot." 



This is an incident of a kind that has led many to credit 

 this animal (and others) with the power of telepathy. Before 

 accepting such an explanation we must have many cognate 

 instances recorded by trained observers and also have a fuller 

 knowledge of the animal's sense-capacity in an ordinary 

 way. 



In August, 1886, I saw 2 female Coyotes hght in a cage. 

 They snapped chiefly at each other's necks. The victor, how- 

 ever, disabled and subdued the other by a serious bite in the 



" Amcr. Nat. Hist., 1904, p. 24. 



