THE PRAIRIE WOLF. 



HIS species is more commonly 

 J known in the western states 



qJ by the name Coyote, where it 



makes night so hideous that 

 novices unused to the " unearthly ser- 

 enade " feel a dismal longing for other 

 latitudes. It is in size about half way 

 between the Red Fox (see p. 67) and 

 Gray Wolf, of which we shall present 

 a portrait in a subsequent number. 

 Its color is similar to that of its larger 

 relative of the plains, but is of a more 

 yellowish cast. 



The Prairie Wolf is an inhabitant of 

 the plains and mountains west of the 

 Missouri river, and is said to be found 

 from the British possessions south into 

 Mexico, whence it derived its common 

 name, Coyote. It was formerly very 

 numerous, but the increase of popula- 

 tion and the disposition to hunt and 

 destroy it, have greatly^ reduced its 

 numbers. The Bison, which was 

 formerly its prey, having become 

 almost extinct, its food supply has been 

 largely cut off. These Wolves sub- 

 sist on any refuse they can pick up, 

 and are always found on the outskirts 

 of settlements or forts, slinking here 

 and there, eking out what subsistence 

 they may by snatching any stray 

 morsels of food that come in their way. 

 In the southern portion of its range, 

 the Coyote is a miserable cur, scarcely 

 larger than the common Fox. 



While this Wolf is an arrant 

 coward, it sometimes exhibits a good 

 deal of sagacity. Near the south coast 

 of San Francisco a farmer had been 

 much annoyed by the loss of his Chick- 

 ens. His Hounds had succeeded in 

 capturing several of the marauding 

 Coyotes, but one fellow constantly 

 eluded the pursuers by making for the 

 coast or beach, where all traces of him 



would be lost. On one occasion the 

 farmer divided his pack of Hounds and 

 with two or three of the Dogs took a 

 position near the shore. The Wolf 

 soon approached the ocean with the 

 other detachment of hounds in close 

 pursuit. It was observed that as the 

 waves receded from the shore he 

 would follow them as closely as pos- 

 sible, and made no foot prints in the 

 sand that were not quickly obliterated 

 by the swell. When at last he had 

 gone far enough, as he supposed, to 

 destroy the scent, he turned inland. 



Although members of the Dog tribe, 

 Wolves are held in utter abhorrence 

 bv domesticated Dogs. The stronp^er 

 pursue to destroy them, the weaker fly 

 from them in terror. In the earlier part 

 of English history Wolves are fre- 

 quently mentioned as a common and 

 dreaded pest. They are still found 

 in parts of France, Russia, and tlie 

 whole of western Asia. Thev are 

 very wary and dislike approaching 

 anything resembling a trap. While 

 the Coyotes possess almost identically 

 the same characteristics as other 

 Wolves, man has no reason to dread 

 them unless he meets them in hungry 

 packs. Whoever has had the misfor- 

 tune to have once been serenaded by 

 these midnight prowders can well 

 understand the grudge every man in 

 camp bears them. As soon as the 

 camp is silent these beasts of prey 

 prowl in small companies about the 

 low shrubbery which surrounds the 

 camp attracted by the appetizing smell 

 of the campers' supper. The half 

 jubilant long-drawn howl of the Coy- 

 ote is soon followed by all the available 

 vocal talent of his species in the vicin- 

 ity, to the intense disgust of all 

 creation except themselves. 



51 



