214 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



black, a black spot on the upper side about midway of its length ; 

 skull narroAv, the nose slender; teeth small for the genus, with 

 wide spaces between the premolars. 



Lenqth about 1133 mm. (45 inches); tail vertebras 300 

 ( 12) ; hind foot 180 (7.10). Female smaller. 



Tvi>e locality. California, probably in the central part of the 

 State. 



Valle}- Coyotes inhabit the rcg"ion between the Sierra Nevada 

 and the Pacific Ocean. This race probably does not go high in 

 the mountains, but fref|uents the foothills and valleys, where they 

 are common. As Coyotes obtain a considerable part of their prey 

 by running it down they hunt principally in open ground, where 

 their game has less opportunity to evade them. Coyotes eat al- 

 most anything in the way of flesli obtainable, including carrion 

 though they prefer fresh meat. They eat beetles, grasshoppers 

 and other insects, grapes and other fruit. They are often a seri- 

 ous pest to sheep owners as mutton is a favorite article ot diet with 

 them. 



On the other hand Coyotes are a material help to the vine- 

 yardist by keq>ing hares in check, though they sometimes help 

 themselves to a few grapes or rarely a chicken, in payment of their 

 services. It will be remembered that a few years since the State 

 Legislature passed a law giving a bounty for the destruction of 

 Coyotes, with disastrous results to the State treasury and no last- 

 ing benefits to the sheep and cattle industries. One of the results 

 of this unwise law was the great increase of hares and the giving 

 of bounties by several Counties for the destruction of hares. 



Coyotes are swift of foot and able to maintain a rapid run 

 a considerable time. They show considerable skill and cunning in 

 hunting tobether, but not to the extent that is sometimes credit- 

 ed to them. They rarely liunt in large packs, seldom more than 

 three or four in compau}-, and most frequently alone. 



Their voice is similar to that of a dog, for which reason they 

 have been called Barking Wolves. Their usual series of notes is 

 several short barks followed by a longer note that may be termed 



