THE COYOTE. 331 
prairies, always hanging behind at respectful distances, and at night encamping within easy 
range of the fire. They seem never to injure the hunter or his horse, preferring to make 
use of his superior powers in procuring them a daily supply of food. They are wise in so 
doing, as the hunter seldom requires more than the “hump,” tongue, marrow-bones, and 
skin of the slaughtered bison, and leaves the remainder of the huge carcass for the 
Wolves. 
ANOTHER well-known American Wolf is the Coyorr, or Casotg, in which there is 
something of the vulpine aspect. In habits it resembles the other Wolves. According to 
European ideas, the flesh of the Wolf would be thought a very strange, and decidedly 
repulsive, article of diet. But it is found by those who have had practical experience on 
this subject, that the Wolf, when properly dressed, affords a really excellent dinner, the 
tables being thus tuned on him. The ribs are the portion which are most esteemed. 
COYOTE.—Canis échropus, 
Like many other wild animals, the Wolf will feign death when it has fallen into the 
hands of its pursuers, and finds that escape is impossible. So admirably will it achieve 
this feat that it has often deceived the experienced eyes of the hunter, and, taking advan- 
tage of an unguarded moment on his part, has made good its escape. How perseveringly 
the animal will enact his part may be imagined from the description of a captive Wolf 
given by Captain Lyon, in his private journal. 
The Wolf had been brought on board apparently dead, but as the eyes were observed 
to wink when an object was passed rapidly before them, a rope was fastened to his hind- 
legs, and he was suspended from the rigging, with his head downwards. Suddenly he 
threw off all disguise, and began to snap viciously in all directions ; at one time aiming 
his attacks at the persons who surrounded him, and at another moment curling himself 
upwards and trying to bite the rope asunder. He was so very full of life that it required 
several heavy blows on his head, and the employment of a bayonet, to reduce him in 
reality to the state which he had previously been feigning. 
It was formerly supposed that the Wolf was an untameable animal, but it is now 
known that there are few creatures which are more susceptible of affection than the Wolf, 
if it be captured when young, and treated rightly. It will follow its master like a dog, 
will obey his orders readily, will recognise him after a long term of absence, and in all 
things conduct itself with a propriety that is not always found in the domesticated dogs. 
Several instances of this tameable disposition of the Wolf are well known. One such 
example is afforded by the tame Wolf which belonged to Mr, F, Cuvier, and which 
recognised him after an absence of three years. 
