504 



THE CARNIVORES 



ites. On occasion, these wolves will attack adult human beings, for which purpose 

 two or more will combine together ; and in certain districts a large number of 

 children are annually carried off by them from the villages. In the South Mahratta 

 country, Sir W. Elliot writes that he has seen a small pack "steal round a herd of 

 antelope, and conceal themselves on different sides till an opportunity occurs of 

 seizing one of them unawares, as they approach, whilst grazing, to one or other 

 of their hidden assailants. On one occasion, three wolves were seen to chase a herd 

 of gazelles across a ravine in which two others were lying in wait. They succeeded 

 in seizing a female gazelle, which was taken from them. They have frequently been 





THE COYOTE. 

 (One-ninth natural size.) 



seen to course and run down hares and foxes, and it is a common belief of the peas- 

 ants that in the open plains, where there is no cover or concealment, they scrape a 

 hole in the earth, in which one of the pack lies down and remains hidden while the 

 iers drive the herd of antelopes over him. Their chief prey is, however, sheep. ' ' 



THE COYOTE ( Cants latrans) 



Whatever doubt there may be as to the right of the Indian wolf to specific dis- 

 MI, there can be none in the case of the coyote, or prairie-wolf, of North 



