Wolves and Wolf-Hounds 221 



the shoulder and weighs about no pounds. 

 A Texan wolf may not reach over eighty 

 pounds. -The bitch-wolves are smaller; and 

 moreover there is often great variation even 

 in the wolves of closely neighboring localities. 

 The wolves of the Southern plains were not 

 often formidable to large animals, even in the 

 days when they most abounded. They rarely 

 attacked the horses of the hunter, and indeed 

 were but rittle regarded by these experienced 

 animals. Theywere much more likely to gnaw 

 off the lariat with which the horse was tied, 

 than to try to molest the steed himself. They 

 preferred to prey on young animals, or on the 

 weak and disabled. They rarely molested a 

 full-grown cow or steer, still less a full-grown 

 buffalo, and, if they did attack such an ani- 

 mal, it was only when emboldened by num- 

 bers. In the plains of the upper Missouri and 

 Saskatchewan the wolf was, and is, more dan- 

 gerous, while in the northern Rockies his 

 courage and ferocity attain their highest pitch. 

 Near my own ranch the wolves have some- 

 times committed great depredations on cat- 

 tle, but they seem to have queer freaks of 

 slaughter. Usually they prey only upon calves 

 and sickly animals; but in midwinter I have 

 known one single-handed to attack and kill 



