iv THE HOUND OF THE PLAINS III 



of her den, and the four whelps romping in the 

 sunshine. The father of this family kept out of 

 sight, but the second day I caught sight of him in 

 pursuit of a doe antelope and her fawn. 



The doe was backing away on the plain, keep- 

 ing the little one, who seemed to understand its 

 part perfectly, close to her hind legs. Following 

 her closely was the wolf, frequently making a dash 

 to the right or left, to get at the fawn, but each 

 time the brave little mother, whirling alertly, would 

 present to him her lowered head, and make a dash 

 at his skull with her sharp fore hoofs. Thus she 

 retreated ; but I fear that the pursuer's longer 

 breath and varied tactics won the day at last. It 

 is said that this wolf can even kill the rattlesnake, 

 by sheer quickness of onslaught. 



A prime characteristic of the coyote is his aston- 

 ishing voice, which differs so much from the well- 

 known wolfish howl of other members of his race 

 as to have suggested the specific name Cants 

 latrans, or barking wolf. It begins with a series 

 of sharp yelps which quickly run into a prolonged 

 howl that may strike you as dismal or simply in- 

 teresting hardly alarming as you happen to 

 feel. Often these yelps and howls are repeated 

 with such rapidity and ventriloquistic force, as to 

 seem to fill the whole horizon, and the unsophisti- 

 cated traveller will be certain a large pack is near 

 him, when in fact the whole clamor is raised by 

 one, or at most two, lean and hungry barkers. 



