114 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 



beyond mere instinct." A cage was next con- 

 structed, into which the wolves might enter, but 

 out of which they could not depart. The coyotes 

 came, admired the arrangement, sang doleful 

 lamentations over the bait, which they could see 

 and smell but could not taste, and went away 

 again. 



Disappointed here, Mr. Peale next began a series 

 of experiments with steel traps, one of which, pro- 

 fusely baited, was concealed among the leaves. 

 Plenty of tracks alone rewarded this effort. "You 

 can't live on tracks " is one of the aphorisms of 

 the Plains. Then a seductive bait was suspended 

 above the trap in the midst of several other pieces ; 

 but the expected victims, stepping circumspectly, 

 carried off all the meat except the one piece it was 

 intended they should take. Baits were next hung 

 up as before, the trap was buried in leaves and 

 these were burned, so that the trap, scorched free 

 from any odor of human hands, lay covered with 

 ashes; still the one bait over the steel jaws was 

 avoided, and no sinewy foot was pinched. Finally 

 a wicked arrangement of innocent-looking logs set 

 on a trigger was made to fall upon the wolf and 

 destroy him. Peale got his "specimen," but it 

 was only by brute force : the coyote had been a 

 match for him in brains. 



The remarkable craftiness of this animal, to- 

 gether with its secretive disposition, nocturnal 

 prowling, and power of annoyance, have caused 



