276 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 



[No. 56 



CANIS LATRANS LESTES MERKIAM 



MOUNTAIN COYOTE; NORTHWESTERN COYOTE; EJA AH of the Piute; 

 KO-LA-A WAS of the Klamath (C. H. M.) 



Canis lestes Merriam, Biol. Soc. Wash. Proc. 11 : 25, 1897. 



Type. Collected on Toyabe Mountains, near Cloverdale, central Nevada, by 

 Vernon Bailey, November 21, 1890. 



General characters. Large but slightly smaller than latrans, about the size 

 of nebracensis, but darker and with lighter dentition. Wolf like in appearance 

 (pi. 41), with erect, pointed ears, bristling mane on back of neck, and triangular 

 cape of long hairs back of shoulders ; elongated, bristle gland on top of tail 

 near base ; long, soft fur in winter ; thin harsh hair in summer. Winter pelage : 

 Upper parts light brownish gray over buffy underfur, the long coarse outer 

 hairs heavily tipped with black on mane, cape, back, top, and tip of tail ; back 

 of ears rusty brown ; muzzle, crown, outside of legs, and lower surface of tail 

 bright yellowish brown ; lower parts, except gray throat band, buffy or creamy 

 white ; nose pad, eyelids, lips, claws, and soles of feet black. Summer pelage 

 thin and harsh, darker and more brownish than in winter. Young dusky or 

 dark brown at birth, becoming buffy gray later. Skull of medium size with 

 heavy dentition when compared with southern forms, lighter dentition than in 

 latrans and nebracensis. 



Measurements. Type, adult male, measured in flesh by collector: Total 

 length, 1,116 mm; tail, 320; hind foot, 200; ear (dry), 85. Skull of type: Basal 

 length, 170; zygomatic breadth, 102. Weight estimated at about 30 pounds. 



Distribution and habitat. Coyotes cover most of the State, except 

 the coastal slope west of the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys. In 

 the southwestern corner of the State they occasionally reach almost 



to the coast on the lower 

 Rogue River and on Pis- 

 tol River (fig. 63). They 

 are scarce west of the 

 Cascades and in the 

 higher part of the range 

 but abundant and gener- 

 ally distributed over the 

 sagebrush plains east of 

 the mountains. A large 

 number of specimens, in- 

 cluding both skins and 

 skulls, from over the 

 State show little constant 

 variation except slightly 

 darker colors west of the 

 Cascades. However, the 

 size and skull characters 



are near to those of lestes, to which they are all referred. Until the 

 coyotes are more fully studied it seems best to refer all specimens 

 from central Nevada north to Alaska to this large, northern form. 



General habits. Coyotes are far more adaptable to varied condi- 

 tions and environment than are the large wolves, but seem to prefer 

 the open country and especially the arid sagebrush areas. Bold and 

 cunning, they have little fear of man or dogs and thrive among farms 

 and often up to edges of towns. Though mainly hunters of small 

 game, they will boldly attack and kill deer, antelope, sheep, goats, 

 and calves, or feast on old carcasses of any game or stock found 

 dead, proving somewhat useful scavengers as well as most destructive 

 predatory animals. 



FIGURE 63. Range of the coyote, Canis latrans lestes, 

 in Oregon. 



