THE PRAIRIE WOl.r 183 



them by the hour; and, when the visit was returned, the 

 guests were treated with becoming kindness and consider- 

 ation. This would seem to be a proof positive that both 

 species consider themselves close kindred ; for I have nev- 

 er seen the domestic dogs display the same feelings toward 

 the large gray wolf, and a fox was perfectly abhorrent in 

 their sight. 



Some of the Indian dogs resemble coyotes so much that 

 it would be hard to distinguish which is which by form 

 and color, and often in habits ; and even the known half- 

 breeds seem more inclined to take after the sire than the 

 dam in every way. The latter have a keen nose, and, when 

 trained, make excellent hunting-dogs; but they are not 

 much in a tussle with a wild animal, and are anything but 

 playfully sociable and affectionate with their human mas- 

 ters or their families. 



On the occasion to which I refer, the hunt was organized 

 for the purpose of enjoying a national holiday, clearing 

 the coyotes out of a region in which they were becoming 

 too numerous to be agreeable acquaintances of some of the 

 denizens of the farm -yard, and to afford visitors a day's 

 amusement. I stopped at the house selected for a rendez- 

 vous, and before daylight of the hunting morning was 

 aroused from a sound sleep by a thundering knock at the 

 door, the stamping of horses, the growling and fighting of 

 dogs, and the strong language of men who were yelling at 

 the combatants. These early arrivals being admitted, they 

 were followed in such rapid succession by others that fif- 

 teen had assembled by five o'clock, and they were accom- 

 panied by as motley a lot of dogs as could possibly be got 

 together. After a hearty though hasty breakfast, which 

 was often interrupted by yells at the canine combatants, 

 we mounted our steeds and started for cover at a good 

 trot. The snarling pack, as they moved along, presented a 

 sorry appearance, and looked perfect specimens of what a 

 Falstaffian canine regiment ought to be. There were sheep- 

 dogs, curs, mongrel pointers and setters, terriers, mastiffs, 

 Newfoundlands, and hounds of all kinds and crosses, from 



