264 



THE PRAIRIE WOLF. 



of its fur vary from that of the common "Wolf, but there are various differences of structure 

 in the position of the eye, the peculiar bushiness of the hair, and other peculiarities, which 

 have entitled it to rank as a separate species. 



The American Wolves partake of the general lupine character, being fierce, dangerous, 

 and cowardly, like their European brethren. They are marvellously pusillanimous when they 

 find themselves fairly inclosed ; and even if their prison-house be a large yard they crouch 

 timidly in the corners, and do not venture to attack a human being if he enters the same 

 inclosure. Audubon mentions a curious instance of this strange timidity in so fierce an animal, 

 and of which he was an eye-witness. 



A farmer had suffered greatly from the Wolves, and had determined to take his revenge 

 "by means of pitfalls, of which he had dug several within easy reach of his residence. They 



were eight feet in depth, and wider at 

 the bottom than at the top. Into one 

 of these traps three fine Wolves had 

 fallen ; two of them being black and the 

 other a brindled animal. To the very 

 great astonishment of M. Audubon, the 

 farmer got into the pit, pulled out the 

 hind-legs of the Wolves as they lay 

 trembling at the bottom, and with his 

 knife severed the chief tendon of the 

 hind -limbs, so as to prevent their escape. 

 The farmer was thus repaying himself 

 for the damage which he had suffered, 

 for the skins of the captured Wolves 

 were sufficiently valuable to reimburse 

 him for his labor and previous losses. 



Among the Esquimaux the Wolves 

 are caught in traps made of large blocks 

 of ice, and constructed in precisely the 

 same manner as an ordinary mouse-trap 

 with a drop-door. The trap is made so 

 narrow that the Wolf cannot turn him- 

 self, and when he is fairly inclosed by 

 the treacherous door, he is put to death 

 by spears, which are thrust through in- 

 terstices left for that purpose. 



PRAIRIE WOLF.-Ctais latrana. 



THERE is a rather smaller species 



of Wolf, which is found in great numbers upon the American prairies, and named for that 

 reason the PEAIEIE WOLF. These animals are always found hanging on the outskirts of the 

 numerous herds of bisons that roam the prairies, and pick up a subsistence by assailing the 

 weakly and wounded members of the herd. Small as is each individual Wolf, it becomes a 

 terrible assailant when backed by numbers, and seldom fails to bring to the ground any 

 animal which may be unfortunate enough to attract its attention. 



When they have once brought their prey to the ground, they make marvellously short 

 work. There is a scuffle of some two minutes in length, during which the Wolves are so 

 eagerly plying their feet and jaws that nothing is visible except a cloud of dust and hair, in 

 the midst of which is a mass of whisking tails. The dusty cloud then subsides, and the 

 Wolves are seen moving slowly away from the scene of their late repast. They also are in the 

 habit of accompanying the hunters through their long peregrinations over the prairies, always 

 hanging behind at respectful distances, and at night encamping within easy range of the fire. 

 They seem never to injure the hunter or his horse, preferring to make use of his superior 

 powers in procuring them a daily supply of food. They are wise in so doing, as the hunter 



