MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 79 



In the winter of 1877 or 1878, Mr. Wilcox.had been to do some surveying 

 on the upper part of Sand creek, east of Kettle river. Returning to Pine 

 City through the woods with no roads, he heard a wolf cry behind him as 

 early as nine o'clock in the forenoon; and, looking back, he saw him with- 

 in a distance of twenty rods. On being shouted at this wolf turned back; 

 but within a half hour others, hearing his howls, had joined him, and 

 about the middle of the forenoon, looking back across a little swamp that 

 he had crossed, Mr. W. saw three wolves coming along on his track, every 

 now and then putting down their noses to the scent and uttering short 

 yelps. This was at a distance of twenty-five miles or more from his home, 

 and he would probably see no human being till reaching his own door, at 

 the south end of Cross lake, a half mile southeast of Pine City. To be 

 pursued and treed would be to starve to death. An expedient never before 

 heard of by Mr. W., saved his life. Passing through a piece of birch 

 woods, he stripped off a large amount of the bark and made a fire of it 

 exactly in his path. Then he hurried on, and soon, in about a quarter 

 of an hour, when the wolves came up to this fire, they made all the woods 

 ring with their howls of astonishment, rage, and disappointment. Their 

 cries continued to be heard for an hour, or to the distance of fully two 

 miles; but as he heard no more of them later, he supposes Lone of them 

 ventured beyond this barrier of fire. 



This danger from wolves is only in the last part of winter and spring; 

 and their chasing lone travelers at other seasons has never been heard of. 



During the winter of 1884-85, wolves became very abundant 

 and insolent in Wright county, and were seen about the out- 

 skirts of Monticello in broad daylight almost daily, though 

 they were sufficiently wary to escape capture. 



Canis latrans SAY. 



COYOTE. 



Canis latrans SAY, HAUL AN, AUDUBON, BAIRD, Co TIES, etc. 

 Canis frustror WOODHOUSE. 

 Canis ochropus ESCHSCH, etc. 



The occurrence of the prairie wolf in Minnesota must rest 

 on other than personal information. I presume it is still not 

 infrequent in the south-western counties. 



Color dingy white, suffused above with tawny or grey. 

 The light ground color is marked by obscure streaks of black, 

 especially on the back and hips. The top of the muzzle, ears, 

 and outsides of legs is tan color. 



Entire length, 54 inches, of which the tail measures 18, nose 

 to eye, 4; nose to ear, 8; nose to occiput, 8-9; hight at should- 

 er, 24. In general the size and proportions are those of a fair 

 sized pointer dog. 



