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CHAPTEE XV. 



WOLVES, JACK BABBIT, ROCK RABBIT, AND PRAIRIE DOG. 



(Canis Lupus, Occidentalis.) 



THERE is scarcely a portion of the prairie that can be 

 traversed by the hunter on which he will not see wolves. 

 These are of two kinds 



The buffalo wolf, as tall as an ordinary greyhound, 

 lean, gaunt, and hungry-looking ; the prairie wolf (mis- 

 called coyote on the middle and northern plains), about 

 half-way in size between the fox and the buffalo wolf. 

 The coyote proper I have never seen except in Texas 

 and Mexico. It is a miserable little cur of an animal, 

 scarcely larger than a fox. 



All of these wolves are exceedingly cowardly, one 

 alone not possessing courage enough to attack even a 

 sheep. When in packs, and very hungry, they have been 

 known to muster up resolution enough to attack an ox or 

 cow, if the latter be entirely alone. Writers of all ages 

 have linked the name of the wolf with hypocrisy, with 

 famine, and with ferocity, until we have come to regard the 

 animal as the incarnation of ail that is mean, treacherous, 

 bloodthirsty, and dangerous. What American boy but 

 has felt the glow of enthusiasm or tremor of terror on 

 reading the exploit of the heroic young Putnam ? It is 

 not a grateful office to divest the imagination of ideas 

 imbibed from childish story-books ; but truth compels me 

 to assert that, of all the carnivorous animals of equal size 

 and strength, he is the most harmless to beast and the 



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