32 THE PESTS OF THE FARM. 



lrg the tail, which is rather more than a foot long. Th<? 

 height, before, is two feet three inches ; behind, it is two feet four 

 inches. The tail is bushy and bending downwards, having upon 

 it hairs upwards of five inches in length. 



The general color of this wolf is reddish brown, intermixed with 

 ferruginous and black ; but a great variety is to be observed in the 

 coloring of the wolf, as found in the northern, middle, and southern 

 regions, exhibiting gradations from grizzly white to pure black. 



THE PRAIRIE OR BARKING WOLF. This wolf frequents tha 

 prairies or natural meadows of the west, where troops or packs 

 containing a considerable number of individuals are frequently seen 

 following in the train of a herd of buffalo or deer, for the pur- 

 pose of preying on such as may die from disease, or in conse- 

 quence of wounds inflicted by the hunters. At night they also 

 approach the encampments of travelers, whom they sometimes 

 follow for the sake of the carcasses of animals which are relin- 

 quished, and by their discordant howlings, close to the tents, effec- 

 tually banish sleep from those who are unaccustomed to their 

 noise. According to Say's observation they are more numerous 

 than any of the other wolves which are found in North America. 



The barking wolf closely resembles the domestic dog of the In- 

 dians in appearance, and is remarkably active and intelligent. 

 Like the common wolf, the individuals of this species frequently 

 unite to run down deer, or a buffalo calf which has been separated 

 from the herd, though it requires the fullest exercise of all their 

 speed, sagacity and strength, to succeed in this chase. They are 

 very often exposed to great distress from want of food, and in this 

 state of famine are under the necessity of filling their stomachs 

 with wild plums, or other fruits no less indigestible, in order to 

 allay in some degree the inordinate sensations of hunger. 



This wolf barks in such a manner as to resemble the domestic 

 dog very distinctly ; the first two or three notes are not to be dis- 

 tinguished from those produced by a small tenier, but differs from 

 that of the dog by adding to these sounds a lengthened scream. 



The barking wolf is about three feet and a-half in length, of 

 which the tail forms thirteen and a-half inches, exclusive of the 

 hair at its extremity. The ears are four inches long from the top 

 of the head, and the distance from the anterior canthus of the eye 

 to the end of the snout is three inches and three-fourths. 



The general color of the barking wolf is cinerious, or gray inter- ' 

 mingled with black, and dull fulvous or cinnamon above. The 



