CANIS LATBANS. 31 



plains, where it was abundant half a century ago. Nevertheless, 

 Dr. Coues had himself believed, what we find it difficult to doubt, that 

 it may yet be found in various regions where the Common Wolf has 

 now ceased to exist. Its less dangerous nature must have caused it to 

 be less earnestly pursued, while its smaller size helps it to escape the 

 observation of pursuers. Even nearly seventy years ago, the Coyote 

 was, Mr. Say tells us, far more numerous than the Wolf. That 

 author (who first named it) has described various instances of its 

 cunning and dexterity in avoiding different kinds of traps. 



It appears to be certain that these animals sometimes hunt in packs, 

 though Prinz Wied only happened to meet with them singly. The 

 Coyote ranges, at the least, as far as the fifty-fifth degree of north 

 latitude, while it extends southwards through Central America into 

 Costa Rica. According to Messrs. Godman and Salvin, it is of very 

 local distribution in Guatemala. It is, however, very abundant in 

 Northern Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas. 



The animal has a bad name for its howling habit. As to this, 

 Dr. Coues says, " One must have spent an hour or two vainly trying to 

 sleep, before he is in a condition to appreciate the full force of the 

 annoyance." The howling of two or three wolves gives the impression 

 that a score are engaged, so many and so long-drawn are the notes, 

 and so uninterruptedly are they continued by one individual after 

 another. A short, sharp bark is followed by others, which grow 

 faster and faster, becoming a long-drawn, lugubrious howl. They will 

 give tongue at any time in the night, as well as morning and evening, 

 though they are rarely or ever heard during the day. The Coyote feeds 

 greedily upon all kinds of animal substances, and has been known to 

 follow for days in the trail of a travelling party, and to rush in each 

 morning just after camp was broken, to obtain whatever eatable refuse 

 was left behind. If it cannot get animal food, it will eat vegetable 

 substances. In the fall of the year it feeds extensively on the fiuit of 

 the prickly pear, and eats juniper-berries in the winter. 



All means are deemed good to destroy these animals and to obtain 

 their fur ; but it is very difficult to trap them, on account of their 

 extreme wariness and cunning. They are therefore commonly enough 



