54 



FLESH-EATERS 



The Gray Wolf, or Timber Wolf, 1 is really a formidable 

 animal, but in its dealings with men it has learned to fear 

 the deadly rifle, the poison pot, and the trap. Storms, cold, 

 and fatigue affect it but little, and its powerful teeth, strong 

 jaws, and wide gape enable it to bite with great cutting power. 



In fighting with dogs, 

 every well-aimed snap 

 means either a deep 

 wound or a piece of 

 flesh bitten out. 



The type of this 

 species is a strong, ro- 

 bust animal, cunning 

 and merciless. Its 

 winter coat is long, 

 shaggy, and coarse- 

 haired. Its standard 

 color is mixed black 

 and white, but it varies greatly and unaccountably. In Florida 

 it is often black, in Texas reddish brown, and in the far North 

 it varies from black to white. Although in some localities 

 it is called the Timber W'olf, it is equally at home on the 

 treeless prairies of the West, in the dark, evergreen forests 

 of British Columbia, and on the desolate barren grounds of 

 arctic America. 



Although once very abundant on the Great Plains, the 

 coming of the cattle ranchman and sheep-herder provoked 

 against the Gray Wolf and coyote a relentless war of extermi- 



1 Ca'nis oc-ci-den-tal'is. 



GRAY WOLF. 



