86 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



crippled coyote as though taking care of him, 

 and endeavour to lure away any hunter who ap- 

 proached. 



Someone has said that a beautiful coyote 

 hide wraps up more deviltry than any other 

 hide of equal dimensions stretched over an 

 animated form. His successful cunning and his 

 relentless ways of getting a living cause him to be 

 cursed by those whom he plunders. But he 

 is always interesting and appears to enjoy life 

 even in the midst of lean times. 



The coyote is the Clown of the Prairie. He 

 is wise, cynical, and a good actor. He has a 

 liking for action and adventure. He really is 

 a happy fellow, something of a philosopher and 

 full of wit. 



I have seen a coyote look at a deserted and 

 tumble-down building and strike an attitude of 

 mockery at the failures of man. Sometimes he 

 catches a chicken while the family is away; and, 

 carrying this to the back porch to feast, leaves 

 the unconsumed feathers there. Two nights a 

 coyote raided a settler's hen roost and each time 

 left the feathers near my camp. I was ordered 

 out of the country ! 



Once I tried for more than half a day to get 

 a picture of a coyote. He appeared to know 

 that I was unarmed and harmless, and allowed 

 me to approach moderately close, but not quite 



