90 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



stones. The den commonly is in an out-of-the- 

 way place and the entrance to it is concealed 

 by stones or bushes. 



Coyotes often have three or more dens. A 

 change is probably helpful in keeping down para- 

 sites, and I am certain that their use of more 

 than one den confuses and defeats their pursuers. 

 Many a man has dug into a coyote's den and 

 found it empty when only the day before he had 

 seen it used by the entire family. 



The young are born in April or May, in lit- 

 ters of from five to ten. They grow rapidly 

 and in a few weeks show all the cunning ways 

 and playfulness of puppies. When safe they 

 spend hours outside the den, wrestling, digging, 

 or sleeping in the sun. In two dens I examined 

 each youngster had a separate compartment 

 or pocket for himself; and, judging from claw 

 marks, probably he had dug this himself. In 

 July the youngsters are taken out into the 

 world, where they learn the tactics of wresting 

 a living from the fields. 



The coyote is a swift runner and easily out- 

 strips the gray wolf. The average horse cannot 

 catch him and probably the greyhound is the 

 only dog that can overtake him. Swift as he 

 is, however, the jack rabbit and the antelope 

 leave him behind. 



Coyotes often hunt in pairs and occasionally 



