39 6 The Wilderness Hunter. 



frequently seen by the settlers of the locality. This 

 occurred near Thompson's Falls, Montana. 



Usually wolves are found singly, in pairs, or in family 

 parties, each having a large beat over which it regularly 

 hunts, and also at times shifting its grounds and travelling 

 immense distances in order to take up a temporary abode 

 in some new locality for they are great wanderers. It is 

 only under stress of severe weather that they band to- 

 gether in packs. They prefer to creep on their prey and 

 seize it by a sudden pounce, but, unlike the cougar, they 

 also run it down in fair chase. Their slouching, tireless 

 gallop enables them often to overtake deer, antelope, or 

 other quarry ; though under favorable circumstances, 

 especially if near a lake, the latter frequently escape. 

 Whether wolves run cunning I do not know ; but I think 

 they must, for coyotes certainly do. A coyote cannot run 

 down a jack-rabbit ; but two or three working together 

 will often catch one. Once I saw three start a jack, which 

 ran right away from them ; but they spread out, and fol- 

 lowed. Pretty soon the jack turned slightly, and ran near 

 one of the outside ones, saw it, became much frightened, 

 and turned at right angles, so as soon to nearly run into 

 the other outside one, which had kept straight on. This 

 happened several times, and then the confused jack lay 

 down under a sage-bush and was seized. So I have seen 

 two coyotes attempting to get at a newly dropped antelope 

 kid. One would make a feint of attack, and lure the dam 

 into a rush at him, while the other stole round to get at 

 the kid. The dam, as always with these spirited little 

 prong-bucks, made a good fight, and kept the assailants 



