WOLVES. 501 



account of this greater length of the fur, the coyote appears to be a thicker built 

 and shorter-legged animal than it really is. The colour varies considerably at 

 different seasons of the year, being of a bright fulvous brown in summer, and grey 

 or greyish in winter; this ground-colour at both seasons being overlaid with a 

 shading of black, which tends to form stripes along the back and across the 

 shoulders and loins. The under-parts are of a dirty white tint; while the 

 upper portion of the muzzle, and the outsides of the ears and legs, are generally 

 tawny. The coyote ranges from the south of Costa Rica, in Central America, to 

 the lower portions of Hudson's Bay. It is still abundant in Texas and Northern 

 Mexico, but is rare in Guatemala ; and it has been suggested that it is but a com- 

 paratively recent immigrant into Central America. 



The coyote is more generally in the habit of burrowing in the ground than 

 the common wolf; it is also far less savage and destructive, and becomes more 

 docile and gentle in captivity. Like the common wolf, it will on occasions hunt 

 in packs ; and it is at least as noisy an animal, although the tone of its howl is 

 quite different. As regards food, it appears to be almost omnivorous ; and, when 

 an animal diet is unattainable, it will feed upon juniper-berries, or the prickly 

 pear. Rabbits, rats, young birds, etc., form, however, its staple diet; and it 

 does not appear that it ever attacks the larger mammals, although, when 

 wounded and brought to bay, it will defend itself fiercely. In speed it is far 

 inferior to the wolf, and it can be readily overtaken by a good horse. The cubs 

 are born in May and June ; the number in a litter usually being five or six, 

 but occasionally ten. 



THE ANTARCTIC WOLF (Canis antarcticus). 



Seeing that no true wolf is found in continental South America, it is strange 

 to meet with a small species, apparently nearly allied to the coyote, inhabiting the 

 Falkland Islands. The antarctic wolf is rather smaller than the larger individuals 

 of the coyote, and has shorter fur and a less bushy tail. The general colour is 

 yellowish mingled with black, the individual hairs being yellow at the base, 

 with black tips ; the fur of the under-parts is whitish. White is also the colour 

 of the fur on the lips, chin, and throat, as well as on the inner margins of the ears. 

 The most characteristic coloration is, however, that of the tail, in which the first 

 two-fifths are of the same hue as the body, the next two-fifths black, and the 

 remainder white. 



The antarctic wolf was discovered by Pernety during his voyage in the years 

 1763 and 1764, and was again observed by Commodore Byron of H.M.S. Dolphin, 

 who circumnavigated the world in 1767. Darwin, who saw -them during the 

 voyage of the Beagle, writes that " these wolves are well known, from Byron's 

 account of their tameness and curiosity, which the sailors, who ran into the water 

 to avoid them, mistook for fierceness. To this day their manners remain the same. 

 They have been observed to enter a tent, and actually pull some meat from 

 beneath the head of a sleeping seaman. The Guachos also have frequently in the 

 evening killed them, by holding out a piece of meat in one hand, and in the other 

 a knife ready to stick them. As far as I am aware, there is no other instance in 



