1 14 SPOK TIXG A I) } 'ENTl 'RK 



west, and they arc called from these the gray, white, pied, 

 dusky, and black wolves; and to these may be added the red 

 variety, which is indigenous to some southern regions. The 

 white is the most northern in its habitat; south of this comes 

 the gray and pied ; while the dusky and sooty black are found 

 largely in Southern Oregon, Northern California, portions of 

 Washington Territory, and scattered throughout the whole 

 area west of the Rocky Mountains. 1 have seen the latter 

 principally in trappcan countries, as if nature intended their 

 colour to harmonize with their surroundings, the better to 

 enable them to secure food and escape enemies. 



The American w r olf differs in several points from its Euro- 

 pean congener ; indeed, it resembles an Esquimaux dog more 

 than it does the latter. The main differences arc that it has 

 shorter ears, a broader forehead, a thicker muzzle, shorter legs, 

 broader feet, and a finer fur, and denser and bushier hair 

 behind the cheeks. The largest of the family is from thirty- 

 four to thirty-six inches in height; is about four feet long; 

 and weighs from ninety to one hundred and twenty pounds, 

 and even more where food is abundant. The tail is cai'ried 

 straight, except when the animal is frightened, and then it 

 crams it between the legs, like a terror-stricken cur, and keeps 

 it in that position for some distance if hotly pursued. 



Large, gaunt, and fierce as it looks, it is one of the greatest 

 cowards known, even when assembled in numbers, and seldom 

 has the courage to face even a boy. "When assailed by dogs it 

 manifests a stronger desire to flee than to fight gallantly for 

 life, and to show its teeth rather than use them. A couple of 

 staunch hounds will cause one to scamper off in a tremendous 

 hurry, and should they overtake and assail it, the probability 

 would be that it would only snarl at them and try to escape, 

 instead of closing and killing them at once, as it could readily 

 do, owing to its weight, great strength, and long fangs. 

 "When it does bite, however, it inflicts a very severe wound, as its 

 lancet-like teeth can cut clean through the leg of a dog; hence, 

 hounds devoid of courage do not care to attack it after they 

 have once felt its power, unless they are in sufficient numbers 

 to make an assault successful. It does not show anv fear of 



