GRAY WOLF 



Canis occidentalis. 



This animal, probably but a geographical variation of the 

 European wolf, was once common throughout North America. 

 While called the ''timber wolf," because of a preference for for- 

 ests from north to south, it was by no means confined to these, 

 but was also especially numerous upon the western plains. With 

 the advance of settlements its extermination became absolutely nec- 

 essary and bounties were placed upon its scalp. The vigorous war- 

 fare in consequence waged against it has been so effective that 

 to-day the range is restricted to the most heavily-forested parts 

 of the Rockies, the desolate regions about Hudson Bay and the 

 badlands of the west, which are to be reclaimed from wildness 

 only with great difficulty because of the nature of the soil. 



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