THE COYOTE. 



33 1 



V 



tions over the prairies, always hanging behind at respectful distances, and at night 

 encamping within easy range of the fire. They seem never to injure the hunter or his 

 horse, preferring to make use of his superior powers in procuring them a daily supply 

 of food. They are wise in so doing, as the hunter seldom requires more than the 

 " hump," tongue, marrow-bones, and skin of the slaughtered bison, and leaves the re- 

 mainder of the huge carcass for the Wolves. 



ANOTHER well-known American Wolf is the COYOTE, or CAJOTE, in which there is 

 something of the vulpine aspect. In habits it resembles the other Wolves. According 

 to European ideas, the flesh of the Wolf would be thought a very strange, and decidedly 

 repulsive, article of diet. But it is found by those who have had practical experience 

 on this subject, that the Wolf, when properly dressed, affords a really excellent dinner, 

 the tables being thus turned on him. The ribs are the portion which are most 

 esteemed. 



COYOTE. Caala ochropus. 



Like many other wild animals, the Wolf will feign death when it has fallen into the 

 hands of its pursuers, and finds that escape is impossible. So admirably will it achieve 

 this feat that it has often deceived the experienced eyes of the hunter, and, taking 

 advantage of an unguarded moment on his part, has made good its escape. How per- 

 severingly the animal will enact his part may be imagined from the description of a 

 captive Wolf given by Captain Lyon, in his private journal. 



The Wolf had been brought on board apparently dead, but as the eyes were observed 

 to wink when an object was passed rapidly before them, a rope was fastened to his 

 hindlegs, and he was suspended from the rigging, with his head downwards. Suddemly 

 he threw off all disguise, and began to snap viciously in all directions ; at one time 

 aiming his attacks at the persons who surrounded him, and at another moment curling 

 himself upwards and trying to bite the rope asunder. He was so very full of life that 

 it required several heavy blows on his head, and the employment of a bayonet, to 

 reduce him in reality to the state which he had previously been feigning. 



It was formerly supposed that the Wolf was an untameable animal, but it is now 

 known that there are few creatures which are more susceptible of affection than the 

 Wolf, if it be captured when young, and treated rightly. It will follow its master like 

 a dog, will obey his orders readily, will recognize him after a long term of absence, and 

 in all things conduct itself with a propriety that is not always found in the domesticated 

 dogs. Several instances of this tameable disposition of the Wolf are well known. One 

 such example is afforded by the tame Wolf which belonged to Mr. F. Cuvier, and 

 which recognized him after an absence of three years. 



