CHAPTER XL 



WOLVES. 



THERE are certainly three distinct species of wolves on 

 the American continent, many persons say more, but I am 

 inclined to believe that from a desire to increase the fauna 

 of a country, varieties are frequently transferred to the re- 

 sponsible places of species. My opportunities of studying 

 the habits and appearance of the wolf have been very great ; 

 still, although my ideas are not in accordance with Audu- 

 bon and Bacheman, and other accepted naturalists, I have 

 no hesitation in stating them. 



First, on account of the greater size and nearer resem- 

 blance of the animal to the European race, we will take the 

 common, familiarly-called gray wolf. At one time it was 

 scattered all over the North American continent to the Gulf 

 of Mexico; but now, with few exceptions, is not to be found 

 until the great prairies of the West or the slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains are reached, or the immense timber lands 

 to the north of Canada entered. But still, although their 

 habitat has become restricted, owing doubtless to differ- 

 ence of latitude, great varieties of color are to be found 

 among this species, but neither in habits, voice, nor shape 

 are they in the least dissimilar. I am aware that at one 

 time I possessed a different idea, but farther experience 

 and study of the subject caused me to change. Thus on 

 the Rio Grande and in Southern New Mexico and Sonora, 

 the wolf is most frequently black; as you advance norjih- 

 ward red is the preponderating color, gradually changing 

 into gray as you get into higher latitudes, that changing to 



