A Sportsman 273 



however, and in the two events I witnessed it was neces- 

 sar>' to give the coyotes some final blows; for the 

 coyote is a tough animal and most tenacious of life, 

 and if full grown can put up a prolonged fight, and I 

 have seen them when surrounded and bitten up for 

 half an hour still give fight. 



I have one in captivity, which was secured in his 

 infancy by being dug out from his maternal home, and 

 was brought up with a litter of collie dog puppies at 

 the farmhouse, and evinced a most friendly and play- 

 ful disposition. 



The coyote's natural shyness was, however, shown 

 in a degree over that of his puppy companions, al- 

 though he would allow himself to be petted by those 

 who gave him care and food. He was allowed to 

 run about the farmhouse free with his young com- 

 panions, but indicated a much keener appetite, and 

 became somewhat of a nuisance in the dining-room, 

 where he was allowed an occasional privilege. His 

 disposition was very playful, and his gambols and 

 pranks were most amusing. 



As he grew older and larger he ran freely about 

 with the collie dogs, and even rendered aid in driv- 

 ing the sheep about with them, and in one notable 

 case, where a large flock were driven some twenty 

 miles to another range, indicated considerable intelU- 

 gence; but alas for confiding expectations! that very 

 night upon arrival at the destination he signalized 

 himself by visiting a neighboring ranch, and extin- 

 guished the life out of sixteen fat turkeys. Not 

 being immediately detected as the destroyer he sup- 

 plemented his exploit the following night by slaying 

 nearly an additional score. 



