Wolves and Wolf Nature 



the elevation. They were so interested in the 

 sight that they stopped the wagon and watched. 

 Every little while the prairie dog would sit up 

 and look about, and when he did this the co- 

 yote would stand absolutely without motion. 

 When the dog dropped down on all four feet 

 and began to feed, the coyote would very 

 slowly and stealthily creep up a few feet 

 nearer. This thing went on for some min- 

 utes, the dog not seeming to notice the co- 

 yote, which at the last must have been in 

 plain sight. The last time the dog dropped 

 down to feed, the coyote made a swift rush, 

 covering twelve or fifteen feet, picked the little 

 animal up, and then for the first time noticing 

 the hay wagon, stood for a moment with his 

 prey hanging across his mouth, and then trot- 

 ted slowly off up the hill. 



As he is usually seen, the coyote gives one 

 the impression of a down-trodden much-bullied 

 animal, that desires nothing so much as to get 

 away. It sneaks along with downcast mien 

 and lowered tail, and casts fearful glances back- 

 ward over its shoulder, as if it expected every 

 moment to have a stone thrown at it. But 

 if you happen to be without a gun when you 

 meet it, there is no animal on the prairie more 



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