f 



Wolves and Wolf Nature 



Gulf States, and in British Columbia, it ifi 

 black. In Texas there are red or bay wolviis. 

 The hair of the black wolves which ! have 

 seen from British Columbia was not wholly 

 black, though the color of the hide was so. 

 By parting the fur it could be seen that near 

 the skin the hair was dark gray, and that only 

 the tips were black. In the same way, many 

 of the gray wolves of the West have the under 

 coat pure white, but the long hairs being 

 black tipped the whole effect is gray. 



More or less difference in habit, caused by 

 conditions of its environment, is found in 

 this species. The wolves of the North live 

 to a considerable extent on reindeer and cari- 

 bou ; those of the East on deer, while those of 

 the South prey largely on deer and on the 

 wild hogs which run at large through the pine 

 forests and swamns. Years ac o, the center of 

 abundance of the gray wolf in America cor- 

 responded very closely with the centre of 

 abundance of the buffalo. Great numbers of 

 these always hungry animals accompanied the 

 buffalo herds, killing calves or old bulls, and 

 sometimes cutting out from the herd strong 

 young heifers, which they had little difficulty 

 in pulling down if once they could separate 



157 



