372 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the Upper Missouri.* To this we may add our own observations 
made at Fort Claggett, on the Upper Missouri, in June, 1877. 
We then were much struck by the wolf-like appearance of the 
dogs about an encampment of Crow Indians, as well as the fort. 
They were of the size and colour of the Coyote, but less hairy, 
and with a less bushy tail. They were much like those lately 
observed in Mexico, and I have never seen such dogs elsewhere. 
Their colour was a whitish tawny, like that of the Eskimo Dog. 
Confirmary of these observations is the following note, by 
J. L. Wortman, in the ‘Report of the Geological Survey of 
Indiana for 1884’:—‘‘ During extended travel in Western U.S., 
my experience has been the same as that recorded by Dr. Coues. 
It is by no means uncommon to find mongrel dogs among many 
of the Western Indian tribes, notably among Umatillas, 
Bannocks, Shoshones, Arrapahoes, Crows, Sioux, which to one 
familiar with the colour, physiognomy, and habits of the Coyote 
have every appearance of blood-relationship, if not in many cases 
this animal itself in a state of semi-domestication. The free 
interbreeding of these animals, with a perfectly fertile product, 
has been so often repeated to me by thoroughly reliable 
authorities, and whose opportunities for observation were ample, 
that I feel perfectly willing to accept Dr. Coues’s statement.” 
To these statements may be added that of Mr. Milton P. 
Pierce, published in ‘ Forest and Stream,’ for June 25th, 1885, as 
follows :—‘ Hybrid wolves have always been very common along 
our western frontiers. I have seen several of them sired both by 
dogs and wolves, and all I have seen have resembled wolves rather 
than dogs.” 
It is to be hoped that our mammalogists may collect, and 
examine this subject, particularly the skulls and skins of 
numerous specimens, both of dogs and wolves, and of the 
hybrids between them. Further observations are also needed as 
to the fertility of the hybrids. 
* ©The American Naturalist,’ 1873, p. 385. 
