MAMMALIA—WOLF 147 
THE PRATRIE, ORGRBARRING WOLF 

Tus wolf frequents the prairies or natural meadows of the west, where 
troops or packs, containing a considerable number of individuals, are fre- 
quently seen following in the train of a.herd of buffalo or deer, for the 
purpose of preying on such as may die from disease, or in consequence ot 
wounds inflicted by the hunters. At night they also approach the en- 
campment of travellers, whom they sometimes follow for the sake of 
the carcasses of animals which are relinquished, and, by their discordant 
howlings close to the tents, effectually banish sleep from those who are 
unaccustomed to their noise. According to Say’s observation, they are more 
numerous than any of the other wolves which are found in North America. 
The barking wolf closely resembles the domestic deg of the Indians in 
appearance, and is remarkably active and intelligent. Like the common 
wolf, the individuals of this species frequently unite to run down deer, or a 
buffalo calf which has been separated from the herd, though it requires the 
fullest exercise of all their speed, sagacity, and strength to succeed in this 
chase. They are very often exposed to great distress from want of food, 
and in this state of famine are under the necessity of filling their stomachs 
with wild plums, or other fruits no less indigestible, in order to allay in some 
degree the inordinate sensations of hunger. 
In confirmation of the sagacity of this wolf, we shall quote from Say, to 
whom we owe all that has yet been made known on this species some 
anecdotes respecting it. ‘‘ Mr Peale constructed and tried various kinds of 
traps to take them, one of which was of the description called a ‘live trap," 
a shallow box reversed and supported at one end by the well known kind 
of trap-sticks usually called the ‘ figure four,’ which elevated the front of the 
trap upwards of three feet above its slab ecriner the trap was about six 
feet long, and nearly the same in breadth, and was plentifully baited with 
offal. Notwithstanding this arrangement, a wolf actually burrowed under 
the flooring, and pulled down the bait through the crevices of the floor. 


1 Canis latrans, Say. 
