MAMMALS. 



15 



Measurements. 



Length from nose to root of 



tail, (skin much shrunken). 36 inches. 

 Tail to end of bone 14 inches. 



Tail to end of hairs 18 inches. 



Ears along anterior margin.. 3^ inches. 



Greatest breadth 2f inches. 



Foot from carpus 6|- inches. 



Hind leg from heel 9 inches. 



Longest hairs on back 4^ — 5 inches. 



Length of skull 8| inches. 



Width of skull 4^ inches. 



In the preceding account will be found the description of what is referable to the Cams 

 mexicanus of authors ; whether, however, the species is really distinct from that which inhabits 

 the greater portion of North America, I am not able to state. The black chin and dusky collar 

 I have not seen in any other specimens, nor are they mentioned in the descriptions of authors. 

 It will be noticed, however, that the longitudinal stripe on the fore arm, supposed to be a 

 characteristic of the European wolf, is present in this specimen. 



The lobo wolf, described in the Berlandiere MSS, as Cams torqualus^ differs in some respects 

 from this, although agreeing in the main. The skull of Dr. Berlandiere' s specimen (1379) is 

 smaller than 2193. but similar in all essential features. 



'* Near Santa Cruz, in Sonora, we found this animal more common than we had observed it elsewhere on our route. It, as 

 well as the coyote, were often destructive to the flocks around the village. It often, too, attacks the young cattle, both domestic 

 and wild, of thia region, which are forced to succumb to its great strength." — (C. B. Kenuerly.) 



12. CANTS OCCIDENTALISM var. EUFUS, And & Bachm (p. 113.)— Red Texan Wolf 

 The red va,riety of the wolf is said to be very abundant in Texas. 



13 CANIS LATRANS, Say (p. 113.)— Prairie Wolf : Coyote. 



The question is not yet definitely settled whether the coyotes of Texas and California and 

 the prairie wolves of the Upper Missouri are identical or diverse. The materials collected by 

 the Commission are not mfficiently extensive to throw any decided light on the subject. 



128. Eagle Pass^ Texas. Sumner^ 1852. A. Schott, 



Known throughout the length and breadth of New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico as the coyote. During the day 

 it may occaeionally be seen gneaking about, but always at a respectful distance; at night, however, there are no bounds to its 

 impudence, nut only coaing into camp, but stealing your provisioDfl literally from under your nose- It occurs in greatest 

 nunibere about settlements; a carcass, however, will not fail to attract a pack in the most barren and unforbidding regions. 

 Camped on a woodless and waterless prairie, the traveller has to wait in some hidden spot near at hand but a few minutes after 

 hia companions have taken up the liue of march, to have the cheer of living objects in the form of coyotes, creeping in to feed an 

 ever craving appetite upon the offal, or its distant and discordant howl, yet wary of its safe approach. The coat in summer is 

 thin and dirty ; in winter, clean and thick. The variety of note and amount of noise a single one is able to produce exceeds 

 belief; their serenades are moat usually heard at dusk and in the morning; a fresh scent, however, is liable to excite a howl at 

 any time after night, and no sooner is the key note struck up by a single individual than others chime in from all quarters. The 

 discordant and variable chatter of the cayote has no resemblance whatever to the bark of a dog. and is at once distinguished 

 from the deep, sonorous, melancholy howl of the lobo. The wolf, as a similitude for starvation and poverty, is, perhapc, 

 unequalled, as is indicated by the character of its excrement; this shows that the animal is at some seasons, in some localities, 

 forced to live upon the cactus fruit and grasshopp^^rs, and other matter even more indigestible and more opposite than these, 

 and which must be as little palatable to its natural taste as the thorns that encase its food are disagreeable to its lips 

 ^ " Wolves have the bitterest of enemies in dogs ; the sharp teeth and rapid snap of the former, however, require but a short 

 time to rid them of the moat furious attacks. On one occasion, while at the copper mines, three iog^ attackeJ a single wolf. 



