THE GRAY WOLF. 221 
hump-ribs, tender-loins, and a few other choice 
bits being appropriated, the remainder is com- 
monly left for the wolves. The skin is chief- 
ly used for buffalo rugs, but for which it is 
only preserved by the Indians during fall and 
winter (and then rarely but from the cows 
and bullocks), when the hair is long and 
woolly. [have never seen the buffalo hide 
tanned, but it seems too porous and spongy 
to make substantial leather. Were it valua- 
ble, thousands of hides might be saved that 
are annually left to the wolves upon the 
rairies, . 
Although the buffalo is the largest, he has ~ 
by no means the control among the prairie 
animals: the sceptre of authority has been 
lodged with the large gray wolf. Though 
but little larger than the wolf of the United 
States, he is much more ferocious. The same 
species abound throughout the north of Mex- 
ico, where they often kill horses, mules and 
cattle of all sizes; and on the Prairies they 
make considerable havoc among the buffalo. 
any curious tales are told of the wiles and 
expedients practised by these animals to se- 
cure their prey. Some assert that they col- 
lect in companies, and chase a buffalo by 
turns, till he is fatigued, when they join and 
soon dispatch him: others, that, as the buffalo 
runs with the tongue hanging out, they snap 
at it in the chase till it is torn off, which pre- 
venting him from eating, he is reduced by 
starvation, and soon _ overpowered: others, 
that, while aning: they gnaw and lacerate 
