1911] Taylor: Mammals of the 1909 Nevada Expedition. 295 



As will be seen from the table of cranial measurements, our 

 specimens are referable to the species lestes. It will be apparent 

 from the table that differences between the three western species 

 of coyotes, C. latrans, lestes, and ochropus, are not great. Cranial 

 characters, at least so far as available measurements go, do not 

 serve any too clearly to distinguish them. 



Distribution. — The species is probably to be found every- 

 where on the high desert plateau of Humboldt County. We first 

 met with it between Tregaskis AVell (stage station) and Quinn 

 River Crossing. The species was noted at the following points 

 in the Pine Forest ]Mountains : Big Creek Ranch, Big Creek 

 Caiion, Duffer Peak (8400 feet). Alder Creek (6700 feet), and 

 Leonard Creek (6500 feet). It was found commonly in both 

 Upper Sonoran and Transition zones. A number were heard at 

 Amos, Nevada, on the return trip. 



Habits. — It is apparent that during the summer season a great 

 many coyotes migrate to the mountains. We heard them several 

 times while camped at an altitude of 8400 feet on the Duffer 

 Peak meadow. One morning we missed "Cicero," a colt burro, 

 whose mother we were using as a pack-animal. After an hour's 

 search we discovered the little beast on a large marshy meadow a 

 half-mile away. Two coyotes were sneaking about the border of 

 the meadow. 



The sheep herders complained very much of the coyotes. 

 Almost nightly an immense bonfire for the protection of the sheep 

 could be seen on some lonely ridge. 



On the afternoon of July 18, about four o'clock, a lone coyote 

 was seen on the large Alder Creek Meadow (altitude 6500 feet). 

 It was skulking about among the range cattle and calves, appar- 

 ently catching Cifellus orcgonus, of which there are large num- 

 bers on the meadow. The cattle paid absolutely no attention to 

 it, though the calves seemed rather interested and Avould snift' 

 at it curiously when it came near. 



The animals were found to be rather si}' , as usual. One coyote, 

 as shown by its tracks, had walked about a setting of three no. 

 3 steel traps in a wash near Big Creek Ranch, had stepped into 

 one, which did not go off', had walked about the bush upon which 

 the bait was placed, but had not ventured to touch it. Then it 



