571 
PRAIRIE-WOLF; COYOTE. 
Cants latrans Say. 
(Long’s Exped. Rocky Mts., I., 1823, p. 168.) 
Prairie-wolves were formerly abundant throughout the prairie 
and plains region of the United States and Canada to the Saskatch- 
ewan. A wolf reported to be of this species was killed in Winne- 
bago county, Illinois, during the winter of 1908-09, but we have not 
been able to verify the identification. The early settlers declare 
that prairie-wolves were still common in this county about 1850, 
and that they were seen ten years later. 
RED FOX. 
Vulpes fulva (Desmarest). 
Canis fuluus Desm., Mamm., I., 1820, p. 203. 
The red fox is found from the Canadian boundary south to 
Georgia and west to the great plains. 
This fox is too well known to need description. It is one of.the 
few medium-sized mammals that by their adaptability and cunning 
manage to exist in a well-settled country. Twenty or thirty years 
ago it was very abundant in this county, and is now by no means 
rare. It is an inhabitant of the bluffs, though it makes excursions 
for some distances into the adjoining country. 
Foxes prey on every living thing that they can catch and over- 
come. Thev do not disdain carrion, and when hard pressed by 
hunger have been known to turn vegetarians and eat apples, grapes, 
and strawberries. 
They produce four to nine pups in a litter, rather early in spring. 
In a wild and rough country foxes make their dens at times in 
caves, under ledges of rock, and even in hollow stumps and logs. 
In this vicinity they are probably always in burrows. 
When captured young, the red fox is easily tamed and makes an 
interesting pet. It is exceedingly playful, and comes to enjoy 
human society, but unless much and wisely handled is apt to be- 
come treacherous as it gets older. A young fox in captivity at 
Mahomet, in this county, enjoys being taken to the fields and 
allowed to hunt grasshoppers, and is quite clever in catching them. 
