112 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
as atime for attacking colts, which are a favorite prey with 
him. He is found in all parts of the state where there 1s tim- 
ber, but he never stops long in any place, unless he can find 
bushes to hide in. 
The American wild-cat (Lynx rufus) is common in Califor- 
nia, particularly in the vicinity of the bays of San Francisco 
and San Pablo, where he often catches fish and water-fowl as 
well as land-animals. His color is a light brown, with dim, 
dark spots on the sides, and longitudinal lines along the middle 
of the back. 
§ 89. Wolves and Fouxes.—The gray wolf ( Canis occidenta- 
lis) is found in all the inhabited parts of California, but is not 
abundant. 
The coyote is very common in the state, and occupies the 
same place here with that occupied in the Mississippi valley 
by the prairie-wolf. Dr. Newberry thinks the two belong to 
the same species (Canis latrans), but I am inclined to believe 
that they are specifically different. The color of the coyote 
has more of a reddish tinge, he howls more, does not bark so 
much, and is more cunning. His food consists chiefly of rab- 
bits, grouse, sinall birds, mice, lizards, and frogs; and in time 
of scarcity he will eat carrion, grasshoppers, and bugs. He is 
yery fond of poultry, pigs, and lambs, and will destroy almost 
as many of them as would a fox. He is one of the worst enc- 
mies and most troublesome pests of the farmer. His method 
of catching chickens is to hide near the hen-roost about day- 
light, and, as the hens come down, he pounces upon them from 
his hiding-place; and his motions are often so quick, that the 
victim has not even time to squall before she dies. In the 
spring and autumn, when wild geese and ducks are abundant, 
many coyotes make their homes in the tules, where they catch 
the birds which have been wounded by the hunters. 
The coyote loves nothing better than a young pig. When 
he sees an old sow with her young ones, he will hide, and wait 
a long time, in hopes that a little one will come within his 
reach ; but if there be no hiding-place, he goes up boldly. The 
