IV THE HOUND OF THE PLAINS III 



of her den, and the four whelps romping in the 

 sunshine. The father of this family kept out of 

 sight, hut the second day I caught sight of him in 

 pursuit of a doe antelope and her fawn. 



The doe was backing away on the plain, keep- 

 ing the little one, who seemed to understand its 

 part perfectly, close to her hind legs. Following 

 her closely was the wolf, frequently making a dash 

 to the right or left, to get at the fawn, but each 

 time the brave little mother, whirling alertly, would 

 present to him her lowered head, and make a dash 

 at his skull with her sharp fore hoofs. Thus she 

 retreated; but I fear that the pursuer's longer 

 breath and varied tactics won the day at last. It 

 is said that this wolf can even kill the rattlesnake, 

 by sheer quickness of onslaught. 



A prime characteristic of the coyote is his aston- 

 ishing voice, which differs so much from the well- 

 known wolfish howl of other members of his race 

 as to have suggested the specific name Canis 

 latrans, or barking wolf. It begins with a series 

 of sharp yelps which quickly run into a prolonged 

 howl that may strike you as dismal or simply in- 

 teresting — hardly alarming — as you happen to 

 feel. Often these yelps and howls are repeated 

 with such rapidity and ventriloquistic force, as to 

 seem to fill the whole horizon, and the unsophisti- 

 cated traveller will be certain a large pack is near 

 him, when in fact the whole clamor is raised by 

 one, or at most two, lean and hungry barkers. 



