86 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 
crippled coyote as though taking care of him, 
and endeavour to lure away any hunter who ap- 
proached. 
Someone has said that a beautiful coyote 
hide wraps up more deviltry than any other 
hide of equal dimensions stretched over an 
animated form. His successful cunning and his 
relentless ways of getting a living cause him to be 
cursed by those whom he plunders. But he 
is always interesting and appears to enjoy life 
even in the midst of lean times. 
The coyote is the Clown of the Prairie. He 
is wise, cynical, and a good actor. He has a 
liking for action and adventure. He really is 
a happy fellow, something of a philosopher and 
full of wit. 
I have seen a coyote look at a deserted and 
tumble-down building and strike an attitude of 
mockery at the failures of man. Sometimes he 
catches a chicken while the family is away; and, 
carrying this to the back porch to feast, leaves 
the unconsumed feathers there. Two nights a 
coyote raided a settler’s hen roost and each time 
left the feathers near my camp. I was ordered 
out of the country! 
Once I tried for more than half a day to get 
a picture of a coyote. He appeared to know 
that I was unarmed and harmless, and allowed 
me to approach moderately close, but not quite 
