THE CLOWN OF THE PRAIRIES 89 
relative, the gray wolf. Originally he was 
scattered over most of North America. Though 
scientifically classified into a number of species 
and sub-species, they are very much alike in 
colour and habit. 
The home range of the coyote is rarely ten 
miles across, except on the margin of moun- 
tains where sometimes it istwice this. In many 
localities a pair will have three or four square 
miles to themselves; in other localities there are 
a few pairs to the square mile. 
Coyotes probably mate for life. A pair 
commonly hunt together, though each often 
hunts alone. They are said to live from eight 
to fifteen years. I kept track of one for eight 
years, who appeared mature when I first met 
him and showed no signs of decay when I saw 
him last. 
The coyote usually lies up in a den when not 
hunting; but at times he simply hides in under- 
brush or in ravines. A den I measured lay 
nearly four feet below the surface and had a 
length of fourteen feet. It was expanded into a 
room-like place near the farther end and there 
were a number of small pockets extending from 
it. The den may be made by the coyotes them- 
selves or it may be the den of a badger which 
they have re-shaped. Occasionally they take 
advantage of cave-like places between large 
