THE CLOWN OF THE PRAIRIES 95 
he shows himself at close range, and is often 
bold. 
Near Canon City, Colorado, an apple grower 
showed me a three-legged coyote that used his 
orchard. The coyote had been about for four 
or five years and was quite tame. He was fed 
on scraps and was wise enough to stay in the 
small zone of safety round the house. 
But the coyote never forgets. His keen 
senses and keen wits appear to be always awake, 
even though surroundings have long been 
friendly. Foratime I stayed at an isolated cattle 
ranch upon which hunting was forbidden. But 
one day a man carrying a gun strolled into the 
field. While he was still a quarter of a mile 
away the coyotes became watchful and alarmed. 
To me the appearance of the man and gun dif- 
fered little from that of the men carrying fish- 
ing poles; but the wise coyotes either scented or 
could distinguish the gun. Presently all hurried 
away. While the gunner remained, at least 
one of the coyotes sat where he could overlook 
the field. But all came strolling back within a 
few minutes after the gunner left. 
In western Wyoming, not far from a ranch 
house, were three small hills. On these the 
wolves and coyotes frequently gathered and 
howled. One day a number of traps were set 
on each of these hills. That evening the wolves 
