326 Frerp Musrum or Natura. History — Zoérocy, Vor. XI. 
The Prairie Wolf, or Coyote, resembles the Timber Wolf, but is 
smaller; and while they occasionally kill Calves, Colts and Sheep and 
even full-grown Deer, the greater portion of their food consists of smaller 
animals, such as Mice, Rabbits, frogs, birds and eggs, etc., as well as 
dead fish and carrion of any kind. 
Unlike the Timber Wolf* the Coyote habitually barks, and in 
localities where they are common their dog-like barking is a familiar 
sound about the camp. They howl mostly at night, but they occasion- 
ally do so on cloudy days or before a storm. They breed from early in 
April until the middle of May (Bailey says April 1 to May 15, in western 
United States) and the number of pups born in a litter varies from 4 to 
9, generally 5 or 6. The den is usually a hole in the ground, either dug 
by themselves or a burrow of some other animal which they enlarge, 
although occasionally a natural cave is used, or in a wooded country 
the base of a hollow tree. The pups when taken young are easily tamed 
and make interesting pets. 
Specimens examined from Illinois, Wisconsin and adjoining states: 
Wisconsin — Pembine, Marinette Co. (skull), 1; (M. P. M.) Prairie du 
Sac, Sauk Co., 1=2. 
Minnesota — Mankato, 1; (B. S.) Elk River, 1=2. 
Illinois — Geneva, Kane Co.,1. (Northwestern University collection.) 
Iowa—Linn Co. (skulls), 2 (Coe College collection, Cedar Rapids.) 
*It is claimed that Timber Wolves bark at times. See Seton, Life Histories 
of Northern Animals, II, 1909, p. 814. 
