ON THE PLAINS 261 



meet with nothing of this sort, they sit down like a 

 couple of House People deciding upon a plan of action, 

 and look about the countiy in all directions." 



"Do they look for what they want? I thought all 

 fourfoots followed scent the most," said Rap. 



" With the beasts of woods and thickets, smell is the 

 keener sense of the two ; but with the animals who have 

 been adapted to living in the open, sight is better de- 

 veloped." 



" Of course," said Olive, " I can understand that, for 

 you cannot see far in the woods, wlule there are fewer 

 things in the open country to hold the scent." 



" Oar Coyotes see in the distance some Prairie Dogs 

 sitting at the mouths of their caves : they interchange 

 signals. One Coyote starts off on a lazy trot ; the 

 other remains sitting. The first Coyote does not 

 hurry, however, but goes in a careless way toward the 

 village, and soon his companion may be seen following 

 him. Singling out a particular dog, the leader passes 

 it slowly, but without pausing. Down drops the 

 Prairie Dog into its hole as if shot. In a moment 

 his curiosity overcomes his fear. He peeps out, sees 

 the Coyote moving off, and so resumes his doorstep 

 watch, still eying the enemy. 



" The moment he takes his place he is snapped up by 

 Coyote number two, who has followed, all unseen, in 

 the footsteps of number one. This is of course if all 

 goes well, and no neighborly Prairie Dog has given a 

 warning ' Yap ! ' 



" Some spring morning our Coyotes may fancy veni- 

 son for breakfast, and think that nothing would taste 

 better than a young Antelope. Again they scan the 



