The Dog Family 



89 



increased under State iirotectioii, the wolves and coyotes drew towards a (piarter where there 

 were no hunters and a good suppl_y of food. It was soon foinid that 1hc iiicicase of the 

 game was checked. The coyotes used to watch the hinds wlieii alwut to (h(j]i their calves, 

 and usually succeeded in killing them. The large grey wolves killed the hinds themselves, 

 and generally made life most unpleasant for the dwellers in this paradise. (Jrders were issued 

 to kill off all the wolves by any means. P(jison was found to lie the liest lernedv : but iu 

 the winter, when all the game descended into the valleys, tlie wolves found so much fresh 

 food in the carcases of the animals they killed for themselves that thev w(juld not eat very 

 eagerly of the poisoned baits. The coyotes were killed off fairly closelv, as they are less able 

 to obtain living prey ; but the grey wolves are constantly reinforced froni the moimtains, and 

 are a permanent enemy to be coped with. 



A curious instance of change of habit in wolves on the American pi-airies was recently 

 noted in the Sjjedator. Formerly they followed the caravans; now thev come down to the 

 great transcontinental railways, and haunt the line to obtain food. P'ach train which crosses 

 the prairie is, like a ship, full of provisions. Three meals a day take ]ilace regidaitv, and 

 these are not stinted. The black cooks throw all the waste ])ortions — beet-bones, other bones, 

 stale bread, and trimmings — overboard. The wolves have learnt tliat the passing of a train 

 means food, and when they hear one they gallop down to the line, and wait like expectant dogs 

 in the hope of picking upj a trifle. The coyotes come close to tlie metals, and sit lil<e terriers, 

 with their sharp noses pricked up. The big grey wobes also appear in the early morning, 

 standing on the snow, over which the chill wind of winter blows, gaunt and hungry images 

 of winter and famine. 





m. 



%fj 



[Berlin. 

 A WOLF OF THE CARPATHIANS. 



rhoto bi/ Olloiiiar Aa!<chiitz] 



This wolf is a shorter and more heavily built siiecimen than the Russian wolf on the previous page 



12 



