THE ARCTIC ZONE OF HIGH MOUNTAINS loi 



A mountain lion, and hawks both singly and in 

 numbers, appeared in the course of the day. There 

 was always a general scattering till they had taken 

 a sure departure. Uninvited, unwelcome guests, 

 they seemed to be the outcasts of the forest world, 

 but all unconscious were they of the effect which 

 their presence made upon their fellow creatures. 

 They exhibited their natural traits of spying, 

 prowling, and sweeping down upon their prey, 

 which was not always successful in eluding them. 

 And so one species fed upon another, showing the 

 inexorable laws of Nature and the bitter struggle 

 for existence which cannot be suspended even dur- 

 ing a short and pleasurable trip to this beautiful 

 world of the mountain tops. In fact, here as else- 

 where, caution, cunning, and endurance were re- 

 quired for these wild animal folk to defend them- 

 selves in their temporary abiding place — their 

 exotic camping ground. 



For a time two coyotes lingered near, watching 

 the scene and looking occasionally at each other 

 as if exchanging similar ideas concerning the 

 demonstration. One broke away and a few minutes 

 later disappeared down in the woods. The other 

 sat back on his haunches, and as though having 

 forgotten his purpose, became deeply engrossed in 

 moral reflection appropriate to the occasion. 



The coyote appears to be the philosopher and the 

 cynic of the wilds. Though ever hungry, ever 

 reeking a feast, he seems always ready to show 



