F E R ^. 



19 



3. Lupus ociiropus [Esclisdi.). — The Coyote. — The Western 



Prairie Wolf. 



Canis ochropus, EsCHSCHOLTZ, Zool. Atlas, PI. Ill, p. 1 (1829). 

 Li/ciscus cagottist, Smith, Nat. Lib. Mamm. IX, p. 104 (1839). 

 Canis latrans, Say? 



Eschsch. Zool. Atlas, Plate II. Nat. Lib. Mamm. IX, Plate VI. 

 Voy. Sulphur, Zool. Mamm. Plate X. 



This is the Coyote, or Prairie Wolf of the countries west of the 

 Kocky Mountains, and is recognized by much the majority of late 

 authors as a species distinct from the Liqnis latrans (Say), or Prairie 

 Wolf of the countries on the eastern slope of the great mountain range 

 that we have just mentioned. 



The characters distinguishing the several real or supposed species of 

 the wolves of North America, are apparently very obscure and unre- 

 liable, and certainly not agreed on by naturalists. The diversity of 

 opinion is so considerable as to be quite perplexing to one who is com- 

 pelled to treat the subject gravely, and adopt a name peremptorily for 

 a species before him. The late Dr. Samuel George Morton, a profound 

 and most indefixtigable naturalist, entertained an opinion that there 

 were numerous species of wolves in North America, several of which 

 had escaped the attention of zoologists ; in which he coincided with the 

 views of various other writers. As an offset to that opinion, we here 

 record the fact that, within the hour of writing this, we have had a 

 conversation with one of the most accomplished naturalists* in 

 America, and quite as well acquainted with American quadrupeds as 

 Dr. Morton or any one else, in which he expressed a conviction that 

 all the North American Wolves are varieties only of two species. 



There is, perhaps, in the Zoology of North America, no greater 

 difficulty than in determining the species, if such they are, of the 

 wolves. Whether that now before us is identical with the Caais 

 latrans of Say, or not, we shall not at present venture to decide ; pre- 

 ferring, however, to give it as recognized by nearly all naturalists, as 

 a distinct species. It is, nevertheless, certainly nearly allied to that 

 animal, and may be identical specifically, but a marked variety. 



The naturalists of the Exploring Expedition differ in regard to the 



* Major John Lecontc, late of the United States Army. 



