136 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



the dog imitates his master when he barks : 

 he tries to speak, but cannot." — " I live," he 

 continued, " in a place surrounded by great 

 numbers of cuyotes, but I never keep any of 

 my puppies that do not bark at an early age." 



The cuyote is a formidable adversary, and, 

 in a close encounter, there would be little to 

 choose between him and a large wolf ; I have 

 seen a good many during my lifetime, of 

 both, and I think that the cuyote is much 

 the heavier and more massive, but, as for 

 courage, both are arrant cowards unless hard 

 pressed. He is generally of a reddish or 

 yellowish colour, and stands about as high as 

 a large Newfoundland dog, but with short 

 hair ; and though the ears are naturally rather 

 pendant, they can be pricked forward until 

 only the tips hang down. I have often seen a 

 cuyote on a savannah standing up on his hind 

 legs for a few seconds to obtain a good view 

 of all around, and then the ears look long 

 and pointed. 



A pack of cuyotes will hunt as regularly 

 as a pack of hounds, and, should they throw 

 up the scent, make casts in every direction : 

 they never gallop when they hunt, but, like 

 the wolf, run in a long swinging trot, and 

 trust to time and perseverance. It is truly 



