CLASS I. MAMMALIA: OEDER 5. CARNIVORA. 
235 
lies Sir John, "a wolf, which, had been prowiing round the fort, and was wounded by a musket- 
ball and driven off, returned after it became dark, while the blood was still flowing from its 
wound, and carried olf a dog from among fifty others, that howled piteously, but had not courage 
to unite in an attack on their enemy. I was told of a poor Lxdian woman who was strangled by 
a wolf, while her husband, wlio saAv the attack, was hastening to her assistance ; but this was the 
only instance of their attacking human life that came to my knowledge. As the winter advances 
and the snow becomes deep, the wolves, being no longer able to hunt Avith success, suffer from 
hxmger, and in severe seasons many die." 
PRAIEIE WOLVES, 
The Prairie Wolf is a well-known variety, of a smaller size, with a sharp pointed nose, and a 
fox-like expression. Its general color is a reddish brown. It has received various names, as the 
Barking Wolf\ from its barking somewhat like a dog, the Burrotving Dog, and the Cased Wolf, 
Its northern range is about the 65th degree of latitude, and thence southward to Mexico. It is 
abundant in Texas. It associates in greater numbers than the gray wolf of the same districts : it 
hunts in packs, and brings forth its young in burroAvs on the open plain, remote from the Avoods, 
On the banks of the Saskatchewan these animals start forth from the earth in great nimibers 
on hearing the report of a gun, and gather round the hunter expectant of the offal of the animal 
which he has slain. They are much more fleet than the common wolves. Sir John Richardson 
Avas informed by an experienced hunter Avho had resided for forty years on the Saskatchewan, 
that the only aninaal on the plains Avhich he could not overtake, when mounted on a good horse, 
Avas the prong-horned antelope, and that the prairie wolf Avas the next in speed. These animals 
live on birds, small quadrupeds, and, when urged by necessity, on the carcasses of buffaloes and 
[ other animals. "VATien taken young they can be tamed, and have some of the qualities of a dog, 
but neither his intelligence nor his fidelity. 
The Red Texan Wolf resembles the gray Avolf in size and form, but has a more foxy coun- 
: tenance ; in its habits, also, it resembles the gray variety. It is coinmon from Arkansas to 
Mexico, and perhaps further south. In color it is of a reddish broAvn, but there is a considerable 
diversity among the different varieties, 
^ It may be remarked, generally, that the gray, Avhite, and black Avolves are Avidely distributed 
\ over North America, all being found more or less frequently, from the Arctic regions to the Gulf 
of Mexico. The prairie wolf seems nearly confined to the plains east of the Rockj^ Mountains ; 
the red Texan Avolf is exclusively southern in its distribution. 
The Cayotl or Caygotle of Mexico appears to be a small variety of Avolf, of a whitish-gray 
' color, and of a less savage character than is common to the tribe. Mr. Ryan telh us that he was 
folloAved bA^ one of them, and every cA^ening Avhen he encamped, the wolf squatted himself doAvn, 
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