BLACK AMERICAN WOLF. 
121 
description . 
We regard this animal as a mere variety of the Common American 
Wolf, to be hereafter described, and need only here observe that a 
all the Wolves we have examined, such as the Cams nubihs of Say the 
White Wolf, theUedTexan Wolf and the Black Wolf, are of the same form, 
although in size the White Wolf is considerably the largest. 
COLOUR. 
Bace legs, point of tail and under jaw, blacky body, irregularly and 
transversely barred with blackish brown and greyish ; sides of the neck, 
grevish brown ; behind the shoulders, under the belly and on the forehead, 
greidsh brown. Some specimens are darker than others-we have ex- 
mnincd several that were perfectly black on the whole surface of the body. 
dimensions. 
Length of head and body 
Do. of tail vertebrae 
Do. including fur 
Height of ear 
Feet. Inches. 
- 3 2 
11 
- 1 1 
3 
HABITS. 
Not an individual of the party saw a Black Wolf during our trip up the 
Missouri, on the prairies near Fort Union, or along the shores of that por- 
tion of the Yellow Stone River that we visited. Mr. Say speaks of its 
being the most common variety on the banks of the Missouri, but, unfor- 
tunately, does not state precisely where. 
Wolves ottWs coloor wove obundaot neav Heiidevson, Keiilucky, w eii 
we veraovod to that place, .nd wo eaw them frequently duvmg onv ramhlee 
tlirousli tli.6 woods o-fter lairds. 
We found a Black Wolf in one of our wild turkey pens, early one morn- 
ing. He observed us, as we approached, but instead of making 
squatted close down, like a dog which does not wish to be seen. We came 
nv within a few yards of the pen, and shot him dead, through an opening 
between the logs. This Wolf had killed several fine 
in the act of devouring one, which was, doubtless, the reason 
attempt to make his escape when we approached Inin. 
There is a strong feeling of hostility entertained by the settleis of 
