RED TEXAN WOLF. 
241 
HABITS. 
This variety is by no means the only one found in Texas, where 
Wolves, black, white and gray, are to be met with from time to time. 
We do not think, however, that this Red Wolf is an inhabitant of the 
more northerly prairies, or even of the lower Mississippi bottoms, and 
have, therefore, called him the Red Texan Wolf. 
The habits of this vai-iety are nearly similar to those of the black and 
the white Wolf, which we have already described, differing somewhat, 
owing to local causes, but showing the same sneaking, cowardly, yet 
ferocious disposition. 
It is said that when visiting battle-fields in Mexico, the Wolves preferred 
the slain Texans or Americans, to the Mexicans, and only ate the bodies 
of the latter from necessity, as owing to the quantity of pepper used by 
the Mexicans in their food, their flesh is impregnated with that powerful 
stimulant. Not vouching for this story, however, the fact is well known 
that these animals follow the movements of armies, or at least are always 
at hand to prey upon the slain before their comrades can give them a sol- 
dier’s burial, or even after that mournful rite ; and if anything could in- 
crease the horrors displayed by the gory ensanguined field, where man has 
slain his fellows by thousands, it would be the presence of packs of these 
ravenous beasts disputing for the carcasses of the braAm, the young, and 
the patriotic, who have fallen for their country’s honour ! 
No corpse of wounded straggler from his troop, or of unfortunate travel- 
ler, butchered by Camanches, is ever “ neglected” by the prowling Wolf, 
and he quarrels in his fierce hunger in his turn over the victim of similar 
A'iolent passions exhibited by man ! 
The Wolf is met on the prairies from time to time as thetraveller slowly 
winds his way. We will here give an extract from the journal kept by 
J. W. Audubon while in Texas, which shows the audacity of this animal, 
and gives us a little bit of an adventure with a hungry one, related by 
Powell, one of the gallant Texan Rangers. 
“ Like all travellers, the ranger rides over the wide prairie in long 
silences of either deep thought or listless musings, I have never been able 
to decide which ; hut when, riding by the side of Walker or Hays, who 
would like to say that a vacant mind was ever in the broad brow or be- 
hind the sparkling eye either of him with the gray, or of him with the 
brown 1 but at times when watching closely I have thought I could trace 
in the varying expression, castle after castle mounting higher and higher, 
till a creek ‘ to water at,’ or a deer which had been sound asleep and to 
VOL. II. — 31 
