44 
ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
that some naturalists believe it to be the original parent of 
that animal. 
On the great western plains of Missouri these animals 
abound to an incredible extent. They also occur, but more 
sparingly, in all the north-western portions of this continent, 
from Hudson Bay to the ftocky Mountains. Their food 
consists chiefly of rabbits, and such other small animals as 
live on the prairies. This species also congregates in packs 
for the purpose of hunting deer and young bisons ; and like 
all others of the wolf family they are extremely cunning and 
rapacious ; not even the fox has more intuitive sagacity in 
avoiding traps or snares. A member of Major Long’s ex- 
pedition had a strong desire to possess himself of one of these 
animals alive. He therefore set a trap, of the kind known to 
boys under the name of u figure four,” similar to those used 
for rabbits, but in size proportionate to that of the animal. 
First he laid down a plank floor about six feet long, and 
over this set his trap of the same length, one end being 
elevated about three feet, like an inclined plane. The bait 
of meat, attached to what is called the spindle of the trap, 
was placed in the middle of the floor, and this being touched, 
the trap would fall and catch the wolf, if indeed he was 
there. 
How for the result. It is very unlikely that a prairie wolf 
had ever seen such a trap, and yet, instead of going under 
and taking the meat, these cunning brutes actually dug a hole 
beneath the platform, and lifting up the boards, possessed 
themselves of the bait, sprang the trap, and of course escaped 
unhurt. A large steel trap, which being trod on catches the 
foot, was next tried. This was well baited, and covered with 
leaves. But although their tracks showed that the wolves 
had visited the place during the night, the bait was untouch- 
ed. The bait was then hung over the trap, and pieces of 
meat suspended from limbs of trees in the vicinity in the 
same manner, so that the trap, being covered with leaves, no 
