OF THE UPPER MISSOURI. 
141 
Canis occidentalis, var. griseo-albus. 
White and Gray Wolf. 
C. OCCIDENTALIS, VCtr. NUBILUS. 
Dusky Wolf. Baird, General Report on Mammals, 1857, p. 104. 
This animal varies so much in color that the traders on the Upper Missouri suppose 
that there are four or five species. I have seen them differing in color from an almost 
snowy whiteness to a dark brown or black, and was at first inclined to attribute this differ¬ 
ence to age and sex, but Mr. Zephyr, an intelligent trader, informed me that he had no¬ 
ticed the same variations of color in all ages. It is found more or less numerous through¬ 
out the country, though more abundant in those portions where the buffalo range. 
Countless numbers are seen in the valley of the Yellowstone, and along the Missouri 
above Fort Union, and woe to any poor buffalo, elk, or deer, which may have been so 
unfortunate as to have been wounded by the hunter, or to be in the decline of life. 
Descending the Yellowstone river in an open boat, in the summer of 1854, we passed an 
old bull lying upon the bank, and evidently alive, surrounded with wolves, who had already 
deprived him of his nose and tail. He had evidently yielded to his fate, but pitying the 
poor animal, we hallooed and fired a charge of shot among the wolves, which dispersed 
them. The old bull revived, started down the bank, and swam across the river to a 
sandbar, where he fell exhausted. Before we were out of sight, the wolves had surrounded 
him again, and undoubtedly nothing was left of him in a few hours but a parcel of bones 
distributed over the prairie. I have never heard of their attacking the settlers and Indians. 
Their skins are made a considerable article of trade, usually bringing one dollar apiece. 
Range: Missouri river to the Pacific. 
Canis latrans, Say. 
Coyote, Prairie Wolf. Baird, General Report on Mammals, 1857, p. 113. 
In the Prairie or Barking Wolf, or as called by the Indians, Medicine Wolf, there is 
but little variation in color or appearance. It is much more abundant on the Upper 
Missouri than the large wolf, and collects in larger bands, which seem to act in concert in 
taking their prey. They are said to station themselves, when in pursuit of the antelope, 
in such a manner, that when one becomes wearied, a fresh one appears and takes up the 
chase, until the antelope is captured. They are also said to be very expert in cutting the 
hamstrings of buffalo, deer, and not unfrequently of horses. They are great enemies of 
the prairie dog. Multitudes may be seen at all times in their villages, waiting patiently 
for the dogs to make their appearance. At night, they fill the air with their terrible 
music. With the Indians, their barking at night always forebodes evil of some kind, and 
the voyager is reminded of a lurking enemy. At first, one of them will commence a 
