THE PRAIRIE WOLF. 
I HIS species is more commonly 
^ I known in the western states 
q) I by the name Coyote, where it 
~ makes night so hideous that 
novices unused to the " unearthly ser- 
enade " feel a dismal longing for other 
latitudes. It is in size about half way 
between the Red Fox (see p. 67) and 
Gray Wolf, of which we shall present 
a portrait in a subsequent number. 
Its color is similar to that of its larger 
relative of the plains, but is of a more 
yellowish cast. 
The Prairie Wolf is an inhabitant of 
the plains and mountains west of the 
Missouri river, and is said to be found 
from the British possessions south into 
Mexico, whence it derived its common 
name, Coyote. It was formerly very 
numerous, but the increase of popula- 
tion and the disposition to hunt and 
destroy it, have greatly reduced its 
numbers. The Bison, which was 
formerly its prey, having become 
almost extinct, its food supply has been 
largely cut off. These Wolves sub- 
sist on any refuse they can pick up, 
and are always found on the outskirts 
of settlements or forts, slinking here 
and there, eking out what subsistence 
they may by snatching any stray 
morsels of food that come in their way. 
In the southern portion of its range, 
the Coyote is a miserable cur, scarcely 
larger than the common Fox. 
While this Wolf is an arrant 
coward, it sometimes exhibits a good 
deal of sagacity. Near the south coast 
of San Francisco a farmer had been 
much annoyed by the loss of his Chick- 
ens. His Hounds had succeeded in 
capturing several of the marauding 
Coyotes, but one fellow constantly 
eluded the pursuers by making for the 
coast or beach, where all traces of him 
would be lost. On one occasion the 
farmer divided his pack of Hounds and 
with two or three of the Dogs took a 
position near the shore. The Wolf 
soon approached the ocean with the 
other detachment of hounds in close 
pursuit. It was observed that as the 
waves receded from the shore he 
would follow them as closely as pos- 
sible, and made no foot prints in the 
sand that were not quickly obliterated 
by the swell. When at last he had 
gone far enough, as he supposed, to 
destroy the scent, he turned inland. 
Although members of the Dog tribe, 
Wolves are held in utter abhorrence 
by domesticated Dogs. The stronger 
pursue to destroy them, the weaker fly 
from them in terror. In the earlier part 
of English history Wolves are fre- 
quently mentioned as a common and 
dreaded pest. They are still found 
in parts of France, Russia, and the 
whole of western Asia. They are 
very wary and dislike approaching 
anything resembling a trap. While 
the Coyotes possess almost identically 
the same characteristics as other 
Wolves, man has no reason to dread 
them unless he meets them in hungry 
packs. Whoever has had the misfor- 
tune to have once been serenaded by 
these midnight prowlers can well 
understand the grudge every man in 
camp bears them. As soon as the 
camp is silent these beasts of prey 
prowl in small companies about the 
low shrubbery which surrounds the 
camp attracted by the appetizing smell 
of the campers' supper. The half 
jubilant long-drawn howl of the Coy- 
ote is soon followed by all the available 
vocal talent of his species in the vicin- 
ity, to the intense disgust of all 
creation except themselves. 
5: 
