Eastern times., 1855-03-08
Misttllanp.
Scramble among Prairie Wolves.


The prairie-wolf (Cdnis ldtrans) inhabits
the vast and still unpeopled territories that lie
between the Mississippi river and the shores
of the Pacific ocean. Its range extends beyond
what is strictly termed 'the prairies.' 1t is
found in the wooded and mountainous ravines
of California and the Rocky Mountain Districts.
1t is common throughout the whole of Mexico,
where it is known as the coyote. have seen
numbers of this species on the battle field,
tearing at corpses, as far south as the Valley
of Mexico ITSELF Its name of prairie-wolf is,
therefore, in some respects Inappropriate the
more so, as the larger wolves are also inhab-
itants of the prairie. No doubt this name was
given it, because the animal was first observed
in the prairie country west of the Mississippi
by the early explorers of that region. In the
wooded countries east of the great river, the
common large wolf only is known.
Whatever doubt there may be of the many
varieties of the large wolf being distinct
species, there can be none with regard to the
CAMS latrans 1t differs from all the others
in size, and in many of its habits. Perhaps ii
more nearly resembles the jacal than any other
animal. 1t is the New World of that cele-
brated creature. In size, it is just midway
between the large wolf and fox. With much
of the appearance of the former, it combines
all the sagacity of the latter. 1t is usually of
a grayish color, lighter or darker, according
to circumstances, and often with tnge of
cinnamon or brown. As regardSis cunning,
the fox is but a fool to it, Y cannot be
trapped Some experiments made for the pur
pose, show results that throw the theory of
instinct quite into the background. 1t has
been known to butrow under dead fall, and
drag off the bait without springing the trap.
The steel-trap it avoids, no matter how con-
cealed and the cage-trap has been found no
go Further illustrations of the cunning of
the prairie-wolf might be found in its mode of
decoying within reach the antelopes and ether
creatures on which it preys. OF course this
species is as much fox as wolf, for in reality
small wolf is fox, and large fox is a wolf.
To the traveller and trapper Of the prairie
regions, it is pest. 1t robs the former of
his provisions often stealing them out of his
very tent it unbaits the traps of the latter, or
devours the game already secured in them.
tits constant attendant upon the caravans or
travelling parties that cross prairie-land. A
pack of prairie-wolves will follow such par
ty for hundreds of miles, in order to secure
the refuse left at the camps. They usually
lie down upon the prairie, just out of range of
the rifles of the travellers ! yet they do not
observe this rule always, as they know there
is not much danger of being molested. Hunt
ers rarely shoot them, not deeming their hides
worth having, and not caring to waste charge
upon them. They are more cautious when
following a caravan of Oregon or California
emigrants, where there are plenty of green
horns and amateur hunters ready to fire at
anything.
Prairie-wolves are also constant attendants
npon the gangs of buffalo. They follow
these for hundreds of mies-in fact, the out
skirts of the buffalo-herd are, for the time be-
ing, their home. They lie down on the prai-
RE at short distance from the buffaloes, and
wait and watch in hopes that some of these
animals may get disabled or separated from
the rest, or with the expectation that COW
with her new dropped calf may fall into the
rear. In such cases. the pack gather round
the unfortunate individual, and worry it to
death. A wounded or superannuated bull
sometimes falls out and is attacked In
this case the fight is more desperate, and the
bull is sadly mutiated before he can be
brought to the ground. Several wolves, too,
are laid hors de combat during the struggle.
The prairie traveller may often look around
him without seeing single wolf; but lei him
fire off his gun, and, as if.by magic, a score of
them will suddenly appear. They rush for
ward in hopes of sharing in the produce of the
shot;
At night, they enliven the prarie-camp with
aheir dismal bowling, although most travellers
would gladly dispense with such music
Their note is bark like that of a terrier dog,
repeated three times, and then prolonged into
a true VOLTS howl. | have heard farmhouse
dogs utter very similar bark. From this
peculiarly, some nsturalists prefer calling
xhem the barking wolf, and that is the spe-
ci6c appelIation given by Say, who first de-
scribed them { CAMS ldtrens.)
Prairie wolves have all the ferocity of their
race, but no creature could be more cowardly.
OF course no one fears them under ordinary
circumstances but they have been known to
make combined attack upon persons disabled,
and In severe weather, when they themselves
were rendered unusually fierce by hunger.
But they are not regarded with fear either bv
traveller or hunter and the latter disdains TO
waste his charge upon such worthless game.
knew one exception TO this rule, and that
was trapper of the name of H. He
was the only one of his sort that shot prairie
wolves, and he did so on sight believe
If it had been the last bullet in his pouch, and
an opportunity had offered of sending it into 4
prairie-wolf, he would have despatched The
leaden missile. | once asked him how many
he had killed in his time He drew small
notched stick from his possible sack and de