Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-01-24
SCRAMBLE AMONG PRAIRIE
@ WOLVES.
or, 6 CAMS Latrans.,,

the Mississippi River and the shores o
the Pacific Ocean. Its range extends
beyond what is strictly termed the prai
ries.' II is found in the wooded ant
mountainous ravines of California and tht
Rocky Mountain districts. 1t is common
Throughout the whole of Mexico, anC
where it is known as the coyote. l have
seen numbers of this species on the battle
field, tearing at ,corpses, as far south a.
the valley OF Mexico itself. Its name o.
prairie wolf is, therefore, in some re-
spects, inappropriate-the more so, as
the larger wolves are also inhabitants oI
the prairie. No doubt this name was gi-
ven it, because the animal was first OBJ
served in the prairie country west
of the Mississippi, by the early ex-
plorers of that region. In the wooded
countries east of the great river, the COM
mon 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 canis latrans. 1t differs
from all the others in size, and many of
its habits. Perhaps it more nearly re-
sembles the jackal than any other animal.
II is the New World representative of
that celebrated creature. In size, it is
just midway between the large wolf and
fox. With much of the appearance of
of the former, it combines all the sagacity
of the latter. 1t is usually of gayish
color, lighter or darker, according TO cir
cumstances, and often with tinge of Gin
namon or brown. AS regards its cunning
the fox is but fool to it. 1t cannot be
trapped. Some experiments made for
the purpose, show results that throw the
theory Of instinct quite in the back
ground. 1t has been known to burrow
under a 'deadfall, and drag off the bait
without springiny the trap. The steel
trap it avoids, no matter how concealed );
and the cage-trap has been found mo CO.
Further illustrations of the prairie wolf,
might be found in its mode of decoying
within reach the antelopes and other crea-
lures on which it preys. OF course this
species is as much fox as wolf, for in re-
ality small wolf is fox. and a large
fox is a wolf. 70 the traveller and trap
per of the prairie regions, it is a pest
II robs the former of his provislOns-of-
ten stealing them. 1t is II constant at
parties that cross the prairie-land. A
pack Of prairie wolves will follow such a
party 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 travel
lers yet they do not observe this rule
always, as; they know there is not
much danger Of being molested. Hun
ters rarely shoot them, not deeming their
hides worth having, and not caring to
waste a charge upon them. They are
more cautious when following caravan
of Oregon or California emigrauts, where
there are plenty Of green horns and ame-
teur hunters, ready to fire at anything.
Prairie wolves are also constant alien
dants upon a gang of buffalo. They
follow these for hundreds OF miles-in
fact, the outskirts Of the buffalo her are,
for the time being, their home. They
lie down upon the prairie. a short distance
from the butfaloes, 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 around the
unfortunate individual, and worry it. to
death. A wounded or superanuated bull
sometimes falls out," and is attacked
In this case the fight is most desperate,
and the bull is sadly mut,lated before he
can be brought to the ground. Several
wolves, too, are laid hOrS de com bat during
this life struggle.
The prairie traveller may often look
around him without seeing a single wolf;
but let him Ere his gun. and, as fby magic
a score of them will suddenly appear
They start from their hiding places, and
rush forward, in hopes of sharing in the
produce of the shot.
At night. they enliven the prairie camp
with their dismal bowling. although most
travellers would gladly dispense with such
music. Their note is bark like that Of a
terrier dog, repeating three times, and
then prolonged into true VOLTS howl
l have heard farmhouse dogs utter q
very similar bark. From this popularity
some naturalists prefer calling them the
barking wolf, and that is the specific ap'
pelIation given by Say, who first desert
bed them:
Prairie wolveos have all the ferocity Of
their race, but no creature could be more
cowardlJ. OF course no one fears then
under ordinary circumstances but they
have been known to make combined at.
tack upon pels sons disabled, and rendered
unusually fierce by hunger. But they
are not regarded with fear, either by ira
veIer or hunter and the latter disdain.
to waste his charge upon such worthless
game, d..
knew one exception to this rule. and
that was trapper Of the name of H
He was the only OF his sort that shot th,
prairie wolves and he did SO on sight.
believe If it had been the last bullet il
his pouch. and an opportunity had offered
of sendingi it into a prairie wolf, he woult
have dispatched the leaden missel. ono