The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-07
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Prairie Wolves.

zss Prairie Wolves. s ff
The prairie wolf { Ganis leitrans in
habits the vast and still unpeopled terri
tories that lie between the Mississippi
river and the shores of the Pacific ocean.
Its range extends beyond what is strict
ly termed "the prairies.." Il is found in
the wooded and mountainous raSines of
California and the Rocky Mountain dis
tricts. 1t is common throughout the
whole of Mexico, where il IS known as the
coyote. have seen numbers of this spe-
cies on the battlefield, teariBgat eorpses,
as far south as the valley of Mexico
itself. Its name of prairie wolf is, there
fore, in some respects inappropiate; the
more SO, as the larger wolves are also in
habitants 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 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 cGnis ldtrans. 1t differs
from all the others in size, and in many
of its habits. Perhaps it more nearly
resembles the jaekal than any other ami
NAL 1t is the new world representative
of that celebrated creature. In size, it
is Just midway between the large wolf
and the fox. With much of the appear
ance of the former, it combines all the
sagacity of the latter. It is usually of a
grayish color, lighter or darker, accord
ing to circumstances, and often with a
tinge of cinnamon or brown. As re-
CARDS its cunning, the fox is ssbut-a fool
to it." 1t cannot be trapped. Some ex-
periments made for the purpose, show re-
suits that throw the theory of instinct quite
into the background. 1t has been known
to burrow under "dead fall, and drag
off the bait without springing the trap.
The steei-trap it avoids, no matter how
concealed; and the cage trap has been
found "no 60" Further illustrations
of the cunning of theprairie wolf might
be found in its mode of decoying within
reach the antelepes and other creatures
on whichit preys, Of course this spe-
cies is as much fox as wolf, for in reality
a small wolf is a fox, and large fox is a
wolf. To the traveller and trapper of the
prairie regions it is pest. aIt robs the
former of his provisions-offen steal
ing them out of his very tent; it unbaits
the traps of the latter, or devours the
game already secured in them. Itis a
constant attendant upon the caravans or
travelling parties that cross 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
travellers; 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 vast charge upon them. They are
more cautious when following a caravan
of Oregon Or California emigrants where
thereare plenty of " greenhorns'' and am
ateur hunters ready to fire at atanything.
Prairie wolves are also constant atten
dants upon the "gangs" 3" of buffalo,
They follow these for hundreds of miles
in. fact, the outskirts of the buffalo here
are, for the time being, their home.-
They lie down on the, prairie at a shor
distance from the buffaloes, and wait ant
watch in the hopes that some of these an
imals may get disabled or separated from
the rest, or with the expectation that I
COW with hcr new dropped calf may fal
into the rear. In such cases, the pacl
gather round the unfortunate individua
and worry it to DEATH A wounded o
superannuated bull somtimes falls out,
and is attacked. In this case the fight i
more desperate, and the bull is sadly
mutilated before he can be brought to tn
ground. Several wolves, toe, are Ian
hors de combat during the struggle.
The prairie traveller may often lool
around him without seeing a singh
wolf. but let him fire off his gun, and
! as if by magic, score of them vii
/ suddenly appear. They start from thei
hiding places, and rush forward IN hope
of sharing in the produce of the shot.
| At night, they enliven the prairi
! camp with theirdismal bowling, although
mosttrayeIers would gladly dispense wit
| such music Their note is bark lik
/ thatof terrier-dog, repeated three times
and then prolonged into a true wolf
howl. have heard farm house dogs ute
avery similar bark. From this peculiarly
some naturalists prefer calling them tn
"barking WOLF" and that is the specific
appeilation given by Say, who first de
scribed them. ..
/ Prairie wolves have all the ferocity o
their race, but no creature could be NOR
cowardly. Of course no one fears then
under ordinary circumstances; but the,
have been. known to make q combine,
attack upon persons disabled and in Sc
we're weather, when they themselve
were rendered unusually fierce by hun
| GER But they are notregarded wit
/ fear either BY Traveller or hunter; an
the latter disdains to waste his ,charg
upon such worthless game.
H The Siosx Indians. &
/ The st. GFuix Union learns that Ii