The Osceola times., 1888-09-08
A MEXICAN WOLF HUNT.
Ferucity of Mans longtime
Dreaded Enemy.
The Three Varieties of the Wolf Species
Found In the United states and Mex
ico-A "Hue and Cry" In
chihuahua.

SlXty miles bOutu Vi FL IdSO tne
main line of the Mexican Central rail-
road reaches n mountain gap where
our trains stopped to replenish their
tenders. While poems carried up
fagots OF knarled mesquit sticks, one
Of my travelling companions strolled
out on the platform of the freight
shed, and presently stopped in front of
an uncouth-looking bundle--a heavy
pack of grizzly skins. blood-stained
and haunted by myriads Of buzzing
flies
What in the world would you call
thatp" he asked the coffee-colored sta
ton master.
THAT? Pelo renzio-gray peltry,"
said the Mexican, knocking the ashes
of his cigarette.
"Gray-what2"
Gray peltry-wolf skins, you know.
They ara getting too foul to let them
get mixed up with the other freight" :"
"Wolf skins!" detaching one OF the
shriveled hides. II thought they
would be larger. Wolves must be
puny brutes, after all"
The Mexican shrugged his shoulders.
"lhey are large enough to give us II
good deal of trouble, Senor."
Few primitive nations would ques-
ton that fact. The gray wolf does
not reach the size of mastiff, and his
weight rarely exceeds ninety pounds.
but for long ages that ''puny brute"
has disputed the prestige Of Gods vice.
regent on earth, and in many pas
toral regions OF Europe and North
America is still greater plague than
oil other beasts of prey and trouble
some birds and reptiles taken together.
The wilderness Of the Northern hemi-
sphere has been conquered only by an
alliance OF men and wolf dogs, and
the unaided powers Of our primi-
tive ancestors might have failed to
prevail against the versatile talents OF
creature that combines the fangs Of
apanther with the feetness of deer
and the keen scent ofa fox, and which
only incessant persecution can prevent
from multiplying at the rate OF sixty
per cent. n year.
The last wild wolf OF the British
Islands is said to have been shot in
1852, in the highlands Of the western
Grampians, but wolves still abound in
the Apennines, in the Carpathian
Mountains, in the southern Alps. in
Russia, Turkey, Norway, Pennsylvania,
Southern Switzerland; in all the Span
ish Sierras, and even in the highlands
OF the French Cevennes, hardly two
hundred miles from the "capital Of
civilization"
Mexico and our Southern border
States still harbor three species OF
the genus lupus-the black wolf, the
coyote, Or prairie wolf, and the gray
wolf (Cdnis occidentdiis), the last the
most mischievous. and, with the ex
ception of the grizzly bear. the boldest
Predatory quadruped OF the North
American continent. Wolves, sur
prised in the act of disemboweling a
dead horse, have been known to attack
a meddlesome dog and tear him limb
from limb, and then, as II encouraged
py their success, make headlong
charge upon mounted hunter, and, In
spite of repeated pistol shot, pursue
MN Tor distance OF several miles. A
iull-grown wolf is more than match
ior man armed with the primitive
weapons Of our forefathers. I'm
IKE the black bear, who hugs before
ne bites, the gray wolf is apt to decide
MS duello by single spring at the
throat OF his adversary, and neither
me dewlap Of steer nor the garments
OF fur-clad hunter can resist the ef-
nclency OF his terrible fangs-fangs
sinering from the teeth of New York
butcher dog as Spanish stiletto diff
iers from common jack-knife.
A hue and cry" is a phrase often
applied to the petty stop-thief sensa-
sations of our modern cities, but he
'na' would know the original signifi-
vance OF the term should see the ef-
@ ,ecus OF wolf alarm In the uplands OF
.hihuahua. The restless vigilance OF
.ne mounted herders has gradually
uriven the wolf population TO the fast
esses OF the alturas, or rugged high
anus where caverns and thickets OF
myrtle and cedar shrubs offer them
an'aee ground. In stress Of famine,
aosever, the fierce highlanders now
u 'nen sally In force, and by avoid
s a,l beaten roads, occasionally sue
~ leu IN raiding the pastures of lone
d. = .ahcno and effecting their retreat to
T summit regions Of the Sierras.
., ne experienced leaders of such ex-
uons srs not apt 70 tarry on .