The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-06
the GRAY WOLF.
II Has Becoue Nearly Extinct In NorsA
America

8 HES ocCooU <sVesAy - WITH
America
The largest wolf of North America IL
commonly known as the timber or gray
wolf II was formerly generally dis
tributed throughout North America,
from the arctic regions to the tropics.
but has, Of course. disappeared from all
settled portions of the country.
Over the Jaeger portion of its range
this wolf is gray in color, but in arctic
regions il is white, or nearly so. while
in Florida and some of the gulf states
and in British Columbia a black form
exists. In Texas there are red or lay
wolves.
Except in its color, says Forest and
Stream, the large wolf Of North 4 err
lea tCanis occidentalisl is everywhere
the same. but in its habits there Is more
or less difference, caused by the cIrcum-
stances o. its environment The wolves
of the north feed TO considerable ex-
tent on reindeer and caribou. those of
the east on deer. while those Of the
south prey on deer and on the wild hogs
which run at large through the pine
forests and swzmps. A few years sxo
the center of abundance of the gray
wolf in America correSpouded very
closely with the center of abundance of
the buffalo. Great bands of these
gaunt and ever hungry animals accom-
panied the buffalo herds. killing calves
or old bulls. and sometimes cutting out
from the herd strong young heifers,
which they had little difficulty in pull
ing down. if they could once separate
them from the companionship of their
fellows.
Notwithstanding the fact that ever
since the settlement of America the
wolf has been pursued with guns. traps
and poison. il is certain that no blow
was ever dealt this race So severe as tho
extinction of the buffalo. Their nat
ural prey gone, the wolves turned their
attention To the herds of the stock men.
and for years now their depredations
have resulted in very serious losses to-
raisers of horses and cattle on tho
northern plains. They do not attack
the herds when they are alarmed and
closely punched together, but prowl
about their outskirts. trying to cut off
the young stock, which they can easily
pull down. Sometimes n small band Of
wolves will roundup little bunch of
cattle, which stand in close circle,
their heads outward, prepared for the
attack. After circling about them for
a short time. two or three of the wolves
will dash at the bunch. aud IL they can
scatter the animals il if the work of an
instant only TO pull down a yearling or
TO Kill two or three calves. We have
seen two wolves thus destroy yearling
steer with no greater apparent effort
than a setter dog w ould use in killing
cat.
Busy woman.
The duties of the presidents wife in
France differ considerably from those
required of the consort of the chief ex-
ecutive Of the United States Nine. Car
not superintends all tho entertainments
given at the Ely see, and no state dinner
is prepared until she has criticised the
bill of fare. Every day she assists the
pres ident in examining the mass of let
tiers he receives daily. her Knowledge of
modern languages and Of political a.
fairs enabling her to be of great as
sistance in dispensing Of them The or
dering and experimenting Of her toilets
is one of her official duties, for the dress
of the presidents lady exercises
greater influence over commercial af
fairs in France than with us. The Of
fetal duties of the French republican
court are even more exscting thaa the
official demands at Washington