Arizona republican., 1901-05-12
CUNNING OF THE COYOTE
Compared With Whom the Fox is a
 Simple Fool.


 the reptilian department. but an
 nounces that he will prosecute 1t with
 greater vigor than ever and will be-
 side add a coyote department. Judge
 between the snake and the coyote
 without detracting a jot or little from
 his love for the former. He has be- come a recent admirer of that Ishmae- 1 lite of animals. the coyote. It came about on his late visit to southern So-
 nora in company with Col. William ! Christy. Dr. J. NJ. Ford and Hon. T. F.. [ Parish.
 | After a 200-mile ride on horseback ' from Torres, the nearest point on the railroad, they arrived one night at a Mexican village. They wanted to rest and sleep. and retired early. About midnight Judge Barnes was awakened by the oppressive stiffness. It was more profound than any stiffness he had ever heard. It weighed upon him more and uore until he grew nervous and then almost distracted. He was on the point of breaking it by awak- | tiiiS ii. 1T Olu TdtlSll anu gazing them in a conversation regard , ing democratic politics in Arizona. He recalled this purpose. however. for he feared that the police would come in and make troubl5.
 Then suddenly the stiffness was pierced. A howl bored rough and ragged hole through it. Judge Barnes recognized the friendly voice of a coyote. It sounded like the voices of q thousand coyotes. but the judge knew 1t was only one, but that one was enough. Then a dog parked. and an- other and another, until the village was alive with canine replies to the coyotes challenge. Next a rooster woke up and increased the din. There were more roosters thus rused into restlessness until the village seemed to have been turned into 8 chicken-yard at sunrise. A sleepy burro added his 'Hee howl Hee howl to the tumult. The burro chorus received acquisitions and the silence of which Judge Barnes had just been complaining was torn into tatters. The growing of the roosters at length died away, the burros ceased ohN oht bs oht tht uOSo Itidpotu ilto silence and all was quiet as before. An hour later that unearthly howl tore It's way through the atmosphere again and the pandeTonium was renewed. When quiet was again restored, Judge Barnes was wide awake and in philosophical mood. His ruminations centered about the coyote and he unused as follows: That coyote was out looking for his supper. He as- cended the hill overlooking this peace ful silent village. It was all spread out before him. but he had no bear ings He did not know where the chicken roosts, which were to attract him were. or where the dogs, which were to be avoided were. Said he: "I'n locate things Then he sent forth that awakening wall and grinned with satisfaction at the result.
 "The dogs having concluded their barking. said to themselves: We've saved the village against the depre- dations of that meddlesome coyote The roosters chuckled: We've shown that coyote that we're sleeping with one eye open and he'll not come pes- ticating around any more tonight. We'll bet our spurs he's running yet
 "In the meaintime the coyote lay down with a broadened grin: Now he murmured, T know where every rooster and every dog In Cienegeta is.' He lay down and took nap, then he rose, crept down the hill, threaded his way among the haunts of the sleeping dogs to the perch of an over-confident rooster. He threw the bird across hls shoulder and trotted back over the hill. Having finished his meal he looked down again upon the sleeping village. TN give them another sere- made. said he. just for fun, gratis.' And again he mangled the stiffness and aroused the dogs. the burros and the surviving rOosters.
 "The coyote" continued Judge Barnes. "enlists the highest human admiration for animal intelligence. The cunning of the fox has become a prover rb. I'll admit that In his way the fox Is up to snuff, but compared with him the coyote is a gentleman of lib- eral education. There Is another side of the coyotes character of which few people. perhaps none are aware. his love-making Sometimes he visits a lonely village not on an errand of dep- relation but to seek mate from among his enemies.
 "He chooses the fairest of the maiden dogs and she follows him away into his desert haunts and cheerfully shares in his prccarious existence. I think Longfellow must have been a student of the coyote and must have been inspired by him in the Wooing of | Hiawatha: From the wigwam he departed Leading with him Laughing Water.