Evening star., 1934-02-01


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When the sun goes down the
| coyote sends forth a cruel. weird laugh.
Then it is followed with deep-throated
walls. and you are confident that some
one has been murdered. Your hair is
likely to stand on end as the air is filled
with the combined screams and laughs
of several more coyotes. for no coyote
is willing that his brother complete a
solo.
The singer belongs to the family
which includes foxes. wolves and dogs.
brave only when there are great num-
bers. In build the coyotes resemble
shepherd dogs. Their ears are hairy,
erect and pointed. The pupil of the
eye is circular. the nose is sharp and
slender and the tail is bushy and not
extra long. The gray coat is tinged with
buff; the underneath parts are Whitish.
| The coyote pursues his way. usually
for evil. from Southern Mexico to
Northern Alberta. in Canada. and from
Michigan to the Pacific Coast. His
fame has Travelled far, and gradually he
is seen less and less as his chosen loca-
tions are taken over by man.
Though vicious toward all animals,
the coyote never attacks man. Appar-
emily the animals appetite is never sat
isfied Any kind of fish. flesh or fowl
will do, and it matters not if it be dead
o. alive. When pushed by hunger,
larger animals will be attacked.
| AS hunters the coyotes are extremely
clever They have found out, too, that
several Of them can round up an animal
| that is too large for one of them to
handle alone. The method used is to
form circle about the trapped victim
and close in about him. then keep at a
/ distance until they tire him out. They
are light enough to travel over the hard
| crust of snow and are thus enabled to
| stalk antelope and deer. Not having
these animals to slaughter, they go after
calves and goats.
Coyotes wed in February and the
babies are born in April. There are
usually S or 7 and occasionally there
will be 10. The nursery is established
in an abandoned home of some more
industrious animal. and when the in
fants are 8 days DID, they open their
eyes and are apparently we'll pleased
with what they see of the world. You
can see the little babies peering from
their doorway. the yellow eyes cleaning
! like wee balls of fire. They are COW
! cred with soft gray fur and are delight
! full playmates.
When they are weeks old their
parents bring them solid food, and from
this time on until Fall they are given
important lessons that every coyote
should know. The home is left in the
late Autumn.
The Indians have woven many inter-
esting legends about the coyote. Some
pay him high respect because OF his
cunning others accuse him of cowardice
| and trickery. He is referred to as old
Man Coyote" and figures in the reli-
| gious history Of the Indians of the Far
West
When this animal becomes numerous
he is a problem. He is far too clever to
enter traps unless they are we'll dis
guised. In some parts of the West coy
otes have helped keep down the hordes
of insects. and they are inordinately
fond of rabbits. The skin is not con-
sidered valuable. In the raw state it
would bring not more than 81 for a
prime one.
The remarkable thing about coyotes
is their supreme pleasure in hearing
their own voice. They meet in we'll Sc
| lected spots and have choir practice or
giee club drill after sundown. Moon
light nights seem to inspire them.
Copyright, 1934)