MASTER COYOTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 55

MASTER COYOTE.

B. B. Billings, in the Popular Science

News (New Yoik),

The coyote, or, as it ia familiarly called, the prairie wolf (Canis latrans), is smaller than the grey wolf, but of such similarity in conformation tbat one is easily deceived, and none bat the experienced can tell the difference between a half-grown wolf and a coyote. So much controversy has arisen between the men killing these animals for tbe bounty and the State authorities authorised to audit such warrants — viz., Idol on coyotes and sdol on wolves — that a recent act of legislation in the State of Montana changes the law to read Siol on either. Master Coyote thrives, and presents the same provoking leer as of old ; yes, even trots faster away, with a wink which says, " Bat you mast catch me first 1 "

In all bat appearance the coyote is to the plains and cou'6:s what the fox is to the woodland dells and timber. In tiza he is between the fox and the wolf, combining tbe cunning of the former with the ferocity of the latter, which is in the natural fitness of his surroundings. He has not the cover that saves the fox, and must depend upon larger game to support life. Not that Master Cuyofe disdains the plump prairie chicken or the delicate white flesh of the grouse, but he claims no place among the epicures, sicce carrion is quite as much to his likicg. From tbe time of Ma birth, when the little fellow plays at hide-and-seek among the boulders of some rocky gorge, sheltered by the coniferous boughs of the secluded retreat, and safe from all intru&ion cave that of a stray magpie or a friendly wood-, pecker, there to a price upon his hvssL Qga-

ditions upon wnich he mast live have changed for the coyote, as for others. When there was a frontier his life waa that of a hunter, as oivilisation advances he becomes a scavenger, and the prejudiced will claim that at all times he ( was a thief. In •times of plenty he was a more honourable foe, and never lay in ambnsh to spring upon his quarry, but in open field he ran him down, putting his powers of endurance against the neetness of the pursued. That he would band together with others of bis species is true; but it was all fair and aboveboard, and he was cot always successful, bat often had to fall back upon poor picking*. It those times Master Ooyote could approach a carcase, and, if the eagles had not picked the bones too clean, could enjoy a feast without fear. Now he looks askance at every pile of bones, and, unless his sides are very close together, gives it a wide berth. Even when hanger becomes almost imperative, his cunning battles with his desire. Siys he, " That carcase yonder — ha, ha I it looks very tempting ;' bat once I saw the skull and crossbones on a bottle marked ' strychnine ' carelessly dropped near just such a carcase, of which I Had but tasted, when — -oh, the cramps and. agonies 1 I nearly died— my hair catno effi. in patches. No, no, thank yon, I'm not so very hungry after alll" With. which reflection the grey prowler trots along almost contentedly. His nose is as keen "as' a bloodhound's, he can tell where every foot has trodden, and his experience with steel traps is such that he will shun that most delicious of all meats to his palate, a dead horse, if he detects the odour of ha man footsteps going to or from the animal. Tl en how can he be poisoned or trapped ? The old trapper will ttll you that it is simple enough. One must approach the intended bait in circles, constantly diminishing, and

therefore nearer each time, until the desired spot is reached.

Before the explorations of Balboa into the western wilds,; preceding the time of the Mound Builders — indeed, contemporaneous with the introduction of phlogiston by the father of all Coyotes, as tradition told the earliest chroniclers of the Aztec*— Master Ooyote has had little fear of tracks tbat go in circles, It is the straight and direct course that is bo contrary to his nature as to be feared. And yet he has much less fear of man than either the fox or the wolf. Travelling without a gun I have seen him rise leisurely from his patient watch beside a tempting prarie dog-hole and trot along in the same trail at a respectful distance behind my horse much, like a faithful house dog. I have come upon him in bis prowling?, and followed him at a stone's throw for a mile or more, and* until I made a hostile demonstration he would not quickon his pace — but it was when I had no gun I Under other circumstances let one stop to dismount, or raise a firearm from his saddle, and presto 1 Master Coyote disappears in the distance. Oq foot after chickens one day, I saw a coyote trotting up a coal 6 3 towards the well-picked carcase of an old cow. Now, in Montana coyotes are voted a nuisance, as the benefit derived from them as scavengers is do offset to the loss experienced through them of young colts, calves, and poultry. The carcase referred to had not been tampered with, and having discovered this the grey prowlers had appropriated it and feasted there with impunity, which had brought more of them than was desirable into the near vicinity of the ranch ; therefore 1 crossed the mouth of the coul6e, making no attempt at hiding, since I fancied myself so far away that I was unnoticed. I mounted the bench land and made a wide j semicircle which brought me to the eclge of the coulea directly above where lay the carcase of the cow. There lay the well-picked ribs, but Master Ooyote was nowhere to be seen. Thinking that doubtless he had suspected my intention, and continued on up the gulch, I descended the bank, passing within Bix feet of the skeleton, and climbed the opposite side. It was a narrow coule), but steep, and, as I paused for breath, I tarried ap4 looked back to where I bacl expected to

find my cojote. I threw my gun to shoulder and fired — bang 1 I had to do that before waiting to tell of it, as the sly fellow bad been concealed inßide the ribs of the carcase all the time, and, seeing my departure, was making off as fast as possible ; but he had been about half a minute too soon in leaving Bhelter, as my bird shot at 40 yards did aa good execution as a rifle ball.

When it comes to coaxing a young calf from the rear of the herd one should be an eye-witness to the cunning he can display in keepiDg bimself hidden from the other bovines while showing the most grotesque antics to the verdant little fellow, whose bump of cariosity prompts him to follow the sportive stranger until he is beyond the protectiog horn of bis mother. Then cornea a sadden spring I— a smothered bleat as the innocent sicks to the ground, its throat cut by the cruel fang* of Master Ooyote 1 What matters the frightened bellow of the cow, as she comes rushing to the side of her dying offspring, and the pawing of tlie angry steers thatcrowdin syripathy and indignation about the scene 7 A feast is there on the ground, when the herd, forgetting the recent tragedy, feeds slowly away to greener spots. With .piga and poultry it- is much the same; .a, familiarity that breeds contempt often proves their undoing. Even .sheep, the constant prey of coyotes, do not hare the faar.o'f them that one would think. • Back in the seventies, the writer had a band of sheep in Montana, beiDg located on the Missouri just below what is called "The G-ite of the Mountains," which is a canjon, or rather a large mass of tumbling boulders at the foot o* the mountains on either side of the river. Poison had been plentifully put out for the protection of the sheep, and on« very cold morning, when mercury could be cut into inch pieces, the herder came across a frozen

coyote. Picking up the stiffened animal, he stood him on his feet. Nothing "could have looked more life-like, and, more bo kill time and in anticipation of some small amusement than from any desire Lo study the habit of the sheep, he allowed the latter to slowly ' graze - towards the hereditary enemy of their race.- He " expected to see the timid sheep, halt, give ' utterance to bleats of fear, then turn and cornmutiicate their terror to those in the rear, stampeding the whole band. Ha, ha ! what fun I But no; the first sheep stopped, gave an inquiring sniff or two, walked a little closer, eyed the coyote all over, trotted up familiarly with a sniff or two more, and fed along past. This was imitated by the next few, those in the middle of the herd treating him with too much contempt for notice, while some of the last of the band insolently jostled him cheek by jowl so roughly that he tumbled over. Stupid sheep and despised Master Coyote I