COYOTE, a North American member of the dog family, also known as the prairie-wolf, Canis latrans. Ranging from Canada in the north to Guatemala in the south and frequenting the open plains on both sides of the chain of the Rocky Mountains, the coyote is smaller than the wolf and more jackal-like, shorter in the leg and with a more luxuriant coat. The length is about 4oin., and the general colour tawny, mingled with black and white above and whitish below, the tail having a black tip and a dark gland-patch near the root. There is, however, considerable local variation in size and colour.
Coyotes are slinking and steal thy creatures and they live in burrows in the plains and hunt in packs at night, when they - utter yapping cries as they gallop. Hares, chipmunks, and mice form a large portion of their food ; but also the fawns of deer and prongbuck, sage-hens, and other game-birds. In the flat lands they dig burrows for themselves or take possession of those al ready made by badgers and prairie-dogs. There, in the spring, the half-dozen or more coyote pups are brought forth.
When hard put to it for food, coyotes will eat hips, juniper berries, and other wild fruits.