There are no less than five varieties of the North American Wolf, to all of which separate specific names have been given by authors. They are: the Common Grey Wolf (_Lupus griseus_), the White Wolf (_Lupus albus_), the Pied Wolf (_Lupus sticte_), the Dusky Wolf (_Lupus nubilus_), and the Black Wolf (_Lupus ater_.) All these differ from one another only in the lesser details of colouring and other minor characters. In their habits they resemble one another entirely, and it is therefore unnecessary to do more than mention them. The Coyote, or Prairie Wolf[127] occurs, along with the common North American Wolf, as far south as Mexico; its northern range being about the 55th degree of latitude. “The Prairie Wolf has much resemblance to the Common Grey Wolf in colour; but differs from it so much in size, voice, and manners, that it is fully entitled to rank as a distinct species. It inhabits the plains of the Missouri and Saskatchewan, and also, though in smaller numbers, those of Columbia. On the banks of the Saskatchewan, these animals start from the earth in great numbers on hearing the report of a gun, and gather around the hunter in expectation of getting the offal of the animal he has slaughtered. They hunt in packs, and are much more fleet than the Common Wolf. I was informed by a gentleman who has resided forty years on the Saskatchewan, and is an experienced hunter, that the only animal on the plains which he could not overtake, when mounted on a good Horse, was the Prong-horned Antelope, and that the Meesteh-chaggoneesh, or Prairie Wolf, was the next in speed.” “The fur of the Prairie Wolf is of the same quality with that of the Grey Wolf, and consists of long hairs, with a thick wool at their base. The wool has a smoky or dull lead colour; the long hairs on the back are either white for their whole length, or they are merely tipped with black. The prevailing colour along the spine is dark blackish-grey, sprinkled with white hairs. Its cheeks, upper lip, chin, throat, belly, and insides of the thighs, are white. There is a light-brown tint upon the upper surface of the nose, on the forehead, and between the ears, on the shoulders, on the sides, where it is mixed with grey, and on the outsides of the thighs and legs. The tail is grey and brown, with a black tip. Some individuals have a broad black mark on the shins of the fore-legs, like the European Wolf. The ears are short, erect, and roundish, white anteriorly and brown behind. The tail is bushy, and is clothed, like the body, with wool and long hair. Some specimens want the brown tints, and have most of the grey colour.”[128] The length of body and head together amounts to about three feet; that of the tail about fourteen or fifteen inches. [Illustration: COYOTE, OR PRAIRIE WOLF.]