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The writers on Natural History, tell us of apparently concerted
action amongst large packs of Wolves, in hunting excursions
- apropriate to this point, take the two following instances, as
illustrating his character ^{for sagacity}, as well as shewing concert of action
It has been repeatedly observed, that a wolf, finding sheep in a fold
would soon have them all frightened to one side of it, when he
would walk carefuly round at such a distance as not to frighten
them, untill he got fairly opposite them, when by a sudden rush
he would drive them to the other side of the fold. By a few such
repetitions, if the fold was not both strong and high, he would have
it broken down, or some of the sheep forced to leap the bound.
In either case his end would be answered, - he would get his
mutton without going into a place, where danger might be concealed

To rob a sow of her pigs, two wolves will visit her, and
approach her from different sides. As soon as the sow gives one
of them chace, the other springs forward and siezes a pig; this by
its cry instantly calls a hot pursuit in a different direction,
which affords the wolf other wolf his opportunity, which he
fails not to improve. A few repetitions of this kind, would soon
releive the sow of her family, without danger to the Wolf

The Panther so far as I could learn, was unknown as a resident
of Northern Ill.. No trader or traper that I met with had ever
seen them in Prairie countries

Of the Lynx, report testified that one had been taken, near
the mouth of Fox River (Ottawa) by some hunters, in the year
1826. Other than this I have heard of none in the state -

Of the Wild Cat we had two species, in our country holding
much the same relation to each other, that the large & Small wolves do

The larger or Catamount as it was sometimes called, was the
size of the Prairie wolf. Its face was round and full, its
eye fierec and glaring, its neck short and forearm very strong
The foot was wider by one third, than long - the claws toug & sharp
It chose the most impervious ^thickets and deepest shades for its resorts

The female nursed her young in caves or burrows, amongst rocks or
secluded precipitous steeps; and preyed upon such things great and
small, as are common to the whole feline species

From their strength they were able, and do not doubt often did