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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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http://www.archive.org/details/quadrupedsofnort03audu

QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA

QUADRUPEDS

NOHTII AMERICA

JOHN JAMES A.UDUBON, F R. S., &c. &c.

THE REV. JOHN I*. UliUAN, D.D., &c. &c.

VOL. Ill

N E W -YORK:
PUBLISHED in' V. G. AUDUBON.

1 s :. !.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by

V. G. ATTDUBON,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

i Street, Neu York

Biology Dept. Library

TABLE OF CONTENTS,

Felis Onca, . . .

. Jaguar 1

Mephitis Maeroura,

Large-tailed Skunk, .

11

Arctomya Pruinoeua,

Hoary Marmot.— The Whistler

17

Bciurus CoUasi

. I bote's S,r,,ncl,

21

Pseudostoma Douglaaii, .

Columbia Pouched-Rat, .

Cerrua Richardson!],

. Columbian Black-tailed Drrr,

Aretorays Lett isii

. Lrins's Marmot,

Lepus Baclimani

. Bachmaat't Hart,

9permophiIua M< licanna,

1 H

Pseudostoma Talpoidea, .

Vole-thaped Pouched-Rat,

43

c i* iboa Moschatus

. Hutk-Ox,

46

Lepus Califormons,

I ahforuian Hart,

53

Canis Familiaris (var. Borealis),

I V

:.:

■ lis, .

. 8 K .

62

Arvicola xanthognatha, .

. Ycllair-rl,, ,

07

Vulpea Fulvus, ....

American Black or Silver Fox,

Bciurus Nigreacena,

. Dusky Squirrel,

71

Cerrua 1 euourua

. Long-tailed Deer,

77

Ceorychua HuJsonius, .

. Hudson'* Ray Lemming. .

82

Qcorychus Helvolus,

. Tairny Lemming,

Trimucronatus,

. Back's Lemming,

f-T

Vulpea Lagopus, ....

. Arctic For,

9>1

Lotra Canadensis (mr. Lataxin:i Mollis]

. Canada Otter, .

. 97

Aplodontia Leporina,

. Seicellel, ....

99

Spermophilue MexicanuB,

Mexican Marmot. Squirrel,

39

Bon i Palustria

. American Marth Shrete, .

108

1 aribon, ....

. Caribou, or American Reindeer

111

Ursus Amonosnus (vnr. Cinnamomuml,

Cinnam'm Bear,

its

Capra Americana, ....

Rocky Mountain Goal,

128

An ieola Borealis, ....

[VortAern Meadoic-Mouse, .

134

Dipodomya Phillipsii,

137

Ursus Ferox,

. Grizzly Bear, .

141

Canis Familiaris (var. Lagopus),

Hare-Indian Dog, .

153

i;>nus, ....

Texan Hare,

156

Arctomya Flavivontor, .

. Yellow-bellied Marmot,

ICO

Arvicola RicharJsoiiii, .

Richardson's Mcadoic-Mansc,

103

Arvicola Drummondii, .

. DrummoniTs Meadow-Mouse,

166

Cerrua Yirgiaianus,

Common Deer, .

16S

303671

TABLE OF CONTEXTS.

Enhydra Marina, .

Mustela Martes,

Spermophilns Macrourus,

Putorioa Agilis,

T'rsus Americanos, .

Pseudostoma Borealis,

Pteromys Sabrinus,

Pteromys Alpimis, .

Arricola To wnBendii,

Arvieola Nasuta, .

Arvieola Orizivora,

Scalops Townsendii,

Dasypue Peba,

Spermophilus Townsendii,

Arvieola Oregoni, .

Arvieola Texiana, .

Putorius Fuscus, .

Seiurus Fremonti, .

Seiurus Fuliginosus,

Pseudostoma Floridana,

Sorex Dekayi,

Sorex Longirostris, .

Scalops Argentatus,

Vulpes Utah, .

Seiurus Mustelinus,

Seiurus Auduboni, .

Seiurus Aberti,

Seiurus Fossor,

Spermophilus Harrisii,

Arvieola Edax,

Procj on Cancrirorus,

Mephitis Zorilla, .

Canis I lupus) Griseus,

Arvieola Dekayi, .

Arvieola Apella,

Arvieola Austerus, .

Arvieola Californiea,

Arvieola Oeeideutalis,

Arvieola (Hesperomys) Campest

Arvieola (Hesperoniys) Sonuriensis,

Arvieola Rubricates,

Perognatlms Penicillatus,

Pseudostoma (Geomys) Fulvus,

Arvieola Montana, .

Pseudostoma Castanops,

Pseudostoma (Geomys) Hispidum

Pseudostoma Umbrinus,

Pseudostoma (Geomys) Mexieanus,

Sea Otter,
Pine Marten, .
Large-tailed S permophilt,
Little Nimble Weasel,
American Black Bear,
Camas Rat,

Severn-River Flying-Squirrel,
Rocky Mountain Flying-Squir
TovmseneVs Arvieola,
Sharp-nosed Arvieola,
Rice Meadow-Mouse,
Townsend's Shrew-Mole, .
Nine-Banded Armadillo, ,
American Souslik, .
Oregon Meadow-Mouse, .
Texan Meadow-Mouse,
Tawny Weasel,
Fremont's Squirrel, .
Sooty Squirrel, .
Southern Pouched Rat, .
DcKaifs Shrew,
Long-nosed Shrew, .
Silvery Shrew-Mole, .
JackallFox, .
Weasel-like Squirrel, .
Largi Louisiana Black Squim
( ;,lniiil A/>' rt's Squirrel, ,
California Grey Squirrel,.
Harris's Marmot Squirrel,
California Meadow Mouse,
t 'rab-i ating Raccoon,
t 'alifornian Skunk, .
American Grey Wolf,
Glossy Arvieola,
Wundhrjuiscs Areicola,
Baird's Arvieola,
Cdliforhian Areicola,
Western Arvieola,
New Jersey Field Mouse, .
Sonora Field Mouse, .
Red-sided Meadow Mouse, ,
Tuft -tailed Pouched Rat, .
Reddish Pouched Rat,
Peak's Meadow-Mouse,
I'll' stnut-ch" k< d I'uuehed Rat,

Lradheuter's Sand Rat,

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Sorex Forsteri,
Borex Cooperi,

imbripes, .
Sorex Peraonatus, ■
Georychua GrCBnlandicua,
Dipodomye <>r.lii, •
Arvicola (Hesperom;

1 'nous
Bcalops l.ntiinanns,
Mns he Contoi,
Mug Mioliigaaenaia,

doe (Crieetodipua) 1
Didelpbia Bn »ie< ps,
Didelphie Califoraii
Mil- Catolinenaia, .
S.t.>\ Richardeonii,
Botox Brevioandua,
Pseudostoma Bulbivorum,
Dipodomya Agilia, .
Dipodcmja Heermanni, .

• lllls, .

Boiuroa Clarkii,
Seinrus Annulatua,

.!/■.«",

Foretcr'i sh,

Skrao,

-

Greenland I.nnmina,
Orift Pouched Ifoute,

1 Shrem M"lr,
T.s.ui Shr.
J,, (■„„!■' a U ■

Carolina Movie,

.'.< Shr-ir,

Clark'* S.pnrrr.,

303671

QUADM rPEDS OF tfORTB AMERICA.

FELIS ONC A.— I. inn

Jaii

PLATE CL- I

P. Supra fiilvn. subtuaalbus; corpora ocellia aanularibua nigris ornato,
in series Bubparallelis pei' longitudinem diBpositis; ocellis, punctia nigris
Bubcentralibos, in signitis.

en w; LI

Yel/mr. with a white bel/y ." body marked toith open black eirele-like figures,
each containing one or more nearly central black dots : these black, circle-like
markings disposed in near!;/ longitudinal parallel Ones.

BTN0NTME8.

Pa

nil, Syst. Natur. vol. xii. p. 61 ; Gmel. vol. i. p. 77, pi. i |
Schreber, Saugth. p. 388, pi. 6.
Endeben Syst p. 513, j
" Zimm. Geogr. Qesch. ii. pp. 162,

CUV. Ann. du Mas. iriv. p. 111. 4 T. If,.

Regne Animate, \<>1. i. p. 260. < Isseraente Posailes, vol. iv. p. 417.

" F. Cm. I I

Deem, in Nbuv. Diet, vol. vi. p. 07. pi. 4.
" " Mammal., pp. 219,

Desmoulins, Diet Clara 3 I,
" Temm. Monog., p. 136.
r.vNTin-nA. Schreber, t, on.

a \, Brown's Jamaica.
Tigris Reoia. Briss. Regno Animate, p. 269, Hlt- 7.

VOL. III.— 1

2 JAGUAR.

Tlatlauhqui Ocelotl. Tigris Mexicana. Hernandez, Mex., p. 498, fig.

Jaguara. Marcgr. Brazil, p. 235, fig. c.

Jaguar. Burl'. Nat. Hist, torn. ix. p. 201.

Yagouarete. D'Azara, vol. i. p. 114.

Brazilian Panther. Pennant's Synopsis, pp. 127, 176.

" Tiger. Pennant's Quadrupeds, p. 286.

Onza Pintado. Lusitanis, in Bresil. Cumang Maconis.
Felis Jaguar. Hamilton Smith. Griffith's An. Kingdom, vol. v. p. 164.
" Onca. Harlan, Fauna, p. 95.

DESCRIPTION.

The Jaguar compares with the Asiatic tiger in size and in shape ; its
legs, however, are shorter than those of the royal tiger, although its
body is perhaps as heavy.

Head, large ; jaws, capable of great expansion ; incisors, large, and
slightly curved inwards ; ears, rather small, rounded, clothed with short
hairs on the inside. Body, rather inclining to be stout, and shorter and
less elegant than the cougar : at the shoulders the Jaguar is not much
more raised from the earth, but it stands higher from the ground near the
rump.

Feet, clothed with hair covering the retractile nails ; the pads of the
feet, naked ; a few hairs between the toes ; tail, long, and generally half
elevated when walking ; whiskers, few, strong, and bristly.

Hair of two kinds ; the longest (which is only from four to five eighths
of an inch in length) is the coarser ; the shortest is a softer and finer fur,
and is not very thickly distributed.

"Where the black markings do not prevail, the hairs are light greyish-
brown at the roots and on the surface rich straw-yellow, deepest near the
shoulders and back, and paler on the sides and legs ; nose to near the eye
nearly a uniform lightish-brown ; forehead spotted with black in some-
what curved lines, the spots becoming larger towards the back of the
head ; whiskers black at the roots, then white for two thirds of their
length to the points ; lips and chin, white ; a black line on the sides of
the mouth ; around the eye, whitish-yellow ; iris, light-yellow ; a black
stripe between the ears on the back part of the head. There is no white
patch behind the ear, as in the cougar and the wild cat.

All the black spots on the body are composed of hairs which are black
from their roots ; outer edge of the ear, black for half an inch in width ;

a row of black spots running along the back to and beyond the root of
the tail for about a foot along its upper surface ; the sides of the body are
mark'',! with black rings of irregular and somewhat oval sha]
yellow-brown centres having dots of pure black in them. The*

rings are, on tl dge of the back somewhat diamond shaped, with from

one to three little black spots inside. Man] of these circles or squares are
not perfect: some are formed bj several dots and curved black patches

which turn inwards.

On the shoulders and the outer surfaces of the legs, these rings or
squares are succeeded by black Bpots or patches Lessening in size as they
approach the claws. The hair on the under surface is dull-white from the
routs, with large patches of Mack ; belly, inner sides of legs, and throat,
white, blotched or spotted with black. These patches are \w
.size, being from one eighth of an inch to two inches in extent. Tail,

general colour spotted black on a yellow ground, like tl utsides of the

legs.

A living Jaguar from Mexico which we examined in its ■
Charleston, became very beautiful after shedding its hair in spring: the
general colour of its body was bright-yellow, and the rings and Bpots were
brilliant black.

There was another Living specimen in the same collection, from Brazil,
which resembled the one from Mexico in its general markings, but was
larger, more clumsy, and had shorter and thicker Legs. There were, how-
ever, no characters bj which the Bpei ies could be separated.

DIMENSIONS.

From point of nose to root of tail, - 4 1

Length of tail, 2 1 (?)

Height of ear. 2j

Shoulder to end of claw. 2

Length of Largest claw, 2

Around the wrist. 7*

- cheet, :',

" head. 1 9fl

Breadth between the eyes, .:

Alike beautiful and ferocious, the Jaguar is of all American animals
unquestionably the moat to be dreaded, on account of iis combined

strength, activity, and courage, which not only give it a vast physical
power over other wild creatures, but enable it frequently to destroy man.

Compared with this formidable beast, the cougar need hardly be dreaded
more than the wild cat ; and the grizzly bear, although often quite as ready
to attack man, is inferior in swiftness and stealthy cunning. To the so much
feared tiger of the East he is equal iii fierceness ; and it is owing, perhaps,
to his being nocturnal in his habits to a great extent, that he seldom issues
from the deep swamps or the almost impenetrable thickets or jungles of
thorny shrubs, vines, and tangled vegetation which compose the chaparals
of Texas and Mexico, or the dense and untracked forests of Central and
Southern America, to attack man. From his haunts in such nearly unap-
proachable localities, the Jaguar roams forth towards the close of the day,
and during the hours of darkness seizes on his prey. During the whole
night he is abroad, but is most frequently met with in moonlight and fine
nights, disliking dark and rainy weather, although at the promptings of
hunger he will draw near the camp of the traveller, or seek the almost
wild horses or cattle of the ranchero even during daylight, with the
coolest audacity.

The Jaguar has the cunning to resort to salt-licks, or the watering-
places of the mustangs and other wild animals, where, concealing himself
behind a bush, or mounting on to a low or sloping tree, he lies in wait
until a favorable opportunity presents itself for springing on his prey.
Like the cougar and the wild cat, he seeks for the peccary, the skunk,
opossum, and the smaller rodentia ; but is fond of attacking the larger
quadrupeds, giving the preference to mustangs or horses, mules, or
cattle. The colts and calves especially afford him an easy prey, and
form a most important item in the grand result of his predatory
expeditions.

Like the lion and tiger, he accomplishes by stealth or stratagem what
could not be effected by his swiftness of foot, and does not, like the
untiring wolf, pursue his prey with indomitable perseverance at top speed
for hours together, although he will sneak after a man or any other prey
for half a day at a time, or hang on the skirts of a party for a considerable
period, watching for an opportunity of springing upon some person or
animal in the train.

Col. Hays and several other officers of the Rangers, at the time J. W.
Audubon was at San Antonio de Bexar, in 1845, informed him that the
Jaguar was most frequently found about the watering-places of the mus-
tangs, or wild horses, and deer. It has been seen to spring upon the
former, and from time to time kills one ; but it is much more in the
habit of attacking colts about six months old, which it masters with

great ease. Col. Hays had killed four Jaguars during his Btay iu Texas.
These animals are known in thai country by the Americans as the " Leopard,"

and by the Mexicans as tl Mexican tiger." When lying in wait al or

near the watering-places of deer or horses, this Bavage beast exhibi
patience and pet maining for hours crouched down, with head

I and still as death. Bui when some luckless animal approaches,
eem to dilate, its hair bristles up, its tail is gently waved back-
wards and forwards, and all its powerful limbs appear to quiver with
excitement. The unsuspecting creature draws near the dangerous spot;
suddenly, with a tremendous leap, the Jaguar pounces on him, ami with
the fury of an incarnate Bend fastens upon his nock with his ten il
whilst his formidable claws an- struck deep into his back and Hanks. The
poor victim writhes ami plunges with fright ami pain, ami make:
efforts to shake oil" the foe, bul in a few moments is unable
struggle, ami yields with a lasl despairing cry to his fate. The Jaguar
begins to devour him while yet alive. an>l growls ami roars over his prey
until his hunger i^ appeased. When he has finished his meal, he bo
covers the remains <>f the carcass with sticks, grass, weed-, or
not disturbed, bo as to conceal it from other predacious animals and vul-
tures, until he is ready for another banquet. The Jaguar often lies
down to guard his prey, after devouring asjauch a- hi
occasion a small party of Rangers came acrosSTOC while feeding upon a
mustang. The animal was surrounded by eight or ten hungry wolves,

which dared not interfere or approach too near "the presei ." The

Rangers gave chase to the Jaguar, on which the wolves set up a howl or
cry like a pack of hound-, and joined in the hunt, which ended before they
had gone many yards, the Jaguar being shot down as he ran. upon which
the wolves went hack to the carcass of the ho,-.' and finished him.

The Jaguar has been known to follow a □ time. Colonel

11 its, wliil-t alone on a scouting expedition, was followed by one
animals for a considerable distance. The colonel, who was awai
footsteps were scented by the animal, having observed him on his trail
a little in his rear, had proceeded a good way. and thoughl that the

Jaguar had left. when, having entered a thicker pari of the wood, In'
heard a stick crack, and being in an Indian country, "whirled round."
expecting to ['-acc a Wakoe : hat instead of a red-skin, he saw t!
aboul half-crouched, looking "righl in his eye."' and gently waving his tail.
The colonel, although he wished not to discharge Ins gun. being in the
neighborhood of Indians who might hear the report, now- thought it high
time to shoot, so he fired, and killed him in his tracks. "The skin," as
he informed us, " was so beautiful, it was a pleasure to look at it."

6 JAGUAR.

These skins are very highly prized by the .Mexicans, and also by the
Rangers ; they are used for holster coverings and as saddle cloths, and
form a superb addition to the caparison of a beautiful horse, the most
important animal to the occupants of the prairies of Texas, and upon
which they always show to the best advantage.

In a conversation with General Houston at Washington city, he
informed us that he had found the Jaguar east of the San Jacinto river,
and abundantly on the head waters of some of the eastern tributaries of
the Rio Grande, the Guadaloupe, &c.

These animals, said the general, are sometimes found associated to the
number of two or more together, when they easily destroy horses and other
large quadrupeds. On the head waters of the San Marco, one night, the
general's people were aroused by the snorting of their horses, but on
advancing into the space around could see nothing, owing to the great
darkness. The horses having become quiet, the men returned to camp
and lay down to rest as usual, but in the morning one of the horses was
found to have been killed and eaten up entirely, except the skeleton. The
horses on this occasion were hobbled and picketed ; but the general thinks
the Jaguar frequently catches and destroys wild ones, as well as cattle.
The celebrated Bowie caught a splendid mustang horse, on the rump of
which were two extensive .gears made by the claws of a Jaguar or cougar.
Such instances, indeed, W& not very rare.

Capt. J. P. McCown, U. S. A., related the following anecdote to us : —
At a camp near the Rio Grande, one night, in the thick, low, level musquit
country, when on an expedition after Indians, the captain had killed a
beef which was brought into camp from some distance. A fire was made,
part of the beef hanging on a tree near it. The horses were picketed
around, the men outside forming a circular guard. After some hours of
the night had passed, the captain was aroused by the soldier next him
saying, " Captain, may I shoot?" and raising himself on his arm, saw a
Jaguar close to the fire, between him and the beef, and near it, with one
fore-foot raised, as if disturbed ; it turned its head towards the captain as
he ordered the soldier not to fire, lest he should hurt some one on the
other side of the camp, and then, seeming to know it was discovered, but
without exhibiting any sign of fear, slowly, and with the stealthy, noiseless
pace and attitude of a common cat, sneaked off.

The Jaguar, in its South American range, was long since noticed for its
ferocity by Humboldt and others. In some remarks on the American
animals of the genus felis, which we find in the Memoirs of the Wernerian
Nat. Hist. Society of Edinburgh, vol. iv., part 2, p. 470, it is stated that
the Jaguar, like the royal tiger of Asia, does not fly from man when it is

dared to close combat, when it is not alarmed by the greai number of its
assailants. The writer quotes an instance in which one of these animals
had seized a horse belonging to a farm in the province of Cnmana, and
dragged it to a considerable distance. "The groans of the dying
says Humboldt, "awoke the slaves of the farm, who went oul armed with
lances and cutlasses. The animal continued on its prey, awaited their
approach with firmness, and fell only after a long and obstinau
ance." In the same article, the writer states thai (he Jaguar le
the water to attack the Indians in their canoes on the Oronoko. This
animal called the Ya'_r<Hiarete in Paraguay if we are not mistaken, the
foregoing article goes on to say, is described by gentlemen -who have
hunted it in that country, as a very courageous and powerful animal, of
great activity, and highly dangerous when al hay. lie also Bays: "Both
this species and ilie puma are rendered mere formidable by the facility
with which they can ascend I

■A \eiy beautiful Jaguar from Paraguay was some time a«ro carried
alive to Liverpool. When the animal arrived, it was in full health, and
though not fully grown was of a very formidable size and strength. The

captain who brought il could venture to play with it. as it lay on 01 f

the boats on deck, to which it was chained ; bul it had been familiarized
to him from the time it was the size of a small dog."

In Griffith's Cuvier, vol. ii. p. b*>7. it is Btated in a quotation from
D'Azara, that the Jaguar i- reported to "stand in the water out of the
Btream, and drop its saliva, which. Boating on the surface, draws the fish
after it within reach, when it seizes them with the paw, and throws them
ashore for food." At die -ame page, it is Baid, " The Jaguar is hunted
with a number of dogB, which, although the\ have no chance of d(
it themselves, drive the animal into a tree, provided it can find one a little
inclining, or else into BOme hole. In the first case the hunters kill it with
fire-arms or lances : and in the second, some of the natives at ■■

found hard] enough to approach it with the left arm covered with a sheep-
skin, and to spear it with the other- -a temerity which is frequently
followed with fatal consequences to the hunter."

The Jaguars we examined in a menagerie a1 Charleston had pi
fits of bad temper : one of them severely bit. his keeper, and wa-
give battle either to the A-iatie tiger or the lion, which were kept in
separate •

We add some extracts, with which we hope our readers will be
interested :

" In the province of Tucuman, the common mode of killing the Jaguar is
to trace him to his lair by the wool left on the bushes, if he has carried

8 JAGUAR.

off a sheep, or by means of a dog trained for the purpose. On finding the
enemy, the gaucho puts himself into a position for receiving him on the
point of a bayonet or spear at the first spring which he makes, and thus
waits until the dogs drive him out — an exploit which he performs with
such coolness and dexterity that there is scarcely an instance of failure.
In a recent instance related by our capitaz, the business was not so quickly
completed. The animal lay stretched at full length on the ground, like a
gorged cat. Instead of showing anger and attacking his enemies with
fury, he was playful, and disposed rather to parley with the dogs with
good humour than to take their attack in sober earnestness. He was now
fired upon, and a ball lodged in his shoulders, on which he sprang so
quickly on his watching assailant that he not only buried the bayonet in
his body, but tumbled over the capitaz who held it, and they floundered on
the ground together, the man being completely in his clutches. 'I
thought,' said the brave fellow, ' I was no longer a capitaz, while I held
my arm up to protect my throat, which the animal seemed in the act of
seizing ; but when I expected to feel his fangs in my flesh, the green fire
of his eyes which blazed upon me flashed out in a moment. He fell on me,
and expired at the very instant I thought myself lost for ever.' " — Captain
Andrews's Travels in South America, vol. i. p. 219.

" Two Indian children, a boy and girl eight or nine years of age, were
sitting among the grass near the village of Atures, in the midst of a
savannah. It was two in the afternoon when a Jaguar issued from the
forest and approached the children, gambolling around them, sometimes
concealing himself among the long grass, and again springing forward, with
his back curved and his head lowered, as is usual with our cats. The
little boy was unaware of the danger in which he was placed, and became
sensible of it only when the Jaguar struck him on the head with one of his
paws. The blows thus inflicted were at first slight, but gradually became
ruder. The claws of the Jaguar wounded the child, and blood flowed
with violence. The little girl then took up a branch of a tree, and struck
the animal, which fled before her. The Indians, hearing the cries of the
children, ran up and saw the Jaguar, which bounded off without showing
any disposition to defend itself." — Humboldt's Travels and Researches, fyc,
Edinburgh, 1833, p. 245.

Humboldt speculates on this cat-like treatment of the children, and we
think it very likely that occasionally the Jaguar plays in a similar manner
with its prey, although we have not witnessed it, nor heard of any
authentic case of the kind.

D'Azara says (vol. i. p. 116) that the black Jaguar is so rare that in
forty years only two had been killed on the head waters of the river

JAGTJAB 9

Parana. The man who killed one of these assured him that it did not
differ from the Jaguar (Yagouare*te"), ezcepl that it was black, marked -with
still blacker spots, Like those of the common Jaguar.

The Jaguar generallj goes singly, but is sometimes accompanied in his
favourite female. The latter brings forth two young at a time, the hair
of which is rougher and qoI so beautiful as in the adult. She gui<

as they are able to follow, and supplies and protects them, not
to encounter any danger in their defence.

The Jaguar, according to D'Azara, can easily drag awaj a ho
ox ; and should another be fastened or yoked to the one he kills, the pow-
erful beasl drags both off together, notwithstanding the resistance of the
terrified living our. lie dor- qo1 conceal the residue of his prey after
feeding : this may be because of the abundance of animal- in !
American haunts. Be hunts in the stealthy manner of a cat aft
ami hie leap upon his prey is a very sudden, quick Bpring: he ■
ipicQj when retreating or running. It is said that if l
partj of sleeping travellers at night, he advance- into their midst, and first
kills the doe. if there is one. next the negro, and then the Indian, only
attacking the Spaniard after he has made this selection : but generally he
seizes the dog and the meat, even when the latter is broiling on the fire.

without injuring the men, unless he is attacked oris remarkably
or unless he 1ms l n accustomed to eat human flesh, in which

prefers it to every other kind. 1>'\ Since I have

been here the Yauouaivtos (Jaguars) have eaten six men. two of whom
ed i>\ them whilsl warming themselves by a fire." If a small
party of men or a herd of animals pass within gunshot of a Jaguar, the
beast attacks the last one of them w ith a loud roar.

During the night, and especially in the love Beason, he frequently roars,
Uttering in a continued manner, pou, p<»i. pon.

It is said that when the Spaniards settled the country from Montevideo

bo Ss Vera Cruz, so many Jaguars were found that two thousand

were killed annually, but their numbers have been greatly diminished

. vol. i. p. 124). We have no positive information a- to the

iverage annually killed, but presume it not to exceed one tenth

the above number.

GEOdRAnur u. i>tsti;ti!ution.

This species is known to exist in Texas, and in a few localities is not
very rare, although it is far from being abundant throughout the state. It
is found on the head waters of tin Rio Grande, and also on the Nueces.
vot ttt. — 2

10 JAGUAR.

Towards the west and southwest it extends to the mountainous country
beyond El Paso. Harlan speaks of its being occasionally seen east of
the Mississippi. This we think somewhat doubtful. It inhabits Mexico
and is frequently met with in almost every part of Central America.
Humboldt mentions having heard its constant nightly screams on the
banks of the Oronoco. It is known to inhabit Paraguay and the Brazils,
and may be regarded as the tiger of all the warmer parts of America, pro-
ducing nearly as much terror in the minds of the feeble natives as does its
congener, the royal tiger, in the East. It is not found in Oregon, and we
have not met with any account of it as existing in California.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Buffon, in describing the habits of the Jaguar, appears to have received
his accounts of the timidity of this species from those who referred to the
Ocelot, which is generally admitted to be a timid animal. He erroneously
supposed that when full grown it did not exceed the size of an ordinary
dog, in which he egregiously underrated its dimensions. It is certainly a
third heavier than the Cougar, and is not only a more powerful, but a far
more ferocious animal. This species exhibits some varieties, one of which,
the black Jaguar, is so peculiar that it has been conjectured that it might
be entitled to a distinct specific name. The exceeding rarity, however, of
the animal, and the variations to which nearly all the species of this genus
are subject, induce us to set it down as merely a variety. It must be
observed that it is rare to find two specimens of uniform colour ; indeed
the markings on each side of the same animal are seldom alike. Buffon
(vol. v. p: 196, pi. 117-119) has given three figures of the Jaguar, the first
and third of which we consider as the Ocelot, and the second as probably
the Panther {F. Pardus) of the eastern continent. Hamilton Smith, in
Griffith's Cuvier (vol. ii. pp. 455, 456), has given us two figures of this
species, differing considerably in colour and markings : the former is very
characteristic. He has named this species Felis Jaguar, which is inadmis-
sible. There is some resemblance in this species to the panther (F. Pardus),
as also to the leopard (F. Leopardus) of Africa, but they are now so well
described as distinct species that it is scarcely necessary to point out the
distinctive marks of each. Buffon's panthere femelle, pi. 12, and Shaw's,
Gen. Zool., Part I., pi. 84, evidently are figures of our Jaguar.

N°21

Hate CII.

- . /,? /',/<■ - = Vt? '/<■</<- y/v////- r

■■'.Tat-veiT^'WAV.iV'

Litt'Eniieia'Col'iy'Tpnv.cLpV.ad1

11

MEPHITIS MACK OIK A.-I,icht.

Large-Tailed -

PLATE CI I.— Male.

M. magnitudine felis cati (domestica), fusco-niger, striis dua'ous albis
dorsalilms. vitta alba frontali, cauda capite longiore.

I II \\; >■

Size of the domestic cat ; ireneral colour, brownish-black ; a white stripe cm
each side of the back, and on the forehead ; tail longer than the head.

SYNONYM ES.

Mephitis Macrocra. Lielit. DanteUung neucr odor wenig hckannter SiHigthiere,
Berlin, iS2T-:u. Tafel rivi.
" Mexican!-- Grai j., p. 681. 183".

tPTION.

Body, as in other species of this genus, -tout ; lioad, Bmall ; nose short,
rather acute, and naked ; ears short, rounded, clothed with short hair on
both surfaces; eyes, -mat]; claw-. Blender and weak; soles of the feet.
naked.

The bod] is covered with two kinds of hair; the firel long an
the fur underneath sofl and wooll] : tail verj Long, rather bushy, covered
with long hairs, and without any of the softer and shorter fur.

There are slight variations in the markings of the specimens we
examined in the museums of Berlin and London, and in those w(
This species appears, however, to be less eccentric in colour and markings
than the common skunk M. chmga.

In the specimen from which our figure was made, there is a rather broad
longitudinal white stripe running from the nose to near the back of the
head ; upper surface of neck and back, white, with a narrow black dorsal
stripe beginning on the middle of the bach and running down on the upper
surface of the tail ; a spot of white under the shoulder, and another along

12

LARGE-TAILED SKUNK.

the flanks; the hairs on the tail are irregularly mixed with white and
black ; under surface black.

Another skin from the same region has a narrower stripe on the fore-
head, the usual white stripes from the back of the head along the sides
nearly meeting again at the root of the tail, leaving the dorsal black patch
very much broader than in the specimen just described, and of an oval
shape ; the tail contains a greater number of black hairs, and towards the
tip is altogether black ; sides, legs, and whole under surface, black.

Lichtenstein's figure resembles this specimen in form and markings,
with the exceptions that it represents scarcely any black patch on the back,
and that it exhibits a longitudinal white stripe running from the shoulder
to the hip. Lichtenstein has also described and figured the young of
this species, which very closely resembles the adult.

DIMENSIONS.

Male.— Killed January 28, 1846.

From point of nose to root of tail,

Tail (vertebra;),

" to end of hair, -

Between ears,

Girth around the body, behind fore-legs

belly,

Height from sole of fore-foot to top of shoulders,
Weight, 4Jlb. — specimen fat.

1

4

1

1

1

6

2i

9

1

2i

84

In Texas, during the winter of 1845-6, specimens of this skunk were
obtained by J. W. Audubon ; the first he met with was seen on one of the
high and dry prairies west of Houston, on the road to Lagrange ; this
was, however, only a young one. It was easily caught, as these animals
never attempt to escape by flight, depending on the fetid discharges which
they, like the common skunk, eject, to disgust their assailant and cause
him to leave them in safety. By throwing sticks and clods of dirt at this
young one, he was induced to display his powers in this way, and teased
until he had emptied the glandular sacs which contain the detestable
secretion. He was then comparatively disarmed, and by thrusting a
forked stick over the back of his head, was pinned to the ground, then
seized and thrust into a bag, the mouth of which being tied up, he was

LARGE-TAILED SKUNK. ];}

sonsidered Bafely captured, and was slung1 to one of the pack-eaddlea cf (he
baggage-mules. The fetor of this young skunk was not bo horrid ae that
of the common speciea {Mepl

On arriving at the camping ground for the night, the party found that
their prisoner had escaped by gnawing a hole in the bag, being urn
by any one.

pedes is described as very common in some parts of 1
its Buperb tail is now and then used by the country folks by way of plume
or feather in their hats. •'• W. A.udubok, in bis Journal, remarks : " We
were much amused at the disposition manifested by some of lie v
the corps of Rangei - to put on extra finery when opportunity offered. At
one time a party returned from a chase after Indians whom they had over-
taken nml routed. Several of them had whole turkey-cocks' tails stuck on
one side of their hats, and had long pendant train- of feathers hanging
behind their backs, which they had taken from the 'braves' of the Wakoes.
One youusr fellow, about eighteen years of age, had a Buperb head ■
suit to match, which he had taken from an Indian, whom, to ua

n. he had scared out of it: he had. to complete the triumphal
decoration of his handsome person, painted his face all th
rainbow, and looked fierce enough. In contrast with th'-
of the 'nen, we noticed that their tried and chivalrous leaders, Bays,

W IlLKBB, On LB8PIE, and Cm I ill the plainCSl

the ' regulations' permitted."
Thi Larg Tailed Skunk feeds upon Bnakee, lizards, insects, bi

and small animals ; and it i- said that at the season when the ] an [Carya

oUvaeformis) ripens, they eat those nuts, a- w<

strange, considering their carnivorous formation. They burrow in winter.

and live in hollows and under roots. Thej produc

birth.

We are indebted to Col. Gbo. A. Mi Call, U.S.A., for the following
interesting account of an adventure with one of these Skunks, which,
b< ing written in an entertaining and lively manner, sets forth in a
strong light the dread the very idea of being defiled by these offensive
brutes causes in every one who has ever been in those parts of the country
they inhabit : —

" In New Mexico, in September last, returning from I>o> Vegas to Santa

Fe. I halted for the nighl at Cottonwood creek. Here. 1 pitched my tent

on the edge of a beautiful -rove of the trees (Popuhu angulatus) which
give name to the Mream.

"Wishing to reach my destination at an early hour on the morrow, I
directed the men to lie up before day. in order that they mighl W'cil their

14 LARGE-TAILED SKUNK.

horses, get their breakfast, and be ready to take the road as soon as it
was fairly daylight. After a refreshing- sleep. I awoke about an hour before
day, and the familiar sound of my horse munching his corn by the side of
my tent, where he was usually picketed, informed me that my men were
already astir. At this hour, the moon, almost at the full, was low in the
west, and flung its mellow light adown the mountain gorge, in rays that
were nearly horizontal. And therefore, not finding it necessary to strike
a light, I was on the point of rising, when I heard, as I thought, my
servant opening the mess-basket, which stood near the foot of my bed.
I spoke to him ; but receiving no answer, I turned my eyes in that direc-
tion, and discovered on the front wall of my tent a little shadow playing
fantastically over the canvas, upon which the moon's rays fell, after passing
over my head. With a hunter's eye, I at once recognized in this shadow
the outline of the uplifted tail of a Mephitis Macroura, vulgo Large-Tailed
Skunk, whose body was concealed from' my view behind the mess-basket.
Into this, doubtless attracted by the scent of a cold boiled bacon-ham, he
was evidently endeavouring to effect an entrance.

" Being well acquainted with his habits and character, I knew I must
manage to get rid of my visitor without seriously alarming or provoking
him, or I should in all probability be the sufferer. I therefore thought I
would at first, merely in a quiet way, signify my presence ; on discovering
which, perhaps, he would take the hint, and his departure at the same time.
So, ' I coughed and cried hem !' but my gentleman only raised his head
above the top of the basket for a moment, and then renewed his efforts to
lift the lid. I now took up one of my boots that lay by my bed, and
struck the heel smartly against the tent-pole. Again the intruder raised
his head, and regarded me for a moment ; after which he left the basket
and passed round the foot of my bed, which, I should mention, was spread
upon the ground. At first, I thought he had, indeed, taken the hint, and
was about to slope off. But I had, in fact, only excited his curiosity ; and
the next moment, to my horror, I saw him turn up by the side of my bed,
and come dancing along with a dainty, sidling motion, to examine into the
cause of the noise. His broad white tail was elevated, and jauntily flirted
from side to side as he approached. In fact, his approach was the sauciest
and most provokingly deliberate thing conceivable. As every step
brought him nearer to my face, the impulse I felt to bolt head-foremost
through the opposite side of the tent, was almost irresistible ; but I well
knew that any sudden motion on my part, whilst in such close proximity
to the rascal, would be very apt so to startle him as to bring upon me that
which I was seeking to escape, and of which I was, in truth, in mortal
dread ; whilst, on the other hand. I was equally aware that my safety lay

I.ARGK-TAII.KD SKUNK.

I.,

in keeping perfectly still, for it was quite probable that the animal, after
having satisfied big curiosity, would, if uninterrupted, quietly take his
departure. Tin' trial was a severe one, for the next moment the upright
white tail was passing within a font of my very face. I did not flinch, but
kept my eye upon it. although the fold Bweat broke out upon my forehead
in greal globuleB. At length the fellow finding nothing to alarm him,
turned about ami with a Bidelong motion danced back again to tl
basket. Finding now that ho had no thought of taking himself away. I
exclaimed internally, .Mortal man cannot bear a repetition of what I have
just experienced !' and laid my hand upon my rifle, which stood at my head.
I weighed the chances of killing the animal so instantly dead that no dis-
charge of odour would take place : but just at this moment he succeeded in
raising the top of the basket and 1 heard his descent among the spoons.
'Ha! ha! old fellow, I have you now!' 1 r-iiid to myself; and the next
instant 1 was standing on the top of the mesa-basket, whither 1 had got
without the slightest noise, and where I now heard the rascal rummaging
my things little suspecting that he was at the time a prisoner. 1 called
my servant— a negro. George made his appearance, ami as he opened the
front of the tent paused in surprise at seeing me standing en dishabille
on the top of the mess-basket. 'George,' -aid I. in a quiet tour, 'buckle
the straps of this basket.' George looked still more surprised on i ■
the order, but obeyed it in silence. I then stepped gently off, i
■Take this basket very carefully, and without shaking it. out yonder, in
-et it down easily.' George looked Mill more bewildered ; but,
accustomed to obej without question, did a- ho was directed. After he
had carried the basket off to a considerable distance, ami placed it on the

ground, he looked back at the door of the tent, where 1 still stood, for*

further order-. 'Unbuckle tho straps,' said 1: it was i Raise the

top of the basket :' he did mi : while at the -amo time, elevating my voice,
I continued. l and let that d d Skunk out !' \- the last words

from my lips the head and tail of the animal appeared in sight, and

George, giving vent to ;i scream of surprise and fear, broke away like a
quarter-horse, and did not stop until he had pul a good fifty yard- between
himself and the mess-basket. Meanwhile, the Skunk, with the same
deliberation that had marked his previous course (and which, by the way.
is a remarkable trait in tho character of this animal), descended the side
of the basket, and. with tail erect, danced off in a direction down tho
creek, ami finally disappeared in the bushes. I then, having recovered
from a good fit of laughter, called to George, who rather reluctantly made
his appearance before me. He was still a little out of breath, and with
some agitation, thus delivered himself, ' Bless God, massa, if 1 had known

16 LARGE-TAILED SKUNK.

there was a Skunk in the mess-basket, I never would have touched it in
this world /' ' I knew that well enough, George, and that was the reason
I did not tell you of it.'

" It is only necessary further to say that the animal, having been neither
alarmed nor provoked in any way, did not on this occasion emit the
slightest odour ; nor was any trace left in my tent or mess-basket, to
remind me afterwards of the early morning visitor at my camp on Cotton-
wood creek." — Philadelphia, June 24th, 1851.

We have heard of some cases in which this Skunk, having penetrated
into the tents of both officers and men, on our southwestern frontier, has
been less skilfully managed, and the consequences were so bad as to compel
the abandonment of even the tents, although soused into creeks and
scrubbed with hopes of destroying the " hogo."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This species exists on the western ranges of the mountains in Mexico.
The specimen described by Lichtexstein was obtained by Mr. Deppe in
the mountains to the northwest of the city of Mexico. The animal was
seen by Col. G. A. McCall in New Mexico, between Los Vegas and Santa
Fe\ The specimen figured by John W. Audubon was obtained near San
Antonio, and he describes it as common in the western parts of Texas. It
is not found in Louisiana, nor near the sea-shore in Texas. It will, we
think, be found to inhabit some portions of California, although we cannot
state this with certainty.

GENERAL REMARKS.

There are several species of this genus, which are found to vary so much
in the distribution of their colours that many mere varieties were described
as new species, without any other characters than those presented by the
number of stripes on the back, or the predominance either of black or
white spots on the different portions of the body. Buffon described five
species. Baron Cuvier, in his " Ossemens Fossiles," took much pains in
endeavoring to clear up the difficulties on the subject of these animals •
yet, owing to his not possessing specimens, and his too great dependence
on colour, he multiplied the number of some species which are now found
to be mere varieties, and omitted others which are unquestionably true
species.

% ^

4

IT

ARCTOMYS PRUINOSUS.— Pennant.

Hoary Marmot.— The Whibtlbr.
PLATE CIIL— Males.

A. vellere cano longo, denso, maxime in thorace humorisque, in partibue
posterioriluis fulvo-tlave-eente. cauda comosa fusco nigriscente.

CHAR A'

Fur, long, dense, and hoary, particularly on the chest and shoulders ; hinder
parts dull yefiwoitil brown : tail bushy, bhckish-brown.

BYNONYMES.

Hoary- Marmot. Pennant, Hist. Quailr.. vol. ii. p. 130.
Arctic Zool., vol. i. p. 11'-'.
II. ■ M . \ oyage, p. 515.

Whibtlkr. Harmon's Journal, p. il'7.

Rich, ZoaL .t.nr.. No, 12, p. 518. Mar. 1828.
» " Li. Ii. Fauna Boroali Americana, p. 150.

8UI-PO. Cree Indians.
Deh-ie. Cheppewyans.

Fur-Trailers.
tn PaUIHOBA, Harlan. Fauna, p. 169.

Caujoata. BBchscholte, Zoologischer Atlas, Berlin, 1829, pi. 6, part
2, p. 1.

DESCRIPTION.

In form, this animal (which we examined whilst it was alive at the
Zoological Gardens in London) bears a considerable resemblani
European Marmol (Antonys Marmota). It also resembles the Maryland
Marmot {.i. Monax). Being, at the time we saw it, excessiverj fat, the
body, when it lay down, spread out or flattened like that of the badger;
it was bo covered with dense and very long hair thai it was difficult to
recognise the true outline ; it subsequently shed its hair, and our figure
was taken in its new ami shorter pelage. The animal is rather longer
than the Maryland Marmot ; head, of moderate size ; ''ye-, rather small
but conspicuous; ears, oval ami covered with hair on both surfaces; feet
short, robust, ami clothed with hair: nails strong, slightly arched, free;

18 HOARY MARMOT.

tail, short, and thickly clothed with long and coarse hair to the extremity
The pelage is a soft and dense fur beneath, covered with longer and more
rigid hairs.

Fur on the back, dark at base, the outer portion white, with black points
more or less extended ; on the rump it is dull-brown at the roots, with
black and yellow towards the extremities. The general appearance of the
animal, owing to the admixture of these dark-brown and white hairs, of
which the white predominate, is hoary-brown.

Upper surface of nose, ears, back part of the head, feet, and nails, black ;
a black band runs backwards from behind the ears for about an inch and a
half, and then descends nearly vertically on the neck, where it vanishes ;
sides of muzzle, and behind the nostrils above, as well as chin, pure white ;
cheeks, grizzled with rust-colour and black ; moustaches, nearly all black,
a few, light-brown.

There are a few white hairs on the middle toes of the fore-feet ; tail
black, varied with rusty-brown, and a few whitish hairs with black points ;
whole under parts pale rust colour, with a slight mixture of black on the
belly ; extremities of the ears slightly tipped with white ; upper incisors,
yellow ; lower, nearly white.

DIMENSIONS.

Foot. Inches. Lines.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - 1 7

" of tail (vertebrae), 5 6

" including hair, .... 79

Point of nose to end of head, .... 34

Ear, 5*

Palm and nail, 2 9

Nail, 9

Tarsus, 3 8

Nail on hind foot, 8

This Marmot was described by Pennant, from a skin preserved in the
Leverian Museum, which was for many years the only specimen in any
known collection. It appears to have afterwards become a question
whether there was such an animal, or whether it might not prove to be the

HOARY MARMOT. ig

Maryland Marmot, the original specimen, above mentioned, having been
lost. Harlan says of it This cimen was supposed, to have come from
the northern parta of North America." Godman doee not mention it.
Dr. Richardson quotes Pennant's description, and states that he did not
himself obtain n Bpecimen; bnl "if correct" in considering it as ili«' same
as the Whistler of Harmon, "we maj booh hope to know more <>t' it, for
the traders who annually cross the Rock} Mountains from Hudson's Bay
in (he Columbia and New Caledonia are well acquainted with it." He
also mentions thai one, (II lemon's Whistler, we presume) which was pro-
cured for him by a gentleman, was so much injured thai he did nol think
it tit to be sent." TheDootor then gives the following accounl of it. and
appears to have boon quite correct in supposing it identical with the
animal referred toby Harmon: "The Whistler inhabits the Rocky Moan-
tains from latitude 45 to 62 . and probably farther both ways : it i- not
found in the lower parts of the country. It burrows in sand} soil,
generally on the Bides of grass] hills, and may be frequently seen cutting
hay in the autumn, but whether for the purpose of laying it up for food, or
merely for lining its burrows, 1 did not learn. While a party of them are
itinel on the lookout upon an eminence, who
gives the alarm on the approach of an enemy, by a shrill whistle, which
may be hoard at a great distance. The signal of alarm is repeat
one i" another as far as their habitatioi - 5 to Mr.

II u;\io\. they teed on louts and herbs, produce two young at a time, and

their hind-feet when
come abroad in the winter."

••The Indians take the Whistler in traps -el at the mouth- of their hide--.

delicious food, and. by Bewing a number of their
skin- together, make good blankets."

Our drawing of this Marmot was made from thi m in the

museum of the Zoological Society of London, which is, we bt
one. even at this day, to be found in Europe, with the exception of a

"hunter's skin" (i. e., one without skull, teeth, or legs), which wa- pre

sented to the British .Museum by Dr. Richardson, and was probably

the one he refers to in the extract we have given above from the
Fauna Horeali Americana. The sj imen in the Zoological Museum is

well preserved, the animal, which was alive when presented to the Society
bj B. King Esq., having died in the Menagerie (Zoological G
in Regent's Park.

The living animal, when we observed it. Beei 1 to be dull and Bleepy.

was strewed with grass and herbs, on which it had been
feeding.

HOARY MARMOT.

(JEiMJIiAL'ini'AL DISTRIBUTION.

The first specimen of this species was brought to England from Hudson^
Bay. The specimen we have figured was obtained on Captain Back's
expedition. It inhabits the Rocky Mountains from 45° to 62°, and will
probably be found both to the north and south of these latitudes.

GENERAL REMARKS.

It is somewhat remarkable that an animal so large as the Hoary
Marmot — so widely diffused throughout the fur countries, where it is seen
by traders and hunters — should be so little known to naturalists. When
the living animal was brought to the Zoological Gardens it excited much
interest, as the existence of the species had for many years been doubted.

We spent an hour at the Museum of the Zoological Society in London
with Dr. Richardson and Mr. Waterhouse, examining the specimen
to which Eschscholz had given the name of A. Calligata ; and we
unanimously came to the conclusion that it was the A. Pruinosus.

A//^,. //<"■,,<{

21

SCIURUS COLLI /EL— Rich.

Collie's S.jiirrkl

PLATE CIV.— Mi

S. Supra e fresco-nigro flavoque varius Bubtos ox flavescente albiduB;
magnitudine S. migratorii.

CHABAUTEBS.
Size of Sciwrua Migratoruu : upper parts mottled brownish black ami

yellow ; under surface mnnm white.

BTNON1

i ■,.iu m. Richardson, ^pp< nd. to Bi • ■■ bey's \
„ it urns).

DESCRIPTION.

In si/o and form ibis species bean blance to the m

gray Squirrel of the middle or northern States; the tail, however, in the
only specimen which exists in any collection, appears much smaller and
loss distichous, and the animal, when other specimens are examined, may
prove to be intermediate in Bize between the Carolina gray Squirrel and
S. Migratorius.

The Eur is rather coarse, and the tail appears to be somewhat cylindrical ;
ears, of moderate Buse, ovate, clothed with Bhorl hairs on both surfaces, bul
not tufted.

Above, grizzled with black and dul^gllow ; sides of the muzzle, under
ho body, and inner Bides of limbs, dull-white ; tail, moderate, the
hairs grayish-white, three times annulated with Mack. Hairs of the body,
both above and beneath, grey at the roots, 'those on the back having
lengthened black tips broadly annulated with dull-yellow. The hairs of
the head resemble those of the back, except on the front, where they are
annulated with dull-white: top of the muzzle, brown: cheeks, greyish;

22 COLLIE'S SQUIRREL.

insides of ears, yellowish, indistinctly freckled with brown ; outsides,
grizzled with black and yellow on the forepart, but posteriorly covered
with long- whitish hairs ; hairs on the feet, black at the roots, white at the
tips, the feet and legs being dirty cream-colour, pencilled with dusky ;
whiskers, long as the head, composed of bristly black hairs. The above
description was taken by us from the specimen in the Zoological Society's
Museum, London ; the skin was not in very good condition, and a portion
of the tail was wanting.

■ DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines

Length from nose to root of tail, - 10 9

" of tail to end of hair, 9 6

Height of ear posteriorly, 6

Tarsus (including nail), - - - - T - 2 5

Nose to ear, 2 0

Our figures of this Squirrel were made from the specimen presented to
the Zoological Society of London by Captain Beechey ; the original from
which the species was described and named by our friend Dr. Richardson.

All the information we have as to the habits of this animal is contained
in the above-mentioned appendix (p. 8) : " Mr. Collie observed this
Squirrel, in considerable numbers, sporting on trees at San Bias in
California (?), where its vernacular name signifies ' Little Fox-Squirrel.-'
It feeds on fruits of various kinds. Although unwilling to incur the risk
of adding to the number of synonymes with which the history of this large
genus is-already overburdened, I do not feel justified in referring it to any
of the species admitted into recent systematic works ; and I have therefore
described it as new, naming it in compliment to the able and indefatigable
uaturalist who procured the specimen."

geographical distribution.

This species was given by Richardson, as appears by the above quota-
tion, as existing at San Bias, California ; this place, however, if we have
not mistaken the locality, is in the district of Xalisco in Mexico, and
within the tropics ; it is doubtful, therefore, whether the species will be
found to inhabit any portion of California. J. W. Audubon did not
observe it in his travels through Upper California.

COLLIE'S SQUIRREL

GENERAL

This Bpeoiea is very nearly allied to Sciurru dureogaster of F. Cutter,
and it is yet possible thai ii may prove a variety of thai very variable
species, in which the under parts of the body are sometimes while, instead
of the usual deep-red colour.

A specimen of S. Jlureagaster in the .Museum at Paris has the under

parts of the body white, with small patches of red, and with a lew scattered
red hairs here and there mingled with the white i

21

PSEUDOSTOMA DOUGLASI I.— R i c h.

Columbia Pouched-Rat.

PLATE C V.— Males.

P. Supra fusca, lateribus subrufis, ventre pedibusque pallidioribus, cauda
Gorporis diraidio longiore.

CHARACTERS.

Above, dusky brown ; reddish on the sides ; paler beneath and on the feet ;
tail exceeding half the length of the body.

Geomts Douglasii. Richardson, Columbia Sand-Rat, Fauna Boreali Americana,
p. 200, pi. 18 B.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, large and depressed ; ears, short, ovate, extending beyond the fur ;
nose, blunt ; nostrils, small and round, separated by a line in the septum ;
they have a small naked margin. Mouth, of moderate size ; lips, and
space between the nose and upper incisors, covered with short hair ;
incisors strong, and slightly recurved ; upper ones with a distinct furrow
on the anterior surface, near their inner edge ; cheek pouches, large,
Opening externally (like those of all the other species belonging to this
genus), and lined on the inside with very short hairs.

The pouches extend from beneath the lower jaw along the neck
to near the shoulders ; whiskers, short ; body cylindrical, resembling
that of the mole, and covered with short, dense, velvety fur ; the tail,
which is round and tapering, although at first sight appearing naked, is
covered with hair throughout its whole length, but most densely near the
root ; legs short, and moderately robust ; fore-toes short, the three middle
ones united at their base by a skiu, the outer one smaller and farther
back ; thumb, very small and armed with a claw ; claws, sharp-pointed,
compressed, and slightly curved : palms naked, and on the posterior part
filled by a large, rounded callosity. The palms in this species are much
smaller than in P. Bursar ius ; the hind-feet are rather more slender than

i

\

a

\

..x

1

si

W

V

^

4

COLUMBIA POlVHEn-Rvr

38

the fore-feet, and their Haws are decidedly smeller ; soles of hind-feet,
entirely naked, and without any conspicuous tabercles ; heel, naked, and
narrow ; foot and toes, thickly clothed with hair extending to the nails.

Incisors, dull orange; whiskers, aearly all white; upper surface of
body, top of the head, and along the sides of the poaches, dusky-brown ;
sides, reddish-brown; edges of pouches, dark-brown; under surface of
body, feet, and tail, pale buff; nails, yellowish-white.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, -

head,

tail (vertebrae), -
Prom point of nose to eye,

auditory opening,
Between the eyes, ■ -
From wri<t joint to end of middle claw.

Intdm.

L<ni

6

6

1

1(1

2

1(1

1

1 1

s

HABITS.

This species of Sand-Hat was first obtained by Mr. David D

near the mouth 0f the Colombia river, rince which, sj imens have been

sent to England by various collectors. According to Mr. Dougi is, the
animal, -when in the aet of emptying it- pouches, -it- on it- hams like a
Marmot or Squireel, and squi - i the breasf with

and fore-paw s."

"These little Sand-Rats are numerous in the neighbourhood of Fori Van-
couver, where they inhabit the declivities of i,,w hills, and burrow in the
Band] -oil. Thej feed on acorns, nuts {Corpus rostrate), and gras
commit greal havoc in the potato-fields adjoining to the fort, not only by
eating the potatoes on the spot, but by carrying off large quantities of them
in their pouches." — Fauna Boreal* Americana, ]>. 201.

GEOGRAPHICAL r>ISTItIBT~no\.
This species inhabits the valleys to the west of the Roekv Mountains

and seems to have been most frequently observed in afoul the latitude of
the mouth of the Columbia River. It- probable range maj ^u-uA as tar

VOL. III. \

26 COLUMBIA POUCHED-RAT.

as California to the south, and the Russian Possessions in the opposite
direction. We have seen some mutilated specimens, which appeared to
be of this species, obtained by a party in the western portion of New
Mexico, but so dilapidated were they, that it was impossible to decide
positively as to their identity, and they may have been skins of another
species, called by Dr. Richardson Geoviys Umbrinus, which he was informed
came from the southwestern part of Louisiana.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Mr. Douglas informed Dr. Richardson " that the outside of the pouches
was cold to the touch, even when the animal was alive, and that on the
inside they were lined with small, orbicular, indurated glands, more
numerous near the opening into the mouth. When full, the pouches had
an oblong form, and wheu empty they were corrugated or retracted to one
third of their length."

We presume this information is correct, although the mistake made by
supposing the " inverted" pouches of some species of Pseudostoma, to be in
their natural position (see the genus diphstoma of Raffinesque, adopted by
Richardson), leads us to look with caution on any accounts of the pouches
of our Sand-Rats from this source.

27

CERVUS RICHARD SO Nil-— Add, v m. Bach.

Columbiab Bi Li ■ i mi.kh Peer.

PLATE <v L— Maim.

c. Supra Bubrufus, infra albus, aoriculia mediocribus, angustioribi
in C macrotide, corpore minors, nngnlia angustioribus el acutioribus qnam
in iiin. macula albida in natibus nulla, cornibus teretibus biB bifurcatis.

CHAB LCTER8.

Bars, moderate, narrower than in C. Macrotis : size, fan than 0. Macrotis ,
hoofs, narrower and sharper : no Ught pn/r/i on the buttocks ; colour, reddish-
brown above, irhitc beneath ; horns, cylindrical, twice bifurcated.

si \l'\l Ml -.

M M-ROTI8. Rich (non Sat) Black-tailed Deer, Fauna Boreali Americana, p.
pL 20.
California Deer, of gold diggers.

DESCRIPTION.

Male. — In siee this animal a little exceeds the Virginian Deer, bul il is
less than tin' Mule Deer {C. Macrotis) ; in form il is shorter and Btouter
than ('. Virginianus.

There is a tufl of long pendulous hairs hanging down from the umbilicus
backward to between the thighs. The horns arc nearly cylinch
are twice forked ; the first bifurcation being ten inches from the base—
about five In six inches longer to that fork than in C. Macrotis, as
described by Sat. There is a knob, in the specimen from which we
describe, on one horn, about four inches from the base ; the horn continues
in a single branch for about ten inches, where it divides into two branches,
each of which has two points; and the antlers may be said to bear some
resemblance to those of the Red Deer of Europe, much greater than do
those of the Virginian Deer or Elk.

Ears, of moderate size; head, proportionately a little shorter than the
head of the Virginian Deer and nose less pointed; hoofs, narrow and

28 COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER.

sharp, and longer and more pointed than those of the Mule Deer (C.
Macrotis), which are round and flattened.

The lachrymal openings are large, and situated close beneath the eye ;
tail, rather short, stouter and more bushy than that of C. Macrotis.

A brown mark originating between the nostrils is continued behind
their naked margins, downwards, towards the lower jaw, uniting with a
dark patch situated behind the chin ; chin and throat, white ; forehead,
dark-brown ; neck, back, sides, and hips, brownish-gray ; hairs clothing
those parts, brown from their roots to near their tips, where they exhibit a
pale yellowish-brown ring surmounted by a black tip ; on the back part of
the neck there is a dark line down the middle of the back, becoming lighter
as it recedes from the neck.

The chest is blackish-brown, running around the shoulder somewhat like
the mark of a collar ; a dark line extends from under the chest to the
centre of the belly ; the anterior of the belly is fawn-coloured, the
posterior part white, as are likewise the insides of the thighs ; the tail, at
its junction with the back, is dark brown, and this colour increases in
depth to the tip, which is black ; the under side of the tail is clothed with
long white hairs ; the legs are mixed yellowish-brown and black anteriorly,
and pale brownish-white posteriorly.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inciei

Length from tip of nose to brow (between the horns), 1

" " " to root of tail, - 5 4

" of tail (vertebra?), 6

" " (to end of hair), 9

Height at shoulder, 2 6

Width of horns between superior prongs, - - - 1 8

" " " posterior pair of points, - 1 3

This beautiful Deer is found variously dispersed over the western
portions of the North American continent, where it was first noticed by
Lewis and Clark, near the mouth of the Columbia River ; but not until
the discovery of the golden treasu-cs of California did it become generally
known to white men. In that country, along the hill sides and in the

COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER 29

woody dells and "gulches," the hardy miners have killed hundred?, nay
thousands, of Black-tailed Deer; and it is from the accounts the] have
given that it is now known to replace, near the great Siena Nevada, the
common or Virginian Deer which is found east of the Rocky Mountains;
-.ill the hunters who have visited California, and whom we have *
us thai everj Deer they shot there was the Black-tailed -;

.1. W. Ai i>i bon killed a good many of these Peer, and describes them
as tender and of good flavour : and during the time his party encamped on
the Tuolome River, and in the "dry diggings" tear Stockton, when he
kept two of hi- men busy shooting for the Bupport of the othei
generally had one or two Deer brought into camp even .lav. The mode
of hunting them was more -imilar to what is called Deer-Stalking in
Scotland than to the methods used Tor killing Deer in the eastern
ihc Union. Sometimes the hunters (who had no dogs) would .-tart before
day, and. gaining the hill-, anxioualy search lor fresh tracks in the muddy

soil (for it Was then the rainy season, and tin' -round everywhere wet and

Boft), and, having found a trail, cautiously follow ; always trying to keep
the wind in such a direction as not to carrj tin- -rut to the animals.
ag a fresh track, a Bearch of a most tedious and toilsome
nature awaited them, as the unsuspecting Deer mighl !><■ very near, or miles
off, they knew not which; at every hill-to], they approached, they were

Obliged to lie down and crawl on the earth, pausing when thl

command the view to the bottom of the \alhw which lay beyond th" one
they had just quitted; and after assuring themselves none were
carefully followii trail, proceed to the bottom. Again another

summit has been almost reached ; now the hunters hope for a shot : eye
and ear are strained to the utmost, and thej move Blowly forward ; tin'
ridge of the next hill breaks Brat upon their sight beyond a vide valley.
The slope nearest them i< still hidden from their view. On one ride the
mountains rise in steeper and more irregular shapes ; pine-trees ami oaks
are thickly grown in the deepest and -]»>< far below them.

The track trend.- that way. and silently they proceed, looking around at
almost every step, and yet uncertain where their Lame has wandered.
Once the trail ha- been ahuo-t lost in the -tony, broken ground they pass.
hut again they have it ; now they approach ami search in different
directions the most likeh place- to find the Deer, hut in vain ; at
gain the next summit : the object of their chase is at hand : Buddenly they
gee him— a line buck— he is yet on the declivity of the hill, and they
cautiously observe his motion-. Now they see rome broken ground and
rocky fragments scattering towards the left ; the_\ redouble theii
locks arc ready cocked ; and. breathing rapidly, they Lam tin desired .-pot

30 COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER.

One instant — the deadly rifle has sent its leaden messenger and the buck
lies struggling in his gore.

Short work is made of the return to camp if no more Deer signs are
about ; and a straight cut may bring the hunters home in less than an
hour, even should they have been two or three in following their prize.

Sometimes the Deer start up suddenly, cpiite near, and are shot down on
the instant ; occasionally, after a long pursuit, the crack of a rifle from an
unknown hunter deprives the others of their chance : and — must we admit
it — sometimes they miss ; and not unfrequently they see no game at all.

Mr. J. G. Bell informed us that while he was digging gold in a seques-
tered and wild canon, in company with a young man with whom he was
associated in the business, they used to lie down to rest during the heat of
the day, and occasionally he shot a Black-tailed Deer, which unsuspect-
ingly came within shooting distance down the little brook that flowed in
the bottom of the ravine. He also .used to rise very early in the mornings
occasionally, and seek for the animals in the manner of still-hunting, as
practised in the United States. One morning he killed three in this
manner, before his breakfast-time, and sold them, after reserving some
of the best parts for himself and companion, for eighty dollars apiece !
He frequently sold Deer subsequently, as well as hares and squirrels,
birds, <fcc., which he shot at different times, for enormous prices. Many
of the miners, indeed, turned their attention to killing Deer, elk, bear,
antelopes, geese, ducks, and all sorts of game and wild fowl, by which they
realized considerable sums from selling them at San Francisco and other
places. We have heard of one person who, after a luckless search for
gold, went to killing Deer and other game, and in the course of about
eighteen months had made five thousand dollars by selling to the miners
at the diggings.

The gait of this species is not so graceful as that of the Virginian Deer ,
it bounds rather more like the roebuck of Europe than any other of our
Deer except the Long-tailed Deer, and is reported to be very swift. The
season of its breeding is earlier than that of the common Deer, and it no
doubt brings forth the same number of young at a time.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This beautiful Deer was first met with by J. W. Audubon on the eastern
spurs of the coast range of mountains after leaving Los Angeles and
traversing a portion of the Tule valley in California. On entering the
broad plain of the San Joaquin and river of the lakes, few Black-tailed
Deer were met with, and the elk and antelope took their place. The

COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER. 31

party again found them abundant when they reached the hills near the
Sierra Nevada, on their way towards the Chinese diggings, about eighty
miles southeast of Stockton.

They may be Baid to inhabit mosl of the hilly and undulating land? of
California, and as far as we can judge probably extend on tie
Bide of the grand ridge of th Main- nearlj to th<

Posses

We have not heard that they are met with easl of the bases of that
portion of the Cordilleras which lies in the parallel of San Pram
north or south of that latitude, although thej may exis! in the-i
the Colorado of the west in a northeast direction from the mouth of that
river, which have as yel not been much explored.

M. REM tftKS.

According to oar present information, there is only one specimen of
this Deer in the collections of objects of natural history in Eui
this in in the museum ot 3oi iety in London, where it was.

when we saw it, I ' ibelled C. Macrotis.

\t the Patent Office in Washington city there is a skin of a Deer (one
of the specimens brought from the northwest coast of America by the
Exploring Expedition), which has been named by Mr. Peai 1 C. LewisU.

We have not positively ascertained whether it be distinct from our C.
RichardsonU, but presume it will prove to be well separated from it, as well
as from all our hitherto described Deer, and we shall endeavour to figure

it. if a good species, and introduce it into our fauna under the name given
it by Mr. Peale.

We have detected an error in the description of the horns of C. Ma rotii
(see vol. ii. p. 206), where a portion of the description of those of C. Rich-
ardsonU seems to have been introduced by mistake.

32

ARCTOMYS LEWI SI I.— A xj d. and Bach.

Lewis's Marmot.

PLATE C VII. —Males.

A. Rufo-fulvus, pedibus albo-virgatis, cauda apice albo ; magnitudine
Ieporis sylvatici, forma a monads.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the grey rabbit ; general shape of the head and body similar to that
of A. monax ; colour reddish-brown ; feet barred with white J end of taL
white.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, rather small ; body, round and full ; ears short, ovate, with
somewhat acute points, thickly clothed with short hairs on both sides :
whiskers long, extending beyond the ears ; nose blunt, naked ; eyes, of
moderate size ; teeth, rather smaller than those of the Maryland marmot ;
feet, short ; nails, rather long and arched, the nail on the thumb being
large and nearly the size of the others ; tail short, round, not distichous,
thickly clothed with hair to the end ; the hair is of two kinds — a short,
dense fur beneath, with longer and rigid hairs interspersed.

Nose, black ; incisors yellowish-white ; nails, black ; the whole upper
surface and the ears, reddish-brown ; this colour is produced by the softer
fur underneath being light yellowish-brown, and the longer hairs, at
their extremities, blackish-brown. On the haunches the hairs are inter-
spersed with black and yellowish-brown ; feet and belly, light salmon-red ;
tail, from the root for half its length, reddish-brown, the other half to the
tip soiled white ; above the nose, edges of ears, and along the checks, pale
reddish-buff.

There is a white band across the toes, and another irregular one behind
them ; and an irregularly defined dark-brown line around the back of the
head and lower part of the chin, marking the separation of the head from
the throat and neck.

y

LEWIS'S MARMOT. [

l>IMF\-

Feet. Inchen

From nose to root of tail, 1 4

Tail (vertebrae), 2

" (to end of hair), 3

Point of nose to ear, 2

" " to eye, 1

Heel to middle claw, 24

From the form of this animal we may readily be convinced that it po»

5 of the true Marmots. These animal- arc destitute

of cheek-pouches ; they burrow in the earth ; live i ' grains ;

seldom climb trees, and when driven to them bj a do mnf high,

but cling to the bark, and descend as sunn as tl

as we have been able to ascertain, all the spermophiles or burrowing
squirrels are gregarious, and live in communities asually numbering
several hundreds, and often thousands. On the contrary, the Marmots,
although (lie young remain with the mother until autumn, are found to live
solitarily, or at most in single pairs. 11 was not our good fortune
have met with tin- species in a living 'ot that, we are

unable to offer anything in regard to its peculiar habits.

GEOGRAPHICAL PISTRIRfTlOX.
We have no doubt '.hi- species, like the other Marmots, has an extensive

geographical range, hut coming from so distanl a pari of our country as
which has been so little explored b] . bliged to

make use o\' the vague term "shores of the Columbia habitat.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We have not felt at liberty to quote any authorities or add any syno-
nymes for this species, inasmuch a- we cannot find that any author has
referred to it. The specimen from which our figure was made, and which
we believe is the onlj one existing in any collection, waa sent to the
Zoological Society by the British fur-traders who are in the habit of
annually carrying their peltry down the Columbia river to tin' Pacific. It
is labelled in the museum of the Zoological Society. No. 461, page 48
Catalogue, Arctomys brachyura? Harlan. The history of the supposed
VOL. III. — 5

34 LEWIS'S MARMOT.

species of Harlan is the following : Lewis and Clark (Expedition, vol. ii.
p. 173) describe an animal from the plains of the Columbia under the name
of burrowing squirrel. No specimen was brought. Harlan and Rafi-
nesque in quick succession applied their several names to the species, ^e
former styling it Arctomys brachyura and the latter Anisonyx brachyura.
When the present specimen was received at the Museum, the name- of
A. brachyura was given to it, with a doubt. On turning to Lewis and
Clark's descriptions, the only guides which any naturalists possess in
reference to the species, we find that they refer to an animal whose whole
contour resembles that of the squirrel, the thumbs being remarkably short
and equipped with blunt nails, and the hair of the tail thickly inserted on
the sides only, which gives it a flat appearance, whereas the animal of
this article does not resemble a squirrel in its whole contour ; its thumbs,
instead of being remarkably short and equipped with blunt nails, have long
nails nearly the length of those on the other toes, and the tail, instead of
being flat with the hairs inserted on the sides, is quite round. It differs
also so widely in several other particulars that we deem it unnecessary to
institute a more minute comparison. We have little doubt that Lewis and
Clark, who, although not scientific naturalists, had a remarkably correct
knowledge of animals, and described them with great accuracy, had, in
their account of the burrowing squirrel, reference to some species of
Bpermophile — probably Spermophilus Townsendii, described in this volume —
which certainly answers the description referred to much nearer than the
species of this article.

i

Jb

L E P U S BACHM A N I .— W a terhouse.

Bachman's Hark.

PLATE ('VIII.— Males.

L. Supra fuscus. lateribaa cinereo fuscis, ventre albo rufo-tincto ; L.
sylvatico aliquantulo minor, aoricnlis capita paullo longioribus.

CHARACTERS.

A little smaller than thr gray rabhit ; ears rather longer than the head ;
tarsi, short. Colour, brou'n above, gray-brown on the sides, belly irhite, tinged
with rufous.

8TNONTMES.

Lepus Baohmani. Waterhouae, Proc lings Zool. Soc. 1838. p. 108.

» " Bachman's Hare, Bach. Jour. A.cad. Nat 8oi. Phila., vol. viiL

part 1, p. 96.
" " Waterhousr, Nat Hist. M.imm., vol. ii. p. 124.

PESCRTPTION.

This Hare bears a general resemblance to the gray rabbit (L.
syh-aticus), but is considerably mialler: the fur is softer and the ears
shorter than in that spi

Upper incisors, much arched, and deeply grooved ; claws, slender and
pointed — the claw of the longest toe remarkably slender : ears longer
than the head, sparingly ftirnished with hair quite fine and closely
adpressed externally ; tail, short ; feet, thickly clothed with hair covering
the nails.

The fur on the back and sides is deep gray at the roots, annulated near
the ends of the hairs with brownish-white, and black at the points. On the
belly the hair is gray at the roots and white at the points, with a tinge of
red ; chest and fore parts of the neck, gray -brown, each hair being dusky at
the tip ; chin and throat, grayish-white ; the hairs on the head are brownish-

36 BACHMAN'S HARE.

rufous ; on the flanks there is an indistinct pale longitudinal dash just
above the haunches ; under surface of tail white, edged with brownish-
black ; general colour of the tarsus above, dull-rufous ; sides of tarsus,
brown ; ears, on the fore part mottled with black and yellowish-white, on
the hinder part greyish-white ; internally the ears are dull orange, with a
white margin all around their openings ; their apical portion is obscurely
margined with black.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - - 10

Tail (vertebras),

" to end of fur, 1

Ear internally, 2

From heel to point of longest nail, - - - - 3

Tip of nose to ear, 2

The manners of this pretty Hare, as observed in Texas by J. W. Audubon,
appear to assimilate to those of the common rabbit (Lcpus sylvaiicus), the
animal seldom quitting a particular locality, and making its form in thick
briar patches or tufts of rank grass, keeping near the edges of the woody
places, and being seen in the evenings, especially for a short time after
sunset, when it can be easily shot.

We have been favoured with the following particulars as to the habits
of this Hare by our esteemed friend Captain J. P. McCown of the United
States Army :

"This Hare is deficient in speed, and depends for its safety upon
dodging among the thick and thorny chaparals or nopal clusters (cacti)
which it inhabits, never venturing far from these coverts.

" Large numbers can be seen early in the morning or late in the evening,
playing in the small openings or on the edges of the chaparals, or nibbling
the tender leaves of the nopal, which seems to be the common prickly pear
of our country, only much larger from congeniality of climate."

"The principal enemies of these Hares in Texas are the cat species,
hawks, and snakes."

During the war with Mexico, some of the soldiers of our army who were
stationed on the Mexican frontier had now and then a sort of battue, to
kill all the game they could in their immediate vicinity ; and by surround-
ing a space of tolerably open ground, especially if well covered with high

r.ACHM.ws hare 37

grass or weeds, and approaching gradually to the centre, numbers

Hares were knocked down with clubs as they attempted to make their

escape, asi jionally other animals which happened to be •

within the circle. We were told that a raw German recruit, who had

once or twice before be<

only a few day-, was invited to partal

became quite agreeable to him, was osl in knocking

down the unfortunate Hares, as they dashed oul or timidly squatted yel a

moment, hoping nol to be observed ; when suddenly one of his companions

pointed out to him a skunk, which, notwithstanding the din and uproar on

all Bides, was very quietlj awaiting the course of events. The unlucky

recruit darted forward : — we need say nothing more, except that during the

remainder of the war the skunk was. by that detachment, known onlj as

the " Dutchman's rabbit."

This Hare so much resembles il"1 common rabbit, thai it I
generally considered the same animal : and this is not singular, lor the
gray rabbit does not extend to those portions of our country in which
Bachman's Mare i- found, and few. save persons servation,

would perceive the dim d them, even if they had both species

together bo that they could compare them.

GEOGRAPHICAL DIBTRIBUTIOK.

Lieut. Ahert. of the United Stat. ired specimens of this

Hare in the neighbourhood o\' Santa Fe", which were the first that v,
known to naturalists as existing easl of California, as the animal v\as
described from a specimen sent bj Dougi \s from the western sh
America. It now appears that it occupies a -real portioi
Mexico, and California, probably extending south through greal pari of
Mexico. Its northeastern limit may he aboul the head w,

river or the Arkansas.

GENERAL REMARKS.

From the small size of this Hare, it was at one time considered possible
that it mighl prove to lie only the young of some other species o
but its specific characters are now fully established, ami it is. at present,
known as more numerous in some localities than even the gray rabbit.

This species was discovered among a collection of -kin- in the museum
of the Zoological Society by Dr. Bachm an and Mr. Waterhouse. ami the
latter gentleman having desired the doctor to allow him to describe and

38 BACHMAN'S HARE.

name it, called it L. Backmani, in compliment to him. Our figures
were made from the specimen described by Mr. Waterhouse, which
is yet in the museum of the Zoological Society at London. We have
obtained many skins since, from Texas and the southwestern portions of
New Mexico.

* 1

*

39

S P E R M O P H I L V S MEXICANUS — L icht.

Mexican Marmot Squirrel (SpermophileV
PLATE CIX .—Old Male, and Youno.

S. magmtudine sciuri Hudsoniei, auriculis brevibus, canda longa, corpore
supra rufo-fulvo, maculis vol Btrigio albis, subtua allw flavescente.

» -II AKUTERS.

Size of Sciurus Hudsonieus ; ears, short ; tail, long : body, abore, rtddish-
tawny, with white spots or bars ; beneath, yellowish-white.

BTKONYMEB.

Crnius Mkiicasus. Licht,, Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Saugthiere,

Berlin, 182V- I
Spermophilvb Spilosoma. Bennett, Proc Zool. Soc, London, 1833, p. 40.

DESCRIPTION.

Form, very similar to the leopard spermophile (S. trideeemlineatus),
although the present species is the larger of the two ; ears, short, and
clothed with short hairs ; body, moderately thick : legs, rather short : toes
and nails, long ; tail, somewhat flat, distichous, and shorter than the body.

Upper surface, rufous-brown, spotted with yellowish-white, the spots
bordered posteriorly with black ; under parts, pale buff-white ; this colour
extends somewhat upwards on the sides of the animal ; feet, pale-yellow ;
tarsi, hairy beneath, the hairs extending forwards to the naked fleshy pads
at the base of the toes ; claws, dusky horn colour, with pale points ; the
fur at the roots (both on the upper and under parts of the animal) is gray.

The eye is bordered with whitish-yellow ; head and ears, rufous-brown ;
surface of tail, dark-brown, edged with a white fringe on the sides ;

40 MEXICAN MARMOT .SQUIRREL.

towards the extremities the hairs are yellow, but they have a broad black
band in the middle of their length ; under surface of the tail of an almost
uniform yellowish-hue, slightly inclining to rust colour.

DIMENSIONS.

Adult male.

Inches. Lines.

From point of nose to root of tail, - - - 10

Tail (vertebra?), 4

" including hair, 5

Nose to end of head, 2 6

Length of ears, 4

From elbow of fore-leg to end of longest nail, - 2 6

Tarsus (of hind leg), 1 9

Measurements of the specimen named S. Spilosoma by Mr. Bennett
Young.

Inches. Lmef

From point of nose to root of tail, - - - 5 9

Tail (vertebra), 2 9

" including hair, 3 6

Nose to ear, 1 3

Tarsus and nails, 1 3

Length of nail of middle toe, .... 2i

" fore foot and nails, - - - - 9$

" middle toe of fore foot to nail, - - 24

This Mexican Spermophile has all the activity and sprightliness of the
squirrel family, and in its movements greatly reminds one of the little
ground-squirrel {Tamias Lysteri) of the middle and northern States. It
feeds standing on its hind feet and holding its food in the fore paws like a
common squirrel, and is remarkable for the flexibility of its back and neck,
which it twists sideways with a cunning expression of face while observing
the looker on. When caught alive this pretty species makes a pet of no
common attractions, having beautiful eyes and being very handsomely
marked, while its disposition soon becomes affectionate, and it retains its
gay and frolicsome habits. It will eat corn and various kinds of seeds,
and is fond of bits of potatoe, apple, or any kind of fruit, as well as bread,
pastry, cakes, &c. : grasses and clover it will also eat readily, and in fact

MEXICAN MARMOT SQUIRREL jj

it takes any kind of vegetable food. Even in the hottest summer weather
this animal is fond of making a nest of tow and bits of carpet, and will
sleep covered up by these warm materials as comfortably as if th<> tempe-
rature was at freezing poinl outside instead
For some time we have had a fine living animal of this species in a cage,

and he has been a sour f greal amusement to the little folks, who are

fond of feeding him and pleased to see his antics. When threatened he
shews fight, and approaches the bars of his cage gritting or chattering
with his teeth like a little fury, and sometim is ottering a sharp squeak e|'
defiance; but when offered an] good thing o ea1 he at once resumes his

usual playful manner, and will take it from the hand^f any one. In
eating corn this little animal picks out the -eft pari ami leaves the shell
and more compact portion of the grain untouched.

At times he will coil himself up, lying on one side, almost entirely
concealed bj tie' tow and shredded carpel ; if then disturbed, he looks up
oui of one eye without changing his position, and will sometimes almost
hear to be poked with a stick before moving. Like the human race he
occasionally Bhows symptoms of laziness 01 yawning and

stretching. When first placed in his cage he manifestei
get out, and attempted to gnaw the wire-: he would now and then turn
himself upside down, and with his fore paws holding on to the wire- above
his head bite vigorously at the horizontal wires for half a minute at a time,
before changing this apparently uncomfortable position. This Spermophile
is not in the habit of eating a very great deal at a time, but seems to prefer
feeding at intervals, even when plenty of fend lies within his reach, retiring
to his Bnug nest and sleeping for a while after eating a sufficient portion.
When thus Bleeping we sometime- found him lying on his back, with his
fore paws almost joined, held cl086 by his nose, while his hind h
slightly turned to one side so as to give his body the appearance of
complete relaxation.

These animals are said to be tolerably abundant in Mexico and Cali-
fornia, but only in the wooded districts. We were informed that they
could easily be procured near Vera Cruz, Tuspan. Tampico, &c.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Lichtenstein informs us that Mr. Peppe procured this animal in 1826,
in the neighbourhood of Toluca in Mexico, where it was called by the
inhabitants by the general term Irion, which was also applied to other
burrowing animals. Captain Beecht states that his specimen was
procured in California, and we are informed by Captain J. P. McCowu
VOL. III.— fi

42 MEXICAN MARMOT SQUIRREL.

that it exists along the Rio Grande and in other parts of Texas, where he
has seen it as a pet in the Mexican ranchos.

GENERAL REMARKS.

In our first edition (folio plates), -we gave figures of the young of this
species as S. spilosoma of Bennett, but having since ascertained that his
specimen was only the young of 8. Mexicanus, a species which had been
previously published, we have now set down S. spilosoma as a synonyme of
the latter, and have placed the figures of both old and young on the same
plate.

$

s

*

13

PSEUD O S T O M A T AIJ'OI I) E S .— R ich.
Rat.

PLATE CX.— Males.

P. Magnitudine maris ratti, corporc nigro cinerescente, capite pro
portione parvo, mento albo, macula alba ml gulam, pedibufi posticis
quadridie;itatis.

CHARACTERS.

Sizi of the black rat ; head, small in proportion ; body, grayish-ilack : thin,
white ; a white patch on the throat ; only four perfect toes on the hind Jul.

SYNONYM ■.-.

OwOBTUB (?) Tai.poides. Rich, Zool. -lour. No. 18, p. 5, pi. is.
? Geomys ? Taxpoideb. " F. B. A., p. 204.
Ootaw-i u : liana,

PI-X-KirTHlN.

Body, shaped Like thai of the mole; head, rather small; aose, obtuse
and <-o\ ered w ith short hairs ; incisors, strong, with flat anterior surfaces ;
upper one- short ami straight, ami each marked with a single very tine
groove close to their inner edge; lower incisors, long, curved inwards,
and not grooved ; whiskers, composed of tine hairs as long as tv
eyes, small ; auditory opening, small and slightly margined : ears, scarcely
risible beyond the fur.

The pouches have an opening on the sides of the mouth externally, and
are of moderate size ; extremities, very short : the fore foot lias four toes
and the rudiment of a thumb : tin- middle toe is longest and has the Largest
claw, the first and third are equal to each Other in length, the outer one is
shorter and placed tar hack, and the thumb, which is still farther back,
consists niereh of a short claw : the fore claws are Long, compressed,
slightly curved, and pointed : they are, however, Less robust than

some other species of the genus, especially P. bursa, in*. On the hind feet
there are four short toes, armed with compressed claws much shorter than

44 MOLE-SHAPED POUCHED RAT.

those on the fore feet, and the rudiment of a fifth toe, so small that it can
be detected only after a minute inspection ; tail, very slender, cylindrical,
and rather short, covered with a smooth coat of short hairs.

The hair is nearly as fine as that of the common shrew mole, and is
close and velvety.

COLOUR.

Whiskers, black ; incisors, yellowish-white, approaching flesh colour ;
chin and throat, white ; outer edges of the pouch, light gray ; tail, grayish-
brown ; the body generally, grayish-black, with faint brownish tints in
some lights.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length of head and body, 7 4

Tail to end of hair, 2 5

From point of nose to eye, 9

From point of nose to auditory opening, - 1 3

Height of back, 2

Length of lower incisors, 5

" fur on the back, 6

" middle fore claw, 4

From heel to end of middle hind claw, ... 11

Very little is known of the habits of this peculiar sand-rat. The
manners, however, of all the species of the genus Pscudostoma are probably
very similar : they live principally under ground, and leave their galleries,
holes, or burrows, pretty much as we of the genus Homo quit our houses,
for the purpose of procuring the necessaries of life, or for pleasure,
although they do find a portion of their food while making the excavations
which serve them as places in which to shelter themselves and bring forth
their young. They are generally nocturnal, and in the day time prefer
coming abroad during cloudy weather.

They never make their appearance, nor do they work in their galleries
or burrows during the winter in our northern latitudes, unless it be far
beneath the hard frozen ground, which would not permit them to make
new roads.

Richardson says that as soon as the snow disappears in the spring, and
whilst the ground is as yet only partially thawed, little heaps of earth
newly thrown up attest the activity of this animal.

HOLE-SHAPED POUCHED RAT. 45

The specimen from which our figures were made was presented to the
Zoological Society bj Sir. Li ldk lteb, who obtained it from Hudson's
Bay. It also served Dr. Richardson for bis description : hewas inclined
to identify it with a small animal inhabiting the banks of the Saskatche-
wan, which throws up little mounds in the form of mole hills, but generally
ratlin- larger ; be, however, could nol procure any specimens.

As an evidence thai this animal never feeds apon worms, he mentions
the fan thai n..no exisl in high northern latitudes. A gentleman who had
for forty years superintended the cultivation of considerable pieces of
ground on the hank- of the Saskatchewan, informed him that during the
yrhole of thai period he never saw an earthworm turned op. All the
species of Pseudostoma, as far as our knowledge goes, feed on bull
and grasses;

The pouches serve a- sack8, in which after tilling them with food they

carry it to their nests in their subterranean retreats, where the] deposil
considerable quantities, which evidently serve them as supplies throughout

the winter.

We are under the impression thai none of the species of th
become perfectly dormant in winter, a- «e have observed in Georgia a
1, u fresh hillocks thrown up by the Southern oouched-rat after each warm
da] in that season.

cioURAPHICAL DIBTRIBUTIOH.

\> before Btated, this BpecieB was obtained at Hudson's Ray. and is
supposed bj Hi' BABD80N to exist on tin- Sa-katehewan, thus giving it a
considerable western range, should there not iudeed prove to be a different
species, which is. however, rather orohahlo.

" LBK8.

Until very recently there has been much confusion among writers in
regard to the organization of the family of pouched-rats, which appear to
be exclusively confined to the American continent— some supposing that
the natural position of the pouch wa- thai of a sac hanging suspended 011
each side o\' the throat, with the opening within the mouth.

For the probable origin of this error we refer our readers to Hie first
volume of thi- work, p. 388, where wo gave Borne remarks on the /Vwrfo-
stoma bursarius, and this genus generally.

46

GENUS OVIBOS.— Blainvillk.

DENTAL FORMULA.

Incisive g ; Canine ^ ; Molar ^ = 32.

Body, low and compact ; legs, short and covered with smooth short
hairs ; feet, hairy under the heel ; forehead, broad and flat ; no suborbital
sinus ; muzzle, blunt and covered with hair ; horns, common to both sexes,
in contact on the summit of the head, flat, broad, then tapering and bent
down against the cheeks, with the points turned up ; ears, short, and placed
far back ; eyes, small ; tail, short.

Hair, very abundant, long, and woolly ; size and form intermediate
between the ox and the sheep ; inhabits the northern or Arctic portions
of North America.

The generic name is derived from two Latin words — ovis, sheep, and
60*, ox.

There is only one known existing species of this genus, although fossil
skulls have been found in Siberia, from which the name of Ovibos paUentis
is given in systematic European works.

OVIBOS MOSCHATUS.— Gmel.

Mubk-Ox.

PLATE CXI.— Males.

0. Fuscescente-niger, cornibus basi approximatis planisj, latissimis,
deorsum flexis, ad malas appressis apice extrorsum sursumque recurvis ;
mas magnitudine vaccae biennis.

CHARACTERS.

Adult male, size of a small two year old cow ; norns, united mi the summit
of the head, flat, broad, bent down against the cheeks, with the poi?its turned up.
Colour, brownish-black.

SYNONYMES.

Lb Bceut Musque. M. Jeremie, Voyage au Nord, t. iii. p. 314.
" " Charlevoix, Nouv. France, torn. v. p. 194.

MUSK-OX 47

Musk-Ox. Drage, V< yage, vol. ii. p. 860.

Dobbs, Eudson's Bay, pp. 19, 25.
Ellis, Voyage, |
" Pennant, Quadr., vol. i. p. 81.
" " Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 9.

" Hearne's Journey, p. 187.
" Parry's First Voyage, p. 257, p

ci " Second Voyage, pp. 197, 508, .ml1 (specimen in British Museum).

Bos Mosohatub. Gmel. Syst.
« " Capt. Sabine (Parry's First Voyage, Supplement, p. 189).

« " Mr. Sabine, Franklin'- Journey, p. 668.

« " i >pendix, p. 331.

Moschatus, Richardson, Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 275.

Matakb-Mooe - (Uom Bison). Cree Indians.

Aj>oiddah-'V lwsbb (I n m i Bison). Chipewyans and Copper Indians.
i (oninomas, Esquimaux.

OVIBOB MOSCHATOT, Harlan, lamia, p. 264.

Bos Moschatus the Musk-Oj Godman, Nat Hist. vol. Hi. p. 29.

DESCRIPTION.

Eorns, verj broad at base, covering the bro\i ami crown of the head,
touching each dther for their entire basal breadth from the occipital to the
frontal region : as the horns rise from their flatly-convex bases they
become round ami tapering, like those of a commo cow, ami curve down-
wards between the eye ami the ear to a little below the eye, where they
torn upwards and outwards (in a segment of a circle), t>> a little above the
angle <>t' tin' eye, ending with tolerably sharp point-. The horns for half
their length are rough, with small longitudinal splinters of unequal length,
beyond which thoy arc smooth ami rather glossy, like those of a common
bull.

Eead, large ami broad : misc. very obtuse ; nostrils, oblong openings
inclining towards each other downwards from above; their innei
naked; united at their base. There is no other vestige of a muzzle ; the

Whole Of the ami the lips, covered with a short coat of ha

is no furrow on the upper lip.

The head, neck, ami shoulder? are covered with lone bushy hair, and
there i- a quantity of long Straight hair on the margins of the mouth and
the sides of the lowerjaw.

Byes, moderately large, and the hair immediately around them shorter
than on other parts of the cheeks : ears, short, and scarcely visible through
the Burrounding long hair, which is more or less waved or crimped, and
forms a sort of ruff back of the neck ; legs, short and thick, clothed with

48 MUSK-OX.

short hair unmixed with wool ; hoofs, flat, small in proportion to the size
of the animal, and resembling those of the reindeer. The cow differs from
the bull in having smaller horns (the bases of which, instead of touching
each other, are separated by a hairy space), and in the hair on the throat
and chest being shorter. The female is considerably smaller than the
male.

The general colour of the hair of the body is brown ; on the neck and
between the shoulders it is of a grizzled hue, being dull light-brown, fading
on the tips into brownish-white ; on the centre of the back it presents a
soiled whitish colour, forming a mark which is aptly termed by Captain
Parry the saddle. The hips are dark-brown, and the sides, thighs, and
belly, nearly black ; the short soft hairs on the nose and lips are whitish,
with a tinge of reddish-brown ; legs, brownish-white ; tips of horns, and
hoofs, black : tail, dark brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from nose to root of tail, about -" 5 6

For our description and account of the habits of this very peculiar
animal we have resorted to other authors, never having ourselves had an
opportunity of seeing it alive, and in fact knowing it only from the
specimen in the British Museum, from which our figures were drawn, and
which is the only one hitherto sent to Europe, so difficult is it to procure
the animal and convey the skin, with the skull, leg bones, <fcc, in a
tolerable state of preservation, from the barren lands of the northern
portions of British America, where it is found, and where an almost
perpetual winter and consequent scarcity of food make it very difficult to
prevent the Indians, or white hunters either, from eating (we should say
devouring) everything that can by any possibility serve to fill their empty
stomachs — even skins, hoofs, and the most refuse parts of any animal they
kill.

To give a better idea of the effects of hunger on man, at times, in these
wild and desert countries, we will relate a case that happened to Dr.
Richardson while upon an expedition. One of his men, a half-breed and
a bad fellow, it was discovered, had killed a companion with whom he had

tf it

MUSK-OX |g

been sent upon a short journey in the woods for intelligence, and had oaten
a considerable portion of bis miserable victim.

Dr. Richardson, watching this monster from hour to hour, perceived
thai he was evident!] preparing and awaiting an opportunity to kill him,
possibl; dreading the punishment he deserved for his horrible crime, and
perhaps thinking tin' doctor's body would supply him with food till he
could reach the settlements and escape : — anticipating his purpose, the
doctor very properly shot him.

Sir John relates an instance in which all hi- efforts to obtain a skin
of the black-tailed deer were baffled 1>> die appetites of his hunters, who
ate up "in' they killed, hide and all. Even on the fertile prairies of more
southern portions "l' our continent, starvation sometimes stare- the hunter

in the face. At one time ;i line specimen of the mule deer (Crm/s
i/Kirrolis). shot for us on the prairies for up the Missouri ri\er. w
by our men. who concealed the fact of their having killed the animal until
some days afterwards.

Sir George Simpson, of the Hudson's Bay Km- Company, most kindly
promised some \ ear- ago that he would if possible procure US a -kin of the

Musk-Ox, which he thought could he gol within two VI
Season to send thQ order for it to his men and another to

the skin to England. We have no1 yet n ived this promised -kin. and

therefore feel sure that the hunter- failed to obtain or to preserve one. for
during the time that has elapsed we have received from the Hudson's Baj
Company, through the kindness of Sir George, an Arctic fox, preserved
in the flesh in rum. and a beautiful skin of the silver-graj fox, which were
written for by Sir George at our request in 1846, at the same time that
gentleman wrote for the -kin of the Musk-Ox. We give ah extract from
Sir George's letter ton-: "With reference to your application for skins
of the Musk-Ox, 1 forwarded : M the subject to a gentleman
stationed at the Hudson's Hay Company's post of Churchill, on Hudson's
Bay. but the distance and difficulties of communication are bo great that
he will not receive my letter unl il next miiii v: and he caniiei

procure the specimens you require before next winter, nor can these be
received in England before the month of October, 1847, and it i- doubtful

that they will he received even then, Hfi those animal- are BOarce, and so
extremely timid that a year mighl he lost before obtaining one."

sir George Simpson was pleased to close this letter with a highly

complimentary expression of the pleasure it would afford him to assist us
in the completion of our work ; and among the difficulties and worrying
accompaniments of such a publication as ours, it has been an unmixed
gratification to have with us the sympathies and assistance of gentlemen

VOL. ITT. — 7

50 MUSK-jOX.

like Sir George and many other?, and of so powerful a corporation as the
Hudson's Bay Fur Company.

Dr. Richardson in a note explains a mistake made by Pennant, who
appears to have confounded the habitat of the Musk-Ox with that of the
bison and states that our animal is found on the lands of the Cris or Cris-
tinaux and Jlssinibouls, which are plains extending from the Red river of
Lake Winnipeg to the Saskatchewan, on which tracts the buffalo is
frequently found, but not the Musk-Ox.

The accounts of old writers, having reference to an animal found in
New Mexico, which Pennant refers to the Musk-Ox, may be based upon
the existence of the Rocky Mountain sheep in that country, which
having been imperfectly described, has led some authors to think the
Musk-Ox was an inhabitant of so southern a locality.

" The country frequented by the Musk-Ox is mostly rocky, and destitute
of wood except on the banks of the larger rivers, which are generally more
or less thickly clothed with spruce trees. Their food is similar to that of
the caribou- — grass at one season and lichens at another ; and the contents
of their paunch are eaten by the natives with the same relish that they
devour the 'nerrooks' of the reindeer. The droppings of the Musk-Ox
take the form of round pellets, differing from those of the caribou only in
their greater size.

" When this animal is fat, its flesh is well tasted, and resembles that of
the caribou, but has a coarser grain. The flesh of the bulls is highly
flavoured, and both bulls and cows, when lean, smell strongly of musk,
their flesh at the same time being very dark and tough, and certainly far
inferior to that of any other ruminating animal existing in North America.

" The carcase of a Musk-Ox weighs, exclusive of the offal, about three
hundred weight, or nearly three times as much as a barren ground caribou,
and twice as much as one of the woodland caribou.

" Notwithstanding the shortness of the legs of the Musk-Ox, it runs fast,
and climbs hills or rocks with great ease. One, pursued on the banks of
the Coppermine, scaled a lofty sand cliff, having so great an acclivity that
we were obliged to crawl on hands and knees to follow it. Its foot-marks
are very similar to those of the caribou, but are rather longer and
narrower. These oxen assemble in herds of from twenty to thirty, rut
about the end of August and beginning of September, and bring forth one
calf about the latter end of May or beginning of June.

" Hearne, from the circumstance of few bulls being seen, supposed that
they kill each other in their contests for the cows. If the hunters keep
themselves concealed when they fire upon a herd of Musk-Oxen, the poor
animals mistake the noise for thunder, and, forming themselves into a

Ml SK-OY 5]

group, crowd nearer and nearer together as their companions (nil around
them : bnt should they discover their enemies by sight or by their *
smell, which is verj acute, the whole herd Beek for safety by instant flight.
The bulls, however, are verj irascible, and particularlj when wounded
will often attack the hunter and endanger his life, unless he po
activity and presence of mind. The Esquimaux, who are well accustomed
to the pursuit of this animal, sometimes turn it- irritable disposition to
good account ; for an experl hunter having provoked n bull to attack him,
wheels round it more quicklj than it can turn, and bj repeated
the belly puts an end to it- life. The wool of the Musk-Ox resembles that
of the bison, bul il perhaps finer, and would no doubt be highly useful in
the arts it' it could be procured in sufficient quantity." — Richards'
./.. p. _•;;

" The Musk-Oxen killed on Melville Island during Pabbt'b visit, were
very tat, and their flesh, especially the heart, although highly scented with
musk, was considered very good food. When cut up it had all the appear-
ance of lied' tor the market. Bearne says that the flesh of the Musk-Ox
docs not at all resemble that of the bison, but is more like that of the
moose, and the fat is ofa clear white, tinged with light azure. The young
cows and calvos furnish a very palatable beef, but that of the <>ld bulls is
so intolerably musk} as to be excessivelj disagreeable." — Godman, vol.
iii. p. 35.

According to Parry, this animal weighs about Beven hundred pounds.
The head and hide weigh aboul one hundred and thirty pounds. "The
horns arc employed for various purposes by the Indian- and Esquimaux,
especially for making cups and spoons. From the long hair growing on
the neck and chest the Esquimaux make their musquito wigs, to defend
their faces from those troublesome insects. The hide makes good sole- for

shoes and i> iiiueh u.-ed tor that purpose bj the Indians."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The Musk-Ox resorts to the barren lands of America lying to the north
of the 60th parallel of north latitude. Eearne mentions that In i

the track- of one in the neighbourhood of Fort Churchill, hit. .">!• : and in
bis tir.-t journey to the north he saw many in the latitude of 01°. At
present, according to what i< said, they do not reach the shore- of Qudson's
Bay ; farther to the westward they are rarely seen in any number, lower
than hit. 67°. Rl< BARDSOK States that he had not heard of their being
seen on the basks of Mackenzie's river to the southward of Great Bear
lake. They range over the islands which lie to the north of the American

52 MUSK-OX.

continent as far as Melville Island, in latitude 15°, but they do not extend
to Greenland, Lapland, or Spitzbergen. There is an extensive tract of
barren country skirting the banks of the Mackenzie river, northwest of the
Rocky Mountains, which also is inhabited by the Musk-Ox ; it is not
known in New Caledonia, on the banks of the Columbia, nor in any
portion of the Rocky Mountains ; nor does it cross over to the Asiatic
shore : consequently it does not exist in any part of northern Asia or
Siberia.

Captain Parry noticed its appearance on Melville Island in the month
of May ; it must therefore be regarded as an animal the native home of
which is within the Arctic Circle, the dwelling-place of the Esquimaux.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The Musk-Ox is remarkable amongst the animals of America, for never
having had more than one specific appellation, whilst other species of much
less interest -have been honoured with a long list of synonymes. Jeremie
appears to have given the first notice of it : he brought some of the wool
to France, and had stockings made of it which were said to have been
more beautiful than silk. The English voyagers of an early period gave
some information respecting it, but Pennant has the merit of being the
first who systematically arranged and described it, from the skin of a
specimen sent to England by Hearne, the celebrated traveller. From its
want of a naked muzzle and some other peculiarities, M. Blainville placed
it in a genus intermediate (as its name denotes) between the sheep and
the ox.

LEPUS CAL1 FOB NIC1 S.— Gray.

( ' \i irouMAX H LUX.

PLATE CXII.

L. magnitudine L. glacialis, form! L. timide; supra flavescente-fuscuB,
subtus albas, flavo valdetinctus.

HI LB U

Nearly the size of the polar hare ; dark brown on the baek, light brownish-
red on the neck ; lomr parts deeply tinged with yellow.

BTNONI UES.

Lepvs Caufornicus. Gray, Mag Nat Hist '• 586.

" Rich ardso nil Bach. Jour. lead. S S L, vol. viii. p. 88.

TrKN.M.ini. Gray, Zoology of the Voyage of H. M. S. Sulphur, Mamm., p. 35,
pi. 11. 184S.

tPTION.

Head, small, ami not elongated ; ears, very large, much longer than the
bead; eyes, verj large; body, stout; limbs, lone- and slender; fur, <>f
moderate l«'nirtli : tail, long and flat; feet, rather small: legs and feet,
thickly clothed with short hairs nearly concealing the nails.

The hack, from the shoulder to the insertion of the tail, is Btrongly
marked with black and rufous-brown, the hairs being pale plnml

two thirds of their length from the root-, then very pale brown, then

black, then yellowish-brown, and tipped with black. Chest, sides ol the

body, and outer surface of limbs, more or less rufous. Abdomen, whitish
tinged with buff; upper surface <■>( the tail blackish-brown, lower surface

yellowish-white: around the eye, pale lain': back of the neck, grayish
cinnamon colour : legs and feet, cinnamon. The outer surface of the ears
is longitudinally divided into two colours, the anterior portion or half
being grizzled reddish-brown, becoming darker as ii approaches the tip of
the ear. the hairs being annulated with black and pale yellow ; the posterior

54 CALIFORNIAN HARE.

portion dingy yellowish-white, growing lighter as it approaches the tip,
until it blends with the black colour which terminates the upper half of the
outside of the car : the interior edge of the ear is pale yellow, each hair
slightly tipped with black ; one half of the inner surface of the ear is
nearly naked, but covered with very delicate and short hairs, the other
portion thinly clothed with hair gradually thickening towards the outer
edge, where it is grizzly-brown ; edge of the ear for two thirds from the
head, yellowish-white ; the remainder to the tip, soft velvety black. This
black colour extends in a large patch on to the outer surface of the ear at
the tip.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - 22

" " eye to point of nose, .... 2 1

Height of ear, posteriorly, 5 10

Heel, to point of middle claw, 4 8

Tail, including hair, 3 3

The habits of all hares are much the same ; and this family is a general
favourite for the beauty, timid gentleness, and fleetness its various species
exhibit, although some of them are annoying to the gardener. In America,
however, many species of Hare inhabit territories too far from cultivated
fields or gardens for them to be able to nibble even at a cabbage plant.

Many pleasant evening hours have we passed, walking through forest-
shaded roads in the last rays scattered here and there by the sinking
sun, observing the playful " rabbits" leaping gracefully a few paces at a
time, then stopping and looking about, ignorant of our proximity and
unconscious of clanger. But we are now to give the habits of the Cali-
fornian Hare, for which take the following account of the animal as
observed by J. W. Audubon :

" The Californian Hare appears to possess just brains enough to make
him the greatest coward of all the tribe I have seen, for, once startled he
is quite as wild as a deer, and equally heedless as to the course he takes,
so that as he has not the keen sense of smell of the deer to warn him of
danger in any direction, he sometimes makes a great fool of himself in his
haste, and I have had these Hares run to within three feet of me, before I
was seen, even where there was no cover but a sparse prairie grass."

" It was after toiling night and day through the sands of the Colorado

CAUFORNIAN HARE. ;,;,

desert, and resting afterwards al Vallecito and San Felipe, while marching
along Hie streams through the rich fields of Santa Maria, thai 1 saw the
first Californian Hare. I knew him at sight: he showed aowkiti
he ran, and looked almost bladl amongst the yellow broom-sod
divided ii in his swift coarse. His lege seemed always under his body, for
so quick was the movement thai I could aol - tided, as in other

Hares, from one bound to another ; he seemed to alighl on hie feci perpen-
dicularly at each leap, with a low-squatting springy touch to the earth,
and putting his enormous!] long ears forward, and then back on Ins neck,
and stretching <>ut his head, appeared to fly over the undulating ridges of
the prairie as a -wallow skims for insects the surface of a sluggish river in
summer."

Very few of these Hares were Been by J. W. A.udubon's party until
they had travelled some distance further north, and it was onlj after they
had left the plains of the San Joaquin for the mines that the]
a common animal, and in facl often their sole resource for the day's
meat,

J'. W. A.UDUBOM says that a single Hare of this Species, with a little fat
pork to fry it with, often lasted himself and a companion, a- food when

travelling, for two days. Nearlj everj miner has eaten of this fine Hare,
which is well known in all the hilly portions of Upper California.

The Californian Hare brings forth aboul five young at a time, which

are generally littered in the latter pari of April or beginning of May.
.1. W. A.UDUBOS ■! a female only a few days before her young

would have been born : she had live beautiful little ones, the hair and feet

perfect, and a white spol on the forehead n\' each was prominent. 1 never
shot another afterward-, and WUfi sad at the havoc 1 had Committed."

We do not know whether this species breeds more than once in the year

or not. but it probably does, as Mr. Pbaj e - I ale killed on the

twenty-fourth of September was still suckling her young."

The Californian Hare is more frequently met with in uplands, on moun-
tain sides, and in bushy places, than in other situations. During the rainy

season it was not -een by J. W. At m BOH in low ami wet grounds,

although it doubtless resorts to them during the dry weather of summer.

Mr. Peai.e say-, the-,. Hares "when twining, carry the ears erect, and
make three short and one long leap : and that the Indians catch them hy
Betting hedges of thorny brush, with Openings at intervals, in which they
set snares, so constructed as to catch tin' Hares when passing, without the
use of springes : the noose is made of a substance like hemp, very strong,
and neatly twisted with cords.-'

56 CALIFORNIAN HARE.

OKi)i;i! \riH<AI. IHSTIIIIirilnX.

This species was seen by J. W. Audubon during his journey from Texas
to California ; it was first met to the northward- of the Colorado desert,
and was quite abundant as the party approached the mining districts of
California, where it was found as far north as the American fork ; it was
met with in the southern parts of Oregon by the United States Exploring
Expedition. We are not informed whether it exists to the eastward of the
Nevada range of mountains.

GENERAL REMARKS.

This Hare was first obtained by Mr. Douglas, and sent with other
animals from California to England. It was described by Mr. Gray, and
being, from its large size and rich colouring, one of the most conspicuous
among the North American Hares, we regret that that eminent naturalist
should have also (by some mistake) given it the name of L. Bennettii, and for
ourselves we must plead guilty to having erroneously named it L. Richard-
sonii. The identity of this beautiful animal has been also somewhat
obscured by Mr. Peale, who confounded it with a species from the Cape
of Good Hope, which bears the name of Longicaudatus, and was described
in London.

(VMS I A MIL I \I!IS.-I,ns. (Vak. Horeai.is.— Desk.)

PLATE CXIIL- N

C. magnitudine C. Terra Nbv», capite parvo, auribus erectis, cauda
comosa, cruribns pedibusque robustioribus, colore cincreo,.albo nigroque
notato.

« B \i: M TBBB.

About the size of the Newfoundland dog ; head, small : ears, erect J tail,
husky : legs and feet, stout ; general colour gray, varied with white and dark
markings.

SYHOin UBS.
I L1CILIARI8, W. N. Bi ' mm., p. 194.

Esqi ma< \ Doe. Captain Lyons, Private Journal, pp. 244, 883.

Parry's Second Voyage, pp. 290, 858.
Cams Familiarts, nir. A. Borealis — Bsqudiai i Doi I B. \., p. 75.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, rather small : ears, short and pointed : body, thick and well
i d : eye, of moderate sue; feet, clothed with thick short hair con-
cealing the nails; tail, busby, and longest at the end; hair, long, with
thick wool beneath.

Muzzle, black : inner portion o\' ear-, blackish : top of nose, forehead, a
-pare around the eyes, outer edges of ears, cheeks, belly, and legs, whitish :

crown of the head, and hack, nearly black : side?, thinly covered with long
black, and some white, hairs ; underneath there is a shorter dense coat of
yellowish-gray woolly hair which is partly visible through these long hairs.
The tail, like the hack, is clothed with black and white hairs, the latter
greatly predominating, especially at the tip.
VOL. in. — 8

58 ESQUIMAUX DOG.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. tuche«

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - 4 3

" " of tail (vertebra*), 1 2

" " including hair, 1 5

Height of ear, inside, 3

Width between the eyes, 2i

" " ears, 4i

So much has been written about the admirable qualities of the dog, that
it would be quite useless for us to enter upon the subject ; we shall also
avoid the question of the origin of the various races, which in fact have
been so intermixed that it would be an almost Quixotic task to endeavour
to trace the genealogy of even the " noblest" of them. Those, however,
that have, like the Esquimaux Dog, for centuries retained their general
characters, and have not been exposed to any chance of " amalgamation"
with other races, exhibit habits as well as forms and colours sufficiently
permanent to warrant the naturalist in describing them, and in many
cases their history is exceedingly interesting.

The Esquimaux Dogs are most useful animals to the savages of our
Arctic regions, and when hitched to a sled many couples together, will
travel with their master over the ice and snow at great speed for many
miles without much fatigue, or draw heavy burthens to the huts of their
owners. When on the coast of Labrador we had the following account of
the mode in which these dogs subsist, from a man who had resided in that
part of the world for upwards of ten years. During spring and summer
they ramble along the shores, where they meet with abundance of dead
fish, and in winter they eat the flesh of the seals which are killed and salted
in the spring or late in the autumn when these animals return from the
north. This man informed us also that when hard pushed he could relish
the fare he thus provided for his Dogs just as much as they did themselves.
We found several families inhabiting the coast of Labrador, all of whom
depended entirely on their Dogs to convey them when visiting their neigh-
bours, and some of whom had packs of at least forty of these animals. On
some parts of the coast of Labrador the fish were so abundant during our
visit that we could scoop them out of the edge of the water with a pocket-
handkerchief : at such times the Esquimaux Dogs catch them, wading in
and snapping at them with considerable dexterity as the surf retires;
when caught they eat them at once while they are still alive.

EBQUIN \i A DOG 59

We were informed thai when these Dogs are on a journey, in winter,
should they be overtaken by a Bevere snow-storm, and thereb] prevented
from reaching a settlement within the calculated time, and if the pi
intended for them in consequence give out, in their ravenous hunger they
devour the driver, and even prey upon one another. Such cases were
related to us, as well as others in which, by severe whipping and loud
..'lv forced into a gallop and kept on the fell run until
some house was reached and the sleigh-driTei

These animals are taught to go in harness from the time they are quite
young pups, being placed in a team along with well trained Do
only two or three months old, to gain experience and learn to obej their
master, who wields a whip of twenty or thirty feet length of lash, with a
short, heavj handle.

On a man approaching a house where they are kept, tl
forth with fierce barkings al the intruder, and it requires a bold heart to
march up to them, an with their pointed ears and wirj hair they look like
a pack of wild wolves. They are in foci -
times, and require the strictesl discipline to keep them in subjection.

Captain Lyok gives an interesting account of the Esquimau: I
of which we shall here lay before you: A walrus is frequently drawn
along b\ three or four of these Dogs, and seals are sometimes carried home
in the same manner, though I have in Bome instances seen a Dog bring
home the greater part of a seal in panniers placed across his back. The
latter mode of conveyance is often used in summer, and the Dogs a No carry
skin- or furniture overland to the sledges when their masters are going on
any expedition, ft might be supposed thai in so cold a climate these
animals had peculiar periods of gestation, like tin- w ild creatures ; but on
the contrary, thej bear young at everj season of the year, the pups seldom
exceeding live at a litter. Oold has very little effect on them: for,
although the i\<>^* at the huts Blept within the snow passages mine at the
ships had mi shelter, but lay alongside, with the thermonu

11 (below zero!) and with as littl incern as if the weather had been

mild. 1 found by several experiments, that three of my dogs could draw
me on a sledge weighing 100 pounds at the rate of one mile in sis minute? ;
and as a proof of tin1 strength of a well-grown Dog, my leader drew 196
pounds singly, ami to the sai iistance, in eight minutes. At another

time, seven of my Dogs ran a mile in four minutes, drawing a hea\\ sledge
full of men. Afterwards, in carrying store- to the Fury, one mile distant,
drew 1 < *» 1 1 pounds in the space of nine minutes. My sledge was
on runners neither shod nor Iced ; but had the runners been iced, at least
40 pounds might have been added for each Dog,"

60 ESQUIMAUX DOG.

Captain Lyon had eleven of these Dogs, which he Bays " were large and
even majestic looking animals ; and an old one, of peculiar sagacity, was
placed at their head by having a longer trace, so as to lead them through
the safest and driest places." " The leader was instant in obeying the
voice of the driver, who never beat, but repeatedly called to him by name.
When the Dogs slackened their pace, the sight of a seal or a bird was
sufficient to put them instantly In their full speed ; and even though none
of these might be seen on the ice, the cry of 'a seal !'— ' a bear!' — 'a
bird!' <fec, was enough to give play to the legs and voices of the whole
pack. It was a beautiful sight to observe the two sledges racing at full
speed to the same object, the Dogs and men in full cry, and the vehicles
splashing through the holes of water with the velocity and spirit of rival
stage-coaches. There is something of the spirit of professed whips in these
wild races ; for the young men delight in passing each other's sledge, and
jockeying the hinder one by crossing the path. In passing on different
routes the right hand is yielded, and should an inexperienced driver
endeavour to take the left, he would have some difficulty in persuading his
team to do so. The only unpleasant circumstance attending these races
is, that a poor dog is sometimes entangled and thrown down, when the
sledge, with perhaps a heavy load, is unavoidably drawn over his
body.

" The driver sits on the fore part of the vehicle, from whence he jumps,
when requisite, to pull it clear of any impediments which may lie in the
way ; and he also guides it by pressing cither foot on the ice. The voice
and long whip answer all the purposes of reins, and the Dogs can be made
to turn a corner as dexterously as horses, though not in such an orderly
manner, since they are constantly fighting ; and I do not recollect to have
seen one receive a flogging without instantly wreaking his passion on the
ears of his neighbours. The cries of the men are not more melodious than
those of the animals ; and their wild looks and gestures, when animated,
give them an appearance of devils driving wolves before them. Our Dogs
had eaten nothing for forty-eight hours, and could not have gone over less
than seventy miles of ground ; yet they returned to all appearance as fresh
and active as when they first set out."

These Dogs curl the tail over the hip in the manner of house dogs gene-
rally.

Our drawing was made from a fine living Dog in the Zoological Garden
at London. Some have since been brought to New York alive by the ships
fitted out and sent to the polar seas in search of the unfortunate Sir John
Franklin and his party by Mr. Henry Grinnell, of that city.

ESQUIMAUX DOG (j]

GEOGRAPHIC W. DISTRIBUTION.

This animal, as the name imports, is the constant companion of the
Esquimaux, but extends much beyond the range of that tribe of Indians.
rince it is found not only at Labrador, bu1 among various tribes of northern
Indian-, and was observed by travellers in the Arctic regions to the
extreme north ; we arc unacquainted with its western limits.

GENBR \I. REM IRKS.

We have been induced, in our account of American animals
figures and descriptions of this peculiar variety of Dog, inasmuch a< it
appears to have been o permanent variety for ages, and is one of the most
useful animals to the Indians residing in the polar regions. Whether it l>c
an original native Dog, or derive it- origin from the w
which we will not here discuss, farther than to state, in opposition to the
view- of Dr. Richardson, that our figures do not rcpresenl these animals
aaverj closelj allied to the wolf ; on the contrary, their look of inti
would indicate that th acity and aptitude for the -

man. equal at least to that of many favourite breeds of I'"-. The fact
also of their breeding at all seasons of the year, their manner of placing
the tail in sport, ami their general liai>its. give evidence of their being true
Dogs and nol wolves, the only difference between them and Bome other
varieties consisting in their ha\ ing erect pointed ears, which are peculiar to
the Dogs of savage nation-, and not altogether absent in some of our
common breeds, as we have witnessed in the shepherd's Dog of Europe
and some cur Dogs in America, erect ears of a similar character.

62

SPERMOPHILUS LATERALIS.-Say.

Say's Marmot-Squirrel, or Spermophile.

PLATE CXIV.

S. magnitudine Sciuri Hudsonici ; stria laterali flavescente alba nigro
marginata.

CHARACTERS.

Size oj Sciurus Hudsonicus ; a yellowish-white stripe bordered ivith dark
brownish-black on each flank.

SYNONYMES.

Small gray Squirrel. Lewis and Clark, vol. iii. p. 35.
Sciurus Lateralis. Say, Long's Expedition, vol. ii. p. 46.

Harlan, Fauna Americana, p. 181.
Rocky Mountain Ground Squirrel. Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 144.
Arctomys (Spermophilus) Lateralis. Rich., Zool. Jour., vol. ii., No. 12, p. 519.

" " Say's Marmot. Rich., F. B. A., p. 174, pi. 13.

DESCRIPTION.

The body in form resembles the Spermophiles, with a slight approach to
the Tamia? ; head, rather large ; forehead, convex ; nose, obtuse and
covered with short hairs, except a naked space around the nostrils ; inci-
sors, flattened anteriorly ; mouth placed pretty far back ; whiskers, shorter
than the head ; a few long black hairs over the eye and posterior part of
the cheeks ; eyes, rather large ; ears, oval and somewhat conspicuous,
appearing like the ears of most animals of this genus, with the exception
that they seem as if trimmed or cut short ; they are thickly clothed on both
surfaces with short hairs, and have a small doubling of the anterior margin
to form a helix, which where it approaches the auditory canal is covered
with longer hairs.

Legs, shorter and stouter than those of the squirrel family ; feet, shaped
like those of the Spermophili ; claws, stronger, straighter, and better
adapted for digging than those of the Tamia ; the thumb tubercle is far
back, and has a small obtuse nail ; soles (of hind feet), naked to the heel,
as are also the palms (of fore feet) and the under surface of the toes ; upper

A

v

SAY'S MARMOT-SQUIRREL ,;.;

surface of the feet, covered with short hairs which scarcely reach to the
claw-: tail depressed, Slightly distichous, aearl; linear, very slightly
broadest towards the tip ; there are no annulations in the hair- of the tail.

Above, brownish-ash, intermixed with blackish, producing a hoary
brownish-gray; there is no vestige of a dorsal line. A yellowish-white
stripr appears on the neck, and running backwards along the Bid

nates at the hip : it is widest in the middle, being there three lines broad :

and in some specimens it is faintly seen aloi k, reach-

ing the ear; this white stripe is bounded above and below between the
shoulder and the hip by a pretty broad border of brownish-black ; top of
the head and neck, tipped with ferruginous; the sides, all the ventral parts,
inner surfaces of die legs, breast, ami throat, yellowish-white, in parts
tinged with brown.

Cheeks, and sides of the neck, chesnut-brown ; ear-. brown on their
margins, paler near the base ; a circle around the eye. upper lip. ami chin,
nearlj white: nails, black; tail, black above, with an intermixture of
brownish-white hairs, ami bordered with white: the under surface is
yellowish-brown, margined with Mack and brownish-white.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. L\nm

Length of head and body, 8

" head, .... o 2

" tail (vertebra), 2 9

" " (including fur). 3 9

" middle fori- (daw, 4$

" palm and middle fore claw, ... n

" sole and middle claw (of hind-foot), - - 1 6

Height of ear, 4

Breadth of base of external ear, 5

This beautiful inhabitant of the wooded valley? of the Rocky Mountains
^:^ not seen by us on our journey up the Missouri river, although it is
probably found within the district of country we traversed. We are
therefore unable to irive any persona] information in regard to its habits,
and we find but little in the works of others.

61 SAY'S MARMOT-SQUIRREL.

Mr. Drummond obtained several specimens on the Rocky Mountains as
far north as latitude 57°, and observed that it burrowed in the ground.

Mr. Say did not give any account of its habits, and probably the
specimen he described was brought into camp by the hunters attached to
the expedition, without his ever having seen the animal alive.

All the Spermophiles that we have seen are lively, brisk, and playful,
resembling the eon- >n ground-squirrels (Tamias Lysteri) in their general
habits.

The Mexican women make pets of some of the species inhabiting that
country, and they become very fond of their mistresses, running over their
shoulders, and sometimes nestling in their bosoms, or the pockets of their
gowns.

GEOGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Drummond obtained several specimens on the Rocky Mountains, in
latitude 57°. Lewis and Clark state that it is common to every part of
that range where wood abounds. We have not been able to determine the
limits of its southern migrations, and have no information as to its
existence in California.

# GENERAL REMARKS.

This species was first observed by Lewis and Clark, but was named
and described by Mr. Say, who placed it among the ground-squirrels.
Dr. Richardson subsequently gave a very accurate description of it, and
transferred it through Arctomys to .the subgenus Spermophilus, although
considering it intermediate between the nearly allied subgenera Spermo-
philus and Tamias, with respect to its claws and teeth.

It is, however, in reality a Spermophilus and not a Tamias, as can easily
be seen from the form of the body, the shortness of the legs, shape of the
feet, and more especially its strong and nearly straight nails. On the
other hand, the longitudinal lines on the back, and the shape of the tail,
indicate a slight approach to the Tamice.

At the close of this article we embrace the opportunity of adding
another species to this interesting genus, the habitat of which is, however,
we regret to say, so much involved in obscurity that we cannot with
certainty, at present, add it to the list of our North American mammalia.

Shortly after the return of the United States Exploring Expedition
under the command of Captain Wilkes, we happened to meet several of
the naturalists who had been attached to the expedition. Some one — we
cannot now recollect the gentleman — presented us with this specimen,

SPERMOPHILUS PEALEI. gg

stating that he could not tell where it had been obtained; the specimen
has from that time remained in our collection without our having been
able i" gain any information in regard to its habitat, and without our
learning thai any other specimen ha- been procured, although we have
anxiously sought to obtain farther intelligence on the subject.

This famil] is represented in the old world i>\ few and peculiarly

marked Bpecies to none of which can we refer out animal, whilst on the

other hand it bears in form, size, and mart ction with

erican spermophiles, and will, as we arc inclined to think, yel be

found in some pari of the western Bea-coast regions of America.

We introduce it under the following name and description :

SPERMOPHILUS PEALEI.— A ud. and Bach.

S. Tamia Lysteri paullulum major; Btriis all. is quinque, cum quatuor
foscis alternantibus.

CHARACTERS.

. / sige larger than Tamias I.vsteri : fire white and four brown stripes.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, smaller and shorter, and Brably longer and less

abruptly terminated than in Say's N. lateralis: it is a little smaller than
thai species ; legs move slender, and tail longer, broader, and n

I han in S. lateralis ; whiskers, long, B few of them oxtendii

On the fore feet there are four toes, without an\ vestige of a thumb or
nail: the claws are shoVl and small, and an- covered with hair: palms,
naked : there are five toes on each hind loot ; the hair on the L„.
and smooth, but is a little longer and also coarser on the under surface.

COLOl/R.

A narrow white stripe risinc on the bacl
centre of the hack (or dorsal line) to the root of the tail : another white
stripe on each side originates behind the ear and runs along the upper part

of the side. aarrOWing on the hips till it reaches the sides of the ,,,ot of the
tail: a second white stripe on each side (lower than the last mentioned)
vol. m. — 9

66 SPERMOPHILUS PEALE1.

runs from the shoulder to the hip, somewhat blended with a marked gray
colour beneath it, which joins the colour of the under surface ; between
these white stripes are four much broader : the two nearest the central
white dorsal line are speckled light grayish-yellow and brown between the
cars, gradually darkening into reddish on the centre of the back, and to
brown near the tail ; the two outer brown stripes begin on the shoulder
and run to the hips.

Forehead, speckled gray with a slight tinge of rufous towards the nose ;
cars, thinly clothed with hair of a light gray on the outer surface and dull
white within ; from the lower white stripe on each side, a grayish space
extends between the shoulder and ham ; under the belly, inner sides of
legs, throat, and chin, white ; the hams and shoulders are gray outside.

Whiskers, black ; teeth, orange ; nails, brown ; on the tail the hairs are
yellowish-white from the roots, then-black, then have a broader ambulation
of yellowish-white, then another of black, and are broadly tipped with
white.

DIMENSIONS.

Prom point of nose to root of tai
Tail (vertebras), -

" (to end of fur), -
Point of nose to ear, -
Height of ear, -
Palm to end of middle nail,
Tarsus to longest nail on hind foot,

6i inches.
3i

LI

I
I

3

67

A R V I C O L A XANTHOGNAT H A .— I. each.

Yki i o\i 'in i ki d M i umto Mouse.

PLATE OXV.- Ai.n.T and Yoi

A. Supra saturate fusca, sulitus argenteo-cinereus, oculis circulo pallide
luteo cinctis, genis lla\ is.

CH LBACTBR8.

Dark brown on Me bark ; under parts, sihery grey ; pale orange around the
\eeks, yellow.

8TNON1

Arvicola Kanthoohatha, Leach, Z00L Miss., rol. i. p. 60, t, 26.

" " Harlan, Fauna, p. 136.

" " Qodman, Nat Hist, vol ii. p. 66.

Campaohoi ua joueb FAtrvzs. Desm., Mamm^ p. 282.
Arvicola Xanthognathi s. Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 122.

DESCRIPTION.

Of the upper molars, the posterior one is the largest, and it 1ms three

grooves on its side; the two anterior have two grooves each, making in
all ten ridges in the upper molar teeth on each side ; of the lower molars,
the anterior is the largest, and it lias four grooves ; the other two have

each tWO.

Body, nearly cylindrical ; legs, Bhorl ; nose, obtuse ; the lip is on a line
with the incisors : cars large, rounded, and hair] on both surf - ; whis-
kers, about the length of the head : tail, shorter than the head, well
with hairs lying smoothlj and coming to a point at the extremitj ; legs,
rather stout, covered with short hair lying closelj and smoothly ; fore feet
With naked palms; fore toes with a callosity protected by a very minute
nail in place of a thumb ; the first a little shorter than the third,
largest, and fourth shortest.

The toes are well covered with smooth hair above, and are naked below ;
the hair o( the wrist projects a little over the palms; claws, small ; hind
feet with five toes, of which the three middle ones arc nearly equal in

68 YELLOW-CHEEKED MEADOW-MOUSE.

length ; the posterior part of the sole is covered with hair ; soles of hind
feet, narrower and longer than the palms of the fore feet ; fur soft and
fine, about four lines and a half long on the head, and nine on the posterior
part of the back.

The fur, from the roots to near the tips, is grayish-black ; on the head
and back the tips are yellowish-brown or black, the black pointed hairs
being the longest ; the colour resulting is a mixture of dark brown and
black, without spots ; sides, paler than the back ; under parts, silvery
bluish-gray.

Anterior to the shoulder, dark gray ; there is a blackish-brown stripe
on the centre of the nose ; on each side of the nose a reddish-brown patch
which extends to the orbit ; around the eye, pale orange ; whiskers, black ;
tail, brownish-black above, whitish beneath ; feet, dark brown on the upper
surface, whitish on the under.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches- Lines.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - - 8

of head, 1 10

of tail, 1 6

Breadth of ear, - - 7

Hind foot, from heel to point of claw of middle toe, - 10

The descriptions of its habits given by the few writers who have
referred with positive certainty to this species, are very meagre, but all the
arvicolae, with slight variations, are similar in habit ; they live in low
grounds, usually preferring meadows : burrow in the banks of ponds and
near water-courses, feed on grasses and seeds, have a considerable number
of young at a birth, are somewhat nocturnal, and make galleries of various
lengths, which enable them to traverse the neighbourhood of their nestling
places and procure the roots of grasses and plants.

This species, as is mentioned by Richardson and other observers,
makes its long galleries under the mossy turf, on the dry banks of lakes
and rivers, and also in the woods; the specimens brought by us from
Labrador were obtained from beneath large masses of moss growing on the
rocks.

YELLOW-CHEEKED MEADOW-MOUSE. gg

In -"me portions of the far north these hardy little animals are
abundant : they were common in Labrador, and were easily captured by
turning ap Borne of 1 1 1< ■ patches of moss, a- just mentioned, when they were
knocked over by the young men of our party.

We an- told that this species has seven young at a time.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The original specimen described by Leach, was obtained from Hudson's
Bay: we procured several in Labrador.

Although supposed, by Borne writer-, to exist within the limits of the
United States, we have never been aide to refer an \ species ofArvioola
thai has been discovered in our States or territories to this particular
animal.

GENERAL REMARKS.

As before stated. Leach described this Arvicola. and he also gav
poor figure of ii : Sw supposed it to e.\i-t on the banks of the Ohio, but

we think he had in view a different speeies ] II \w.\\ appears not to have

Been it, bu1 gives the Bhorl description of Leach, statine. however, that it

exists in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which we presume was owing to his
having mistaken for it some variety of Wilson's meadow-mouse (. /. Penrtr
sylvemica); GODMAK seems to have fallen into a similar mistake ; and the
Arvicola xanthognatha of SABINE i~ evidently the A. Pennsyhxmica

Dr. Pf.K u Bays it is found in various parts of (he Stati
but we have not Keen able to procure it, although we have sought for it for
year-; and moreover we feel obliged to state that the description (which
i- a very unsatisfactory one), and the I in the "Zoology of the

State of New York.'' refer to quite a different animal, probably one among
the many varieties of . /. I'< nnsylvanica.

We feel little hesitation in stating that this species does not exist in any
part of the United States l>ut is exclusively a northern animal.

To

VULPES FULVUS.— Desm. (Var. Argentatus.— Rich.)

American Black or Silver Fox.
PLATE CXVI.— Female.
V. rnagnitudine V. fulvi, argenteo niger, cauda ad apicem alba.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the red fox (vulpes fulvus) ; body, s-ilvery black ; tip of tlie tail,
white.

SYNONYMES.

Renard Noir on Bahynha. Sagard Theodat., Canada, p. 744.

European Fox — var. A, black. Pennant, Arct. Zool., vol. i., p. 46.

Renard Noir ou Argente. GeofFroy, Collect, du Museum.

Grizzled Fox. Hutcbins, MSS.

Renard Argente. F. Cuvier, Mamm. Lith., 5 livr.

Canib gentatus. Desm., Mamm., p. 203.

» " Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 657.

" " Harlan, Fauna, p. 88.

« " The Black or Silver Fox. Godman, Nat. Hist., i. 274, plate.

" FuLvtrs, var. Argentatus. Rich. Black or Silver Fox, F. B. A., p. 94.
Black Fox. DeKay, Nat. Hist. New York, p. 45.
Tschernoburi. Russians.

DESCRIPTION.

Specimen from the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company.

Body, clothed with two kinds of hair ; the longest, or outer hair, extends
in some parts two inches beyond the under or shorter fur, especially cm the
neck, beneath the throat, behind the shoulders, along the flanks, and on the
tail ; this hair is soft, glossy, and finer than even that of the pine marten.

The under fur is unusually long and dense, measuring in some places two
inches, and is exceedingly fine, feeling to the hand as soft as the finest sea-
island cotton ; this under fur surrounds the whole body even to the tail,
on which it is a little coarser and has more the appearance of wool ; it is
shortest on the legs and forehead, and least dense on the belly ; the hairs

AMERICAN BLACK OB SILVER FOX. 71

composing tliis fur. when viewed separately, exhibit a crimped or wavy
appearance; on I freely any long hairs are to

these parts being thickly clothed with fur.

The soles of the feel are so thickly clothed with woolly hair that no
callous spots are visible.

COLOTJB.

The under fur is uniformly blackish-brown or chocolate ; the loner hairs
arc brown at their roots, then silver gray, and arc broadly tipped with
black : the hair- on the neck, and on a dorsal line extending to

■ 1. arc black, forming a broad black line at the neck, which
narrows towards the tail.

Chin, throat, and whole under surface, brownish-black ; a tuft of white

hairs OH the neck near the chesl : another white tuft near the umbilicus ;

upper parts glossy silvery black: side*-, sprinkled with many shining
silvery white hairs, which produce a somewhat hoary a]
brownish-black to near the extremity, where it is broadly tipped with
white.

DIMENSIONS.

Fe«t. lorhtti.

Nose to root of tail, 2

Length of tail. 1 7

Height of ear. 21

From nose to en. I of ear stretched back, ... 8i

" " eyes, si

Our account of the habits of this beautiful Fox will be perhaps less

interesting to many than our description of its skin ; for. a* is well known.

er-gray Pox sup]. lies one of the most valuable I'm- in tic world,

not only for the luxurious nobles of Russia ami other parts of Europe, but
for the old-fashioned, never-go-ahead Chinese, ami other Eastern nations.

In the richness ami beauty of its splendid fur the Silver-irra\ I
passes the beaver or the sea-otter, and the skins are indeed so highly
esteemed that the finest command extraordinary prices, and are always in
demand.

The Silver-graj Fox is by no means abundant, and presents considerable
variations both in .-(dour and size. Some sJrina are brilliant black (with
the exception of the end of the tail, which is invariably while); other

72 AMERICAN BLACK OR SILVER FOX.

specimens are bluish-gray, and many are tinged with a cinereous colour on
the sides : it perhaps is most commonly obtained with parts of its fur
hoary, the shiny black coat being thickly interspersed with white or
silvery-blue tipped hairs.

According to Sir John Richardson, a greater number than four or five
of these Foxes is seldom taken in a season at any one post in the fur
countries, though the hunters no sooner find out the haunts of one than
they use every art to catch it. From what he observed, Sir John does not
think this Fox displays more cunning in avoiding a snare than the red one,
but the rarity of the animal, and the eagerness of the hunters to take it,
make them think it peculiarly shy.

This animal appears to be as scarce in northern Europe as in America ;
but we do not mean by this to be understood as considering the European
Black Fox identical with ours.

The Black or Silver Fox is sometimes killed in Labrador, and on the
Magdeleine Islands, and occasionally — very rarely — in the mountainous
parts of Pennsylvania and the wilder portions of the northern counties of
New York, where, however, Pennant's marten is generally called the
" Black Fox," by the hunters and farmers.

It gives us pleasure to render our thanks to the Hon. Hudson's Bay
Company for a superb female Black or Silver-gray Fox which was procured
for us, and sent to the Zoological Gardens in London alive, where J. W.
Audubon was then making figures of some of the quadrupeds brought from
the Arctic regions of our continent for this work. Having drawn this
beautiful animal, which was at the time generously tendered us, but
thinking it should remain in the Zoological Gardens, as we have no such
establishment in America, J. W. Audubon declined the gift in favor of the
Zoological Society, in whose interesting collection we hope it still exists.
When shall we have a Zoological Garden in the United States ?

This variety of the Fox does not differ in its propensities from the red
Fox or the cross Fox, and its extraordinary cunning is often equalled by
the tricks of these sly fellows.

The white tip at the end of the tail appears to be a characteristic of the
Silver-gray Fox, and occurs in every specimen we have seen.

It is stated in Morton's New England Canaan (p. 79), that the skin of
the Black Fox was considered by the Indians, natives of that part of the
colonies, as equivalent to forty beaver skins ; and when offered and
accepted by their kings, it was looked upon as a sacred pledge of recon-
ciliation.

The present species has been seen " mousing" in the meadows, near
Ipswich, Massachusetts, as we were informed by the late William Oakes,

AMERICAN BLAGS OB SILVEB POX 7;}

who also wrote to us that " the common and cross Foxes were abundant
about the White Mountains, and that they were most easily shot whilst
scenting and following game, when their whole attention appears to be
concentrated on thai one object."

This Pox is occasionally seen in Nova Scotia, and a friend there informs
as thai Borne nave been ahol in bis vicinity.

GEOGB Willi Al I'lsTRIRrTION.

As this variety of the Bed Pox chiefly occurs "in the colder regions of
our continent, we cannot Bel it down as a regular inhabitant of even the
southern parts of the State o\' New York, nor any pari of Pennsylvania
or Nevi •'

The specimens which have been obtained in the two former States were
killed al long intervals, ami were, moreover, nol of bo fine a pel
beautiful a colour as those from more northern latitudes.

The skin- Bold to the American Fur Company are from the head waters
of the Mississippi river, ami the territories northwest of the Missouri, ami
are considered equal to the best.

GENERAL REMARKS.
'1'lu' production of peculiar and permanent varieties iii Species of animals

in a wild or natural state, is a Bubjecl of remarkable interest, although it
cannot be explained on any data with which we are at presenl acquainted.

It is singular thai in Beveral species of red Poxes, widely removed from
each other in their geographical range eculiarities occur. The

red Pox of Europe (Cants wipes), z species differing from ours, produces no
varieties in the southern ami warmer parts of that continent, imt i- every-
where of the same reddish colour, yet in high northern latitude-, especially
in mountainous regions, it exhibits no1 onlj the black, bul the cross Pox
varieties.

In tin western portions of our continent the large red Pos of Lewis and
Clark, which we described from a hunter's -kin in our tir-t volui
ami to which we have elsewhere given the name of Vtdpes l taJi, runs
into similar varieties.

VOL. III. — 10

74

SCIURUS NIGRESCENS.— Bennett.

Dusky Squirrel.

PLATE OX VII.— Male.

S. Subniger, corpore griseo sparsiin vario, later ibus flavo-fuscescentibus,
cauda corpore inulto longiore.

CHARACTERS.

Prevailing colour dusky, slightly grizzled on the body with gray ; sides,
dusky yellow ; tail much longer than the body.

STNONTMES.

Sciurus Nigrescens. Bennett, Proceedings of the Zoological Society.

" " Bachman, Monog. Genus Sciurus, read before the Zool. Soc.j

August 14, 1838.

DESCRIPTION.

In size this species is nearly equal to the cat-squirrel {Sciurus cinereus).
Head, rather small ; ears, of moderate size, not tufted ; feet, robust ; tail,
very long, and less distichous than in other squirrels, it presenting in the
stuffed specimen a nearly cylindrical shape; ears and feet, clothed with
short hairs ; hairs of the body, short and close ; whiskers, about the length
of the head.

The prevailing colour on the back is grayish-black ; crown of the head,
and legs, grayish ; sides of the neck, upper parts of the thighs, and rump,
grizzled with pale yellow ; cheek, chin, throat, neck, breast, and whole of
the under surface, including the inside of the legs, dingy gray ; fore parts,
same colour as the back ; hairs of hinder parts of thighs, black ; hairs of
the tail, black at the roots, then gray, then broadly banded with black,
then broadly tipped with white ; feet, black.

The hairs on the toes are grizzled with white points ; whiskers, black ;
hairs on the back, plumbeous— black from the roots for two thirds of their
length, then gray, then black, and at the tips whitish-gray; there are
numerous strong black hairs interspersed over the body.

M?24

Plate cxyn

'

-

DUSK* SQUIRREL
DMBNE

Inches

Length from point of nose to root of tail,- - 12 4

" of tail to end of hair, 15 I

" of tarsus (claws included), ... - 2 7'

From tip of nose to ear, 2 2

Height of ear posteriorly,

The existence in North America of an unusual number of spi
Bquirrels has been made known to our subscribers in the course of this
publication. There are many closely allied, and many very beautiful

species among them: all are graceful and agile, and i ess very similar

habits.

The greal number of these nut-eating animals in North America would
be a proof (were anj Buch wanting) thai nature has been more bountiful to
our country in distributing nut-bearing trees over the whole extent of our
continent than to other parts of the globe, and this in connexion with the
fed thai so greal a proportion of wood-land cannol be found in any other
pari of the world of similar extent, marks America as intended 6
dense population hereafter. In Europe there is only one well determined
species of squirrel known, al presenl at least, although at
period there maj have been more.

In regard to the peculiar habits of the Dusky Squirrel, we have nothing
1 1 is one of the species which, being shol or procured by collectors

of objects of natural history, and senl to Europe, have there i a described

by naturalists who. having the advantages of museums which contain sj i-

mens from ovn-y par! of the globe, and the largest libraries in the world
also to which they can refer, may sometimes discover new species with
much less difficulty, bul also less certainty, than the student of nature must
encounter while seeking for knowledge in the woods.

Bu1 the naturalist who learns from books only, and describes from dried
skins, is al besl liable to mistakes. We have in feci always found that
where young animals, or accidental varieties, have been described as new

s\ ies, this has been the result >>\' study in the museum or cabinet, nol in

the Gelds.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This species, of which, so far as we know-, only one specimen <
an] museum or collection, is stated to have been procured in California.

7(J DUSKY SQUIRREL.

We have not received any positive accounts of its occurrence there, but
have no doubt it will be found, and its habits, as well as locality, deter-
mined ere long.

GENERAL REMARKS.

This Squirrel was described by Dr. Bachman from the original specimen
in the museum of the Zoological Society of London, in his Monograph of
the Genus Sciurus, published in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society,
and in the Magazine of Natural History, new series, 1839, p. 113 ; and our
figure was drawn from ttie same skin by J. W. Addubon.

1

S3

O

::

C E R V I S I. E l (' I R IS.— Douglas.

I >EER.

PLAT] CXVI] I.— m.mk.

C. Cervo Virginiano minor, capite atque dorso fulvis nigro miatis, malia
lateribusqae dilutioribus, gastraeo

< II \i: Iti

Smaller Dun, the Virginian deer; head and back,jiam-cobur, nua
black ; sides end cheeks, pakr, white l>< neath.

sraom mi 8.

e, Dobbs, Hudson's Bay, p. 11, Inn, 1744.

Fallow, or Virginias D , ]7T8

Long i u Umfreville, Hudson's Bay, p. 190, Aim. Kim.

Dbkd ui.ii Smm, Horns lnd L01 s08

1 onq rAiLED(f) Red Dei I ewia and Clark, vol. ii, p. 41.

Sm " ' DeRR 0 1.1. in, vol. ii. p. 342.

Jumping Deer. Hudson's Baj traders.

« in vreuil. ( lanadiai \

MowrroH. Indian- crest of the Rooky Mountains.

DESCRIPTION.

Form, eleganl ; lachrymal opening, apparently only a small fold in the
skin close to the eye ; limbs, slender ; hoofs, small and pointed ; tail, long
"iii.ni to the size of the animal. Fur. dense and long ; a pendulous
tufl of hairs on the belly between the thighs; the glandnlar openii
the outside of the hind leg, small and oval in shape, the reversed hairs
around ii differing von little in colour from the rest of the leg. Hair.
coarser than in the Virginian deer, and hoofs more delicate in shape.

Head and back, rufous, mixed with black ; sides and cheeks, paler ; ears,
above, duskj brown, inside edges, while; there is a small black spol
between the nostrils, and a white ring around the eyes. Chin and throat,

78 LONG-TAILED DEER.

yellowish-white ; tail, brownish-yellow above, inclining to rusty red near
the tip, and cream white underneath and at the tip ; neck, brownish-yellow
from the throat downwards ; under surface of the body, not so white as in
the Virginian deer.

DIMENSIONS.

Young male in the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

Feet. Inches.

From point of nose to root of tail, ... 4 2

Length' of head, 104

End of nose to eye, oh

Tail to end of hair, 1 14

Height of ear posteriorly, 5

Horns (two points about I of an inch long, invisible without
moving the surrounding hair).

Female presented by the Hudson's Bay Company to the museum of the
Zoological Society.

Feet. Inches.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - 5

" of head, 11

" of tail (including fur), - - - - 1 . 1

In its general appearance this Deer greatly resembles the European
roebuck, and seems to be formed for bounding along in the light and
graceful manner of that animal. The species has been considered of
doubtful authenticity, owing to the various lengths of tail exhibited by the
common deer, many specimens of which we collected near the Rocky
Mountains, not differing from C. Virginianu.t in any other particular,
but with long tails, and for some time we did not feel inclined to give it a
place in our work ; from which we have excluded a great many false
species, published by others from young animals or mere varieties, and
compared by us with specimens exhibiting all the markings and forms set
down as characters by the authors alluded to. At one time we examined
the tails of some common deer in Fulton market, New York, and found
that the longest exceeded nineteen inches, while the average length does
not go beyond nine. The different form of the light, springy animal
described by Mr. Douglas will, however, at once separate it from C. Vir-
ginianus on comparison.

Sir John "Ripharpson say?: "This animal, from the general resem-

LONG-TAILED DEER. 70

blance it 1ms in size, form, ami habits, to the Cervus capreohu of Europe,
has obtained the Dame of ChevreuU from the French Canadians, ami of
Roebucl from the Scottish Bighlanders employed by the Ends
Company. These names occur in the works of Beveral authors who have
written on the fur countries, and Omfbeville gives a brief, but, as far as
il goes, a correct description of it." "This species does not, on the east
Bide of the Rocky Mountain-, range farther north than latitude 5 1
it found in thai parallel to the eastward of the 105th degree of longitude."
Mr. Douglas speaks of it as "the most common deer of any in the
districts adjoining the river Columbia, more especially in the fertile
prairies of the Cowalidske and Multnomah rivers, within one hundred
miles of the Pacific Ocean. It is also occasionally mel with near the base
of the Rocky Mountains on tl of that ridge. Its favourite

haunts arc the coppices, Composed of Corylus, liuhiis. Rosa, ami . I/iirlanrkir,

on the declivities of the low hills or dry undulating grounds. [1

two ; 1 1 1 1 1 > 1 i 1 1 •_; Bteps ami a bound exc ling double the distance of the steps,

which mode it doe- not depart from even when closely pursued. In run-
ning, the tail is erect, wagging from side to side, and from it< unusual
length i- the mosl remarkable feature aboul the animal. The voice of the
male calling the female i- like the sound produced by blowing in the muzzle

Of a -nn or in a hollow Ci , The voi >f the female calling the young

is ma, mo-, pronounced shortly. This i- well imitated by the native tribes.
With a stem of II, nn I, inn huuilinn. Cu1 at a joint, li deS of a

tube: with this, aided by a head and horns of a full grOWD buck, which
the hunter carries with him as a decoy, and which he mo\ e- backwards

and forwards among tic long grass, alternately feigning the voice with the
tube, the unsuspecting animal i- attracted within a few yards in
of finding it- partner, when instantly springing up, the hunter plants an
arrov. in hi- object. The flesh i- excellent when in good order, and
remarkably tender and well flavoured." "They go in herd- from November
to April and May. when the female secretes herself to bring forth. The

young arc spotted with white until the middle of the tii-t winter, when

they change to the same colour as the most aged."

Lewis and Clark considered it the same animal a- the common deer,
with the exception of the length of the tail. They found it inhabiting
"the Rocky Mountain-, in the neighbourhood of the Chopunnish, and
about the Columbia, and down the river as low as where the tide-water
commences." These travellers in another passage observe that "the com-
mon l'alh.w Peer with Ion-- tails (our present species), though very poor,

are better than the black-tailed fallow deer of the coast, from which they

differ materially."

80 LONG-TAILED DEER.

We did not see any Deer of this species on our journey up the Missouri,
nor do we think it is to be found east of the Rocky Mountains. The
Virginian deer, on the contrary, disappears to the north and west, as
Richardson says he has not been able to discover the true Cervus Virgi-
nianus within the district to which the Fauna Boreali Americana refers.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

On the east side of the Rocky Mountains this species does not range
beyond lat. 54°, nor to the eastward of 105° longitude. Douglas states
that it is the most common Deer of any in the districts adjoining the
Columbia River, more especially in the fertile prairies of the Cowalidske
and Multnomah rivers within one hundred miles of the Paciiic Ocean. It
is also occasionally met with near the base of the Rocky Mountains on the
same side of that chain.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We have after some hesitation admitted this species, and as much has
been said (although but little learned) of the western Long-tailed Deer
since the days of Lewis and Clark, it is desirable that the species should
be carefully investigated.

We overlooked the specimen of the Long-tailed Deer in the Zoological
Museum, from which the description of Richardson was taken, and for a
long time we had no other knowledge of the species than the somewhat
loose description of it by Douglas, who, although an enthusiastic collector
of plants and something of a botanist, was possessed of a very imperfect
knowledge of birds or quadrupeds, and probably had never seen the Cervus
Virginianus, our Virginian Deer.

We have given what we consider an excellent figure by J. W. Audubon,
from the original specimen, and there is now in the Academy of Sciences
at Philadelphia a young male which was procured some years since by the
late Mr. J. K. Townsend on the Columbia River.

Bl

GENUS Q EOE V< || IS.— Illiokr.

m:\TU, FORMULA.

Incisive |; Canine ^j Molar ^=16>

This suv.> v-tm- in its dental formula i< similar to Arvicola; eyes, very
Bmall; ears rising Blightlj above the auditory opening ; thumb, conspicu-
ous ; nails 0,1 the I'M'' feel lilted for digging : tail, very Bhort.

Natives of cold climates, burrow in the earth, feed on seeds, roots, and

Ten species are admitted bj naturalists, two of which arc in Europe, four
in Asia, and four in America,

The generic name Georychus was given by Illigeb, from reu^x<>e,
digging the earth.

<; EORYCIIUS HUDSONIUS.— Forster.

Hi 0808*8 Bat Lemming.

PLATE C XIX. — Whiter and Simmer 1

(J. Auriculis nullis, maniculorum ongnibus duobus intermediis, maximis,
compressis, quasi duplicatis, per sulcum horizoutalem divisis ; colore in
sestate rufo-fusco, in hyeme albo.

CHARACTERS.

Earless : the two middle daws of the fore fed unusually larpc, compressed,
their blunt extremity being rendered double by a deep transverse notch. Colour
reddish-brown in summer, white in winter.

SYN0NTME8.

Mi a Hi dsohii s. Forati r, Phil. Trans., vol. lxii. p. 379.
Pallas, Glires, p. 'Jos.
Linn. Gmel. 187.
'< Rat. Pennant, Quadrupeds, vol. ii. p. 201.
" " " Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 132.

Uare-tailki> Mouse. Bearne's Journey, p. 887.
VOL. III.— 11

82 HUDSON'S BAY LEMMING.

Lemmcs Hudsonius. Captain Sabine, Parry's Supplement, First Voyage, p. 185.
Mr. Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 661.
" " Diet, de Sci. Naturelles, torn. viii. p. 5U6.

" " Harlan, Fauna, p. 546.

Arvicola Hudsokia. Rich., Parry's Second Voyage, Append., p. 308.
Arvicola (Georychts) Hudsonius — Hudson's Bay Lemming. Rich., F. B. A., 132.

Species 101?, British Museum.
Hudson's Bay Lemming. Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 73.

DESCRIPTION.

Size of a mole; body, thick and short : head, short and rounded ; nose,
very obtuse ; eyes, small ; no exterior ears ; legs, short and stout ; tail so
short as to be only slightly visible beyond the fur of the hips ; fur very
fine and long ; feet, clothed with long hairs ; lour toes on the fore feet,
with the rudiment of a thumb not armed with a nail : the two middle toes
are of equal length, and are each furnished with a disproportionately large
claw, which is compressed, deep, very blunt at the extremity, and is there
separated into two layers by a transverse furrow ; the outer and inner
toes have curved sharp-pointed claws ; the upper layer is thinner, the
lower one has a blunt rounded outline ; the latter has been described as an
enlargement of the callosity which exists beneath the roots of the (daws
of the Lemmings and meadow-mice. The hind feet have five toes armed
with slender curved claws.

In the females and young the subjacent production of the claws is less
conspicuous.

Winter specimen.

Whiskers, black ; the whole animal is white both on the upper and
under surfaces, with black hairs interspersed along the line of the back
and on the hips and sides, giving to those parts a grayish-brown tinge ;
tail, white.

Summer specimen.

Dark brown and black on the dorsal aspect ; dark brown predominates
on the crown of the head and dorsal line ; towards the sides the colour is

lighter ; on the under pails of cl ks, the chest, and about the ears, bright

nut colour prevails. The ventral aspect is grayish-white, more or less
tinged with rust colour ; the tail is brown in summer, and white in winter ;
although this species is distinctly white in winter, yet according to Hearne
the white colour never becomes so pure a9 that of the ermine.

HUDSON'S H\\ LEMMING 83

Length of head a

dimensions.

Inches. Linos.

- 5 4

head, - .... l 4

tail, 5

middle fore claw, ■li

Our only acquaintance with ■'" the old

•ml the Fauna Boreali A.mcricana, we having failed to meet with
rador. The first specimen we sa\i ofil was in the museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons nt Edii but rh. Our

specimens in the British Museum. Dr. Richardson did not meet with
this Lemming in the interior of America, and thinks it has hith<
found only near the
■■ lis habits are still impel ording to

it burrows under stones in drj ridges, and Captai
■ that in winter it resides in a nest of moss on the surface of the
road." — Fau p. 132.

Hi m;m states that this Httl
tamed that if taken even when full grown it will in a daj or two
fecth reconciled, very fond%of being handled, and will creep of its own
accord into it- master's neck or bo

3TRIBUTI0N.

pe< ies inhabits Labrador, Hudson's the coast from

nity of Melville peninsula, as well as the islands of
the Polar Beas visited by Captain P

\I REMARKS.

'I'll i ~ singular animal was originally described by Forster in the Philo-
Bophical Transactions. I'm las received a number of skins from I
one of which he sent to Pennant, who described it in his History of the
Quadrupeds and also in his Arctic Zoology. It was observed bj both
Parr's and Franklin, and was described by Richardson, a specimen
was preserved in the Museum du Roi at Pai ibed in the Diet.

aces, and there i- an excellent specimen in the British Museum.

s|

GEORYCHUS HE L VOLU S.— Rich.

Tatvnt Lemming.

PLATE CXX.— Fig. 1.

G. Pollice instructus, naso obtuso albido, capite fulvo nigroque vario,
corpore supra fulvo, infra pallidiore, magnitudine G. Norvegici.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the Lapland Lemming ; nose, blunt and light coloured ; head, tawny
black ; body, reddish-orange above, pakr beneath ; feet, furnished with thumbs.

SYNONYMES.

Arvicola (Lemmus) Helvoujs. Richardson, Zool. Jour., No. 12, p. 51V, 1828.
" (Geortchus?) Helvolus. Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 128.

DESCRIPTION.

•

Body, stout ; head, oval ; nose, short, blunt, and nearly on a line with
the incisors ; eyes, small ; ears, broad and not long — shorter than the fur,
and clothed with hair near the edges ; tail, very short, clothed with stiff
hairs, which are longest near the extremity, and converge to a point ;
claws of both extremities much alike, greatly compressed, and sharp
pointed ; the claws have an oblong narrow groove underneath.

The thumbs on the fore feet consist almost entirely of a thick, flat,
squarish nail, resembling that of the Norway Lemming, and have, as in
that species, an obliquely truncated summit ; in the Tawny Lemming,
however, this summit presents two obscure points.

The fur on the body is about nine lines long ; that on the nose and
extremities, very short.

Body, reddish-orange, interspersed on the back and sides with a number
of hairs longer than the fur, which are tipped with black ; on the upper
parts of the head, around the eyes, and on the nape of the neck, the black

TAWNY LEMMING. ,s;,

hairs are more numerous, ami the colour of those parts is mingled black

and orange. Nose, grayish-brown ; sides of the face, pale orang

gins of the upper lip, white ; tail, coloured like the body ; feet, brownish.

Length of head and body,

tail, -

head, -
Hind feel to end of claw,

Fore feel and daws, -

tnchri.

Line*.

4

6

7

1

6

8

41

Mr. Dbummond, who obtained this animal, procured no further infor-
mation in regard to its habits than that it was found in Alpine Bwamps.
It bears a strong resemblance to the Norway Lemming, and
presume dors not differ widely from that specie- in it< habits, which it is
said are migratory to a surprising extent, and about which some curious
Btories are related that we do not consider necessary to place in our work.

This Lemming i> one of those animals we have never Been except the
Stuffed Specimens. Our figure was drawn in London by •'. \Y. I
from the original skin procured by Mr. DruhXOND.

GEOGIUrniCAL DISTRIBUTION-.

This animal was found in lat. 56°, in mountainot
the northwest We have not heard of it< existence in any other locality.

hut have no doubl it lias a pretty extensive northern ranj

i.rxi'i: m, REMARKS.

The Lemmings have been arranged by authors. Crvn-.i:. Illigeb, and
others, under a distind subgenus — Georychus.

They are characterized chiefly DJ the shortness of the ears and tail, and

large strong (daws, remarkably well fitted for digging ; tins subgenus, how-
ever, so nearly approaches the Jlrvicola in some of its species that it is
difficult to decide in which genus they should really be placed.

si;

GEORY CHITS TRI MUC RON ATUS.— Rich.

Back's Lemming.

PLATE C XX .—Figs. 2 and 3.

G. Aiiriculis vellere brevioribus, naso obtuso nigro, palmis tctradactylis,
unguibus lanceolatis curvis, ungue pollicari lingulato, tricuspidato, corpore
supra saturate castaneo. latere ferrugineo, subtus cinereo.

CHARACTERS.

Ears, somewhat shorter than the fur ; nose, blunt and black ; four claws on
the fore feet of a lanceolate form, and a somewhat square thumb nail with three
small points at the end J body, dark chesnut above, reddish-orange or rust colour
on the sides, gray beneath.

8YX0NYMES.

Arvicola Trimucronatus. Rich, Parry's Second Voyage, Append., p. 309.

" (Georychus) Trimtjcronatcs. Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 130.

DESCRIPTION.

Iii size a little inferior to the Hudson's Bay Lemming, or nearly equal
to the Norwegian species ; head, flat and covered by moderately long fur ;
ears, shorter than the fur, inclined backwards, and but thinly clothed with
hair; eyes, small. Upper lip, deeply cleft; nose, obtuse, with a small
naked but not pointed or projecting tip ; whiskers, numerous ; inside of the
mouth, hairy, the hairs arising from projecting glandular folds ; upper inci-
sors, presenting a conspicuous but ^hallow groove with an obliquely
notched cutting edge ; there are three molar teeth on a side in each jaw.
Fore legs, short ; feet, moderately large, and turned outwards like those of
a turnspit.

The tail projects a few lines beyond the fur, and is clothed with stiff
hairs converging to a point : there are four toes on the fore feet, armed
with moderate sized strong nails curved downwards and inclining out-
wards ; they arc of an oblong form, convex above, not compressed, exca-
vated underneath more broadly than the nails of any of the other American
Lemmings, and have sharp edges fitted fur scraping away the earth ; the
thumb is almost entirely composed of a strong nail which has two slightly

■-

HACK'S I EMMING. s7

convex surfaces, a Bal outline, and a truncated extremity from which three
small points projeel : the palms are narrow ; the posterior extremities are
considerably longer than the fore legs and feet, the thighs and legs being
tolerably distinct from the body ; the sole is narrow, long, and somewhat
oblique, having il turned a little forward ; the t<>e- are longer,

and the claws as long lmt more Blender than those of the fore feet, and they
air much compressed.

In the Tawny Lemming the claws of both the fore and bind feet are
compm

leep black; whiskers, black at the roots, brownish or white at
the tip-, some entirely white ; incisors, yellowish ; head, back of the neck,
and shoulders, mixed reddish-gray, formed from the mingling of yellowish
and brown and black-tipped hairs; back, chesnul brown, with many of the
long hairs tipped with black; sides, reddish-orange; belly, chin, and
throat, gray, intermixed with many orange-coloured hairs.

The colouring of this animal very strongly resembles that of tin' Tawny
except thai its nose is deep black, whilst that organ in the latter
is pale.

Tail, dark In-own above, grayish-white below ; feet, dark yellowish-
)>row 11 above, w biter beneath.

DIMENSIONS

Male, killed at Fort Franklin.

lii of head and body, .".

tail. 6

head. 1 5

" ears. 4

" whiskers, 1 3

" fur on the back, 9

" palm and claw of middle toe, nearly - 6

" elaw of middle toe, - 2

Bole and middle claw of hind foot, - 9
Female 41 inches lone.

This Lemming was found in the spring season at Great Bear Lake, by
Sir John Franklin, burrowing under the thick mosses which cover a large

portion of the ground in high northern latitudes.

88 BACK'S LEMMING.

As soou as the surface of the ground had thawed, the little animal was
observed at work making his progress beneath, and actively engaged in
hunting for food.

In the winter it travels under the snow in semi-cylindrical furrows,
very neatly cut to the depth of two inches and a half in the mossy turf ;
these hollow ways intersect each other at various angles, but occasionally
run to a considerable distance in a straight direction ; from their smooth-
ness it was evident that they were not merely worn by the fe<jt, but
actually cut by the teeth ; their width is sufficient to allow the animal to
pass with facility.

The food of this Lemming seems to consist entirely of vegetable matters ;
it inhabits woody spots.

A female killed on Point Lake, June 26, 1821, contained six young,
fully formed, but destitute of hair.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This animal was discovered by Captain Back on the borders of Point
Lake, in latitude 65°, on Sir John Franklin's first expedition. Mr.
Edwards, the surgeon of the Fury, on Captain Parry's second expedition,
brought a specimen from Igloolik, in latitude 694° ; and specimens were
obtained on Sir John Franklin's second expedition, on the shores of
Great Bear Lake.

GENERAL REMARKS.

As we have been entirely unable to procure original information in
regard to the habits of the two previously noticed and the present species
of Lemming, we have largely quoted from the Fauna Boreali Americana,
Sir John Richardson's valuable work, from which also our descriptions
of these curious animals are chiefly taken, although we have transposed the
paragraphs in order to suit the general arrangement which we adopted for
this work.

No animals belonging to this genus were observed by us during our
researches through the country bordering on the shores of the upper
Missouri and Yellow Stone rivers in 1843, and the family is very probably
restricted to the neighbourhood of the Arctic Circle.

89

YT" LPES L \ <■ OPlS.-I.nv.

P I. \ T E CXXI.

V. Auriculas rotundatis brevibusque, margine inflexa ; collari post
gcnaa : colore in ©state fusco, in hyeme albo.

•undid, short, and folded ot ' eks with n ruff; colour,

in summer brown, in winter white.

BTNOB

. James's Voj age, Vnn. 1683.
Canib Lagopus. Linn., Syst, vol. i. p. 69.

Porster, Pfailos. Trans., l\ii. p. 870.
Fox. I '( i n.ini . vol. i. p. 42.

Hearne's J<

nt's Hist. Quadr., vol. i. ] ing individual

Canis I i' Sabine, Parry's First A - nt, 1st.

" " Mr. Sabine, Franklin's Journal, ;

Richardson, Pan ppendix, p. 299.

Earlan, Fauna Americana, p. 92.
Isatis, or Arctic Fox. Qodman's Nat lli-t.. vol. i. p -

Fox. Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 88.

IX. \lM.HHlll.

too. Esquimaux of Melville Peninsula.
Tki;h snot vk. Greenlanders.

( !ree Indians.
Teszi. Russians.

DESCRIPTION.

Male in winter pelage.

Bead, aol as much pointed as in other species of Fox ; ears, rounded, and
presenting somewhat the appearance of having been cropped ; hairs on the
ears, shorter than on the neighbouring parts.

The cheeks are ornamented by a projecting ruff which extends from
behind the ears quite around the lower part of the face, to which it gives
VOL. III.— 12

90 ARCTIC FOX.

a pleasing appearance ; legs, rather long than otherwise, and muscular ;
feet, armed with pretty strong, long, compressed, and slightly arched
claw- : soles of the feet, covered with dense woolly hair; body covered
with two kinds of hair, the longer thinly distributed and fine, the shorter
a remarkably fine straight wool or dense fur ; on the tail and lower parts
of the body the long hairs are similar to those on the body, and the wool
or fur like that of the finest wool of the merino sheep. The tail is thick,
round, and bushy, and shorter than that of the red Fox.

The shoulders and thighs are protected by long fur, but the anterior
parts of the legs are covered with short hair, the hind legs having the
shortest and smoothest coat.

In winter every part of this animal is white, except the tip of the nose
the nails and eyes. Eyes, hazle ; tip of nose, black ; nails, brownish.
The hairs of the animal are all white from the roots to the tips.

We have, however, seen specimens in which the colour was not pure
white, but rather a bluish or brownish-gray tint at the roots on the back
shoulders and outside of the thighs, but particularly on the neck and tail.
The proportion of the fur so coloured varies with the season of the year as
well as with different individuals of the species. Sometimes it is confined
to a small space at the roots of the hair, whilst in other cases the dingy
colour is so widely spread as to tarnish the customary whiteness of the
whole skin.

At almost all times the short hair clothing the posterior surface and
margin of the ears, is dark brownish-gray for half its length from the roots,
so as to give a bluish or brownish tinge to view when the hairs are blown
apart.

Summer pelage.

In the month of May, when the snow begins to disappear, the long white
hairs and fur fall off, and are replaced by shorter hair, which is more or
less coloured. A specimen killed at York factory on Hudson's Bay, in
August, is described by Mr. Sabine as follows : "The head and chin are
brown, having some fine white hairs scattered through the fur ; the ears
externally are coloured like the head ; within they are white ; a similar
brown colour extends along the back to the tail, and from the back is con-
tinued down the outside of all the legs ; the whole of the under parts, and
the insides of the legs, are dingy white. The tail is brownish above,
becoming winter at the end, and is entirely white beneath."

UtCTIC POX 91

rsiONB.

Specimen obtained on the northeastern portion of the American conti-
nent bj Captain Pettigru, and presented by him to the museum
nl the Charleston College.

Prom point of aose to root of tail, - 2 4

ih of tail (vertebrae), 1

•• (including fur). - 1 2

head, 6

From point of nose to eye,

Height of ear anteriorly, _

From heel to point of middle clavi . - - -

I nail mi the fore foot, - 1 '

hind foot, .... i

Average weight about eight pounds, varying, according to ■
"in seven i" nine ami a half pounds when i

Prom our description of the Arctic Pox, it will have been observed that
tins animal i- well adapted to endure the severest cold. In winti
air thicklj clothed with hair, even on tin- soles, which it- movei
the ice and snow do not wear away, as would be I trod upon

the naked earth. These softly and thicklj haired Boles serve the double
purpose of preserving its feet from tin' effects of frost and enabling it
to run briskly and without slipping over the smooth icv tracts it must
traverse.

Tin' Arctic Pos is a singular animal, presenting rather the ap
of a little Btumpy, round-eared our. than that of the s»har]
looking Foxes of other species which are found in more temperal
The character (for all animals have a character) and habits of this
arc in accordance with its appearance : it is comparatively unsuspicious
ami gentle, ami i- less snappish ami spiteful, even when first captured,
than an] other Fox with which we are acquainted.

At time a a varietj ■■! thi Fox, which has been called the

Soot] Fox, bul which is in all probability only thi any rate

is not a permanent variety, and which does not turn white in winter,
although the species genei ally 1

likewise that the white Arctic Foxes do not all assume a in-own tint in
the summer. RiCHARDSOU Bays that only a majority et these animals

92 ARCTIC FOX.

acquire the pure white dress even in winter ; many have a little duskiness
on the nose, and others, probably young individuals, remain more or less
coloured on the body all the year. On the other hand, a pure white Arctic
Fox is occasionally met with in the middle of summer, and forms the
variety named Kakkortak by the Greenlanders.

Mr. William Morton, ship's steward of the Advance, one of Mr. Henry
Grinnell's vessels sent in search of Sir Johx Franklin and his party,
although not a naturalist, has furnished us with some account of this
species. He informs us that whilst the vessels (the Advance and Rescue)
were in the ice, the men caught a good many Arctic Foxes in traps made
of old empty barrels set with bait on the ice : they caught the same indi-
viduals in the same trap several times, their hunger or their want of caution
leading them again into the barrel when only a short time released from
captivity.

They were kept on board the vessels fo/ some days, and afterwards let
Loose : they did not always appear very anxious to make their escape from
the -hip-, and those that had not been caught sometimes approached the
on the ice, where first one would appear, and after a while another,
that several were in the neighbourhood. They were occasionally
observed on the rocks and snow on tin.' land, but were not seen in packs
like wolves ; they do not take to the water or attempt to swim.

These Foxes when they sec a man do not appear to fie frightened : they
run a little way, and then sit down on their haunches like a dog, and face
the enemy before running off entirely. They are said to be good eating,
the crews of the vessels having feasted on them, and are fat all the winter.
They were occasionally seen following the polar bear to feed on his
leavings, seals, flesh of any kind, or fish.

Those they captured were easily tamed, seldom attempting to bite even
when first caught, and by wrapping a cloth around the hand some of them
could be taken out of the barrel and held, not offering more resistance
than a snap at the cloth.

Several beautiful skins of this animal were brought home by Dr. E. K.
Kane, the accomplished surgeon of the expedition, and have since been
presented by him to the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia.

Captain Lyon, during two winters passed on Melville peninsula, studied
with attention the manners of several of these animals. He says : " The
Arctic Fox is an extremely cleanly animal, being very careful not to dirt
those places in which he eats or sleeps. No unpleasant smell is to be per-
ceived even in a male, which is a remarkable circumstance. To come
unawares on one of these creatures is. in my opinion, impossible, for even
when in an apparently sound sleep they open their eyes at the slightest

uictic pox. 93

noise which is made near them, although they pay no attention to sounds
when ;it a short distance. The general time ofresl is during the daylight,
in which they appear listless and inactive; but the nighl no Booner sets in
than all their faculties are awakened; they commence their gambols, and
continue in unceasing and rapid motion until themorning. While hunting
for food, they are unite, bul when in captivity or irritated, they utter a
short growl like thai of a young puppy. It is a singular fact, tl
bark is so undulated as to give an idea thai the animal is at a distance,

although at the very moment lie lies at your feet.

" Although the rage of a newlj caughl Pox is quite ungovernable, yel it
very rarely happened that on two being put together they quarn \

confinemenl of a lew hour- often sufficed to quiet these
some instances occurred of their being perfectly tame, although timid, from

the firsl moment of their captivity. On the other hand, there were some

which, after months of coaxing, never became more tractable. These we

BUppOSe were old ones.

" Their tirst impulse on receiving food is to hide - possible,

even though suffering from hunger and having no fellow-prisoners of whose
honestj they are doubtful. In this case Bnow is of greal assist

l\ piled over their stores, and then forcibly pressed down by the
nose. I frequentlj observed mj Dog Pox, when no snovi was attainable,
gather his chain into hi> month, and in that manner carefully coil it 90 as
to hide the meat. On moving away, satisfied with Ins operations, he of
course had drawn it after him again, and Bometimes with greal patience
repeated his labours live or >i\ times, until in a passion he ha- i
strained to eat his food without it- having been rendered luscious by pre-
vious concealment. Snow is the substitute for water to these creatures.
and on a large lump being given to them they break it in pieces with their
feel and roll on it with greal delight. When the snow was slightlj scat
tered on the decks, they did not lick it up as dogs are accustomed to do.
bu1 by repeatedly pressing with their nose collected small lumps at its
extremity, ami then drew it into the mouth with the assistance of the
tongue."

Iii another passage, Captain Lyon, alluding to the above-mentioned
Dog-Pox, says : "He was small ami not perfectly white ; bul bis tameness
was mi remarkable that 1 could not bear to kill him. bul confined him on
deck in a small hutch, with a scope of chain. The little animal astonished
a- \ er\ much by his extraordinarj sagacity . for during the firsl daj . finding
himself much tormented by being drawn out repeatedly by his chain,

he at length, whenever he retreated to Ins hut. took this carefullj np

in his mouth, and drew it BO Complete)] after him that no One who

94 ARCTIC FOX.

valued his fingers would endeavour to take hold of the end attached to the
staple."

Richardson says that notwithstanding the degree of intelligence which
the anecdotes related by Captain Lyon show them to possess, they are
unlike the red Fox in being extremely unsuspicious ; and instances are
related of their standing by while the hunter is preparing the trap, and
running headlong into it the moment he retires a few paces. Captain
Lyon received fifteen from a single trap in four hours. The voice of the
Arctic Fox ie a kind of yelp, and when a man approaches their breeding
places they put their heads out of their burrows and bark at him, allowing
him to come so near that they may easily be shot.

They appear to have the power of decoying other animals within their
reach, by imitating their voices. "While tenting, we observed ;i l'<>.\
prowling on a hill side, and heard him for several hours afterwards in
different places, imitating the cry of a brentgoose." They feed on eggs,
young birds, blubber, and carrion of any kind ; but their principal food
seems to be lemmings of different species.

Richardson thinks the " brown variety," as he calls it, the more common
one in the neighbourhood of Behring's Straits. He states that they breed
on the sea coast, and chiefly within the Arctic circle, forming burrows in
sandy spots, not solitary like the red Fox, but in little villages, twenty or
thirty burrows being constructed adjoining to each other. He saw one of
these villages on Point Turnagain, in latitude 681°. Towards the middle
of winter, continues our author, they retire to the southward, evidently in
search of food, keeping as much as possible on the coast, and going much
farther to the southward in districts where the coast line is in the direction
of their march. Captain Parry relates that the Arctic Foxes, which were
previously numerous, began to retire from Melville peninsula in November,
and that by January few remained. " Towards the centre of the continent,
in latitude 65°, they are seen only in the winter, and then not in numbers ;
they are very scarce in latitude 61°, and at Carlton House, in latitude 53°,
only two were seen in forty years. On the coast of Hudson's Bay, however,
according to Hearne, they arrive at Churchill, in latitude 59°, about the
middle of October, and afterwards receive reinforcements from the north-
ward, until their numbers almost exceed credibility. Many an' captured
there by the hunters, and the greater part of the survivors cross the
Churchill river as soon as it is frozen over, and continue their journey along
the coast to Nelson and Severn rivers. In like manner they extend their
migrations along the whole Labrador coast to the gulf of St. Lawrence.
Most of those which travel far to the southward are destroyed by rapacious
animals ; and the few which survive to the spring breed in their new quar

ARCTIC pox 95

ters, inst o;i<l of returning to the north. The colonies they round are
however BOdn extirpated by their numerous enemies. A few breed at
Churchill, and some young ones are occasionally seen in the vicinity of
York factory. There arc from three tn fire young ones in a litter."
The trap in which tin' Arctic V<*\ is taken by the Esquimaux, is
by authors as simple : it consists of a little hut buill of -tone-,
with a square opening on the top, over which some blades of whalebone
are extended nearly across so a- to form an apparently secure footing,

although only fastened at one end, SO that when the animal COl

them t" get the bail they bend downward ami the I ated into

the hut below, which i- deep enough to prevent his jumping out I
especially because the whalebone immediately rises again to its
and the bait being fastened thereto, several Poxes maybe takei
sively. Other traps are arranged SO that a flat stone falls on the Pox when
he by pulling at the bail disengages the trigger. are also

caught in traps made of ice (in which wolves are taken at time- by the
Esquimaux). These trap- are thus described by Dr. Richabdbon, ami are
certainly composed of the last material we. dwellers in more favoured
land-, would think of for the purpose : - The Esquimaux wolf-tra]
of -tron-' Blabs of ice. long and narrow, bo that a Foa can with difficulty
turn himself in it. hut a wolf must actually remain in the position in which
he is taken. The door is a heavy portcullis of ice. sliding in two \\e||.
secured grooves of the same substance, and i> kept up by a line, which.
over the top of the trap, i- carried through a hole at the farthest
extremity: to the end of the line is fastened a small hoopofwh
and to this any kind of fiesh-bait is attached. From the slah which termi-
nates the trap, a projection of ice or a peg of wood or bone points inwards
near the bottom, and under this the hoop i- slightly 1 ked : the slightest

pull at the bait liberates it. the door falls in an in-tant. and the wolf(or

Fox) i- speared where he lie-."

laking of the Soo/i/ Fox, which is only a variety of the present

specie-. Dr. R.ICHABD30H Bays: "On on casion during our late

voyage round the northern extremity of America, after cooking our supper
on a sandj beach, we had retired to repose in the boats, anchored near the

shore, when two Soot] Poxes came to the spot where the tire hail hen
made, and carrying oil' all the scraps of meat that were left there, buried
them in the sand above high water mark. We observed that they hid
every piece in a -eparate place, and that they carried the largest pieces
farthest off."

ARCTIC FOX.

<;Kfi<;R \PIIirAL niSTEIRCTION.

Arctic Foxes have been seen as far north on the American continent as
man lias ever proceeded. They are numerous on the shores of Hudson's
Bay. north of Churchill, and exist also in Bhering's straits ; towards the
centre of the continent in latitude (35°, they are seen only in the winter,
and then not in numbers. They are very scarce in latitude 61°, and at
Carlton house in latitude 53°, only two were seen in forty years. On the
coast of Hudson's Bay, however, according to Heaene, they arrive at
Churchill, in latitude 59°, about the middle of October, and afterwards
receive reinforcements from the northward. On the eastern coast of
America they are found at Labrador, where they have been seen occa-
sionally in considerable numbers ; a few have been also observed in the
northern parts of Newfoundland, about latitude 52°.

On the eastern continent they are found in Siberia, and in all the Arctic

GENERAL REMARKS.

"We have had opportunities in the museums of London, Berlin, and more
particularly at Dresden, of comparing specimens of this animal from both
continents : we could not find the slightest difference, and have no hesitation
in pronouncing them one and the same species.

LUTRA CANADENSIS.— Sabine. Var

(Latamw Mollis. — (.i:v\

PLATE CXXII. Mm..

In our second volume (p. 12) we promised t<> give n figure of this variety
of the Canada otter, and in our remarks we noticed the publication
of varieties of that animal as distinct species, bj Grai I i
Waterhousb.

Mr. Gray, we presume, thoughl thai b larger and different
existed near Eudson's Bay, and named his specimen Lataxina Mollis, calling
the animal the Great Northern Otter.

The figure now before you was published, notwithstanding our doubts as
to the specific differences Mr. Graj think- are observable b< <
Otters of Hudson's Bay and those of Canada and the United States, for
the purpose of giving a correct drawing of the identical specimen named
and described by that gentleman, in order that it might be Been that it is
only a large variety of the common American Otter.

Besides giving a figure of Mr. Gray's Otter, we have examine
from very distant localities, having compared some taken near Montreal
with one Bhot on the Eackensack river. v everal killed in

South Carolina, one trapped in Texas, and one from California, and we
are of opinion that, although differing in Bize and colour, tl
these diffi species, viz. L. Canadensis, tb I

Otter.

Besides the variations observable in the colour of the Otter, the fur of
the more northern species is finer than in any of our southern specimens.

As already stated (vol. Li. p. 11) we have not had an opportunity of
comparing specimens from Brazil with ours, and the description given by
Ray of Lii/m BraziUensis is bo vague and unsatisfactory that we cannot

state with Confidence that his animal is identical with the North American

species. We Btrongly suspect, however, that it is. in which case Rat's
name, L. Brazitiensis, should l>e substituted for /.. Canadensis, to which we
would add as synonymes Lataxina Mollis of Grav, and bj

species by the same author, Lutra Cnlifornira.

We have nothing to add to the account of the habits of this animal given
in our second volume (see p. ,">).

VOL. III. — 13

98
GENUS APLODONTIA.— Rich.

DENTAL FORMULA.

Incisive % ; Canine ^ : Molar ~ = 22.

2 ' 0—0 - 4 — 4

Incisors, very strong, flatly convex anteriorly, without grooves, narrower
behind. Molars, simple, remarkably even on the crowns. The first in the
upper jaw, small, cylindrical, and pointed, is placed within the anterior
corner of the second one, and exists in the adult. The rest of the molars
are perfectly simple in their structure, without roots, and have slightly
concave crowns, which are merely bordered with enamel, without any
transverse ridges or eminences. On the exterior side of the four posterior
pairs of upper molars, and the inner side of all the lower ones, there is an
acute vertical ridge extending the whole length of the tooth, formed by a
sharp fold of enamel. When the molars are in situ, there is a wide semi-
circular furrow between each pair of ridges, formed by the two adjoining
teeth ; the side of each tooth opposite the ridge is convexly semicircular.
The second grinder in the upper jaw, and the first in the lower one, are a
little larger than the more posterior ones, and the former has a projection
of enamel at its anterior corner, producing a second though smaller vertical
ridge, within which the first small molar is situated leaning towards it.
There is a slight furrow on the exterior sides of the lower molars, most
conspicuous in the first one.

Palate, narrow, bounded by perfectly parallel and straight rows of
molars.

Head, flat and broad ; nose, a little arched, thick, and obtuse. Lower
jaw, thick and strong, with a large triangular process, concave behind,
projecting at its posterior inferior angle further out than the zygomatic
arch. The transverse diameter of the articulating surface of the condyle
is greater than the longitudinal one. The jaw is altogether stronger than
is usual in the Rodentia.

Cheek-pouches, none ; eyes, very small ; ears, short and rounded,
approaching in form to the human ear, and thickly clothed with fur like
that of a muskrat, but not so long or fine. Limbs, robust, short ; feet,
moderately long, with naked soles ; five toes on all the feet, rather short
but well separated ; the thumb of the fore feet is considerably shorter than
the other toes ; claws, particularly the fore ones, very long, strong, much
compressed, and but little curved.

fj

^

V

vi

THE SEWELLEL. ;1<»

Tail, very short, concealed by the fur of the hips, mamma; six, the
anterior pair situated between the fore legs.

Habits. — Form small societies, feeding on vegetable -
living in burrows. — Richard:

There is only one species belonging to this genns known :n present.

The name aplodontia is derived from wrX«c, aploos, simple, and °(5ouj, odous,
a tooth.

APLODONTIA LEPOR 1 N I.— Rich.

H ELLEL.

PLATE C X X 1 1 [.—Male.— Natural Bin.

A. Fuscescens, magnitudine Leporis Sylvatici, corpore brevi robusto,
capite magno, canda brevissima.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the gray rabbit (Lepus Sylvaticus). Body, thort and tin,
t'lil, very short. Colour, brownish.

>\ NoNYMES.

Sewellel. Lewis and Clark, vol. iii. p. 89.
Arctomts Bufa, Harlan, Fauna, p. 308,

" " Griffith, Cuv. Animal Kingdom, vol. v. p. 245, species 636.

Aplodontia Lepokina. Rich, Zool. Jour., No. 15, p. 335. January, 1829.

" ' 1 1 i.el. Rich, Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 211, pi.

18 c, figs. V-l 4, cranium, <fcc.

dbsi an

Body, short, thick, and heavy, nearl] reaching the ground ; l(
head, large; nose, thick and blunt, densely covered with hair to the

nostrils, which arc small and separated by a narrow furrowed septum
concealed by the hair.

Mouth, rather small : incisors, large and strong : lips, thick, am
with rigid hairs ; a brush of white hair projects into the mouth from the
upper lip near its union with the lower our : whiskers. Btrong, and longer
than the head ; a few Btiff hairs over the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the
outer sides of the fore-legs : (he eye is very small : the external ear rises

100 THE SEWELLEL.

rather far back, and is short and rounded ; it rises about four lines above
the auditory opening, has a small fold of the anterior part of its base
inwards, together with a narrow thick margin, representing a lobe. There
are also folds and eminences in the cavity of the auricle ; the car is clothed
on the outer surface with short and fine hairs, and on the inner, with
hairs a little longer ; tail, short, slender, and cylindrical, and almost
concealed by the hair of the rump ; legs, covered down to the wrists and
heels with short fur ; feet, shaped like those of the marmots ; palms and
under surfaces of the fore feet, naked ; there are three small callous
eminences at the roots of the toes, disposed as in the marmots, one of them
being common to the two middle toes, one proper to the third toe, and the
other to the little toe.

At the root of the thumb there is a large prominent callosity, and on the
opposite side of the palm another one nearly the same size ; the thumb is
of sufficient length to be used in grasping, and is terminated by a smooth
rounded nail ; claws, large and very much compressed, slightly arched
above, and nearly straight below ; hind feet, more slender than the fore
feet, and their claws one half smaller, rather more arched, and less com-
pressed ; soles, longer than the palms, and naked to the heel ; they are
furnished with four callous eminences situated at the roots of the toes, and
two placed farther back, all more conspicuous than those on the hind feet
of the spermophiles of America.

The hair is soft, and somewhat resembles the finer fur of the muskrat ;
the under fur is soft, tolerably dense, and about half an inch long ; the
longer hairs are not sufficiently numerous to conceal the under fur. The
hair on the feet only reaches to the roots of the claws, which are naked.

A specimen of a young Sewellel brought by Douglas and examined by
Richardson, in which the dentition was the same as in the adult, exhibited
a new set of molar teeth, which had destroyed the greater part of the sub-
stance of the old teeth, leaving merely a long process before and another
behind in each socket, resembling fangs.

Incisors, yellow ; claws, horn colour ; general hue of the back, brownish,
the long scattered hairs being tipped with black ; belly, grayish, with
many of the long hairs tipped with white ; nose, nearly the colour of the
back ; lips, whitish ; in some specimens there is a spot of pure white on the
throat.

The hairs on the back, when blown aside, exhibit a grayish colour from
the roots to the tips, which are brown.

THE SEWELLEL 1Q1

DIMENSIONS.

Inrhrn. I.inr*

Length of head and body, 14

tail, 6

Wrist joint to end of middle claw, .... 1 9

Middle claw, 6

Length of head, 3 4

Lewis and Clark, who discovered this species during their journey
across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, give us the following account
of it :

"Sewellel is a name given by the native- to a small animal found in the
timbered country on this coast. It is more abundant in the neighbourhood

Of the greal Tails and rapids of the Columbia than on the coast. The
natives make great use of the skin- of this animal in forming their robes,
which they dress with the fur on. ami attach them together with 11
of the elk or deer. The skin when dressed is from fourteen to eighteen

inches long, and from seven to nine in width : the tail is always separated

from the >kin by the natives when making their rol

"This animal mounts a tree, and burrows in the ground, pre, isely like a
squirrel. The ears are short, thin, and pointed, and covered with a fine
ghorl hair, of a uniform reddish-brown ; the bottom or the base of the long

hair-, which 6XC I the fur lull little in length, as well as the fur itself, are

of a dark colour next to the skin for two thirds of the length of this
animal : the fur and hair are very line, short, thickly set. and silky : the
ends of the fur ami tip of the hair are of a reddish-brown, ami that colour
predominates in the usual appearance of the animal. Captain Lewis
offered considerable rewards to the Indians, but was never aide to procure
one of these animals alive."

Mr Dougi vs gave Dr. Richabdsom an Indian blanket or robe, formed

by BOWing the skins of the Sewellel together. This robe contained twenty-
seven skins, -elected when the fur was in tine order. They are described
bj Dr. RiCHAEDSOM a- all having tin' long hair.- so numerous a- to hide
the wool or down at their roots, and their points have a very inch lustre.
The doctor appears to think there were skins of two Bpecies of Sewellel in
this robe. We did not hear of this animal ever being found to fchi
the Rocky Mountains. Our figure was drawn from a line spei
London.

We are inclined to think from the form of the Sewellel that it 1-

102 THE SEWELLEL.

digger ; but Lewis' account of its mounting a tree seems to us to require
some modification ; the Maryland marmot, to which it is somewhat allied
in form and in the shape of its claws, when hard pressed will mount a tree
for a little distance to avoid the pursuit of a dog, but is very awkward and
soon descends ; we presume the climbing properties of the Sewellel can
scarcely be greater than those of the marmot.

From the number of mammas exhibited in the female, we conclude that
it produces five or six young at a time, and from the nature of the animal,
these are probably brought forth, like those of the marmots, in nests within
their burrows.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This singular species has been observed on the western slopes of the
Rocky Mountains, in the valleys and plains of the Columbia, at Nisqually,
and at Puget's sound, where it is said to be a common animal. It has also
been procured in California.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The history of this species, of which, however, little is known, is some-
what curious. Lewis and Clark appear to have been the only individuals
who gave any notice of it until a very recent period, when Douglas pro-
cured a specimen, and Richardson gave a scientific account of the animal.
The account Lewis and Clark gave dates back to 1804, and we have given
the whole of their article above ; these travellers, however, brought no
specimens. After the journal of their adventurous expedition was pub-
lished, Rafinesque ventured to give to the Sewellel" the name of Jlnysonix
Rufa, Harlan named it Arctomys Rufa, and Griffith introduced it into
the animal kingdom under the same name ; in 1829, Richardson obtained
a specimen, and the Sewellel was now for the first time examined by a
naturalist. Believing that no one who had not seen or examined a species
had a right to bestow a specific name, Richardson rejected both the generic
and specific names of previous writers, established for it a new genus, and
gave it the name it now bears, and which it will doubtless preserve in our
systems of Zoology.

There are two specimens of this animal in the Patent Office at Wash-
ington city, which were procured by the Exploring Expedition under
command of Captain Wilkes. We were recently politely refused permis-
sion to take them out of the glass case (in which they have for some time
past remained) to examine their fur and measure them. We will not take

THE SEW ELLEL jo;j

the trouble to make any further remarks on tliis Bubject, as we have in a
note at page 211 of our second volume mentioned the obstructions thrown
in our way by the directors of tin' National Institute at Washington, the
officers in charge of the collection informing us thai by high authority the
specimens were " tabooed."

104

PUTORIUS NIGRESCENS.— Aud. and Bach

Mountain-Brook Mink.

PLATE CXXIV (8vo. Ed.).— Male.

P. Saturate fuscus, corpore minore quam in P. Visone, pedibus minu3
profunde palmatis, auriculis amplioribus et longioribus, vellere molliore et
nitidiore quam in isto, dentibus longioribus in maxilla inferiore quam in
superiore.

CHARACTERS.

Smaller than P. Vison ; teeth in the under jaw larger than the corresponding
teeth in the upper jaw ; feet, less deeply palmated than in P. Vison ; ears,
broader and longer ; fur, softer and more glossy. Colour, dark brownish-black.

SYNONYME.

Mountain-Mink, of hunters.

DESCRIPTION.

In form, in dentition, and in the shape of the feet, this species bears a
strong resemblance to a stout weasel ; the head is broad and depressed,
and shorter and more blunt than the head of Putorius Vison.

Ears, large, oval, and slightly acute, covered on both surfaces with short
fur ; legs, rather short and stout ; feet, small, and less webbed than in P.
Vison. The callosities under the toes are more prominent than in that
species, and the palms scarcely half as long. "Whiskers, very numerous,
springing from the sides of the face near the nose ; the body is covered
with two kinds of hair, the under fur soft, and the long sparsely distributed
hairs, coarse but smooth and glossy.

The toes are covered with short hairs almost concealing the nails, and
the hairs between the toes leave only the tubercles or callosities on the
under side of them visible.

Fur, blackish-brown from the roots to the tips ; whiskers and ears,
blackish-brown ; a patch on the chin, white ; under surface of body, a

^

MOUNTAIN-BROOK MINK t ,,;,

shade lighter and redder than on the back ; tail, blackish-brown, except
towards the tip, where it is black.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Line*.

Length of head and body, 11

tail (to end of hair), 7

" " (vertebrae), 6

" palms of fore feet, 1

From tarsns to end of nail on hind foot, 2 2

Height of ear externally, 6

For convenient comparison we add the measurements of throe common
minks (P. Vison) killed in Carolina. One was very old and his teeth were
much worn ; the Other two were about eight months.

P. Vison, three specimens.

Inches Inrh«». Inch?*

Lengths of body and head, respectively, - - 20 17 19

tail, - 8 6 7

" palms of fore feet, 2

" tarsus to longest nail, ... 8

We were familiar with the manners and ways of this smaller mink in
early life, and have frequently caught it in trap:- on the banks of a brook
to which we resorted for the purpose of angling, and which in those days
actually abounded with trout as well as with sucker- and perch. On
this sparkling stream, where we passed many an hour, the little black mink
was the only species we observed. We found a nest of the animal under
the roots of a large tree, where the young were broughl forth, and we
frequently noticed the old ones with fish in their mouths.

This species swim and dive swiftly and with apparent ease, but we most,
generally haw them on the ground, hunting as they Btole along the \\ inding
banks oi' the stream, and following it high up into the hills towards its
\ cry source.

W( remember seeing the young in the nest on two occasions; in each
case the nest contained four.

In earlj spring we have traced this -;.. •, ii - oj Mink into the meadows,

where it had been busilj engaged in capturing the common meadow-mouse
(.•/. Pennsy/wmtea), whilst the .-now wai ye\ on (hi ground.

vol . tit. — 14

106 MOUNTAIN-BROOK MINK.

Having one day detected one of these little Minks in an outhouse, closing
the door immediately we captured it without its making any attempt either
to get away or to defend itself. The frightened little marauder was pro-
bably conscious that it was in a prison from which there was no possible
chance of escape.

The large species (P. Vison) appears to be more plentiful than the Moun-
tain-brook Mink, and is found about mill-ponds and large rivers quite as
frequently as on the borders of small streams.

The Mountain-brook Mink is quite as destructive to young poultry and
to all the tenants of the farm-yard, when it happens to approach the
precincts in which they may be thought to be safely ranging, as the larger
species, or even the weasel.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

We have observed this species in the mountains of the Stale of Pennsyl-
vania, as well as in the northern part of the State of New York, in
Vermont, and in Canada, but have not met with nor heard of it in Virginia
or any of the Southern States, and consequently are inclined to regard it
as a northern species.

It was not seen by us on the Missouri river, although it probably exists
some distance to the west, in the latitude of the great lakes.

GENERAL REMARKS.

In our article on the common Mink (Putorius Vison, vol. i. p. 252) we
referred to this smaller animal, but could not then find characters sufficient
to separate the species.

Since that time, however, we have had abundant opportunities of com-
paring many specimens. We have seen some with their teeth much worn,
and females which from the appearance of the teats had evidently suckled
their young. They were all of the size and colour of the specimen above
described, and we can no longer doubt that the latter is a distinct species
from P. Vison.

The comparison in fact is not required to be made between these species,
but between the present species and P. lutreola of Europe. We enjoyed
opportunities of comparing P. Vison (the common and well known Mink)
with the latter species in the museums of Berlin, Dresden, and London ;
but we had no opportunity of placing this little species by the side of the
European.

We are inclined to believe, however, that the distinctive marks will be

\hii NTAIN-BROOK MINK 107

found in the small rounded feet and short tarsus of our present m
its longer and rather more pointed ears, its shorter head, and longer lower
incisors, together with a more general resemblance to our common weasel
(P. er mi nca) in summer pelage.

108

SOREX PALUSTRIS.— Rich.

American Marsh Shrew.

PLATE C XX V.— Males.

S. Mure musculo longior, cauda corporis fere longitudine, auriculis
brevibus, pilosis, vellere absconditis, dorso canescente-nigro, ventro cinereo.

CHARACTERS.

Rather larger than the house mouse ; tail, nearly as long as the body J short
hairy ears, concealed by the fur ; back, somewhat hoary black; belly, ash
colour.

SYNONYMES.

Sorex Paldstris. Rich., Zool. Jour., No. 12, April, 1828.

" " " American Marsh Shrew. F. B. A.J p. 5.

DESCRIPTION.

Dental Formula. — Incisive ^ ; Canine ^ > Molar ^ = 30.

The two posterior lateral incisors are smaller than the two anterior ones
on the same side, and the latter are a little longer than the posterior lobes
of the intermediary incisors ; all the lateral incisors have small lobes on
their inner sides. Muzzle, tolerably long, and pointed ; upper lip, bordered
with rigid hairs ; tips of posterior hairs reaching beyond the ears ; the
extremity of the muzzle, naked and bi-lobed ; eyes, small but visible ; ear,
short and concealed by the fur, its margins folded in ; a heart-shaped lobe
covering the auditory opening, and a transverse fold above it. The upper
margins of the ears are clothed with thick tufts of fur. Tail rounded, and
covered with hair, terminated by a small pencil of hair at the tip ; feet,
clothed with rather short adpressed hairs, the hairs on the sides of the toes
being arranged somewhat indistinctly in a parallel manner. The fur
resembles that of the mole in softness, closeness, and lustre.

The tips of the teeth have a shining chesnut-brown tint ; the body is
black above, with a slight hoary appearance when turned to the light ; on

x^

AMERICAN MARSH SHREW |()9

the ventral aspect ash coloured ; al the roots the hair is bluish-gray ; the
outside of the thighs and upper Burface of the tail correspond in colour
with the back ; under surface of the tail, insides of thighs, and belly,
white ; feet, paler than the back.

Inches. Linei

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - - 3 6

of tail, _ 7

of head, 1 '2

" from nose to eye, 7

Length of hind foot from heel to end of nails, - - 9

ibits of all Shrews (except those of tin' kind described '
bpb lbe) musl necessai ily l>o little know n. These animals are so minute in
the scale of quadrupeds thai they will always be overlooked, unit
after with great zeal, and even then it is oft. mi difficult to meet with or
procure them. It may be Baid that it is only by chance t!
ami taken now and then, even where they are known to i
not seen more than five or six alive during Beveral years, although dead
ones have been found by as more frequently, and upon our occasion we
found two that appeared to have recently died, lyii
No wonder, then, that they may escape the observation of the mos
vering student of nature, as their instinctive caution would, b]
them either to tl\ to some little hide or tuft of grass, or to remain still,
when danger was near, render their discovery more than doubtful ; or, if
sem.il would be onlj for a moment. Not the least singular circumstance
connected with the family of Shrews is the facl that they can exist in
extremely cold climates, ami move about in winter, when the snov
the ground. In his article on Sorex palustris I>r. Richardson says it
'most probably lives in the summer on similar food with theWal
but 1 am al a loss to imagine how it procures a subsistence during the six
months of the year in which the countries it inhabits are covered with
snow. It frequents borders of lakes, and Hbabne tells us thai it often
takes up its abode in beaver houses."

We might easily make some probable speculations a- to the manners and
customs of the present species, bu1 prefer not doing so farther than to say

that it very likely \'rrd> on Beeds, insects, and on the carcases of any small

HO AMERICAN MARSH SHREW.

birds or other animals it finds dead in the fields, that in winter it has a
store of provision laid by, only coming to the snow-covered surface on
fine days for the purpose of getting a little fresh air, and that from the
number of tracks sometimes seen at one place we consider it partly grega-
rious in its habits.

Our drawing was made from a specimen in the British Museum at London.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The American Marsh Shrew, according to the writers who have seen it,
exists in the northern parts of our continent from Hudson's Bay to the
Coppermine river.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We are not aware that any author has referred to this animal, except
Dr. Richardson ; the specimen from which our drawing was made was
the original one from which Dr. Richardson described, and we believe
this species has never been hitherto figured.

Ill

GENUS RANGIFER.— Hamilton Smith.

DISTAL FORMULA.

Incisive "; Canine 5^ ; Molar ^ = 34.

• irregularly palmated, bifurcated, and rather lone ;
canine teeth in both sexes ; muzzle, small.

According to ou Apinion, two species of this genus exisl — one in the old
world (Rangifer tarandus), commonly called the Lapland Reindeer, and the
Caribou {Rangifer caribou) ami its varieties, the Reindeer of the American
continent. Should, however, the varieties of the Reindeer Found in different
parts of the Antic circle on both continents form one Bpecies only, then
oe species in the genus known at pn

Fossil remain- of a Reindeer of small Bize have been found near Etampes
in Prance.

The generic name, Rangifer, is nol of Latin origin, bul !ia< been formed
from the old French term Rangier or Ranger, a Reindeer, probably through
the later Rangifhre. .

R \ \ (. I FE R C \ RIBOU.

CaMI IB Kl 1N-DEER.

PLATE CXXVI. Malm. Fig. 1.— Summer Pelage. Fig. 2.— Winter

R. Magnitudine fere Elaphi Canadensis; in testate saturate I
hyeme cinereus; vitta alba supra ungulas.

. BIAS -

JVearfy the size of tk* • (Elaphus Canadensis) ; colour, deep

brown in summer, grayish-ash in winter, n white fringe abow the hoofs.

BTN0NTMK8.

\ 1 b. Linn., Bectio Rangiferini.
Cariboi. 01 U - 3 I !u...!al. t'anaua, p. 7.51, Ann. 1636.

La Hontnn, t, i. p. 7 7. Ann. :
" Charlevoix, Nouv. France, torn, v. p. 190.

112 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

Reindeer, or Raindeer, Drage, Voy., vol. i. p. 25.

" Dobbs' Hudson's Bay, pp. 19, 22.

" Pennant's Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 22.

" Cartwright's Labrador, pp. 91, 112, 133.

" Franklin's First Voyage, pp. 240, 245.

Cervus Tarandus. Harlan, Fauna, p. 232.

" Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 283.

" " — Reindeer or Caribou, Rich., F. B. A., p. 238.

Rangifer Taranihs — Reindeer. DeKay, Nat. Hist. State of New York, p. 121.
Attehk. Cree Indians.
Etthin. Chippewyan Indians.
Tooktoo. Esquimaux.
Ti-kta. Greenlanders.
Carre-bcelf, or Caribou. French Canadians.

DESCRIPTION.

Young, about two years and a half old.

Larger and less graceful than the common American deer ; body, stout
and heavy ; neck, short ; hoofs, thin, flattened, broad and spreading, exca-
vated or concave beneath ; accessory hoofs, large but thin ; legs, stout ;
no glandular opening and scarcely a perceptible inner tuft on the hind
legs ; nose, somewhat fee that of a cow, but fully covered with soft hairs
of moderate length ; no beard, but on the under side of the neck a line of
hairs about four inches in length which hang down in a longitudinal direc-
tion. Ears, small, short, and ovate, thickly clothed with hair on both
surfaces ; horns, one foot three and a half inches in height, slender (one
with two, and the other with one, prong) ; prongs, about five inches long.

Hair, soft and woolly underneath, the longer hairs like those of the
antelope, crimped or waved, and about one to one and a half inches long.

At the roots the hairs are whitish, then become brownish-gray, and at
the tips are light dun gray, whiter on the neck than elsewhere ; nose, ears,
outer surface of legs, and shoulder, brownish ; a slight shade of the same
tint behind the fore legs.

Hoofs, black ; neck and throat, dull white ; a faint whitish patch on the
sides of the shoulders ; forehead, brownish-white ; belly, white ; tail, white,
with a slight shade of brown at the root and on the whole upper surface ;
outside of legs, brown ; a band of white around all the legs adjoining the
hoofs, and extending to the small secondary hoofs ; horns, yellowish-brown,
worn whiter in places.

i

CARIBOU OB AMERICAN REINDEER, U3

Then' is a small patch of brown, faintly defined, around and behind the

Descripti f the horns ol men.

The two main antlers are Furnished with irregular and sharp points, and
emity is pointed ; some of these points are from six to ei^ht inches
long, but mosl of them are quite short : width between the horn- on the
skull, eight inches ; width of horns at the root, two inch.'- and three
quarters ; depth, one inch and three quarters ; length of main horn,
following the curve, three feet ; there is a palmated brow antler with four
points, mi one side, inclining downwards and inwards; on the opposite
horn there are two points, but the antler is not palmated : immediately

above the brow antlers there i< a branch or prong on each horn about

inches in length, terminating in three points ; these prongs incline

forward and inward. About half the length of the horn from the skull

there i- another prong on each about two inches long ; bej ond tie -

each horn continue- about the Bame thickness, s|>r<';hliiiLr outwards slightly

to within a few inches of its extremity, where one diverges into fivi

and the oiler into -i\. The horn- are but slightly channelled : they are

dark yellow. Between tin1 tips, w here thej approach each other, the horns

are two feet apart, and at their greatest width two feet eight inches.

The female Caribou has horns a- well as the male, but they are smaller.

DIMKN-
Young — about two and a half years old.

F«et. Inrhei.

Length from nose to root of tail, ■

of tail (vertebra-). 4

" (including hair), <>i

Eeight of shoulder, 3 6

Width between the i'\es. M

i point of nose to lower can thus of eye, - - 9

to ear. 1 2

Height of ear posteriorly, 5

The Caribou, or American Reindeer, is one of the most important

animals of the northern parts of America, and is almost as graceful in form

as the elk [Elaphus Canadensis), to which it is nearly equal in size ; but it

has never, we believe, been domesticated or trained to draw sledges in the

vol. n

114 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

of the Reindeer of the old world, although so nearly allied to that
species that it has been by most authors considered identical with it.

Whilst separating the Caribou found in Maine and the States bordering
on the St. Lawrence, and in Canada, Labrador, Sec. from the Reindeer of
Europe, we are inclined to think that the Reindeer found within the polar
circle may be the European species, domiciled in that part of America, and
that they sometimes migrate farther south than even Hudson's Bay. Sir
John Richardson says the Reindeer or Caribou of North America " have
indeed so great a general resemblance in appearance and manners to the
Lapland Deer that they have always been considered to be the same
species, without the fact having ever been completely established.'' — Fauna
Boreali Americana, p. 238.

The greater size and weight of the Caribou found in Canada seem to
have surprised Sir John, but while he says in a note (p. 239), that " Mr.
Henry, when he mentions Caribou that weigh four hundred pounds, must
have some other species of Deer in view," he has not done more than point
nut two varieties of Reindeer beside the one he considered identical with
Vermis tarandus the European Reindeer, and to neither of these varieties
can we with certainty refer the Caribou, our present animal. In the
Fauna Boreali Americana (p. 241) one of these varieties — C. tarandus, oar.
A. Arctica, Barren-ground Caribou — is said to be so small that the bucks
only weigh from ninety to one hundred and thirty pounds, exclusive of the
offal, when in good condition ; the other variety — C. tarandus, var. B.
sylvestris, Woodland Caribou (idem, p. 250) — is much larger than the
Barren-ground Caribou, has smaller horns, and even when in good con-
dition is vastly inferior as an article of food."

Leaving these supposed varieties where we found them — in doubt — we
will proceed with an account of the habits of the Caribou detailed to us
by Mr. John Martyn, Jr., of Quebec :

This species, that gentleman informed us, is not abundant near Quebec ;
it is mostly found in the swamps, wherever these are well supplied with
moss-covered dead trees and bushes ; the moss the animals prefer is a long
and black species, and forms their chief subsistence during the winter
months ; but towards spring these animals remove to the sides of the hills
or mountains, and even ascend to their summits occasionally, feeding on
the newly swollen buds of different shrubs. Like the moose deer they shed
their antlers about this period, and renew them in the summer months.

The Caribou is famous for its swiftness, and has various gaits, walking
trotting or galloping alike gracefully and rapidly. By many people these
animals are in fact thought to be much fleeter animals than the moose, and
they are said to take most extraordinary leaps.

< ARIBOU OR AMERICAN KKINDEER. ] | ;,

When pursued the Caribou immediately makes for a swamp and follows
_-in. taking al times to the water and again footing it over the firm
ground, and Bometimes turning towards the nearest mountain cros

U' hard pressed by the hunters (who no^i ! nd then follow
up the chase for four or Sve days) the animal ascends to the loftiest peaks
of the mountains for nrity. and the pursuit beco

fatiguing and uncertain. Opon one occasion two men followi

for a whole week, when, completely tired out th
chase, \\ hich was then continued bj two other hunters w ho a1 last
in killing a couple of the animals al I

tracks are found and the Caribou is surprised whilst lying down or
brow -in--, and shot on the Bpot. When the snow is not deep and the lakes
:uv covered with ice only, the animal it' closely pushed makes I
them and runs over the ice bo last that it is unable to stop if struck with
alarm at any object presenting itself in front, and it then suddenly squats
down on it- haunches and slides along in that ludicrous position until, the
impetus being exhausted, it rises again and makes off in some other d
( laribou takes to the ice the hunti

Sometimes when the mouth and throal of a fresh killed Eteiw
examined thej are found to be filled with a blackish looki
bling thin mud, but which appears to be onlj a portion of the partially
decomposed black mosses upon which it Fei into the

throal ami mouth of the animal in its <U in

We were informed that two wood-choppers, whilst felling tn
distance from any settlement, Baw a Caribon fawn approaching them which
gentle that it allowed them to catch it. and one of the men took it
up in his arm-: but suddenly the dam also made her appearance, and the
men dropping the young our made after her in hopes of killing her with
their axes. This objeel was of course soon abandoned, as a few bounds
took die animal out of sight, and to their mortification they found that the
fawn had escaped also during their short absence, and although tl
diligent search for it, could uol again be - the full

iribou appears to take bu1 little heed of man. — A \
■ \> woody lull on a road towards a lake -aw Beveral of them,
which only turned aside far enough to let him pass, after which they came
back to tlio road and proceeded at a slow pace up the hill. At another
place a lad driving a cart was surprised to see five of the8e animals come

into the road just before him. making a great noise through the w Is.

- they got into the road they walked along quite leisurely, and
on his cracking his whip only trotted a few paces and then resumed their
walking.

11(5 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

When overtaken by dogs in chase, the Caribou stand at bay and -how
fight, and when thus brought to a stand will nut pay much attention to the
hunter, so that he can approach and shoot them with ease.

During our expeditions in Labrador we saw many trails of Reindeer
through the deep and stiff moss ; they are about as broad as a cowpath,
and many times the fatigues of a long day's hunt over the sterile wilds of
that country were lightened by following in these tracks or paths, instead
of walking on the yielding moss.

We did not see any of these animals ourselves, but bought one from
the Indians and enjoyed it very much, as we had had no fresh meat for
nearly three months, except fishy ducks, a few curlews, and some willow-
grouse.

We were informed that the Caribou are sometimes abundant on the
island of Newfoundland, to which they cross on the ice from the mainland,
and as the fishermen and French trappers at St. George's Bay told us,
sometimes the herds stay so late in the spring that by the occasional early
breaking up of the ice, they are prevented from leaving the island.

The horns of the Caribou run into various shape's, and are more or less
palmated. The female of this species has also horns, which are not dropped
until near the month of May. No two individuals of this species have the
horns alike, nor do the horns of any grow into the same number of prongs,
or resemble those of the last season. Notwithstanding this endless variety,
there is always a specific character in the horns of this species (as well as
in all our other deer), which will enable the close observer at once to
recognise them.

" In the month of July/' says Dr. Richardson, " the Caribou sheds its
winter covering, and acquires a short, smooth coat of hair, of a colour
composed of clove brown, mingled with deep reddish and yellowish-browns,
the under surface of the neck, the belly, and the inner sides of the extremi-
ties, remaining white in all seasons. The hair at first is fine and flexible,
but as it lengthens it increases gradually in diameter at its roots, becoming
at the same time Avhite, soft, compressible, and brittle, like the hair of the
moose deer. In the course of the winter the thickness of the hairs at their
roots becomes so great that they are exceedingly close, and no longer lie
down smoothly, but stand erect, and they are then so soft and tender below,
that the flexible coloured points are easily rubbed off, and the fur appears
white, especially on the flanks. This occurs in a smaller degree on the
back ; and on the under parts, the hair, although it accpiires length, remains
more flexible and slender at its roots, and is consequently not so subject to
break. Towards the spring, when the Deer are tormented by the larva? of
the gad-fly making their way through the skin, they rub themselves against

CARIBOU OK AMERICAN REINDEER ]|7

stones and rocks until all the coloured tops of the hair are worn off, and
their fur appears to 1"' entirelj of a soiled white colour."

'■ The closeness of the hair of the Caribou, and the lightness oi
when properly dressed, render it the mosl appropriate article for winter
clothing in the high latitudes. The skins of the young Deer make the best

and they should be killed for thai purpose in the month of August

or September, as after the latter date the hairb >mee too long and brittle.

The prime parts of eight or ten Deer-skins make a complete suit of
clothing for a grown person, which is so impervious to the cold that, with
the addition of a blanket of the same material, an othed may

on the such- wiili safety, and even with comfort, in the most
intense cold of an Arctic winter'- night."

The same author gives the following habits of the variety he called
•■ Arctica :" "The Barren-ground Caribou, which resort to the coast of the
Arctic sea in summer, retire in winter to the woods lying between the
sixty-third and the si\t\-i\th degree of latitude, where they feed on the

■t/orur. and other lichens, which hang from the trees, and on the
long grass of the swamps. About the end of April, when the partial
melting of tin1 snow has softened the cetrariee, cornkularia, and a
which clothe the barren grounds like a carpet, thej make short i
from the «oods. i.ut return to them when the weather is frosty. In May

the females proceed toward- the sea-coast, and towards ti ,,d of June

the males are in full march in the same direction. At that period the
power of the sun has dried up the lichens on the barren grounds, and the
Caribou frequeni the moist pastures w hich cover the bottoms of the narrow
valleys on the coasts and islands of the Arctic sea, where thej
the Bprouting carices and on the withered grass or haj of the preceding
year, which i- at that period still standing, and retaining part of it- sap.

iringjournej is performed partlj on the -now. and partly after the
snow ha- disappeared, on the ice covering the rivers and lakes, which
have in general a northerh direction. Soon alter their arrival on the
coast the females drop their young ; thej commence their return to the

south in September, and reach the vicinity of the woods towards the end
of October, where they are joined by the males. This journey take- place

after the .-now has fallen, and they scrape it away with their feet to procure

the lichens, which are then tender and pulpy, being preserved moist and
by the heat still remaining in the earth. Except in the rutting

season, the hulk of the males and female- live separately: the former
retire deeper into the wood- in winter, whilst herds of the pregnant does

staj on the skirts of the barren grounds, and proc I to the coasl very

early in spring. Captain Pa&bi >;,« Deer on Melville peninsula a- late

U8 CARIBOU OK AMERICAN REINDEER.

as the 23d of September, and the females, with their fawns, made their first
appearance on the 22d of April. The males in general do not go so far

north as the females. On the coast of Hudson's Day the Barren-ground
Caribou migrate farther south than those on the Coppermine or Mackenzie
rivers ; but none of them go to the southward of Churchill."

The Caribou becomes very fat at times, and is then an excellent article
of food. As some particulars connected with its edible qualities are rather
singular, we subjoin them from the same author: "When in condition
there is a layer of fat deposited on the back and rump of the males to the
depth of two or three inches or more, immediately under the skin, which is
termed depouille by the Canadian voyagers, and as an article of Indian
trade, it is often of more value than all the remainder of the carcass. The
tic/ ottilU is thickest at the commencement of the rutting season : it then
becomes of a red colour, and acquires a high flavour, and soon afterwards
disappears. The females at that period are lean, but in the course of the
winter they acquire a small depoui/ti, which is exhausted soon after they
drop their young. The flesh of the Caribou is very tender, and its flavour
when in season is. in my opinion, superior to that of the finest English
venison, but when the animal is Lean it is very insipid, the difference being
greater between well fed and lean Caribou than any one can conceive who
has not had an opportunity of judging. The lean meat fills the stomach
but never satisfies the appetite, and scarcely serves to recruit the strength
when exhausted by labour." " The Chepewyans, the Copper Indians, the
Dog-Ribs and Hare Indians of Great Bear Lake, would be totally unable
to inhabit their barren lands were it not for the immense herds of this
Deer that exist there. Of the Caribou horns they form their fish-spears
and hooks ; and previous to the introduction of European iron, ice-chisels
and various other utensils were likewise made of them." "The hunter
breaks the leg-bones of a recently slaughtered Deer, and while the marrow
is still warm devours it with much relish. The kidneys and part of the
intestines, particularly the thin folds of the third stomach or manyplies,
are likewise occasionally eaten when raw, and the summits of the antlers,
as long as they are soft, are also delicacies in a raw state. The colon or
large 'jut is inverted, so as to preserve its fatty appendages, and is, when
either roasted or boiled, one of the richest and most savoury morsels the
country affords, either to the native or white resident. The remainder of
the intestines, after being cleaned, are hung in the smoke for a few days
and then broiled. The stomach and its contents, termed by the Esquimaux
nerrooks, and by the Greenlanders nerrokak or nerriookak, are also eaten,
and it would appear that the lichens and other vegetable matters on which
the ( Jaribou feeds are more easily digested by the human stomach when

CARIBOU OB AMERICAN REINDEER \\)

they have been mixed with the salivary ami gastric juice- of a ruminating
animal. Many of the Indians and Canadian voyagers prefer this savoury
mixture after it has undergone a degree of fermentation, or lain I
as they term it. for a few days. The blood, if mixed in proper propor-
tion with a 9trong decoction of tin meat, forms, after sunn' nicety in the
cooking, a rich soap, which is verj palatable ami highly nutritious, but
verj difficull ol digestion. When all tin- soft parts of the animal are
consumed the bonee are pounded -mall, ami a large qnantitj of marrow is
extracted from them by boiling. This i- used in making tic better kinds
id' the mixture id' dried meat and fat. which is named penuntcan,
also preserved by the young men ami females for anointing the hair and
greasing the face on dress occasions. The tongue roasted, when fresh or
when half dried, i- a delicious morsel. When it i- necessarj to

the Caribou meat for use at a future period, it i- cut into thin slice- and

dried over the smoke of a slow fire, and then pounded betwixt t"
This pounded meal i- verj dry ami husky if eaten alone, bu1
quantity of the back-fal or depouile of the Deer is added to it. i- one of the
i treats that can be offered to a resident in the for com ti

"The Caribou travel in herd-, varying in number from eighl or ten to

two oi- three hundred, and their daily exem sio

quarter from whence the wind blows. The Indians kill them with the

bow and arrow or gun, take them in snares, or -]>ear them in

lake-. The Esquimau also take them in traps in|
formed of ice or snow, of all the Deer of North America tie
nio-t easy of approach, and are slaughtered in the greatesl numbers. A

single family id' Indian- will sometimes destroy two or three hundred in a
few week-, and in many cases they are killed for the sake of their tongues
alone."

Captain Lyon's private journal contain- some accounts of this species :
•■The Reindeer visits the polar regions at the latter end of May or the
early pari of June, and remains until late in September. On his first
arrival he is thin and his flesh is tasteless, but the shorl summer is sufficient

to fatten him to two or three inches on the haunche-. When R

the level ground, an Esquimaux makes no attempt to approach him. but

should a few rocks be near, the wary hunter feels -ecure of his prey.
Behind one of these he cautiously creeps, and having laid him-elf very
clo-e. with his bow and arrow before him, imitates the bellow of the Deer
when calling to each other. Sometime-, for more complete deception, the

banter wears his Deer-skin coat and hood so drawn over his head as to
resemble, in a great measure, the unsuspecting animals he is enticing.
Though the bellow proves a considerable attraction, yel if a man h
0

120 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

patience he may do without it, and may bo equally certain that his prey
will ultimately come to examine him, the reindeer being an inquisitive
animal, and at the same time so silly that if he sees any suspicious object
which is not actually chasing him, he will gradually and after many caper-
ings, and forming repeated circles, approach nearer and nearer to it. The
Esquimaux rarely shoot until the creature is within twelve paces, and I
have frequently been told of their being killed at a much shorter distance.
It is to be observed that the hunters never appear openly, but employ
stratagem for their purpose ; thus, by patience and ingenuity, rendering
their rudely formed bows and still worse arrows, as effective as tin.' rifles
of Europeans. When two men hunt in company they sometimes purposely
show themselves to the Deer, and when his attention is fully engaged, walk
slowly away from him, one before the other. The Deer follows, and when
the hunters arrive near a stone, the foremost drops behind it and prepares
his bow, while his companion continues walking steadily forward. This
latter the Deer still follows unsuspectingly, and thus passes near the con-
cealed man, who takes a deliberate aim and kills the animal. When the
Deer assemble in herds there are particular passes which they invariably
take, and on being driven to them are killed with arrows by the men, while
the women with shouts drive them to the water. Here they swim with
the ease and activity of water-dogs ; the people in kayaks chasing and
easily spearing them ; the carcases float, and the hunter then presses for-
ward and kills as many as he finds in his track. No springes or traps are
used in the capture of these animals, as is practised to the southward, in
consequence of the total absence of standing wood."

As presenting a striking illustration of the degree of cold prevailing in
the Arctic regions, we may here mention that Dr. Richardson describes a
trap constructed by the Esquimaux to the southward of Chesterfield inlet,
built of " compact snow." " The sides of the trap are built of slabs of that
substance, cut as if for a snow house ; an inclined plane of snow leads to
the entrance of the pit, which is about five feet deep, and of sufficient
dimensions to contain two or three large Deer. The pit is covered with a
large thin slab of snow, which the animal is enticed to tread upon by a
quantity of the lichens on which it feeds being placed conspicuously on an
eminence beyond the opening. The exterior of the trap is banked up with
snow so as to resemble a natural hillock, and care is taken to render it so
steep on all sides but one, that the Deer must pass over the mouth of the
trap before it can reach the bait. The slab is sufficiently strong to bear
the weight of a Deer until it has passed its middle, when it revolves on two
short axles of wood, precipitates the Deer into the trap, and returns to its
place again in consequence of the lower eud being heavier than the other.

CARIBOU <>n AMERICAN REINDEER ] j |

Throughoul the whole line of coast frequented by the Esquimaux it is
customary to Bee long lines of stones ae1 on end, or of turfs pilot! up at
intervals of aboul twenty yards, for the purpose of leading the Caribou to
stations where they can be more Basil} approached. The natives find by
e thai the animals in feeding imperceptibly take the lino of direc-
tion of the objects thus placed before them, and the hunter can approach a
herd that he Bees from a distance, by gradually crawling from
stone, ami remaining motionless when of the animals looking

towards him. The whole of the barren grounds an' intersected by Caribou
paths, like aheep-tracks, which are of Bervice t<> travel!
Leading tin an to convenient crossing places of lakes or rivers."

Tlio following account of a method of "impounding" Poor, resorted to
by tlio Chepewyan Indians, is from Hi

"When tin' Indians design to impound Door, they h>uk out for one of
tho paths in which a number of them have trod, ami which is observed to
be still frequented by them. When these paths cross a lake, a wide river,
or a barren plain, they are found to be much tin' besl for tho purpose ; ami
if tlio path run through a cluster of woods, capable of affording materials
for building (ho pound, it adds considerably to the commodiousni
situation. The pound is built by making a Btrong fence with brushy trees,

without observing anj degr if regularity, and the work is continued to

any extent, according to the pleasure of tin- builders. 1 have se<
that were not loss than a mile round, and am informed that there are
till more extensive. Tho door or entrance of tho pound i- not
larger than a common gate, ami tho inside is so crowded with small
counter-hedges as verj much to resemble a maze, in every opening of which
they Bet a Bnare, made with thongs of parchment Deer-skins well twisted
together, which are amazingly Btrong. One end of tho Bnare is usually
made fast to a -row Lng pole : but if no one of a sufficient size can !»• found
near tho place where tho Bnare is Bet, a loose polo is substituted in it- room,
which is always of such size and length that a Deer cannot drag it far
before it gets entangled among tho other woods, which arc all left
Btanding, except what is found necessary for making tho fence, I-

Tho pound being thus prepared, a row of small brush-* 1 ie Btuck up in

tin -n. o\ on each side of the door or entrance, and these hedge-rows are
continued along the open pari of the lake, river, or plain, where neither
stick nor stump besides is to be seen, which makes them the more d
observed. These poles or brushwood are generally placed at the distance
of fifteen or twenty yards from each other, and ranged in such a manner
as to form two sides of along acute angle, growing gradually wider in
proportion to the distance they extend from the pound, wh
\ ol. in. — 16

122 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

not less than two or three miles, while the Deer's path is exactly along the
middle, between the two rows of brush-wood. Indians employed on this
service always pitch their tents on or near to an eminence that affords a
commanding prospect of the path leading to the pound, and when they see
any Deer going that way, men, women, and children walk along the lake
or river side under cover of the woods, till they get behind them, then step
forth to open view, and proceed towards the pound in form of a crescent.
The poor timorous Deer, finding themselves pursued, and at the same time
taking the two rows of brushy poles to be two ranks of people stationed to
prevent their passing on either side, run straight forward in the path till
thej gel into the pound. The Indians then close in, and block up the
entrance with some brushy trees that have been cut down and lie at hand
lor thai purpose. The Deer being thus enclosed, the women and children
walk round the pound to prevent them from jumping over or breaking
through the fence, while the men are employed spearing such as are
entangled in the snares, and shooting with bows and arrows those which
remain loose in the pound. This method of hunting, if it deserve the
name, is sometimes so successful that many families subsist by it without
having occasion to move their tents above once or twice during the course
of a whole winter ; and when the spring advances, both the Deer and the
Indians draw out to the eastward on the ground which is entirely barren,
or at least which is called so in these parts, as it neither produces trees nor
shrubs of any kind, so that moss and some little grass is all the herbage
which is to be found on it."

With the following extract from the Fauna Boreali Americana, our
readers may perhaps be amused : " The Dog-rib Indians have a mode of
killing these animals, which, though simple, is very successful. It was
thus described by Mr. Wentzel. who resided long amongst that people :
The hunters go in pairs, the foremost man carrying in one hand the horns
and part of the skin of the head of a Deer, and in the other a small bundle
of twigs, against which he, from time to time, rubs the horns, imitating the
gestures peculiar to the animal. His comrade follows, treading exactly in
his footsteps, and holding the guns of both in a horizontal position, so that
the muzzles project under the arms of him who carries the head. Both
hunters have a fillet of white skin round their foreheads, and the foremost
has a strip of the same around his wrists. They approach the herd by
degrees, raising their legs very slowly but setting them down somewhat
suddenly after the manner of a Deer, and always taking care to lift their
right or left feet simultaneously. If any of the herd leave off feeding to
gaze upon this extraordinary phenomenon it instantly stops, and the head
begins to play its part by licking its shoulders and performing other

CARIBOO <>R AMERICAN REINDEER [23

necessary movements. In this waj the hunters attain the verj ■
the herd without exciting suspicion, and have leisure to single out the
fattest. The hindmost man then pushes forward his comrade's [run, the
head is dropt, and thej both fire nearly at the same instant. The Deer
scamper off, the hunters trot after them ; in a short time the poor animals
halt to ascertain the cause of their terror, their foes Btop at the same
and having loaded as they ran. greet the gazers with

fatal discharge. Th rasternation of the D ses; they run to

ami fro in the utmost confusion, and - eat part of the herd is

destroyed within the space of a few hundred yards."

We do not exactly comprehend how the acute sense of smell peculiar to
the Reindeer should lie useless in such cases, ami should think tin' Deer
could only he approached by keeping to the leeward of them, ami that it
would he a very difficult matter, even with the ingenious disguise adopted
by the " Dog-Ribs," to gel into the centre of a herd ami leisurely single
out the fattest.

Hr. Richardson considers the variety he calls the woodland
as much larger than the other, ami si\ s it has smaller horns, and
when in good condition vastlj inferior as an article of food. "The proper

•.mill!) of this Deer," he continues, " is a stri] f low primiti

well clothed with wood, about one hundred miles wide, and exti

the distance of eight] or a hundred mile- from the shores o

from A.thapescow Lake to Lake Superior. Contrary to the practice of the

barren-ground Caribou, the woodland variety travel- to th

the spring. They cross the Nelson ami Severn river- in immenst

the month of May. pass the summer on the low a

Bay. ami return to the northward, ami at the same time retire more inland

in the month of September."

GEOGRAPHIC M. DISTRIB1 I

This species exi>t- in Newfoundland and Labrador, extends westward

across tin- American continent, ami both bj Pennant and

L.ANGSDORFF as inhabiting the Fox or Aleutian I-dand-.

It is not found 30 far to ihe BOUthward on the Pacific BS on the Atlantic
coast, and is not found on the Kooky Mountains, within the limits of the

United Stat.-. According to Pennant there ai i on the

islands that lie between Asia and America. It is somewhat difficult to
assign limits to the range of the Caribou : it is found, however, in some
one or other of it- supposed varieties, in everj part of Arctic America,
including the region from Hudson's Bay to far within the Arctic circle.

124 CARIBOU OR AMERICAN REINDEER.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The American Caribou or Reindeer has by most authors been, regarded
as identical with the Reindeer {Rangifer tarandus) of Europe, Greenland,
and the Asiatic polar regions. The arguments in favour of this suppo-
sition are very plausible, and the varieties which the species exhibits in
America, together with the fact that the antlers of the Reindeer assume
an almost infinite diversity of form, that they differ not only in different
specimens, but that the horns on each side of the head of the same animal
often differ from each other, afford still stronger grounds for the supposi-
tion : notwithstanding all this, supposing that they are only varieties, they
have become such permanently in our continent, and require separate
descriptions, and as they must be known by particular names we have
supposed we might venture on designating the American Reindeer as a
distinct species, admitting at the same time that the subject requires closer
comparisons than we have been able to institute, and further investigations.

We believe that several naturalists have bestowed new names on the
American animal, but we are not aware that any one has described it, or
pointed out those peculiarities which would separate the species. Among
the rest, we were informed that our esteemed friend Professor Agassiz had
designated it as Tarandus furcifer, and believing that he had described it
we adopted his name on our plate ; subsequently, however, we were
informed that he had merely proposed for it the name of Cervus hastatus.
He did not, however, describe it, and as the common name under which it
has been known for ages past in America will be most easily understood,
and can by no possibility lead to any misapprehension as regards the
species, we have named it Rangifer Caribou, and respectfully request our
subscribers to alter the name on the plate accordingly.

125

U R S U S AMERI C A X U S .— P am,a s.
(Var. Cinnamomtjm. — A in. and Bach.)

Cinnamon- Bear.

PLATE CXXVI1 .— M u K and Female.

0 Bfagnitudine formaqne V. American] : Bnpra Baturate cinnamomeuB,
naso et pilis ungues restientibus flavis.

en LB LI in:-.

Form and size of the common American black bear, of which it is a perma-
nent variety. Co/our. above dark cinnamon brown ; nose and a fringe of hairs
Covering the times, yellow.

Bl MONYME.

Cinnamon Bear of the fiir traders.

DESCRIPTION.

Form and size of the American BlacB Bear (Ursut Americanus). Hair,
Bofter and mow dense than that of the Black Bear, and under fur finer and
longer.

N ochreoua yellow ; there is :m angular yellow spot above each eye ;
margins of ears, and a narrow band of hairs around all the feet, concealing
the claws, ochreoua yellow; there is a line of brownish-yellow from the
shoulder down and along the front leg ; Bides and hips, dark yellow ; a
line around the cheeks from the ear downwards, and a spot and streak
between the ears, a little darker yellow ; other parts of the body, cinnamon
brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from point of nose to root of 1
Height at shoulder, -
Length of tail, -

F«et.

5

8

3

1

14

126 CINNAMON BEAR.

The Cinnamon Bear, like the common Black Bear, varies greatly in size.
The dimensions above are unusually large.

Lewis and Clark (Expedition, vol. ii. p. 303) mention that one of their
men purchased a Bear-skin " of a uniform pale reddish-brown colour, which
the Indians (Chopunnish) distinguished from every variety of the Grizzly
Bear : this induced those travellers to inquire more particularly into the
opinions held by the Indians as to the several species of Bears, and they
exhibited all the Bear-skins they had killed in that neighbourhood, which
the Indians immediately classed into two species — the Grizzly Bear,
including all those with the extremities of the hair of a white or frosty
colour, under the name of hohhost, and the black skins, those which were
black with a number of entire white hairs intermixed, or white with a
white breast, uniform bay, brown, and light reddish-brown, were ranged
under the name of Yackkah. These we refer to the Cinnamon and
other varieties of the Black Bear. Lewis and Clark, however, appear
not to have considered these Bear-skins as belonging to the Black Bear,
owing merely to the differences in colour, for they say the common Black
Bear is " indeed unknown in that country." Their account of the fur
of the brown Bears above mentioned corresponds, however, with the
description of the Cinnamon Bear, they remarking that the skins of
the Bears in that region differ from those of the Black Bears "in
having much liner, thicker, and longer hair, with a greater proportion
of far mixed with it." Lewis and Clark considered that the Black
Bear \\;is always black, whereas it varies very considerably: they say
nothing in regard to the sizes of the various coloured Bears above
alluded to.

The Cinnamon Bear has long been known to trappers and fur traders,
and its -kin is much more valuable than that of the Black Bear. \Xv have
seen in the warehouse of Messrs. P. Chouteau. Jr., and Co., in New York,
some beautiful skins of this animal, and find that those gentlemen receive
some every year from their posts near the Rocky Mountains. Being a
permanent variety, and having longer and liner hair than the common
Black Bear, we might possibly have elevated it into a distinct species but
that in every other particular it closely resembles the latter animal. By
the Indians (according to Sir John Richardson) it is considered to be an
accidental variety of the Black Bear.

The Cinnamon Bear, so far as we have been able to ascertain, is never
found near the sen roast, nor even west of the Ohio valley until you

CINNAMON BEAR. 127

approach the Rocky Mountain chain, and it is apparently quite a northerr
animal.

Of the habits of this variety we have no accounts, bul we may suppose
that thej do not differ in any essential particulars from those of the ['.lack
Hear, which we Bhall shortly describe.

dur figures were made from living specimens in the gardens of the
Zoological Societj of London, which manifested all the restlessness usually
exhibited bj this genus when in a state of captivity.

We arc inclined bo consider sir John Richardson's "Barren-ground
Hear" a variety of the common Mack Bear, — perhaps our present animal ;
hut noi having seen an\ specimen of hi- ' rsus Arctos? Americanos, we do
not I'eel justified in expressing morr than an Opinion on this subject, which

indeed is founded on the description of the colour of the Barren-ground
Bear as -non bj Ri< hardsoh himself (see Fauna Boreali Americana, pp.
21,22).

OBOOB \riuo \l. DISTRIBUTION.

Sparingly found in the fur countries west aid north "( the '
extending to the barren grounds of the northwest

\l REMARKS.

Wo ha\o given a figure of this permanent variety of Hoar, not because
we felt disposed to elevate it into a species, but because it i- a variety so
frequently found in the collections of -kin- made bj our fur companies,
and which i- so often noticed bj travellers in the northwest, that errors
might be made bj future naturaliste wore wo to .unit mentioning it and
placing it where it should ho. Whil-t wo arc not disposed t" figure an
occasional variety in any species, and have throughout our work rather
declined doing this, yet wo conceive that figures of the permanent varie-
ties maj he nsefu] to future observers in order to awaken inquiry and
enable them to decide whether thej are true species or mere varieties.
We have done this in the case of some species of squirrel, the otter, and
the wolves, a- well as this varietj of Bear. The yellow Hear of Carolina.
no doubt belongs to this variety, and probably the brown Barren-ground

Hear of RlCHARDSOH ma\ he referred to the same bpeoies, BS all Hears

vary verj greatly in size.

128

GENUS CAPRA.— Linn.

DENTAL FORMULA.

Incisive g ; Canine ^ ; Molar ^ = 32.

Horns common to both sexes, or rarely wanting in the female ; in
domesticated races occasionally absent in both : they are directed
upwards and curved backwards, and are more or less angular. No
muzzle, no lachrymal sinus, nor unguinal pores ; eyes, light coloured,
pupil elongated ; tail, short, flat, and naked at base ; throat, bearded.

Mostly reside in the primitive and highest mountains of the ancient
continent and America.

Habit, herbivorous ; climbing rocks and precipices ; producing two or
three young at a time ; gregarious.

There are six well determined species — one inhabiting the Alps, one in
Abyssinia and Upper Egypt, one in the Caucasian mountains, one in the
mountains of Persia, one in the Himalaya, and one in the Rocky Mountains
of North America.

The generic name Capra is derived from the Latin capra, a goat.

CAPRA AMERICANA.— Blainville.

Rocky Mountain Goat.

PLATE CXX VIII. —Male and Female.

C. Magnitudine ovem arietem adajquans, corpore robusto, cornibus
parvis acutis leute recurvis, pilis albis, cornibus ungulisque nigris.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the domestic sfwep ; form of body, robust ; horns, small and pointed,

slightly curved backwards. Colour of hair, totally white.

STNONTMES.

Antilope Americana et Rupicapra Americana. Blainville, Bulletin Socy. Phil.,

Ann. 181 G, p. 80.
Ovis Montana. Ord, Jour. Acad. N. Sci. Phil., vol. i., part i., p. 8. Ann. 1817.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT ] o<)

Mazama Sericea. Raffinesque Smalts, Am. Monthly Mag. 1817, p. 44.

Rocky Mountain Shebp. Jameson, Wemerian Trans., rol. iii. p. 306. Ann. 1821.

Capra Montana. FTarlan, Fauna Americana, p. 258.

« " Godman, Nat Hist, vol ii. p.

Antelope Lanioera. Smith. Linn.-pan Trans., vol. xiii. p. 38, t 4.
Capra Americana. Rich., F. B. A., p. 208, plat

DESCRIPTION.

Form of the body and neck, robust, like that of the common Goat ; nose.
nearly straight ; ears, pointed, lined with long hair ; the hornfi incline
Blightly backwards, tapering gradually and no1 suddenly, uncinated like
transversely wrinkled with slight rings for nearly
half their length from the base, and sharp pointed : towards the tip they
ill and polished. Tail short, and though clothed with longhair,
almost concealed by the hairs which cover the rump ; legs, thick and short ;
secondary hoofs, flat, grooved on the roles, and resembling those of the
common Goat.

The coal is composed of two kinds of hair, the outer and longer
considerably Btraighter than the wool of the Bheep, but softer than that of the
common Goat ; this long hair is abundant on the shoulders, back, neck,
and thighs ; on the chin there is a thick tuft forming a beard like thai of
the latter animal ; under the long hairs of the body there is a close coat
of fine white silky wool, quite equal to that of the Cashmere Goat in

COLOUR.

Horns, and hoofs, black ; the whole body, white.

DIMENSIONS.

F»«t. Inchra.

Length of head and body, 3 4

tail, 1

head, 11

" horns, 6

Diameter of horns at base, 1

Standing " at gaze," on a table-rock projecting high above the valley
beyond, and with a lofty ridge of stony and precipitous mountains in the
background, we have placed one of our figures of the Rocky Mountain
noi in.— 17

130 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT.

Goat ; and lying down, a little removed from the edge of the cliff, we
have represented another.

In the vast ranges of wild and desolate heights, alternating with deep
valleys and tremendous gorges, well named the Rocky mountains, over
and through which the adventurous trapper makes his way in pursuit of
the rich fur of the beaver or the hide of the bison, there are scenes which
the soul must be dull indeed not to admire. In these majestic solitudes
all is on a scale to awaken the sublimest emotions and fill the heart with
a consciousness of the infinite Being " whose temple is all space, whose
altar earth, sea, skies."

Nothing indeed can compare with the sensations induced by a view from
some lofty peak of these great mountains, for there the imagination may
wander unfettered, may go back without a check through ages of time to
the period when an Almighty power upheaved the gigantic masses which
lie on all sides far beneath and around the beholder, and find no spot upon
which to arrest the eye as a place where once dwelt man ! No — we only
know the Indian as a wanderer, and we cannot say here stood the strong
fortress, the busy city, or even the humble cot. Nature has here been undis-
turbed and unsubdued, and our eyes may wander all over the scene to the
most distant faint blue line on the horizon which encircles us, and forget
alike the noisy clamour of toiling cities and the sweet and smiling quiet
of the well cultivated fields, where man has made a " home" and dwelleth
in peace. But in these regions we may find the savage grizzly bear, the
huge bison, the elegant and fleet antelope, the large-horned sheep of the
mountains, and the agile fearless climber of the steeps — the Rocky Moun-
tain Goat.

This snow-white and beautiful animal appears to have been first
described, from skins shown to Lewis and Clark, as " the Sheep," in their
general description of the beasts, birds, and plants found by the party in
their expedition. They say, "The Sheep is found in many places, but
mostly in the timbered parts of the Rocky Mountains. They live in
greater numbers on the chain of mountains forming the commencement of
the woody country on the coast, and passing the Columbia between the
falls and the rapids. We have only seen the skins of these animals, which
the natives dress with the wool, and the blankets which they manufacture
from the wool. The animal from this evidence appears to be of the size
of our common sheep, of a white colour. The wool is fine on many parts
of the body, but in length not equal to that of our domestic sheep. On
the back, and particularly on the top of the head, this is intermixed with a
considerable portion of long straight hairs. From the Indian account
these animals have erect pointed horns."

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. ];j]

The Rocky Mountain Goat wanders over the most precipitous rocks,
and springs with great activity from crag to crag, feeding on the plants,
grasses, and mosses of the mountain sides, and seldom or never descends
to the luxuriant valleys, as the Big-Horn does. This Goal indeed resembles
the wild Goal of Europe, <>r the chamois, in its habits, and is very difficult
to procure. Now and then the hunter may observe one browsing on the
extreme verge of some perpendicular rock almost directlj above him, Ear
gun-shot, and entirely out of harm's way. A.t another time, after
fatiguing and hazardous efforts, the hungry marksman may reach a spot
ace his rifle will Bend a ball into the on: iat ; then

Blowl] he rises from his hands and knees, on which he has been creeping,
inzzle of his heavy gun is " rested " on a loose stone, behind « hich
he has kepi his movements from being observed, and now he pulls the fatal
trigger with deadly aim. The loud sharp crack <>f the rifle has hardly
rung back in his oar from tho surrounding cliffs when he &
its expiring struggles reach the verge of the di/./y height : a mc
suspense and ii rolls over, and Bwiftly falls, strikin here and

then- a projecting point, and with the clatter of thoi
sot in motion by its rapid passage down the steep slopes which incline
outward near the base of the oliiv. disappears, enveloped in a Hmid of
dust iii the deep rai ine beneath ; where a day's journey would hard
an active man to it. for far around must he go to aci ompli
and toilsome and dangerous must be his progress up the gorge within
whose dark recesses his game is likerj to become the food of the ever
prowling wolf or the solitary raven. Indeed cases have been mentioned
to as in which these Goats, when shot, toll on to a jutting ledge, and there
lay fifty or a hundred feet below the hunter, in full view, but ins
from anj point « hatever.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, as portions ol us are not

so precipitous, the Rooky Mountain Goat is Bhol and procured b

easily, it is Baid, by some of the Indian tribes, who make various articles

of clothing out of its skin, and use it- Boft woolly hair for their rude
fabrics.

ding to Sir Joiix RlCHABDBOH, this animal has boon known to the
members of the Northwesl and Eudson's Bay Companies from the first esta-
blishment of their trading posts on tho banks of tho Columbia River and in
New Caledonia, and they have sent several specimens to Europe. The wool

being examined by a competent judge, under The instructions of
nerian Society of Edinburgh, was reported to be of great fineness and fully
an inch and a half long. " It is unlike the fleece of tho common sheep,
which contains a variety of different kinds of wool suitable to the fabrica-

132 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT.

tion of articles very dissimilar in their nature, and requires much care to
distribute them in their proper order. The fleece under consideration is
wholly tine. That on the fore part of the skin has all the apparent quali-
ties of wool. On the back part it very much resembles cotton. The
whole fleece is much mixed with hairs, and on those parts where the hairs
are long and pendant, there is almost no wool."

" Mr. Drummond saw no Goats on the eastern declivity of the mountains,
near the sources of the Elk river, where the sheep are numerous, but he
learned from the Indians that they frequent the steepest precipices, and
are much more difficult to procure than the sheep. Their manners are
said to greatly resemble those of the domestic Goat. The exact limits of
the range of this animal have not been ascertained, but it probably extends
from the fortieth to the sixty-fourth or sixty-fifth degree of latitude. It is
common on the elevated part of the Rocky Mountain range that gives
origin to four great tributaries to as many different seas, viz. the Macken-
zie, the Columbia, the Xelson, and the Missouri rivers." — F. B. A., p. 269.

The flesh of this species is hard and dry, and is not so much relished as
that of the Big-Horn, the Elk, &c, by the hunters or travellers who have
journeyed towards the Pacific across the wild ranges of mountains
inhabited by these animals.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The Rocky Mountain Goat inhabits the most elevated portions of the
mountains from which it derives its name, where it dwells between the
fortieth and sixtieth or sixty -fourth degree of north latitude. It is also
found on the head waters of the Mackenzie, Columbia, and Missouri rivers.
Mr. Mackenzie informs us that the country near the sources of the Muddy
river (Maria's river of Lewis and Clark), Saskatchewan, and Athabasca,
is inhabited by these animals, but they are said to be scarcer on the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains than on the western.

GENERAL REMARKS.

It is believed by some naturalists that Fathers Piccolo and De Salva-
tierra discovered this animal on the higher mountains of California.
Vancouver brought home a mutilated skin which he obtained on the
northwest coast of America. Lewis and Clark (as we have already men-
tioned) obtained skins in 1804.

In 1816 M. De Blainville published the first scientific account of it.
Mr. Ord in 1817 described one of the skins brought home by Lewis and

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. ];•;}

Clark, and Major Charles Hamilton Smith described a specimen in
1821, in the Linnsean Transactions for thai year.

The resemblance of the animal to .-nun' of the antelopes, the chamois, the
Goat, and the sheep, caused it to be placed by these authors under several
genera. Db Uuixviiu tirst made it an antelope, then named it Rwpt-
capra — a Bubgenns of antelope to which the chamois belong
arranged it in the genus Oris. Smith called it Ant&ojx Umigera.
Besides these, Bafftnbsqite named il Mazama >..,-...;. Dr. Human and
Bioeabdson were each correct, as we think, in placing it in the genua
Copra (Goat), ks in the Goat, the facial line in this species

Straight, while in the sheep ami antelope- il is more or le8B ai'ehed. The

sheep and the antelope are beardless, ami the Coat is characterized by its
beard, a conspicuous ornament in the present animal, which i:- D
in tin' form of it- nose, the atrength and proportion of the limbs, and the
peculiarities of the hoofs, allied closer to the Coats than to any other
neighbouring genus.

L34

AR VIC OLA BO REA LIS. —Rich.

Northern Meadow-Mouse.

PLATE CXXIX .—Male and Females.

A. ungue pollicari robusto prasditus, auriculis vellere absconditis, cauda
capitis fere longitudine, vellere longissirua molli, dorso castaneo nigro
mixto, ventre cano.

CHARACTERS.

Thumb nail, strong ; ears, concealed in the fur ; tail, about as long as the
head ; fur, very long and fine ; on the back, chesnut colour mixed with black ;
on the belly, gray.

SYNONYMES.

Mouse No. 15. Forster, Philos. Trans., vol. Ixii. p. 380.

Arvicola Borealis. Rich., Zool. Jour., No. 12, April, 1828, p. 517.

" " Northern Meadow-Mouse. F. B. A., p. 127.

Arvinnak. Dog-Bib Indians.

DESCRIPTION.

This species is a little less than Wilson's Meadow-Mouse (Jl. Pennsylva-
nia). It has the form and dentition of the other species of Arvicola?.
Head, rather large ; forehead, convex ; nose, short, and a little pointed ;
eyes, small ; ears, low, rounded, and concealed by the surrounding fur ;
limbs, rather robust, clothed with short hairs, mixed on the toes and hind
parts of the fore feet with longer hairs. Hind toes, more slender, and
scarcely longer than the fore ones ; fore claws, small, much compressed,
arched, and acute, with a narrow elliptical excavation underneath ; the
hairs of the toes reach to the points of the nails, but cover them rather
sparingly ; the claws of the hind feet resemble those of the fore feet, but
are not so strong ; the thumb of the fore feet consists of a small squarish
nail slightly convex on both sides, and having an obtuse point projecting
from the middle of its extremity ; the tail is round, well clothed with short
stiff hairs running to a point, which do not permit the scales to be visible.
There are considerable variations in the length of the tail, it being in one
specimen a third longer than in others. The fur on the body is long in
proportion to the size of the animal.

\

NORTHERN MEADOW-MOUSE. 135

Hair on the upper part* blackish-gray from the root? to the tip?. some
of which are yellowish or chesnul brown, ami some black ; the black
tipped hair? are the longest, and arc equally distributed amongsl the
other?, giving the body a dark reddish-brown colour. There i? a rufous
patch under the cars. On the under part, and on the chin and lips, the
colour is lead-gray, and the hairs are shorter than on tin- back and sides;
tail, brown above and graj ish beneath : hairs on the feet, ochreous yellow ;
claws, white.

DMBN8I0N8.

Inchn. Linfa.

Length of head and body, 4 6

tail. - - " 1

head, 1 3

TleiL'ht of car, 4

Breadth of car, 3

Length of fore feet to end of middle claw, - - • 4J

Hind feet, including heel and claw, .... 74

Fur on the back, 10

We have little to say in regard to the present specie?. RlCHABDBON
states thai its habits are very similar to those of . /. xanthognatha, and in
our article on thai species we have given an account of the general habits
of the Axvicolffl (at ]>. is of ilu- presenl volume), to which we refer our
readers.

The northern Arvicola? do not appear to become dormant from the effect
of cohl. but during the long Arctic winter die- galleries under the deep
snows, in which they are enabled to search for - or roots

suited to their wants. We have ascertained by an examination of the

bodies of several, more southern species of Arvicola-, possessing similar

habits, that so far from Buffering in winter and becoming lean, they are
usually iii good case, and sometimes quite fat, during thai -

The lensrth of the fur on tin- back of the presenl specie- (ten twelfths of
an inch) is somewhat remarkable for so small an animal.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This species was found in number? at threat Bear Lake, living in the
vicinity of Armenia xanthopnatha. We have not been aide to ascertain the

136 NORTHERN MEADOW-MOUSE.

extent of its range towards the south or west. We did not discover this
Meadow-Mouse or hear of it on our expedition to the Yellow Stone and
Upper Missouri rivers, nor has it been found, so far as we know, anywhere
west of the Rocky Mountains.

GENERAL REMARKS.

"The form of the thumb-nail allies this animal very closely to the
Norway lemming, and to one or two species of American lemming, but its
claws are smaller and more compressed, and apparently not so well calcu-
lated for scraping earth as the broader claws of the lemmings." — Fauna
Boreali Americana, p. 127.

Thus far we agree with Dr. Richardson ; he, however, thinks that this
species may be considered an intermediate link between the lemmings and
the Meadow-Mice, and may without impropriety be ranked either as a true
Meadow-Mouse or as a lemming.

After a careful examination of the original specimens, some years ago,
we set it down as a true Arvicola, possessing more of the characteristics of
that genus than of the genus Georychus.

X

I

GENUS DIPODOMY8 .— Q r a t.

DENTAL FORMULA.

fhctsm < I; Molar £q = 20.

The incisor? arc of moderate length, rather weak, narrow, compressed,
and curved inward-. In the upper jaw the firs! three molars are largest,
the fourth a little smaller ; in the lower jaw the molars are alike. The
molars have rounded cutting i

Nose and head, of moderate pouches opening on the cheeks
back of ill'' mouth ; fore feet, rather short, furnished with four toe- and the
rudiment of a thumb, covered by a blunt nail : hind legs very long, termi-
nated by four toe- on each foot; toes, each with a distinct metatarsus;
tail, very long : mammm, four — two abdominal and two ] toral.

Habits, semi-nocturnal : food, seeds, roots, and g

There is onlj one species belonging to this genus known. Tin' generic
name is derived from iiwuf, dipous, two footed, and fws, mus, a mouse.

DIPODOMYS I'll I 1.1. IP PS I I. —Gray.

Pouched Jerboa Movse.

PLATE (XXX

D. Magnitudine prope TamicB Lysteri et forma Dipodum ; cauda
corpore e< oapite conjunctum multo longiore; saeeulis buccalibus extends
apertis ; colore, supra fulvo, infra albo.

CHARACTERS.

Nearly the size of the common ground squirrel (Tamias Lysteri) ; shaped
like the jerboas ; tail, much longer than the body; cheek pouches, opening
externally ; colour, light broicn aboir, white beneath.

Dipodom^ I'mini-i-Mi. Gray, Ann. tad Ma}:. Nat. Him., toL mi p. 581. 1840.

VOL. III.— 18

138 POUCHED JERBOA MOUSE.

DESCRIPTION.

Body, rather stout ; head, of moderate size ; nose, moderate, although
the skull exhibits the proboscis extended five or six lines beyond the
insertion of the incisors.

The whiskers (which proceed from the nose immediately above the upper
edge of the orifices of the pouches) are numerous, rigid, and longer than
the head ; ears, of moderate size, ovate, and very thinly clothed with short
hairs ; the feet are thickly clothed with short hairs to the nails, which are
free ; short hairs also prevail on the soles and between the toes ; fore feet,
rather stout, but short ; they have each four toes and the rudiment of a
thumb, the latter covered by a conspicuous nail ; nails, short, slender, and
curved ; second toe from the thumb longest, first and third nearly of equal
length, and fourth shortest.

Hind legs, very long ; the hind feet have each four toes, the two middle
ones nearly of equal length, the first a little shorter, and the fourth, placed
behind like a thumb, much the shortest ; nails, nearly straight, sharp
pointed, and grooved on the under surface ; tail, rather stout — in the dried
specimen it is round at base and much compressed, showing that its
greatest diameter is vertical ; it is thickly clothed with short hairs for two
thirds of its extent, when the hairs gradually increase in length till they
approach the extremity, at which they are so long as to present the
appearance of a tuft-like brush. The fur is very soft and silky, like that
of the flying-squirrel ; the hairs of the tail are coarser. There are two
abdominal and two pectoral mamma?.

In the upper jaw the incisors are rather small and weak ; all the molars
have simple crowns, which are more elevated on the interior than on the
exterior edges ; the anterior molar is nearly round, and almost of the same
size as the two next molars, which are somewhat oval and are placed with
their longest diameter transversely to the jaw ; the fourth molar is the
smallest and is nearly round.

In the lower jaw the three anterior molars are nearly of equal size, and
are almost alike in shape ; the fourth corresponding with the last molar
on the upper jaw ; there is a little depression in the centre of the crowns
of the molars, and a slight ridge around the outer edges.

Head, ears, back, and a stripe on the thigh from the root of the tail,
light brown, the hairs on the back being plumbeous at the roots, then
yellow slightly tipped with black. Whiskers, black, with a few white

POUCHED JERBOA MOUSE |.;<i

mistly hairs interspersed : upper and lower surface? of tail, and a lino on
the under Bide of the tarsus, dark In-own : sides, and tip of the tail, white :
cheeks, white; there i> a white stripe mi the hips; the legs and under
surface are white, as also a stripe from the shoulder to the far. Tins
white colour likewise extends high up on the flanks, where it gradually
mingles with the brown of the back ; nails, brownish.

Dim ■■
Male.- Specimen in the British Museum.

Inchri. Line*.

th of bead and body, 5

tail. 6 6

hind feet. 1 6

Female.— Procured by J. W. Aiihbon in California.

Inches- Lines

Point of nose to root of tail, .... 4 6

Tail, including hair. 7

Tarsus to end of longest nail, - 1 6

Ear, inside, from auditory opening, ... 7

Longest hair of whiskers. 2 4

The pretty colours and the liveliness of this little kamraroodike animal,
with its fun' eyes and its simplicity in venturing near man. of

whom it does not Beem afraid, would no doubl make it a favourite pel ;'<
confinement. It i> able to exist in very arid and almost barren situations,
where there is scarcely a Made of anything L_rreen except the gigantic and
fantastic cacti that grow in Sonora and various other 1

Mexico and California. A.B JOHH W. Arprr.ox I In- party travelled

through these countries the Dipodomys Phillippsii was sometimes almost
trampled on by the mules, ami was so tame that they could hav<
the animal by the hand without difficulty.

This species hop about, kangaroo fashion, and jump pretty far at a leap.
When the men encamped toward* evening, they sometime? came smelling
and moving about the legs of the mules, as if old friend-. I
observed by .1. W. Ajddtjboh just before sunset : its beautiful lai

as if they might be dimmed by the bright rays which fell upon
them as it emerged from a hole under a large boulder, but it frisked gaily
about, and several times approached him so nearly, as he sat on a stone,
that he could have seized it with his hands without any trouble, and without
risine- from his hard Beat

140 POUCHED JERBOA MOUSE.

After a while, as the party had to take up the line of march again, ho
with some difficulty frightened it, when with a bound or two it reached its
hole and disappeared underneath the large stone, but almosl immediately
came out again ; and so great was its curiosity that as the party left the
spot it seemed half inclined to follow them.

These animals appear to prefer the sides of stony hills which afford them
secure places to hide in, and they can easily convey their food in their
cheek-pouches to their nests.

The young when half grown exhibit the markings of the adults to a
great extent. This species is crepuscular if not nocturnal, and was gene-
rally seen towards dusk, and occasionally in such barren deserts that it
was difficult to imagine what it could get to feed on. A dead one was
picked up one day while the party were traversing a portion of the great
Colorado desert, where nothing could grow but clumps of cacti of different
species, and not a drop of water could be found. The only living
creatures appeared to be lizards of several kinds, and one or two snakes :
the party felt surprised as they toiled on over the sun-baked clay, and still
harder gravel, to find the little animal in such a locality.

GEOGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Dr. J. L. Le Conte found this species on the river Gila, and farther
south, where he procured several specimens.

J. W. Audubon saw the Dipodomys Phillippsii in crossing the Cordil-
leras, in Sonora on the Gila, in the Tulare valley, and in various other
parts of California. Its southern limits are undetermined, but it seems
not to exist north of California.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Mr. Gray described this species, in the Annals and Magazine of Natural
History, vol. vii. p. 521 ; he considered it the American representative of
the African Jerboas, although, as he remarks, it differs from them in being
provided with cheek pouches opening externally.

Our drawing was made from a beautiful specimen in the British Museum,
which was the first one brought under the notice of naturalists, and the
original of Mr. Gray's description of this singular animal ; it was pro-
cured near Real del Monte, in Mexico.

141

URSl'S FEU OX. —Lewis and Clark.

(ililZZl.Y I'.l LB.

PLATE < X X XL— Males.

M. Magnitudine U. Americanum longe superans, plantia ei nngnibus
longioribus, auriculis brevioribaa quam in isto; pilif
griseia,

ell m: LI

/ . rican Black Bear : soles of feet, and daws, I-

ears shorter than in tin Black Bear. Colour of the hair, dark bro
jwkr tips.

SYNOS

Grizzle Bear. ITrafreville, Hudson's Bay, p. 168. Lnn. 1190.
Grisli Bear, Mackenzie's Voyage, p. 1 >;< >. Ann. 1801.

White, or Brownh rbi Bj in. Gass' Journal of Lewis and Clark's Expedition, pp.
45, llf.. 346. Ann. L80&

GrIZELT, I'.K'iw n. Willi;. LSD \

Expedition, vol. i. pp. - I. iii. pp. 25. 268

I ox. De Witt Clinton, I i \. » York, vol. i

p. 56. Ann. 1815.
Qriuit Bear. Warden's United States, vol. i. p. i ; • T . Ann. 1819.
Grei Bear. Harmon's Journal, p. 417. Ann. li

sjereus. Desm. Mamm. No. 258. Ann. 1820.
" HoRRiuii.is. Ord, Guthrie's Geography, vol. ii. p. 299.
" •■ Bay, Long's Expedition, vol. ii. p. 244, note 84. Am

" Candescens, Hamilton Smith, Griffith An. Kingdom, vol. ii. p. 200: vol. v.

■ i i;i i b, Harlan, Fauna, p. 18.
Grizzly Bear. Godman's Nat. Hist., vol. i. p. 131.
Ursus Ferox. Rich., Fauna Borcali Americana, p. 24, plate 1.

DESCRIPTION.

Tho Grizzly Boar in form resembles the Norwegian variety of Urrus
.'hrfos. tho Brown Bear of Europe : the facial line is rectilinear or slightly
archer) ; head, Bhort ami round ; nose, hare ■ ear?, rather small, and more

14:2 GRIZZLY BEAR.

hairy than those of the Black Bear; legs, stout; body, large, but less fat
and heavy in proportion, than that of the Black Bear.

Tail, short ; paws and nails, very long, the latter extending from three
to five inches beyond the hair on the toes ; they are compressed and
channelled. Hair, long and abundant, particularly about the head and
neck, the longest hairs being in summer about three inches, and in winter
five or six inches long. The jaws are strong, and the teeth very large.

The fore feet somewhat resemble the human hand, and are soft to the
touch ; they have larger claws than the hind feet. The animal treads on
the whole palm and entire heel.

The Grizzly Bear varies greatly in colour, so much so, indeed, that it is
difficult to find two specimens alike : the young are in general blacker
than the old ones. The hair however is commonly dark brown at the roots
and for about three fourths of its length, then gradually fades into reddish-
brown, and is broadly tipped with white intermixed with irregular patches
of black or dull-brown, thus presenting a hoary or grizzly appearance on
the surface, from which the vulgar specific name is derived.

A specimen procured by us presents the following colouring : Nose, to
near the eyes, light brown ; legs, forehead, and ears, black. An irregularly
mixed dark grayish-brown prevails on the body, except on the neck, shoul-
ders, upper portion of fore-legs, and sides adjoining the shoulders, which
parts are barred or marked with light yellowish-gray, and the hairs in
places tipped with yellowish or dingy white. Iris, dark brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Male, killed by J. J. Audubon and party on the Missouri river, in
1843 — not full grown.

Feet. Inches.

From point of nose to root of tail, - - - 5 6

Tail (vertebra?), 3

" (including hair), 4

From point of nose to ear, 1 4

Width of ear, 3i

Length of eye, 1

Height at shoulder, 3 5

" rump, --4 7

Length of palm of fore foot, .... g

Breadth of do., 6

GRIZZLY BEAR 143

Fr-ct Inch.-,.

Length of sole of hind foot, Hi

Breadth of do., 5)

Girth around the body, behind the shoulders, - 4 1

Width between the ears on the skull. ... 74

We have passed many hours of excitement, and Bome, perchance, of
danger, in the wilder portions of our country ; and at times memory recala
adventures we can now hardly attempt to describe ; nor can we <
feel the enthusiasm such Bcenes produced in ib. Our readers must there-
fore imagine, the startling Bensations experienced on a sudden and quite
unexpected face-to-face meeting with the savage Grizzly Bear— the huge
Bhaggy monster disputing possession of tin- wilderness against all
and threatening immediate attack !

Whilst in a neighbourhood where the Grizzly Bear maj possibly lie
hidden, the excited nerves will canse the heart's pulsations to quicken if
hut a -tallied ground-squirrel run past ; the sharp click of the lock is
heard, and the rifle hastily thrown to the Bhoulder, before a second of time
has assured the hunter of the trifling cause of hie emotion.

Bui although dreaded alike by white hunter and by red man, this animal
is fortunately not very abundant to the eastward of the Rocky .Moun-
tains, and tho chance of encountering him doeB not often occur. We saw
only a few of these formidable beasts during our expedition up the Missouri
river and in tin' country over which we hunted during our last journey

to the wot.

The Indians, as is well known, consider the slaughter of a Grizzly Bear
a feat second onrj t" scalping an enemy, and necklaces made of the claws of

this beast are worn as trophies by even the bravest among them.

On the 22d of August, 1843, we killed one of tin-.' Bears, and as our
journals are before us. and thinking it may he of interest, we will extract
the account «\' the day's proceedings, although part of it has no connection
with our present subject. We were descending the Upper Missouri river.

"The weather being tine we left our camp of tic previous night early,
hut had made only about twelve miles when the wind arose and prevented
our men from making any headway with the oar- : we therefore landed
under a high hank amongst a number of fallen trees and some drifted
timber. All hands went in search of elks. Mr. CtJLBGBTBOM killed a
deer, and with the help o[' Mr. SQUIBES brought the meat to the boat. We

saw nothing during a long walk we took, hut hearing thr r four gun-

shots which we thought were tired bj some of our party, we hastened in

144 GRIZZLY BEAR.

the direction from whence the reports came, running and hallooing, but
could find no one. We then made the best of our way back to the boat
and despatched three men, who discovered that the firing had been al an
elk, which was however not obtained. Mr. Bell killed a female elk and
brought a portion of its flesh to the boat. After resting ourselves a while
and eating dinner, Mr. Culbertson, Squires, and ourselves walked to the
banks of the Little Missouri, distant about one mile, where we saw a
buffalo bull drinking at the edge of a sand-liar. We shot him. and fording
the stream, which was quite shallow, took away the 'nerf;' the animal
was quite dead. We saw many ducks in this river. In the course of the
afternoon we started in our boat, and rowed about half a mile below the
Little Missouri. Mr. Culbertson and ourselves walked to the body of
the bull again and knocked off his horns, after which Mr. Culbertson
endeavoured to penetrate a large thicket in hopes of starting a Grizzly
Bear, but found it so entangled with briars and vines that he was obliged
to desist, and returned very soon Mr. Harris, who had gone in tin' same
direction and for the same purpose, did not return with him. As wc were
approaching the boat we met Mr. Sprague, who informed us that he
thought he had seen a Grizzly Bear walking along the upper bank of the
river, and we went towards the spot as fast as possible. Meantime
the Bear had gone down to the water, and was clumsily and slowly
proceeding on its way. It was only a few paces from and below us, and
was seen by our whole party at the same instant. We all tired, and the
animal dropped dead without even the power of uttering a groan. Mr.
Culbertson put a rifle ball through its neck, Bell placed two large balls
in its side, and our bullet entered its belly. After shooting the Bear we
proceeded to a village of 'prairie dogs' (Spermophi/us Ludoi-kianus). and
gel traps in hopes of catching some of them. We were inclined to think
they hail all left, but Mr. Bell seeing two, shot them. There were thou-
sands of their burrows in sight. Our ' patroon, '-assisted by one of the
men, skinned the Bear, which weighed, as we thought, about four hundred
pounds. It appeared to be between four and five years old, and was a
male. Its lard was rendered, and filled sundry bottles with ' real Bear's
grease,' whilst we had the skin preserved by our accomplished taxidermist,
.Mr. Bell."

The following afternoon, as we were descending the stream, we saw
another Grizzly Bear, somewhat smaller than the one mentioned abow
It was swimming towards the carcase of a dead buffalo lodged in the
prongs of a "sawyer" or "snag," but on seeing us it raised on its hind
feet until quite erect, uttered a loud grunt or snort, made a leap from
the water, gained the upper bank of the river, and disappeared in an

GBJZZLY HEAR. 145

instant amid tho tangled briars and bushes thereabouts. Many wolves of
different colours— black, white, red, or brindle — were also intent on going
to the buffalo to gorge themselves on the carrion, but took fright at our
approach, and we saw them sneaking away with their tails prettj
their hind-legs."

The Grizzly Bear generally inhabits the swampy, well covered portions
of the districts where it is found, keeping a good deal among the
bushes, and in these retreats it has its " beds" or lairs. Some of these we
passed by, and our sensations were the reverse of pleasant whilst in Buch
thick, tangled, and dangerous neighbourhoods ; the Bear in hi- coi
having decidedly the advantage in case one should come upon him una-
wares. These animals ramble abroad both by Way and night. In many
places we found their great tracks along the banks of the rivers where
they had been prowling in search of food. There luring the

latter cart of summer, when the wild fruits thai are eagerly Bought after
by the Bears are \<r\ abundant These beasts then food upon them, tear-
ing down tho branches as for as they ran reach whilst standi:

upright posture. They in this manner get at wild plums, service berries,
buffalo berries, and tho seeds of a species of cornus or dog-wood which
grows in the alluvial bottoms of the northwest. The Grizzly Bear is also
in tho habit of scratching tho grai oily earth on tho Bides of hills \\ here tho
vegetable called "111.1111110 blanche" is known to grow, but tho

food of those animals is the mere savoury flesh of i\ - are less

powerful, fleet, or cunning than themselves. They have been known to
seize a wounded buffalo, kill it, and partially bury it in the earth for future
use, after having gorged themselves on the best parts of ii< flesh ami lapped

Up the warm blood.

We have heard many adventures related, which urred to hunters

either when surprised by these Hears, or when approaching them with
the intention of shooting them. A few el tin-,' accounts, which we believe
are true, we will introduce: During a voyage (on board one of the
steamers belonging to the American l-'ur Company) up the Missouri river,
a large she-Bear with two young was observed from the ,;
gentlemen proposed to go ashore, kill the dam. and secure her cubs. A
small boal «as lowered for their accommodation, and with guns and
ammunition they pushed off to the bank and landed in the mud. The old

Hear had observed them and removed her position to some distance, where
sic -1, md near the bank, which was there several feet above the lied of the
river. One of the hunters having neared the animal, fired at her, inflicting

a severe wound. Enraged with pain the Bear rushed with open jaws
towards the sportsmen at a rapid rate, and witli looks that assured them she
voi . in. — 19

146 GRIZZLY BEAR.

was in a desperate fury. There was but a moment's time ; the party, too
much frightened to stand the charge, " ingloriously turned and fled," with-
out even pulling another trigger, and darting to the margin of the river
jumped into the stream, losing their guns, and floundering and bobbing
under, while their hats floated away with the muddy current. After swim-
ming a while they were picked up by the steamer, as terrified as if the
Bear was even then among them, though the animal on seeing them all
afloat had made off, followed by her young.

The following was related to us by one of the " engage's" at Fort Union :
A fellow having killed an Indian woman, was forced to run away, and
fearing he would be captured, started so suddenly that he took neither gun
nor other weapon with him ; he made his way to the Crow Indians, some
three hundred miles up the Yellow Stone river, where he arrived in a
miserable plight, having suffered from hunger and exposure. He escaped
the men who were first sent after him, by keeping in ravines and hiding
closely ; but others were despatched, who finally caught him. He said that
one day he saw a dead buffalo lying near the river bank, and going towards
it to get some of the meat, to his utter astonishment and horror a young
Grizzly Bear which was feeding on the carcass, raised up from behind it
and so suddenly attacked him that his face and hands were lacerated by
its claws before he had time to think of defending himself. Not daunted,
however, he gave the cub a tremendous jerk, which threw it down, and
took to his heels, leaving the young savage in possession of the prize.

The audacity of these Bears in approaching the neighbourhood of Fort
Union at times was remarkable. The waiter, " Jean Battiste," who had
been in the employ of the company for upwards of twenty years, told us
that while one day picking peas in the garden, as he advanced towards the
end of one of the rows, he saw a large Grizzly Bear gathering that excel-
lent vegetable also. At this unexpected and startling discovery, he
dropped his bucket, peas and all, and fled at his fastest pace to the Fort.
Immediately the hunters turned out on their best horses, and by riding in a
circle, formed a line which enabled them to approach the Bear on all sides.
They found the animal greedily feasting on the peas, and shot him without
his apparently caring for their approach. We need hardly say the bucket
was empty.

In Godman's Natural History there are several anecdotes connected with
the Grizzly Bear. The first is as follows : A Mr. John Dougherty, a
very experienced and respectable hunter belonging to Major Long's expe-
dition, relates that once, while hunting with another person on one of the
upper tributaries of the Missouri, he heard the report of his companion's
rifle, and when he looked round, beheld him at a short distance endea-

GRIZZLY BEAU ] (7

Touring to escape from one of these beasts, which he had wounded as it was
coming towards him. Dougherty, forgetful of every thing but the preser-
vation of his friend, hastened to call oil" the attention of the Bear, and
arrived in rifle-shot distance jusl in time i" effect In.- generous purpose.
IK' discharged his ball at the animal, and was obliged in his turn to fly ;
bis friend, relieved from immediate danger, prepared for another attack
by charging his rifle, with which he again wounded the Bear, and saved
Mr. Dougherty from peril. Neither received any injury from this
encounter, in which the Bear was al Length killed.

On another occasion, several hunters were chased by a Grizzly Bear,
which rapidlj gained upon them. A boy of the party, who could not run
so fast as his companions, perceiving the Bear very near him, fell with his
face towards the ground. The animal reared op on his hind feet, stood for
b moment, and then bounded over him, impatient to catch the more distant
fugitives.

Mr. Dougherty, the hunter before mentioned, relate- the following
instance of the ureal muscular strength of the Grimly Hear : Having
killed a bison, ami left the carcass for the purpose of procuring assistance

to skin and cut it up, he was very much surprised on his return to find

thai it had been dragged off whole, to a considerable distance bj

Dear, and was then placed in a pit which the animal had dug with his

claws for its reception.

illowing is taken from Sir Johs Richardson's Fauna Boreali
Americana : A party of voyagers, who had been employed all day in
tracking a canoe up the Saskatchewan, had seated themselves in thi
light by a fire, and were busy in preparing their supper, when a large
drizzly Bear sprung over their canoe, that was placed behind them, and
Beizing one of the party by the shoulder, carried him off. The rest fled in
terror, with the exception of a Metis, named Hot rapo, who, grasping his
gun, followed the Hear as it was retreating leisurely with it- prey. He

called to his unfortunate comrade that he war. afraid of bitting hiui if he
fired at the Hear, but the latter entreated him to fire immediately, without
hesitation, as the Bear was squeezing him to death. On this he took a
deliberate aim and discharged the contents of his piece into the body of the
Bear, which instantrj dropped its pre] to pursue Bourapo. He escaped
with difficulty, and the Bear ultimately retired to a thicket, where it was
supposed to have died; but the curiosity of the party not being a match for
their fears, the fad of it> decease was not ascertained. The man who was
rescued had his arm fractured, and w a- otherwise severely bitten by the
Bear, but finally recovered. I have sen BOURAPO, and can add that the

148 GRIZZLY BEAR.

account which he gives is fully credited by the traders resident in that part
of the country, who are best qualified to judge of its truth from the know-
ledge of the parties. I have been told that there is a man now living in
the neighbourhood of Edmonton-bouse who was attacked by a Grizzly
Bear, which sprang out of a thicket, and with one stroke of its paw com-
pletely scalped him, laying bare the skull and bringing the skin of the
forehead down over the eyes. Assistance coming up, the Bear made oft
without doing him further injury, but the scalp not being replaced, the poor
man has lost his sight, although he thinks that his eyes are uninjured."

Mr. Drummond, in his excursions over the Rocky Mountains, had
frequent opportunities of observing the manners of the Grizzly Bear, and
it often happened that in turning the point of a rock or sharp angle of a
valley, he came suddenly upon one or more of them. On such occasions
they reared on their hind legs and made a loud noise like a person breath-
ing quick, but much harsher. He kept his ground without attempting to
molest them, and they, on their part, after attentively regarding him for
some time, generally wheeled round and galloped oft', though, from their
disposition, there is little doubt but he would have been torn in pieces had
he lost his presence of mind and attempted to fly. When he discovered
them from a distance, he generally frightened them away by beating on a
large tin box, in which he carried his specimens of plants. He never saw
more limn four together, and two of these he supposes to have been cubs ;
he more often met them singly or in pairs. He was only once attacked,
and then by a female, for the purpose of allowing her cubs time to escape.
His gun on this occasion missed fire, but he kept her at bay with the stock
of it, until some gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay Company, with whom he
was travelling at the time, came up and drove her off. In the latter end
of June, 1826, he observed a male caressing a female, and soon afterwards
they both came towards him, but whether accidentally, or for the purpose
of attacking him, he was uncertain. He ascended a tree, and as the female
rlrew near, fired at and mortally wounded her. She uttered a few loud
screams, which threw the male into a furious rage, and he reared up
against the trunk of the tree in which Mr. Drummond was seated, but
never attempted to ascend it. The female, in the meantime, retired to a
short distance, lay down, and as the male was proceeding to join her, Mr.
Drummond shot him also.

The young Grizzly Bears and gravid females hibernate, but the older
males often come abroad in the winter in quest of food. Mackenzie
mentions the den or winter retreat of a Grizzly Bear, which was ten feet
wide, five feet high, and six feet long.

GRIZZLY BEAR. 1 19

This species varies very much in colour : we have .-kins in om- possession
collected on the Upper Missouri, some of which are nearly white, whilst
others are as nearly of a rufous tint. The our thai was killed by our
party (of which we have also the -kin) was a dark brown one

The following is from note- of J. W. Ludubon, made in California in
184'.* and 1850: "High upon thewaters of the San Joaquin, in California,
many of these animals have been killed by the miners now overrui
the country west of the Sierra Nevada. Greatly as the Gruel] Bear is
dreaded, it is hunted with all the more enthusiasm by these fearless pio-
neers in the romantic hills, \ alleys, and wild mountains of the land of gold,
as its flesh is highly prized bj men who have been living for months on
salt pork or dry and tasteless dee,- meat. I have Been two dollars a pound
paid for the leaf-fat around the kidneys. If there is time, and the animal

i- not in a starving Condition, the Grizzly Hear always run- at tin' sight

of man : hut should the hunter come too suddenly on him. the fierce beast
always commences tic engagement. — And the first -hot of the hunter is a
matter of much importance, as. if unsuccessful, hi- next move must he to

look for a saplim: to climb for safety. It is rare to lind a man who would
willingly come into immediate contact with one of these powerful and

vindictive brutes. Some were killed near 'Green Springs,' on the Stanis-
laus, in the winter of 1849-50, that were nearly eight hundred pounds
weight. 1 saw many CUDS at San Francisco. Sacramento city, and Stock-
ton, ami even those not larger than an ordinary si/ed dog, -lowed evidence
of their future fierceness, as it required great patience to render them
gentle enough to be handled with impunity as pets. In camping at night,
my friend Robust Latton, and 1 too. often thought what Borl of defence we

could make should an old fellow conic smelling round our solitan lent for

supper; but as 'Old Riley,' our pack-mule, was always tied near, we used
to quiet ourselves with the idea that while Riley was snorting and kicking,
we might place a couple of udl aimed halls from our old friend Miss

Betsey (as the boyB had christened my large nun), so that OUT revolvers,

Tom's dragoon pistols, would give us the victor; : but realrj a startling
effect would be produced bj the snout of a Grizzly Bear being thrust into
your tent, and your awaking at the noise of the sniff he might take to

induce his appetite.

" 1 wa- anxious to purchase a \\-w of the beautiful skins of this species,
hut those who had killed 'an old Grizzly,' said they would take his skin
homr. It makes a first rate bed under the thin and worn blanket of the

digger.

" The different colours of the pelage of this animal, hut for the uniformity
of its extraordinary claws would puzzle any one not acquainted with it*'

150 GRIZZLY BEAR.

form, for it varies from jet blacfa in the young of the first and second
winter to the hoary gray of ago, or of summer."

In Townsexd's " Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains to
the Columbia River, &c" (Philadelphia, 1839), we find two adventures
with the Grizzly Bear. The first is as follows : The party were on Black
Foot river, a small stagnant stream which runs in a northwesterly direction
down a valley covered with quagmires through which they had great diffi-
culty in making their way. " As we approached our encampment, near a
small grove of willows on the margin of the river, a tremendous Grizzly
Bear rushed out upon us. Our horses ran wildly in every direction,
snorting with tenor, and became nearly unmanageable. Several balls
were instantly fired into him, hut they only seemed to increase his fury.
After spending a moment in rending each wound (their invariable prac-
tice), he selected the person who happened to be nearest, and darted after
him, but before he proceeded far he was sure to be stopped again by a ball
from another quarter. In this way he was driven about amongst us for
perhaps fifteen minutes, at times so near some of the horses that he received
several severe kicks from them. One of the pack-horses was fastened upon
by the brute, and in the terrified animal's efforts to escape the dreaded
gripe, the pack and saddle were broken to pieces and disengaged. One of
our mules also lent him a kick in the head, while pursuing it up an adjacent
bill, which sent him rolling to the bottom. Here he was finally brought
to a stand. The poor animal was so completely surrounded by enemies
that he became bewildered. He raised himself upon his hind feet, standing
almost erect, his mouth partly open, and from his protruding tongue the
blood fell fast in drops. While in this position he received about six more
balls, each of which made him reel. At last, as in complete desperation,
he dashed into the water, and swam several yards with astonishing strength
and agility, the guns cracking at him constantly. But he was not to
proceed far. Just then, Richardsox, who had been absent, rode up, and
fixing his deadly aim upon him, fired a ball into the back of his head,
which killed him instantly. The strength of four men was required to
drag the ferocious brute from the water, and upon examining his body he
was found completely riddled ; there did not appear to be four inches of
his shaggy person, from the hips upward, that had not received a ball.
There must have been at least thirty shots made at him, and probably few
missed him, yet such was his tenacity of life that I have no doubt he would
have succeeded in crossing the river, but for the last shot in the brain.
He would probably weigh, at the least, six hundred pounds, and was about
the height of an ordinary steer. The spread of the foot, laterally, was ten
inches, and the claws measured seven inches in length. This animal was

GHBELY BEAR, l.-,l

remarkably lean ; when in good condition he would doubtless much exceed
in weight the estimate I have given."

At p. 68, TOWNSEND says: "In tin' afternoon "lie of our men had a

Bomewhal perilous adventure with a Grimly Bear. He saw tin' animal
crouching his huge frame in some willows which skirted the river, and
approaching him on horseback to within twenty yards, fired upon him.
The Bear was only Blightly wounded by the Bhot, and with a tin.
"I' angry malignity, rushed from his cover, and gave chase. The horse
happened to In- a slow one, and for the distanoe of half a mile the race was
hard contested, the Bear frequently approaching so near the terrified
animal as to -nap at his heels, whilst the equally terrified rider, who had
lost his hat at the Btai t, used whip ami spur with tin' most frantic diligence,
frequently Innkiuir behind, from an influence which he could not resist, at
his rugged and determined foe, and Bhrieking in an agony of tear. • -hunt
him! -hunt him!' The man. who was one id' the greenhorns, happened to
be about a mile behind the main body, either from the indolence of his
horse or his own carelessness; but a- he approached the party in his
desperate flight, and his lugubrious cries reached the ears of the men in

front, about a dozen of them rode to hi- assistance, ..'ded in

diverting the attention of his pertina ived th"

contents "I' all the nuns, he tell, and was soon despatched. The man rode

iii among his fellows, pale and haggard from overwrought feelings, ami
was probably effectually cured of a propensity for meddling with
Bears."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION'.

The drizzly P>ear has been found as far north as about latitude
is an inhabitant of the western and northwestern portions of North
America, i> most frequently met with in hilly and woody dista
(east of the Rocky Mountains) along the vi]^,-^ of the Upper Missouri and

Upper Mississippi rivers, and their tributaries. On the we-t coast it is
found rather numerously in California, generally keeping among the o;ik>

and pines, on the acorns ami cones of which it feeds with avidity.

The Grizzly Bear does aot appear to have been seen in eastern Texas
or the southern parts <<\' New Mexico, and a- far as we have heard has not
been discovered in Lower California.

GENERAL REMARKS.

To Lewis and Clark we are indebted for the first authentic account of
the difference between this species and the Black Bear of Ajnerica,

152 GRIZZLY BEAR.

although the Grizzly Bear was mentioned a long time previously by La
Hontan and others.

De Witt Clinton, in a discourse before the New York Literary and
Philosophical Society, was the next naturalist who clearly showed that
this animal was specifically distinct from either the Polar or the common
Bear.

Lewis and Clark's name, Grizzly, translated into Ferox, has been
generally adopted by naturalists to designate this species, and we have
admitted it in our nomenclature of this work. We believe that the name
proposed for it by Ord (Ursvs horribilis), and which SAy adopted, must, if
we adhere to the rules by which naturalists should be guided in such
matters, ultimately take the precedence.

The difference between the Grizzly Bear and the Black may be easily
detected. The soles of the feet of the former are longer, and the heel
broader ; the claws are very long, whilst in the Black Bear they are quite
short. The tail of the Grizzly Bear is shorter than that of the Black, and
its body is larger, less clumsy and unwieldy, and its head flatter than the
head of the latter.

The Grizzly Bear makes enormous long tracks, and differs widely from
the Black Bear in its habits, being very ferocious, and fearlessly attacking
man.

We think the average size and weight of this animal are much under-
rated. We have no hesitation in stating that the largest specimens would
weigh considerably over one thousand pounds. We have seen a skin of
the common Black Bear, shot in the State of New York, the original
owner of which was said to have weighed twelve hundred and odd pounds
when killed !

,1

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153

CANIS FA MILIAR IS*— Lin w. (Var. Lagopus.)

ITark-Inpiax Doo.

PLAIT. CXXXIL— Mau.

C. Magnitudine inter lupum et vulpem fulvum intermedius, auriculis
erectis, cauda coraosa, colore cinereo, albo nigroque notato.

chat: i

Intermediate in size between the wolf and red fox ; ears, ereet .' tai/, bushy ;
colour, pray, varied with white and dark markings.

DESCRIPTION.

The Hare-Indian Doer resembles the wolf rather more than the fox. It?
head is small, muzzle Blender, ear- erect, eyc~ somewhat obliqi
slender, feel broad and hairy, and if- tail bushy and generally curled over
its hip. Tin' body is covered with long hair, particularly about the
shoulders. At the rout- of the hair, both on the body and tail tl
thick wool. On the posterior parts of the check? the hair i? long and
directed backward?, giving the animal the appearance of having a ruff
around the neck.

Face, muzzle, belly, and le^rs, cream white : a white central lino passes
over the frown of the head to the occiput : the anterior surface of the ear
is white, the posterior yellowish-gray or fawn colour ; tip of no?c, eye-
la?he?, roof of mouth, and pari of the gums, black ; there is a dark patch
over the eye, and large patches of dark blackish-gray or lead colour, on the
body mixed with fawn colour and white, not definite in form, but running
into each other. The tail is white beneath, and i- tipped with white.

DIMENSIONS.

Feel. Inchei

Length of head and body, about- - - - 3

Heigh! at shoulder, about 1 2

Length of tail, 1 3

vol. in.— 'JO

154 HARE-INDIAN DOG.

This animal is more domestic than many of the wolf-like Dogs of the
plains, and seems to have been entirely subjugated by the Indians north of
the great lakes, who use it in hunting, but not as a beast for burthen or
draught.

Sir John Richardson says (F. B. A., p. 79) : " The Hare-Indian Dog is
very playful, has an affectionate disposition, and is soon gained by kind-
ness. It is not, however, very docile, and dislikes confinement of every
kind. It is very fond of being caressed, rubs its back against the hand
like a cat, and soon makes an acquaintance with a stranger. Like a wild
animal it is very mindful of an injury, nor does it, like a spaniel, crouch
under the lash ; but if it is conscious of having deserved punishment, it
will hover round the tent of its master the whole day, without coming
within his reach, even if he calls it. Its howl, when hurt or afraid, is that
of the wolf; but when it sees any unusual object it makes a singular
attempt at barking, commencing by a kind of growl, which is not, however,
unpleasant, and ending in a prolonged howl. Its voice is very much like
that of the prairie wolf.

"The larger Dogs which we had for draught at Fort Franklin, and
which were of the mongrel breed in common use at the fur posts, used to
pursue the Hare-Indian Dogs for the purpose of devouring them ; but the
latter far outstripped them in speed, and easily made their escape. A
young puppy, which I purchased from the Hare Indians, became greatly
attached to me, and when about seven months old ran on the snow by the
side of my sledge for nine hundred miles, without suffering from fatigue.
During this march it frequently of its own accord carried a small twig or
one of my mittens for a mile or two ; but although very gentle in its man-
ners it showed little aptitude in learning any of the arts which the New-
foundland Dogs so speedily acquire, of fetching and carrying when ordered.
This Dog was killed and eaten by an Indian, on the Saskatchewan, who
pretended that he mistook it for a fox."

The most extraordinary circumstance in this relation is the great endur-
ance of the pup]iy, which certainly deserves special notice. Even the
oldest and strongest Dogs are generally incapable of so long a journey
as' nine hundred miles (with probably but little food), without suffering
from fatigue.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

It is stated by Sir John Richardson that this species exists only among

HARE-INDIAN DOG. 155

the different tribes of Indians thai frequenl the borders of Great Bear
lake and the Mackenzie river.

GENERAL BEKABBS.

From the size of this animal it might be supposed by those who are
desirous of tracing all the Dogs to some neighbouring wolf, hyena, jackal,
or fox, that it had its origin either from the prairie wolf or the red fox, or
a mixture of both.

The fact, however, thai these wolves and foxes never associate with
each other in the Bame vicinity, ami never have produced an inti 1
variety, or, that we are aware of, have ever produced a hybrid in their
wild state, and more especially the feci thai the prairie wolf, as stated by
Richardson, docs not exisl within hundreds of miles of the region where
this Dog is bred, must lead us to look to Borne other Bource for it- origin.

Its habits, the manner in which it carries its tail, it- colour, and its bark,
all differ widely from those of the prairie wolf

We have never had an opportunity of seeing this animal ami examining

it. except in the Btuffed specimen from which our drawing was made; we

arc therefore indebted to Sir John RICHARDSON for all the information we

1 regard to its habits, and have in this article given the results of

his investigations mostly in his own language.

156

LEPUS TEXIANUS.—Aud. and Bach.

Texan Hare — Vulgo Jackass Rabbit.

PLATE CX XX II I.— Male.

L. Magnitudine, L. Californicum excedens, auriculis maximis, capite
tcrtia parte longioribus, linea fusca supra in collo, stria nigi-a a natibus
usque ad caudaj apiceni producta, corpore supra luteo nigroque vario,
subter, collo rufo gula atque ventre albis.

CHARACTERS.

Larger than the Californian Hare ; ears, very large — more than one third
longer than the head ; a dark brown stripe on the top of the neck, and a black
stripe from the rump, extending to the root of the tail and along its upper
surface to the tip. Upper surface of body, mottled deep buff and black, throat
and belly white, under side of neck dull rufous.

DESCRIPTION.

Crown of the head, depressed or flattened, forming an obtuse angle with
the forehead and nose ; ears, of immense size, being larger than in any
other species of Hare known to us. Body, full, and rather stout ; fore-
legs, of moderate length and size ; thighs, stout and large ; tarsus, of
moderate length ; nails, strong, deeply channelled beneath.

Hairs on the upper surface of body, white from the roots for two thirds
of their length, then brown, then dull buff, and tipped very narrowly with
black. On the belly, throat, and insides of legs, the hairs are white from
the roots to the tips.

One of our specimens has a black patch on the inner surface of the ear
near its base ; another has a brown patch in that place ; anterior margin
of the ears, buff ; posterior portion of the ear for an inch and a half from
the tip, whitish ; a narrow line of dark brown runs from between the ears
for an inch along the back of the neck ; the anterior outer half of the ear,
and the posterior inner half of the ear, are clothed with a mixture of parti-

TEXAN HARE. 1 ;,7

coloured gray and yellowish hairs ; the posterior outside half of the oar is
white, with the exception of the extreme point, which in one of our speci-
mens has a slighl margin of in-own at the tip of the ear, while another
specimen is more deeply tinged with brown for three fourths of its length.

Around the eye then' is a lighl yellowish-graj ring; under sn
neck, rufous, faintly spotted or marked with brown : tail, black above, the
wane colour continuing on the rump and dorsal line in a stripe Cor about
four inches from the rool of the tail ; eyes, orange hazel; nails, brown.

The line of win i i the belly and Hanks is irregular in shape where it

joins the dark co i pper surface, and in this respect difl

Lepus callotis, in which species the white extends higher up the sides and

is continued in a tolerably straight line nearly to the tail.
Whiskers, white, a few of them black at the roots.

MMl'NMoN>.

Feet.

From point of nose to root of tail, - - - 1 9

" " to ear, .... j

Ear, externally. 6

Width of ear, 3

Length of tarsus, 5

" tail (including fur), ... 4

longest whisker, .... 3

This Hare received from the Texans, and from our troops in tin
war. the name of Jackass rabbit, in common witli Lepus collotis, the Black-
tailed Hare described in our second volume. ]>. 95. It is the I
three nearly allied Bpecies of Hare which inhabit respectively New Mexico,
Texas, Mexico, ami California, viz. the present species, the Black-tailed,
and the Californian Hare. It is quite as swift of tout a- either of the
others, and its habits resemble those of the Black-tailed Hare in almost

every particular. The young have generally a while spol on the middle

of the top of the head, and are remarkable for the rigidity of the fringe of

hairs which margins the ears. The feet of thi> specie- do not exhibit the
red and dense fur which prevails on the feet of the Black-tailed Hare (and
from which it has sometimes been Called the Red-footed Hare).

The Mexicans are very fond of the flesh of this animal, and as it is widely
distributed, a great many are shot and snared by them. It is very good
eating, and formed an important item in the provision? of Johx W. ArrrJ

158 TEXAN HARE.

bon's party whilst passing through Mexico, they at times killing so many
that the men became tired of them.

Fabulous stories similar to those related of many other animals of which
little was formerly known, have been told us of this Hare, which has been
described as enormously large, and was many years ago mentioned to us
as equal in size to a fox. Of course we were somewhat disappointed when
we procured specimens, although it is a fine large species.

Among other old stories about the animals of Texas and Mexico, we
have a rather curious one in Clavighero's notes or attempted elucidation
of Hernandez, which we give as translated by Capt. J. P. McCowx from
the Spanish. The Ocotochtli, according to Dr. Hernandez, is a species of
wild-cat. He says that " when it has killed any game it climbs a tree and
utters a howl of invitation to other animals that come and eat and die, as
the flesh was poisoned by its bite, when he descends and makes his meal
from the store that his trick has put at his disposal."

geographical distribution.

This Hare appears to inhabit the southern parts of New Mexico, the
western parts of Texas, and the elevated lands westward of the tierras
calientes (low lands of the coast) of Mexico, and is found within a few
miles of San Petruchio, forty miles from the coast : so J. W. Audubon
was informed by some Rangers who accompanied a party sent from San
Antonio in 1845, who having the use of " Col. Harney's" greyhounds, had
many a chase, but never caught one ! How near it approaches the sea
coast we could not learn. It was not observed west of Ures in Sonora
by J. W. Audubon, and seems to be replaced by the Californian Hare
on the Pacific coast.

Its southern limit is unknown to us, but it probably extends some
distance beyond the city of Mexico.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Since publishing our article on Lepus Townsendii we have received some
accounts of the habits of a Hare which we presume may prove to be that
animal ; they are singular, and may interest our readers. Captain Thomas
G. Rhett, of the United States army, who was stationed at Fort Laramie
for more than two years, observed the Hares of that neighbourhood to
make burrows in the ground like rabbits. They ran into these holes when
alarmed, and when chased by his greyhounds generally escaped by diving
into them. The captain frequently saw them sitting at the mouths of their

TEXAN HARE. [gg

holes like prairie dogs, ami shot them. Several that he thus killed had

Only their heads exposed outside of their burrow.

These holes or burrows are dog in a slanting direction, and not straight
up ami down like the badger holes. The females bring forth their young
in them, and their habits mast assimilate to those o in rabbit.

The captain states thai they turn white in winter, but as he made no notes
and broughl no specimens, we cannol with certainty decide that they were
the animal we named /.. Townsendii. Should the)- prove to be I
however, the name will have to he cl ipestris, a 11;

plains which we had previously described, but subsequently thought was

not that species, as it became white in winter, which we were told /..
Hi did not. See our first volume, p. 30.

160

ARCTOMYS F L A V 1 V E N T E R— B ac h.

Yellow-bellied Marmot.

PLATE CXXXIV.— Male.

A. Supra flavido-albo nigroque griseus, capitis vertice nigro, subtus
saturate flavus, nasi extremitate labiis, mentoque albis, pedibus fuscescente
flavis, cauda subnigra.

CHARACTERS.

Upper parts, grizzled yellowish-white and black ; crown of the head, chiefly
black ; under parts, deep yellow ; point of nose, lips, and chin, white ; feet,
brownish-yellow ; tail, blackish-broion.

SYNONYMES.

Arctomys Flaviventeu. Bachman, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., October 5, 1841.
" " Catal. Zool. Soc. 1839, Specimen No. 459, Bachman's MS3

DESCRIPTION.

In form this animal resembles the figures and descriptions of what was
formerly considered the Canada Marmot {Arctomys empetra), which has
since been ascertained to be the young of the Maryland Marmot {A. monax).

Head, rather small ; ears, small and narrow ; nails, short ; tail, rounded,
and rather long ; the whole animal is thickly clothed with fur, somewhat
softer than that of the Maryland Marmot.

The upper incisors have several indistinct longitudinal grooves.

Fur on the back, grayish-black at base ; on each hair a considerable
space is occupied by dirty yellowish-white, which is gradually shaded
towards the tips through brown into black, but the tips are yellowish-
white.

Hairs on the under surface, grayish-black at base ; hairs of the feet,
chiefly black at base ; cheeks, grizzled with white and dark brown, the
latter colour prevailing ; a rusty brown patch on the throat borders the

YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT. ltil

white hairs on the oliin ; whiskers, mostly black; palms, entirely naked
through their whole extent. There is an indistinct yellow elongated spot
behind the nose, and also one behind or above the eye.

DIMEKS

From point of nose to rool of tail, - - -16

Tail, to end of fur, 6 10

Heel, (o point of nail, -

Heighl of ear posteriorly,

Prom point of oose to eai', 3

The specimen from which our description of this Marmol was drawn up,
was round by us among the Bkins Benl to England by Drumiond and
Dougi is, procured bj t] nen in our northwestern territories,

and placed in the museum of the Zoological Society of London. Since we
described it. the skin has been stuffed and set up.

Not a line was written in regard to its habits or the place where it was
killed ; its form and claws, however, indicate thai like the other s\
Marmot found in America, it is a burrowing animal, and feeds ■■
root*, and grasses. We may also presume it has four or five young at a
birth.

QEOGH LPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

As just stated, the exact locality in which this animal was captured has
not been given, but judging from the route travelled over *
presume it was obtained in the mountainous districts that extend north
and south between Western Texas and California, where it p
exists, bul if seen has been supposed by the hunters and miners to lie the
common Marmot or woodchuck of the Atlantic States (. /. monar).

GENERAL KKM \Kk>.

This species differs from the young of Arctomys monax, I

naturalists named . /. empetra, as we ascertained by comparing it with
several specimens of that so-called species, in the museum of the
Zoological Society, its feet being yellow instead of black, as in those
specimens, and the belly yellow, not deep rusty red. Besides, the hairs

voi.. in.— -21

162 YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT.

on the back are yellowish-white and black, in place of rusty brown, black,
and white.

The head is narrower, the toes smaller, and the claws only half as long,
as in the above specimens. The ears are also considerably smaller,
narrower and more ovate than the ears of A. monax. which are round.

^

N:

i

i

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163

ARVICOLA RICHAHPSOMI— Am. and Bath

UlCHARDSOIi's MeADOW-Mi'I BK.

PLATE • XXXV. Fig. 1.

A. fuscus niero tinctus. subtus cinereus, cserulescente-canus, aariculia
mediocribus vellerc fere conditis, cauda capite paullulnm longiore.

CHARACTERS.

Dull brown mixed with black', under parts bluish-gray : cars, of moderate
size, nearly hidden by the fur ; tail, a littli longer than the head.

m NONYME.
Arvicoi.a Rtparius! Ord. Bank Meadow Mouse, Richardson, F. B. A, p. l '20.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, rather large ; incisors, large, much exposed, and projecting beyond
the nose— upper, Battened anteriorly, marked with Bcarcelj perceptible
perpendicular grooves, and with a Bomewhat irregular and rather oblique
cutting edge— lower, twice as long as the upper, and narrower, slightly
curved, and rounded anteriorly ; nose, thick and obtuse ; whiskers, few
and rather Bhort ; eyes, rather small ; oar-, ovate, rounded at the lip. not
easily distinguishable until the surrounding fur is blown or moved aside.

Body, more slender behind than at the shoulders, tin- hind-legs not being
so far apart a- tin' fore-legs : tail, rather >hort. tapering, ami thinly covered
with short hairs ; fore-legs, short : feet, rather small, with four slender,
well separated toe-, and the rudiment of a thumb, which is armed with a
minute nail : claws, small, compressed, and pointed : the third toe nearly
equals the middle one. which is the longest.

The hair of the toes projects over the claws but doe- not conceal them;
the toes of the hind-feet are longer than tho-e of the fore-feet, and their
claws are somewhat longer : the inner one is the shortest, the second longer
than the third, and the third longer than the fourth ; the first and fifth are
considerably shorter than the others, and are plaeed farther back.

The fur on the back is about eight lines long, but not so soft and fine as

164 RICHARDSON'S MEADOW-MOUSE.

in some other animals of the genus : it is nearly as long on the crown and
cheeks, but is shorter and thinner on the chest and bellv.

Incisors, yellow ; claws, white ; whiskers, black ; the whole dorsal
aspect, including the shoulders and outsides of the thighs, is dull or dusky
brown, proceeding from an intimate mixture of yellowish-brown and black,
which colours are confined to the tips of the hairs and are so mingled as
to produce a nearly uniform shade of colour without lustre.

From the roots to near the tips, the fur has a uniform shining blackish-
gray colour ; on the ventral aspect (lower parts) it is bluish-gray ; the
margin of the upper lip, the chin, and the feet, are dull white ; tail, dark
brown above, lighter beneath, the two colours meeting by an even line.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 7 inches.

tail. 2 "

Dedmmond, who procured this Meadow-Mouse, states that its habits are
analogous to those of the common water-rat of Europe (.flrvicola amphibms),
with which it may be easily confounded, although the shortness of its tail
may serve as a mark by which to distinguish it.

It frequents moist meadows amongst the Rocky Mountains, and swims
and dives well, taking to the water at once when pursued. All Meadow-
Mice indeed are capital swimmers. We some time since amused ourselves
watching one that had fallen into a circular cistern partly built up with
stone and partly excavated out of the solid rock by blasting, and which was
plastered with cement on the inside to make it water-tight. This cistern had
about four feet of water in it. On one side there was a projecting rounded
knob of stone some five or six inches long and about two wide, which slanted
out of the water so that the upper edge of it was dry. Upon this little
resting-place there was a large Arvicola Pennsylvanica (Wilson's Meadow-
Mouse) seated very quietly, having probably tumbled in the preceding
night. When we approached the edge and looked down into the clear
element we at first did not observe the Rat, but as soon as we espied him
he saw us, immediately dived, and swam around underneath the surface
quite rapidly ; he soon arose, however, and regained his position on the

RICHARDSON'S MEADOW-MOUSE. 16;,

ledge, and we determined to save him from whal had been his impending
fate — drowning or starving, or both. We procured a plank, and gently
lowering one end oi h inward-; the ledge, thought he would take advantage
of the inclined plane thus afforded him, to come oul ; bul in our awkward-
ness we suffered the plank to slip, and at the plash in the water the little
follow dived and -wain around several times before he again returned to
Ins resting place, where we now had the end of the board fixed, so that he
could gel upon it. As soon as he was on it, we began to raise the plank,
hut when we had him about three feet above the sui 1 off into

the water, making as prettj a dive a- need he. He always looked quite
dry. and not a hair of his coat was soilt •' or turned during
immersions, and it was quite interestii iquisitive lool

towards us, turning his head and appearing to have stmiiLr doubts whether

we meant 1" help, or lo make an end of him. We put down the plank
again, and after two attempts, in both of which his timidity induced him
to jump oil' it when he was nearly at the edge of the cistern, he at
last reached the top and in a moment disappeared amid the weed- and

(Trasses around.

OORAPHIC M. DISTRIBUTION,

The only information we possess of the habitat of tins animal is from
DRDMMOND, who state- that he captured it near the foot of !>■
Mountain?.

GENERAL REMWiKs.

This specie- possesses longer and Stronger incisors than any other
a Wat of this genus ; it-' mouth presenting in Ian :i miniature

resemblance to that of the musk-rat.

Although the Arvicola xanthognatha is a larger animal than the present,
ye1 its incisors are no1 more than half as long as in this api

We have named this Arvicola in honour of Sir John Rii eabdson, who
ibing it (fauna Boreali Americana, p. 120), applied to it. with a
doubt, tin- name of .Irricola riparius, Ori>, from which it differs so much as
to render a comparison here unnecessary.

166

ARVICOLA DEUMMONDII.— Aud. and Bach

Drummond's Meadow-Mouse.

PLATE CXXXV. Figure with Short Tail. — Summer pelage.

A. Corpore supra fusco, infra fusco-cinereo, ad latera rufo tfncto,
robustiore et paulo majore quam in A. Pennsylvania ; auriculis vellere
fere occultis ; eauda brevi, capitis dimidium subequante.

CHARACTERS.

Body, above, dark brown ; beneath, dull brownish-gray tinged with red.
Stouter and rather larger than Wilson's Meadow-Mouse (A. Pennsylvania) ;
ears, scarcely visible beyond the fur ; tail, short, about half the length of the
head.

SYNONYMES.

Arvicola Noveboracensis — Sharp-nosed Meadow-Mouse. Rich., F. B. A., p. 120.

DESCRIPTION.

Body, thick ; head, of moderate size, tapering from the ears to the nose ;
nose, slender and more acute than in many other Jlrvicolce, projecting a
little beyond the incisors, which are rather large.

Ears, rounded, scarcely visible beyond the fur ; tail, covered with short
hairs, scarcely concealing the scales, converging to a point at the tip ; legs,
very short ; feet, rather small ; claws, weak and compressed ; a very minute
nail occupies the place of the thumb ; the fur is a little coarser than that
of A. Pennsylvania.

The whiskers, which are not numerous, reach the cheeks.

Hair on the back, and upper part of the head, grayish-black from the
roots to near the tips, which are reddish-brown terminated with black ;
the resulting colour is an intimate mixture of brown and black, appearing
in some lights dark reddish-brown, in others yellowish-brown mixed with
blackish ; around the eyes, yellowish-red ; there is a lightish space behind
the ears and along the sides ; under surface, yellowish-gray, mingling on

DRUMMONiyS MEADOW-MOUSE. ]67

the sides with the colour of the back ; upper surface of the tail, dark
brown : under side, grayish-white : feet, dark gray, tinged with rufous.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 4

head. 1

tail, 1

The specimen from which our dra* Lug was made is one of those obtained
by Mr. DrUHMOND, and was deposited by that gentleman in the museum
of the Zoological Societj at London, as well as manj others to which we
have already referred in our work, it was examined and •
Johk Richardson, who mistook the animal for a supposed species found
in the state of New York, and loosely described b i B under

the name of Lemmus not id which we refer to. 7. Pennsylvanica,

with which we have compared the description.

Drtjmmo ■ d to the habits of the present animal merelj Mates

that they are similar to those of Armenia xantfwgnatha.

GRAPHU W DI8TRIBU1

Valleys of tlic Rocky Mountains.

OBNBRA1 REMARKS

\ ed, >ir John B bed this animal.

quoting from Desmarest (Mamm., p. bsque's description of

the Bo-called Lemmus noveboracmsis, which appears to apply to one of the

varieties of Wn SON'S Meadow-Mouse (. Irriro/a Pennsylvanica), of which we

possess specimens.

From an examination of manj species, we have arrived at the conclusion
that no Arvicolte found on the Rocky Mountains are identical with any in
the Atlantic States, and on a comparison of Richardson s species with
those referred to by RappinesqUE, we determined without much Invitation
that the pro-cut is a uew species tinder an old name, and we have conse-
quently attached to it the name of its discoverer — Drvmmond.

By some oversight this species was not named on our plate as distinct
from A. Richardsonii, but is easily distinguished by its short tail — the two
being on the same engraving.

168

CERVUS VIRGINIANUS.— Pennant.

Common American Deer.

PLATE G X X X V I .—Male and Female.

(Fawn.) PLATE LXXXI .—Winter Pelage.

In our article on the Virginian Deer (vol. ii. p. 220), we gave descrip-
tions of the characters and habits of this species ; we now present figures
of the adult male and female.

We have not much information to add to that already given : it may be
of interest, however, to notice the annual changes which take place in the
growth of the horns, from adolescence to maturity, and the decline which
is the result of age.

At Hyde Park, on the estate of J. R. Stuyvesant, Esq., Dutchess
county, New York, seven or eight Deer were kept for many years, and
several raised annually. We had the opportunity at the hospitable
mansion of Mr. Stuyvesant, of examining a series of horns, all taken
from the same buck as they were annually shed, from the first spikes to
the antlers that crowned his head when killed ; and we now give a short
memorandum showing the progress of their growth from year to year. In
1842, when this buck was one year old, his horns (spikes) had each one
rudimentary prong — one about five eighths of an inch long, the other
scarcely visible ; in 1843 they had two prongs four to six inches long ; in
1844, three prongs, and brow antlers, longest prong eight inches ; in 1845,
a little larger in diameter, brow antlers longer and curved ; 1846, rather
less throughout in size ; 1847, the two last prongs quite shortened. These
last were somewhat broken by an accident, but evidently show that the
animal had lost some degree of vigour. Age when killed, six years.

It should be observed that this animal was restricted to a park and was
partially domesticated, being occasionally fed a little in the winter season ;
and being thus deprived of the wider range of the forest, the horns may
not have exhibited all the peculiarities of the wild unrestrained buck.

We think however that the above will give a tolerably correct idea of
the operations of nature in the annual production and conformation of the
horns. They become longer and more branched for several years, until
the animal has arrived at maturity, when either from age or disease they
begin to decline.

In connection with this subject it may not.be uninteresting to notice the

common AMERICAN DEER. |,;<|

effect of castration on the horns of the buck. When this operation 1ms
been performed daring the season when the horns arc fully grown, it is
said they arc not dropped, but continue on the head for many years ; when
the operation lias been performed after they are dropped, thi
subsequent growth of horns, and the head appears ever afterwards like
that of a

We had an opportunity at the Blue Sulphur Springs in Virginia, of
examining two tame bucks which had been castrated during the time
that their horns won- in velvet. Their horn.- continued to grow for
several years; the antlers wire of enormous length, ami very irn
branched, bul the velvel was still retained on them ; thej
spongy appearance, ami from slight scratches or injuries were continu-
ally bleeding; the neck had ceased t<> swell periodically as in the perfect
Imeks. they had become very la I to 1"' quite tat, ami when first

seen at a distance we supposed them to be elk<.

vol. in. — 22

170

GENUS ENHYDRA.- Fleming.

DENTAL FORMULA.

Incisive | ; Canine ±=± ; Molar ?=? = 38.

Head, small and globular ; ears, short and conical, placed far back in
the head.

Body, very long, covered with a dense glossy fur ; tail, less than one
fourth the length of the body, rather stout, depressed, covered with strong
hairs on the sides.

Hind-feet, webbed.

Lichtenstein says this genus has hind-feet like those of the common
seals, ears resembling those of the seals of the genus Otaria, and a tail
similar to that of the common Otter.

He places the Sea Otter (correctly, as we think) between the Otter and
the seals that possess ears {Otaria).

Mamma?, two — ventral.

There is only one species in the genus.

Habit, living principally at sea and in bays and estuaries.

The generic name is derived from ivvSpos, enudros, aquatic ; Gr. ev, en, in,
and Mwf, hudor, water.

ENHYDRA M AR I N A.— Erxleben.

Sea Otter.

PLATE 0 X X X V 1 1.— Male.

E. perelongata, cauda depressa, corporis partem quartam asquante,
pedibus posticis curtis, istis Phocarum similibus, colore castaneo vel nigro,
vellere mollissimo ; Lutra Canadensis duplo major.

CHARACTERS.

Body, very much elongated ; tail, depressed, and one fourth the length of
the body ; hind-feet, short, and resembling those of the seal ; colour, chcsnut
brovm or black ; twice the size of the common Otter ; fur, exceedingly fine.

^

\«

SEA OTTER. 171

SYNONYMES.

Mustela Lutris. Linn.

Sea Beaver. Krascheninikoff, Hist. Kain-k. (Grieve'a Trans.), p. 131. Ann. 1764.

Mustbla Luteib. Bchreber, Saiigethiero, p. 40,">, fig. t. 128.

LuTRA Marina. Erxleben, SyBt Ann. 1777.

» •• Bteller, Nov. Oom. Petrop., vol. ii. p. 867, t. 16.

Sea Otter. Cook's Third Voyage, vol. ii. p. '-".'r>. Ann. 1784.
» " Pennant's Arctic Zoology, vol. i p. S8. b»n. 1784.
Lunu Sibllebi. Lesson, Manual, pp. 166
Sea Otter. tieares, Voyage, pp. 241, 260. Ann. 1780.
tfenaes, Philos. Trans., p. 385. Ann. 1700.
Enhtdra Mvkisa. Fleming, Phil. Zool., vol. ii. ]>. 187. Ann. 1822.
Entdrj - bar, Synopsis, |

Lvtra Marina. Harlan, Fauna, p. 7 2.

Godman's Nat Ui>t.. vol. i. p
Entomb Martha, Licht, Darstellung neuer odei wenij

Berlin,
Litra (Enhtdra) Marina. Rich., Fauna Boreal i Americana, p. 58.

DESCRIPTION.

Bead, small in proportion to the size of the body ; ears, shorl
and covered with hair : eyes, rather large : lip?, thick : month, wide, and
furnished with strong and rather large teeth ; fore-feet, webbed nearly to
the nails, and much like those of the common Otter, five claws
Eind-legs and thighs, short, and better adapted for swimming than in other
mammalia except the seals; hind-feet, Hat and webbed, the toes being con-
nected by a strong granulated membrane, with a skin Bkirting the outward
toe : all the webs of the feel are thickly clothed with glossy hair.- aboul a
line in length.

One of the specimens referred to by Mr. Menzies (the account of which
is published in the Philosophical Transactions) measured eighi inches
across the hind-loot ; the tongue was four inches long and rounded at the
end. with a slighl fissure, giving the tip a bifid appearance.

The tail is short, broad, depressed, and pointed at the end : the hair
both on the body and tail is of two kinds — the longer hairs are silky,
gl09sy, and not very numerous, the fur or shorter hair exceedingly soft and
fine.

The cheeks generally present a cast of grayish or silvery colour, which
extends along the sides and under the throat ; there is a lightish circle

172 SEA OTTER.

around the eye ; top of the head, dark brown ; the remainder of the body
(above and beneath) is deep glossy brownish-black.

There is a considerable variety of shades in different specimens, some
being much lighter than others. The longer hairs intermixed with the fur
are in the best skins black and shining. In some individuals the fur about
the ears, nose, and eyes is either brown or light coloured ; the young are
sometimes very light in colour, with white about the nose, eyes, and forehead.

The fur of the young is not equal in iineness to that of the adult.

DIMENSIONS.

Adult.

Feel. Inches.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, • - 4 2

of tail, 1

Young, about two years old.

Feet. Inches.

Length from end of nose to root of tail, - - 3

of tail, 1h

Width of head between the ears, - ... 4

Height of ear, $

From elbow of fore-leg to end of nail,- - - 4i

Length of hind-foot from heel to end of nail, - 6i

" fore toe, $

" inner hind-toe, 1

" outer hind-toe, 3

Circumference of the head, behind the ears, - 104

" of body around the breast, - 1 5

loins, - 1 10

Next to the seals the Sea Otter may be ranked as an inhabitant of the
great deep : it is at home in the salt waves of the ocean, frequently goes
some distance from the " dull tame shore," and is sometimes hunted in sail-
bunt.- by the men who live by catching it, even out of sight of land.

But although capable of living almost at sea, this animal chiefly resorts
to bays, the neighbourhood of islands near the coast, and tide-water rivers,
where it can not only find plenty of food, but shelter or conceal itself as
occasion requires.

It is a timid and shy creature, much disconcerted at the approach of
danger, and when shot at, if missed, rarely allows the gunner a second
chance to kill it.

SEA OTTER. 173

Hunting the Sea Otter was formerly a favourite pursuit with the few
sailors or stray Americans that lived on the Bhores of the Bay of San
Francisco, but the more attractive search for gold drew them off to the
mines when Sutteb's mill-race had revealed the glittering riches inter-
mixed with it- black sands. One of the shallops formerly used for catching
the Sea otter was observed by J. W. At di bon at Stockton, and is thus
described by him: The boat was about twenty-eighl feel long and eighl
feet broad, clinker built, and sharp al both end- like a whale-boat, which
ehemaj in feci have originallj been, rigged with two lug sails, and looked
like a fasi craft. Whilst examining her the captain and ownei
to enquire whether he did not want to send some freight to Haw!
but on finding that was not tin' object of his scrutiny, gave him th<
unit of the manner of huntii

The boat was manned with four or live hand- and a -miner, and sailed
about all the hay-, ami to the islands e\ en thirty or forty miles from the

coast, and sometimes north or south three or four hundred miles in quesl

Of these animal-. On seeing an Otter ilie boat was -leered quietly for it,

Bail being taken in to lessen her speed so a- to approach gently and

without alarming the game. When within short gun-shot, the mark-man

fires, the men spring to the oars, ami the poor Otter i- harpooned
before it. -ink- by the bowsman. Occasionally the animal- are sailed
up to while they are basking on the banks, and they are sometime-,
Caught in seines. The man who gave this information stated that he had
known live Otters to he shot and captured in a day. and lie had obtained
forty dollars apiece for (heir skins. At the time .1. AY. Av DUBON was it.
California he was a-ked a hundred dollars for a Sea Otter skin, which
high price he attributed to the gold discoveries.

„ ,. 0f these otter- was seen by J. W. At o\ bok whilst in Califor-
nia : it was in the San Joaquin river, where the bulrushes crew th
the banks all about Tin' party were almost -tattled at the Budden
appearance of one, which climbed on to a drift log about a hundred yards
above them. Three rifle balls were Bent in an instant towards the unsus-
pecting creature, one of which striking near it, the alarmed animal slided
into the water am! sunk without leaving, bo far as they could -ee. a single
ripple. It remained below the surface for about a minute, and on coming
up raised its head high above the water, and ha\ ing Been nothing to frighten
it. as theyjudged, began fishing. It- dives were made so gently that it
dently as much at its ease in the water as a Grebe, and it frequently
remained under the surface a- long at least as the great northern diver or
loon. They watched its movements some time, but could not see that it
took a fish, although it dived eight or ten times. On firing another .hot.

174 SEA OTTER.

the Otter appeared much frightened (possibly having been touched) and
swimming rapidly, without diving, to the opposite shore, disappeared in the
rushes, and they did not see it again.

In the accounts of this species given by various authors -we find little
respecting its habits, and it is much to be regretted that so remarkable
an animal should be yet without a full " biography."

Sir John Richardson, who gives an excellent description of its fur from
one who was engaged in the trade, says, " It seems to have more the man-
ners of a seal than of the land Otter. It frequents rocks washed by the
sea, and brings forth on land, but resides mostly in the water, and is occa-
sionally seen very remote from the shore."

Godman states that "its food is various, but principally cuttle-fish,
lobsters, and other fish. The Sea Otter, like most other animals which
are plentifully supplied with food, is entirely harmless and inoffensive in
its manners, and might be charged with stupidity, according to a common
mode of judging animals, as it neither offers to defend itself nor to injure
those who attack it. But as it runs very swiftly and swims with equal
celerity it frequently escapes, and after having gone some distance turns
back to look at its pursuers. In doing this it holds a fore-paw over its
eyes, much in the manner we see done by persons who in a strong sunshine
are desirous to observe a distant object accurately. It has been inferred
that the sight of this animal is imperfect ; its sense of smelling, however,
is said to be very acute."

The latter part of the above paragraph at least, may be taken as a small
specimen of the' fabulous tales believed in olden times about animals of
which little that was true had been learned.

Dr. Godman relates farther that the female Sea Otter brings forth on
land after a pregnancy of eight or nine months, and but one at a birth, and
states that the extreme tenderness and attachment she displays for her
young arc much celebrated. According to his account the flesh is eaten
by the hunters, but while it is represented by some as being tender, juicy,
and flavoured like young lamb, by others it is declared to be hard, insipid,
and tough as leather. We advise such of our readers as may wish to
decide which of these statements is correct, and who may be so fortunate
as to possess the means and leisure, to go to California and taste the
animal — provided they can catch or kill one.

We will conclude our very meagre account of the habits of the Sea Otter
by quoting the following most sensible remarks from Sir John Richardson,
given in a note in the Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 60 : " Not having been
on the coasts where the Sea Otter is produced, I can add nothing to its
history from my own observation, and I have preferred taking the descrip-

SEA OTTER. 175

tion of the fur from one who was engaged in the trade, to extracting a
scientific account of the animal from systematic work?, which are in the
hands of every naturalist."

SnUBUTION.

The Sea Otter inhabits the waters which bound the northern parts of

America and Asia, and separate thos intinente from each other, viz. the

North Pacific Ocean and the various seas and bays which exist off either
shore from Kamtschatka to the Yellow Sea on the Asiatic side, and from

Allaska to California on the American.

Although this animal has been known and limited for more than a
century, and innumerable Bkins of it have been carried to China (where

they formerly brought a \en high price), as well as to Borne parts of
Europe, yet ao • -.and but few perfect skulls of it, exisl in

any museum or private collection. The difference between the dentition
of the young and the adult, being in consequence unknown, has mi-led
many naturalists, and caused difficulties in the formation of the genus.

LiNx.v:rs. strangely enough, placed it anion- the martens (JW

kino established for ii a new genus
{Enhydra) ; Fischer in bis synopsis endeavoured to bring this to I
(Enydris), which was al-o applied to it by Lichtenstein.

The best generic descriptions of the Sea otter that we have
those of the last named author, who has given two plates representing the
skull and the teeth: the latter however were deficient in number, owing
to the fact of his specimen being a young animal with its dentition incom-
plete. In the Philosophical Transactions (1796, No. 17) we have a
description of the anatomy of this animal by EvEBABD BOME and ARCHI-
BALD Menbies, which gives a tolerable idea of its structure.

There are only two authors, so far a- we are aware, who have given
reliable account- of the habits of the Sea Otter — Steller and Cook. The
information published by the former i- contained in Nov. Com. Acad.
Petropolit.. vol. ii. p. l2< >7 . aim. 1T.">1 ; the latter irivcs an account ol the
animal in his Third Voyage, vol. ii. p. 295.

176

MUST EL A M ARTE S.— Linn.— Gm el.

Pine Marten.

PLATE CXXXVIII .—Male and Female. Winter Pelage.

M. Magnitudine Putorio visone major, flavida, liic illic nigrescens, capite
pallidiore, gula flavescente, Cauda longa, floccosa, acuta.

CHARACTERS.

Larger than the mink ; general colour, yellowish, blended wit a olackish in
parts ; head, lighter ; throat, yellow. Tail, long, bushy, and pointed.

SYNONYMES.

Genus Mustela. Linn.

Sub-genus Mustela. Cuvier.

Mustela Martes. Linn. Ginel., vol. i. p. 95.

Pine Marten. Pennant's Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 77.

Mustela Martes. Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. C51.

" " Harlan, Fauna, p. 67.

" " Godman, Nat. Hist, vol. i. p. 200.

" Zibellina (?). Godman, Nat, Hist., vol. i. p. 208.

" Martes. Rich., F. B. A., p. 51, summer specimen.

" Huro. F. Cuv.

" Martes — American Sable. DeKay, Nat. Hist. State of New York, part i.

p. 32, pi. 19, fig. 2, skull.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, long and pointed ; ears, broad and obtusely pointed ; legs, rather
long and tolerably stout ; eyes, small and black ; tail, bushy and cylindri-
cal ; toes, with long, slender, and compressed nails, nearly concealed by
the hair. Hair, of two kinds — the outer long and rigid, the inner soft and
somewhat woolly.

This species varies a good deal in colour, so that it is difficult to find
two specimens exactly alike ; the under fur, however, does not differ as

1

PINE MARTEN.

177

much in tint in different specimens as it does in fineness. Some indivi-
duals, particularly those captured in low latitudes, have much coarser fur
than those from high northern regions or mountainous districts. The hair,
which is about an inch and a quarter long, is of a pale dull grayish-brown
from the roots outwards, dull yellowish-brown near the points, and is
tipped with dark brown or black.

There is sometimes a considerable lustre in the fur of the Pine Morton :
the hair on the tail is longer, coarser, and darker than that on the body.
and the coat is darkest in winter ; the yellowish white markings on the
throat vary in different individuals.

In the beginning of summer the dark-tipped hair- drop out, and the
genera] colour of the fur is a pale orange brown, with little lustre : the

tips of the ears, at all times lighter than the real of the fur, become very
pale in summer. The feel are generall] darker coloured than the hair of
the body. The tip of the nose is flesh coloured ; eyes, black ; nails, light

brown.

DIMENSION-.

A winter killed specimen, exceedingly poor.

Foot. Inrhi..

From point of nose to root of tail. - • - 1 5

Length of tail (vertebra}), 7

(to end of hair), .... 10

" fore-leg to end of longest nail, - - 5i

" hind-foot from heel to end of claw- 3

" ear on the outer Burface, --. 1£

We have measured larger specimens, 20, 21, and 22 incites from point
of nose to root of tail.

Lei us take a share of the cunning and sneaking character of the fox. as
much of the wide-awake and cautious habits of the weasel, a similar pro-
portion of the voracity (and a little of the fetid odour) of the mink, and
add thereto some of the climbing propensities Of the raccoon, and we have
a tolerable idea of the attributes of the little prowler of which we have
just given the description and dimensions. The Pine Marten, as may be
inferred from this compound, is shy, cruel, cunning, and active, and par-
takes of the habits o( the predacious animals above mentioned, with the
exception that it is not known to approach the residences of man like the
fox, weasel, or mink, but rather keeps in dense woods where it can prey
vol. m. — 23

178 PINE MARTEN.

upon birds, their eggs and young, squirrels, the white-footed and other
mice, shrews, wood-rats, <fcc., together with beetles and other insects, larvas
of different species, toads, frogs, lizards, water reptiles, and fish. It is also
an eater of some kinds of berries and nuts (as we are informed), and is said
to be fond of honey like the bear.

It has been supposed that the name Pine Marten was given to this
animal because it inhabits the pine forests of the northern parts of this
continent, and shows a preference for those trees, in the lofty tops of which
it frequently resides. The Pine Marten, however, is often called the
American Sable or the Sable, and in fact is more generally known to the
country people of our northern States, and also to the furriers, by the
latter name than by any other.

Sprightly and agile in its movements, the Pine Marten commonly pro-
cures abundance of food. It is prolific, bringing forth from six to eight
young at a time, so that notwithstanding the value of its fur and the con-
sequent pursuit of it during the proper season, it is still by no means a
scarce animal. We have had several specimens sent to us by friends
residing in the State of New York and in the wilder portions of our
Canada frontier, which were procured among the woody hills of those
districts.

According to Dr. DeKay (New York Fauna, p. 33), this species is so
active as to destroy great quantities of squirrels, the red squirrel (Sciurus
Hudsonius) only escaping by its superior agility. Dr. Godman remarks
that the "Pine Marten frequently has its den in the hollows of trees, but
very commonly takes possession of the nest of some industrious squirrel,
which it enlarges to suit its own convenience, after putting the builder to
death."

Sir John Richardson says that "particular races of Martens, distin-
guished by the fineness and dark colour of their fur, appear to inhabit
certain rocky districts." " A partridge's head, with the feathers, is the
best bait for the log traps in which this animal is taken. It does not reject
carrion, and often destroys the hoards of meat and fish laid up by the
natives, when they have accidentally left a crevice by which it can enter.
The Marten, when its retreat is cut off, shows its teeth, sets up its hair,
arches its back, and makes a hissing noise like a cat. It will seize a dog
by the nose and bite so hard, that unless the latter is accustomed to the
combat, it suffers the little animal to escape."

The Indians sometimes eat the Pine Marten, but its flesh is rank and
coarse. We have seen this species in confinement, when it appeared
tolerably gentle, and had lost much of its snappish character.

The Pine Marten burrows in the ground at times, and the female brings

PINT. MARTEN. 17!)

forth her young in a fallen hollow log, a hole under rocks, or in a borrow,
generally in April or May. These animals are chiefly caught with dead-
falls baited with meal of any kind, birds, rabbits, squirrels, Ac. and
generally a hunter has many traps set, each of which he visits as often
as once or twice a week. Tin' Martens are sometimes devoured by
larger animals after they have been caught. They are only trapped in
the autumn and winter.

The fur of this species has been considered valuable, and when in fashion
the skins were worth Lr,,od prices. It is often palmed off on purchasers as
fur of a more costly kind, and for this purpose is dyed any desired colour.

OEOOE LPHK U DISTRIBUTION.
This species inhabits the wooded districts of the northern parts of

America from the Atlantic to the Pacific in i_rr,.;it numbers, and Rk eard-
rks that it is particularly abundant where the trees have been
killed b\ lire but are still standing. Hbarnb observed that it is very rare
in the district lying north of Churchill river : ive lake.

Pennaot ' Asiatic side of Bearing's Btraits, twenty-five

of longitude in breadth are equally unfrequented by th<
and for the same reason -the absence of b

The limit of its northern range in America is like that of il
about the 68th degree of latitude. It is found in the hilly and wooded
parts of the northern Atlantic States. We have Been specimens obtained
from near Albany and from the <'at:-kill Mountain-, and it i- also found in
the northern parts of Pennsylvania. Its southern limit is about lat. 10°.

We have Bought for it in vain on tin- mountain- of Virginia, where not-
withstanding, we think a Btraggler will occasionally make its appi
On the eastern continent it inhabits all the north of Europe and !

Some American naturalists have expressed great doubts whether our

American Marten is identical with that of the north of Europe, and have
supposed that it might be designated under a separate specific name. We
have not had an opportunity of comparing specimens from the I
nents with each other, as we could find no museum in which specimens
from both continents were contained. Wo have, however, examined and
taken descriptions of them separately, and have been able to detect 30
little difference that we cannot regard them even as varieties.

It has been frequently asserted by hunters, that the true Sable exists

180 PINE MARTEN.

in America ; thus far, however, no specimen of that animal has been
identified as coming from this country. Those that were shown to us
under the name of Sables by furriers, we ascertained to be fine skins of a
very dark colour of our common Pine Marten.

\

181

SPERM OPHILUS M A C R O U R I S.— Benne tt.

L \ROK-TAILEli Spkbmophxu.

PLATE CXXXIX.— Male.

s. Magnitudine Stiurusi einereum adoqnans, vellere crsssiusonlo. in
dorso lateribusque cinereo oigroque vurio, Cauda corporis longitudine,
mediocriter comma.

CHARACTERS.

Size of the cat-squirrel (SciUTUS efaereus) ; fur. rather coarse ; body, mot-
tled with Mark. <nul ashy white, farming irregular interrupted narrow transverse
bars on the bark and sides ; tail, as long as the body, and moderately bushy.

m KEG

Spebmophilub Macroiri - Zool. Boo, 1833, p. 41.

Lono-taii-ei) Marmot. Zool. So.-. Catalogue, No. 456.

Sen bos Luptus. (Tamed in t!" Museum of the .I.irdin des Vlantes, but not described.

[PTION.

This animal is shaped very much like a squirrel, although tho oars aro
farther back in the head and tho body is stouter than in that genus.
Head, of moderate siae, round, and elongated; nose, somewhat pointed;
ears, large, broad, and ovate toward- tin- pointe ; feet, -tout ; nail-. Ioult.
sharp, and considerably arched ; tail, rounded, possessing none of the
distichous arrangement of tho tails of squirrels ; tarsi, naked beneath ;
fur. moderately lonir. and rather coarse and harsh to the touch.

Hairs of the back, blackish-gray at the base, annulated with white, or
brownish-white, towards tho tips, which are black ; crown of the head,
pure black : muzzle, rufous brown above, whitish on the sides : a narrow
whitish space around tho eyes : on the lower part of the cheeks and on
the throat the hairs are brownish-white ; cheeks, grizzled black and white ;
oars, internally covered with short hairs and partly coloured on the inner

182

LARGE-TAILED SPERMOPHILE.

with dusky and soiled yellow ; ou the outside tliey are blackish-
brown, becoming paler and grizzled towards the margins ; feet, whitish,
finely freckled with dusky markings, their general hue pale ; tail, mode-
rately bushy and sub-depressed ; the hairs are long, varying from one and
three quarters to two inches in length ; they are of a brownish-white colour
and are annulated by three broad black rings, the annulations nearest the
apex of each hair considerably broader than the others. Upper and lower
incisors, pale yellow ; whiskers, black ; claws, brown.

In the specimen here described the whole crown of the head is black,
but we are informed by our friend Waterhouse that an imperfect skin of
a second specimen which exists in the museum of the Zoological Society of
London has the crown of the head gray.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from point of nose to root of tai
" of tail (vertebrae),
" " (including hair),

" from nose to ear,
Height of ear, ....
Heel to end of claws, -
Length of nail of middle hind-toe, -
" fore-foot and nails,
" nail of middle toe of fore-foo

Foot.
1

1

L.nes

7

9

10

2

5
6

2

5

44

Spermophilus Macrourus is an active and sprightly fellow, readily
ascending trees on occasion, and feeding on nuts as well as seeds, roots,
and grasses.

This species is in some districts rather numerous, and when in the rainy
season some of the low grounds are submerged, takes to the trees, and
sometimes curious fights occur between it and the wood-peckers. Five or
six of the latter will on observing the Spermophile, unite against him, and
cutting about in the air, peck at him as they dart swiftly around the perse-
cuted animal, which is lucky if a hollow into which he can retreat be near,
and frequently indeed the wood-peckers' holes are entered by him, but the
angry and noisy birds still keep up their cries and fly with fury at the
hole, and although they can no longer peck the animal they keep him in
a state of siege for a considerable time.

The origin of this animosity may be the fact of the Spermophile (as well

LARGE-TAILED SPERMOPHILE. lg.3

as many kinds of squirrels) Bometimes turning out the wood-peckers from
their nests, an injury which unites them against the wrong-doer. By what
process the birds are influenced to attack when the animal is not in their
nests, nor even on a tree upon which they hare built (or dug, we should
say), we know not, bnt thai the birds comprehend that union is strength is
quite evident, and the Spermophile knows it too, for he always instantly
tries to escape and conceal himself as soon as the vociferous cries of the
lirst bird thai observes him are heard, and before its neighbours called
thereby to tin- fighl can reach the spot

We have not been aide to ascertain how many young this Spermophile
produces at a birth, nor at what season they are brought forth. I
on the plains and in localities where no trees -row. in which places it bur-
rows or runs into holes in the rocks.

Prom our present information we are inclined to think that this species
is Bometimes in company with S. Dougiasii in California, or at least inhabits
the same districts.

OBOGB \HIIi \! IHSTRlBfTION.

This Spermophile exists in some portions of that part of Mexico which
were traversed by .1. W. Armuox on his way towards California, and
is also found in the last named State.

GENERAL REMARKS.

This species somewhat resembles Spermophilus Dougiasii, but is a lamer
animal, the white patches over the shoal I are wanting.

The heel is hairy beneath, but the remaining pari oi the under surface of
the foot is naked, whilst in Spermaphihu Dougbui* the whole foot is covered
with hair beneath, up to the fleshy parts at the base of tie toes.

184

PUTORIUS AGILIS.—Aud. and Bach.

Little Nimble Weasel.
PLATE C X L.— Male and Female. Winter Pelage.

P. Magnitudine intermedius P. pusillum inter et P. fuscum ; cauda longa,
auriculis prominulis, ajstate supra dilute fuscus, subtus albus, liyeme corpore
to to caudaque niveis, cauda apice nigro.

CHARACTEES.

Intermediate in size between P. pusillus and P. fuscus ; tail, long ; ears,
prominent. Colour, in summer, light brown above, white beneath ; in winter,
body and tail, pure white, except the tip of the latter, which is broadly tipped
with black.

DESCRIPTION.

This hitherto undescribed species is light, slender, and graceful, with
well proportioned limbs, giving evidence of activity and sprightliness ; it
may be termed a miniature of the ermine ; it stands proportionately higher
on its legs, and although the smaller animal of the two, has the most pro-
minent ears ; the hair is softer and shorter, both in summer and winter,
than in either the ermine or Brown Weasel (P. fuscus) ; whiskers, numerous
but rather short. Head, moderate ; skull, broad ; nose, short and rather
pointed ; feet, small ; nails, partially concealed by the hair on the feet ;
tail, long, covered with fur to within one and three quarters of an inch of
the end, where it terminates in long straight smooth hairs.

In summer : Head, ears, neck, outer surface of thighs, all the upper por-
tions of the back, and the tail on both surfaces to near the tip, light brown,
which is the colour of the hair from the roots to the tips ; end of the tail,
black ; chin, throat, chest, belly, and inner side of thighs, white ; the
brown colour extends far down on the sides and flanks, leaving a rather
narrow stripe of white beneath, which is broadest on the neck ; the line
of demarcation between the upper and under colours on the sides is dis-

UTTLF. NIMBLE WEASEL 185

tinctly bu1 Bomewhal insularly drawn. All the feel arc brown ; whiskers
and nails, dark brown : teeth, white.

In winter : Pure white on the whole body, and for about three inches on
the tail : tip of the tail, black for an inch and three .jiiarters : tip of nose,

flesh colour : whiskers, mostly white, a few black.

DIMENSIONS.

Point of nose to root of tail,

Length of tail (vertebrae), 3i

" " (tO end of hair),

Point of Dose to ear, li

Height of ear externally, i

We preserved a specimen of this little animal daring several a
the winter, forty years ago, in the northern pari of New Fork; it had
been captured in a box trap, which was sot near its hole in a pine forest,

whither we had tracked it on the SHOW, believing from it? small foot-prints

that it was some unknown species of Rodentia. What was our surprise
when on the following morning we discovered the eyes of this little
marauder prying through the crevices of the trap. Supposing it to be a.
young ermine we preserved it through the winter, under the impression

that it would become tame, and increasing in size, attain its full growth

by the following Bpring : we were, however, disappointed in our expecta-
tions : it continued wild and CT0S8, always printing on our l'1o\o< the form
of the cutting edges of it^ troth whenever wo placed our hand within the
box. It concealed itself in it< nest, in a dark corner of the cage, during
the whole day, and at nighl was constantly rattling and gnawing at the
wires in the endeavour to effect it- escape. Wo fed it on small birds,
which it carried to its dark reheat ami devoured greedily.

Having placed a common Weasel, twice the size of our animal, in the
cacrc with it. the ermine immediately attacked our little fellow, which
ensconced itself in a corner at the back of the cage, where with open mouth
and angry eyes, uttering a hissing spitting or sputtering noise, he drew
back his lips and showed his sharp teeth in defiance of his opponent.

To relieve him from a troublesome companion we removed the ermine.

Towards spring we placed a Norwaj rat in his cage in order to test his

courage. The rat and the Wea8el retreated to opposite eorners and eyed

each other during the whole day : on the following morning we found the

vol.. in. — -24

[86 LITTLE NIMBLE WEASEL.

rat had been killed ; but the Weasel was so much wounded that he died
before evening.

We have no other information in regard to the habits of this Weasel
Its burrow, the entrance to which was very small, and without any hillock
of earth at its borders, was situated in a high ridge of pine land.

We have no doubt that, like the ermine, in prowling about it finds its
way into the retreats of the meadow-mouse, the little chipping squirrel,
and other small animals, for although the rat above mentioned was too
formidable an opponent, we are confident it could easily have mastered
the little Tamias Lysteri.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

We have only observed this Weasel in the northern part of the State of
New York, but the specimens from which we drew our figures were
procured by Mr. J. G. Bell in Rockland county in that State.

§

V
J

I>7

UR S U S A M E R I C Wis .— P a l us.

Ami Ml i\ Bla.CH BbAR.

P I. \ T E t'X LI.— Mau sad Fkiialk.

I'. Naso Gere in eadem linea nun fronte, convexiore quam in U. Ferocej
plantis palmisque brevissimis, colore nigro rel fascescente-nigro, lateribus
rostri fulvis.

JVose, nearly in a tine with the forehead, mart arched than in Ursua feros ;
palms and soles of the feet, very short : colour, black, or brownish-black ; there
is a yellowish patch on each side of the nose.

Si NONTMES,

Bi lck Bear. Pi nd Introduction,

Pennant's Historj of Quadrupeds, vol. ii. p. LI.
Warden's I 8 rol. i. p. 195.

(Janua Amkricands. Pallas, Spicil, Zool., vol. \iv. pp. 6
" " Harlan, Fauna, p. 51.

man's Natural History, vol. i. p. 194.
Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 14.
DeKay, Nat Hist State of New fork, p. 24, pi. 8, fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION.

The Black Bear is commonly smaller than the Grizzlj Bear. Body and
legs, thick and clumsy in appearance ; head, short, and broad where it
joins the neck ; nose, slightly arched, and somewhat pointed ; eyes, small,
and close to each other ; ears, high, oval, and rounded al the tips ; palms
and Boles of the feet, short when compared with those of the Grizzly Bear ;
the hairs of the feet projeci slightly beyond the claws ; tail, v< i
claws, short, blunt, and somewhal incurved ; tor, long, straight, shining,
and rather soft.

Cheeks, yellow, which colour extends from the tip of the nose on both
side? of the mouth to near the eve : in some individuals there i> a small

188 AMERICAN BLACK BEAR.

spot of the same tint in front of the eye, and in other? a white line com-
mencing on the nose reaches to each side of the angle of the mouth ; in a
few specimens this white line continues over the cheek to a large white
space mixed with a slight fawn colour, covering the whole of the throat,
whence a narrow line of the fawn colour descends upon the breast. The
hairs on the whole body are in most specimens glossy black ; in some
we examined they were brown, while a few of the skins we have seen were
light brown or dingy yellow. From this last mentioned variety doubtless
originated the names Cinnamon Bear, Yellow Bear of Carolina, <&c. The
outer edges of the ears are brownish-black ; eyes and nails, black.

DIMENSIONS.

A vo/y large specimen.

Feel. Inchi».

From nose to root of tail, - 6 5

Height to top of shoulder. 3 1

A larger Bear than the above may sometimes be captured, but the
general size is considerably less.

The Black Bear, however clumsy in appearance, is active, vigilant, and
persevering, possesses great strength, courage, and address, and undergoes
with little injury the greatest fatigues and hardships in avoiding the pursuit
of tin Lanter. Like the deer it changes its haunts with the seasons, and
for the same reason, viz. the desire of obtaining suitable food, or of retiring
to the more inaccessible parts, where it can pass the time in security, unob-
served by man, the most dangerous of its enemies.

During the spring months it searches for food in the low rich alluvial
lands that border the rivers, or by the margins of such inland lakes as, on
account of their small size, are called by us ponds. There it procures
abundance of succulent roots and tender juicy plants, upon which it chiefly
feeds at that season. During the summer heat, it enters the gloomy
swamps, passes much of its time in wallowing in the mud like a hog, and
contents itself with crayfish, roots, and nettles, now and then seizing on a
pig, or perhaps a sow, a calf, or even a full-grown cow. As soon as the
different kinds of berries which grow on the mountains begin to ripen,
the Bears betake themselves to the high grounds, followed by their cubs.

In retired parts of the country, where the plantations are large and the
population sparse, it pays visits to the corn-fields, which it ravages for a
while. After this, the various species of nuts, acorns, grapes, and other

AMERICAN BI..MK BEAR is;)

forest fruits, that form what in the western States is called most, attract
its attention. The Bear is then seen rambling singly through the woods
to gather this harvest, not forgetting, meanwhile, to rob every bce-trec it
meets with. Bears being expert at this operation.

The Black Hear is a capital climber, ami now ami then /muses itself in
the hollow trunk of some large tree for week- together during the winter,
when it is said to live by sucking it- paws.

At mie season, the Bear may be Been examining the lower pari of the

trunk of a tree for several minutes with mueh attention, at the same time
looking around, and snuffing the air. It then rises on its hind-leg?,

approaches the trunk, embraces it with the fore [i - tches the

bark with it- teeth and claws for several minutes in continuance. It-
ja«- clash against each other until amass of foam runs down on both
sides of the mouth. After this it continues its ramble-.

The female Black Bear generally brings forth two cubs at a time
although, as wo have heard, the number is sometimes three or four. The
period of gestation is Stated to be from six to seven weeks, but is mentioned
as one hundred day- by some authors. When born the young an
ingly -mall, and if we may credit tin' accounts of hunters with whom we

have conversed on the subject, are net larger than kitten-. They are
almost invariablj brought forth in some well concealed den ■

hollow tree, and so caution- i- the dam in selecting her place of acCOUCfa

nient. that it is extremely difficult to discover it. and consequently ven
rarely that either the female ,>r her cub- are seen until the latter have
I :i much larger size than when bom. are able to follow their dam.
and can climb tree- with facility.

Mo-I writers on the habits of this animal have stated that the Black
Heai' doe- not oat animal food from choice, and never unless pr*

hanger. This we consider a great mistake, for in our experience we have
found the reverse to be the case, and it is well known to our frontier
farmers that this animal i-^ a great destroyer of pigs, hogs, C8

sheep, for the sake of which we have even known it to desert the pecan
groves in Texas. At the same time, as will have been seen by our pre\ ions
remarks, its principal food generally oonsists of bi ml other

vegetable substances. It is very fond also of fish, and during one of our

expeditions to Maine and New Brunswick, we found the inhabitants
residing near the ooasl unwilling to eat the flesh of the animal on account

of its fishy taste, lu our western forests, however, the Bear feeds on so
many nuts and well tasted roots and berries, that its meat is considered a
ureal delicacy, and in the city of New York we have generally found its
market price three or four times more than the best beef per pound. The

190 AMERICAN BLACK BEAR.

fore-paw of the Bear when cooked presents a striking resemblance to the
hand of a child or young person, and we have known some individuals to
be hoaxed by its being represented as such.

Perhaps the most acrid vegetable eaten by the Bear is the Indian turnip
{Arum triphyUum), which is so pungent that we have seen people almost
distracted by it, when they had inadvertently put a piece in their
mouth.

The Black Bear is a remarkably swift runner when first alarmed,
although it is generally " treed," that is, forced to ascend a tree, when
pursued by dogs and hunters on horseback. We were, not very long since,
when on an expedition in the mountains of Virginia, leisurely making our
way along a road through the forest after a long hunt for deer and turkeys,
with our gun thrown behind our shoulders and our arms resting on each
end of it, when, although we had been assured there were no Bears in that
neighbourhood, we suddenly perceived one above us on a little acclivity at
one side of the road, where it was feeding, and nearly concealed by the
bushes. The bank was only about fifteen feet high, and the Bear not more
than twenty paces from us, so we instantly disengaged our gun, and cocking
both barrels, expected to " fill our bag" at one shot, but at the instant and
before we could fire, the Bear, witli a celerity that astonished us, disap-
peared. We rushed up the bank and found the land on the top nearly
level for a long distance before us, and neither very thickly wooded nor
very bushy ; but no Bear was to be seen, although our eye could penetrate
the woods for at least two hundred yards. After the first disappointing
glance around, we thought Bruin might have mounted a tree, but such was
not the case, as on looking everywhere nothing could be seen of his black
body, and we were obliged to conclude that he had run out of sight in the
brief space of time we occupied in ascending the little bank.

As we were once standing at the foot of a large sycamore tree on the
borders of a long and deep pond, on the edge of which, in our rear, there
was a thick and extensive " cane-brake," we heard a rushing roaring noise,
as if some heavy animal was bearing down and passing rapidly through
the canes, directly towards us. We were not kept long in suspense, for in
an instant or two, a large Bear dashed out of the dense cane, and plunging
into the pond without having even seen us, made oft' with considerable
speed through the water towards the other shore. Having only bird-shot
in our gun we did not think it worth while to call his attention to us by
firing at him, but turned to the cane brake, expecting to hear either dogs
or men approaching shortly. No further noise could be heard, however,
and the surrounding woods were as still as before this adventure. We
supposed the Bear had been started at some distance, and that his pursuers

AMERICAN Bl v K BEAR [Q]

aot being able to follow him through the almost impenetrable canes, had
given up the hunt.

Being om night sleeping in the bouse of a friend who was a Planter in
ouisiana, we were awakened by a servant bearing a light,

who gave us i te, which he said his master had just received. We found

it to be a communication from a neighbour, requesting our host and
ourself in join him as soon as possible, and assist in killing some Bears at
thai moment engaged in destroying his corn. We were uol long in dress-
ing, and on entering the parlour, found our friend equipped. The over-
Beer's horn was heard calling up the uegrocs. Some were already saddling
our horses, \\ hilst others were gathering all the cur-dogs of the plantation.
All was bustle. Before hall' an hour had elapsed, four stout negro men,
armed with axes and knives, and mounted on strong nags, were following
as at a round gallop through the woods, as we made directlj for the neigh-
bour's plantation.

The aighl was none of the mosl favourable, a drizzling ran. rendering
the atmosphere thick and rather sultry ; hut as we were well acquainted
with the course, we soon reached tin' house, where the owner was waiting
our arrival. There were now three of US armed with guns, half a dozen
servant-, and a good pack of dogs of all kind-. We jogged on towards
the detached field in which the Hear- were at work. The owner told us

thai for Borne daj - several of these animals had visited his corn, ami that a
negro who was sent every afternoon to see at what pari of the ,
lhe\ entered, had a— urod him there were at least live in the field that
night. A plan of attack was formed: the bars at the usual entrance of
the field were to be put down without noise j the men and dogs were to
divide, and afterwards proceed so as to surround the Bears, when, at the
Bounding of our horn-, everj one was to charge toward- the centre of the

Keld, and shout as loudly as possible, which it was judged would so intimi-
date the animals as to induce them to seek refuge upon the dead trees with
which the field was -till partialh covered.

The plan succeeded ; the horn- sounded, the horse- galloped forward,
the men shouted, the dogs barked and howled. The shrieks of the negroes
were enough to frighten a legion of bears, and by the time we reached th<»

middle of the field we found that several had mounted the tree-, and havins:
lighted lire-, we now saw them crouched at the junction of the lamer
branches with the trunks. Two were immediately shot down. They were
cubs of no great size, and being already half dead, were quickly dispatched
by the dogs.

We were anxious to procure as much sport as possible, and having
observed one of the Be us. which from it- size we conjectured to be the

l'J'-i

AMERICAN CLACK BEAR.

mother of the two cubs just killed, we ordered the negroes to cut clown the
tree on which it was perched, when it was intended the dogs should have
a tug with it, while we should support them, and assist in preventing the
Bear from escaping, by wounding it in one of the hind-legs. The sur-
rounding woods now echoed to the blows of the axemen. The tree was
large and tough, having been girded more than two years, and the opera-
tion of felling it seemed extremely tedious. However, at length it began
to vibrate at each stroke ; a few inches alone now supported it, and in a
short time it came crashing to the ground.

The dogs rushed to the charge, and harassed the Bear on all sides,
whilst we surrounded the poor animal. As its life depended upon its
courage and strength, it exercised both in the most energetic manner.
Now and then it seized a dog and killed him by a single stroke. At
another time, a well administered blow of one of its forelegs sent an
assailant off. yelping so piteously that he might be looked upon as hors du
combat. A cur had daringly ventured to seize the Bear by the snout, and
was seen hanging to it, covered with blood, whilst several others scrambled
over its back. Now and then the infuriated animal was seen to cast a
revengeful glance at some of the party, and we had already determined to
dispatch it, when, to our astonishment, it suddenly shook off all the dogs,
and before we could fire, charged upon one of the negroes, who was
mounted on a pied horse. The Bear seized the steed with teeth and
claws, and clung to its breast. The terrified horse snorted and plunged.
The rider, an athletic young man and a capital horseman, kept his seat,
although only saddled on a sheep-skin tightly girthed, and requested his
master not to fire at the Bear. Notwithstanding his coolness and courage,
our anxiety for his safety was raised to the highest pitch, especially when
in a moment we saw rider and horse come to the ground together ; but we
were instantly relieved on witnessing the masterly manner in which Scipio
dispatched his adversary, by laying open his skull with a single well
directed blow of his axe. when a deep growl announced the death of the
Bear.

In our country no animal, perhaps, has been more frequently the theme
of adventure or anecdote than the Bear, and in some of our southwestern
States it is not uncommon to while away the winter evenings with Bear
stories that are not only interesting on account of the traits of the habits
of the animal with which they are interspersed, but from the insight they
afford the listener into the characteristics of the bold and hardy huntsmen
of those parts.

In the State of Maine the lumbermen (wood-cutters) and the farmers set
juns to kill this animal, which are arranged in this way : A funnel-shaped

AMERICAN BLACK BBAR. )<);{

space about five feet long is formed by driving Btrong sticks into the
ground in two converging lino<. leaving V'otli the ends open, the narrow
end being wide enough to admit the mnzzle of an old mnsket, and the
other extremity so broad as to allow the head and shoulders of the Bear
to outer. The gun is then loaded and fastened securely so as to deliver
its charge facing the wide end of the enclosure. A round ami smooth
stick i< now placed behind the r-toek of tin' gun, ami a cord leading from
the trigger passed around it. the other end of which, \\ itli :i piece of meal
or :i bird tied to it (an owl is :i favourite bait), is stretched in front of the
gun, so fir thai the Bear can reach the bail with his paw. I ' | -• >n his
pulling the meat towards him. the striiiL: draw- the trigger and the animal
i- instantly killed.

On the coasl of Labrador we observed the Black Hear catching fish with
groat dexterity, and the food of these animals in that region ■
altogether of the fishes they seized in the edge of the water inside the surf.
Like the Polar Hear, tl i es avf ims with ease and rapidity, and

it is a difficult matter to catch a full grown Bear with a skiff, and a dan-
gerous adventure to attempt its capture in a canoe, which it could easily
upset.

We were once enjoying a fine autumnal afternoon on the shores of the
beautiful Ohio, with two acquaintances who had accompanied us in qnesl
of Borne -wallows thai had buill in a high Bandj bank, when we observed
three hunters about the middle of the river in a skiff, vigorously rowing,
the steersman paddling too, with all his strength, in pursuit of a Bear
which, about one hundred and fifty yards ahead of them, was cleaving the
water and leaving a widening wake behind him on its unrippled BUrfacc as
he made for the shore, directly opposite to us. We all rushed down to the
water at this sight, and launching a skiff we then kept for fishing, hastily
1 mi off to intercept the animal, which we hoped to assist in capturing.
Both boats were soon nearing the Bear, ami we. standing in the bow of
our skill', commenced the attack by discharging 8 pistol at his head. At
tins he raised one paw, brushed it aero-- his forehead, and then -coined to
redouble his efforts. Repeated shois from both boats were now fired at
him, and we ran alongside, thinking to haul his carcase triumphantly on
board : but suddenly, to our dismay, he laid both paws on the gunwale of
the skill", and his greal weight brought the side for an instant under water,
so thai we expected the boat would fill and sink. There was no time to
be lost : we all threw our weight on to the other side, to counterpoise that
of the animal, and commenced a pell-mell battery on him with the oars and
a boat-hook : the men in the other boal al-o attacked him. and driving the
bow of their skiff close to his head, one of them laid his skull open with
vol.. in. — 25

194 AMERICAN BLACK BEAR.

an axe, which killed him instanter. We jointly hurraed, aud tying a rope
round his neck, towed him ashore behind our boats.

The Black Bear is very tenacious of life, and like its relative, the
Grizzly Bear, is dangerous when irritated or wounded. It makes large
beds of leaves and weeds or grasses, in the fissures of rocks, or sleeps in
hollow logs, when no convenient den can bo found in its neighbourhood ;
it also makes lairs in the thick cane-brakes and deep swamps, and covers
itself with a heap of leaves and twigs, like a wild sow when about to litter.

The skin of the Black Bear is an excellent material for sleigh-robes,
hammer-cloths, caps, &c, and makes a comfortable bed for the backwoods-
man or Indian ; and the grease procured from this species is invaluable to
the hair-dresser, being equal if not superior to

"Thine incomparable oil Maca>sar!"

which we (albeit unacquainted with the mode of preparing it) presume to
be a compound much less expensive to the manufacturer than would be the
" genuine real Bear's grease" — not of the shops, but of the prairies and
western woods.

The Black Bear is rather docile when in confinement, and a "pet" Bear
is occasionally seen in various parts of the country. In our large cities,
however, where civilization (?) is thought to have made the greatest
advances, this animal is used to amuse the gentlemen of the fancy, by
putting its strength and " pluck" to the test, in combat with bull-dogs or
mastiffs. When the Bear has not been so closely imprisoned as to partially
destroy his activity, these encounters generally end with the killing of one
or more dogs ; but occasionally the dogs overpower him, and he is rescued
lor the time by his friends, to "fight (again) some other day."

We arc happy to say, however, that Bear-baiting and bull-baiting have
not been as yet fully naturalized amongst us, and are only popular with
those who, perhaps, in addition to the natural desire for excitement, have
the hope and intention of winning money, to draw them to such cruel and
useless exhibitions.

Among the many Bear stories that have been published in the newspa-
pers, and which, whether true or invented, are generally interesting, the
following is one of the latest, the substance of which we will give, as nearly
as we can recollect it :

A young man in the State of Maine, whilst at work in a field, accompa-
nied only by a small boy, was attacked by a Bear which suddenly
approached from the edge of the forest, and quite unexpectedly fell upon
him with great fury. Almost at the first onset the brute overthrew the
young farmer, who fell to the ground on his back, with the Bear clutching

AMERICA*) ULAC& BEAK 195

him, ami 1 >i t inir bis arm severely. Nothing but the inmost presence of
miml could have saved the young man. as he was unarmed with the excep-
tion of ti knife, winch he could not <ret out of his pocket owing to the
position in which he had fallen. Perceiving that hit scape was

desperate, he rammed his hand and arm so far dowL the throat of the Bear
as to produce tic effect of partial strangulation, ami whilst the beast
became faint from consequent loss of breath, called to the boy to come ami
band him the knife. The latter bravely came to tl lie knife,

opened it. ami gave ii t" him. when he succeeded in cutting the Bear's
throat and with the ezi ere bites, and some lacerations

from the daw- of the animal, was nut \oi\ much injured. The Bear was
carried next day in triumph to m neighbouring village, ami weighed over
four hundred pounds.

Such assaults are. however, exceeding!} rare, ami it i- seldom that even
.a wounded Bear attacks man.

Captain J. I'. \b (Own ha- furnished us witli the following remarks:
•• In the mountains of Tennessee the Hear lives principally upon mast ami
fruits. It i- also fond of a bee-tree, and is often found seeking even a
wasp's or yellow jacket's nest. Ill the autumn the Boar is hunted when
'lopping' for chesnuts. Lopping consists in breaking off the branches by
the Bear to procure the mast before it falls. When pursued by the docs
the Bear sometimes backs up against a tree, when it exhibits decided -kill
as a boxer, all the time looking exceedingly cood-natured : but woe to the
poor doe ii,;,| ventures within its reach!

"The dogs generally employed for pursuing the Bear are curs ami flee.

a< dogs of courage arc usually killed or badly injured, while the cur will
attack the Bear behind, and run when he turns upon him. No number of
dogs can kill a Pear mile-- assisted by man.

" In 1841, the soldiers of m\ regiment had a pet he-Bear (castrated) that
wa- exceedingly gentle ami playful with the men. It becoming m
jo sell or kill it. one of the Boldiers led it down the streets of Buffalo and
exposed it for -ale. Of course it attracted a large crowd, and was bid for
on all side- on account of it- gentleness. Hut unfortunately Bruin was
carried near a hogshead of sugar, and not disposed to lose so tempting a
repast, quietly npset it. knocking out the head, and commenced helping:
himself in Bpite of the soldier's efforts to prevent the depredation. The
owner of the sugar rushed out and kicked the Bear, which, not lib
treatment, cave in return for the assault made upon him. a blow that sent
his assailant far into the street, to the terror of the crowd, which scattered.
leaving him to satisfy hi- appetite for sugar unmolested."

The number of Black Bears is gradually decreasing in the more settled

196 AMERICAN BLACK BEAR.

parts of the " back wood?,'* but in some portions of Carolina and Georgia,
•where the vast swamps prevent any attempt to settle or cultivate the land,
they have within a few years been <ui the increase, and have become
destroyers of the young- stock of the Planter (which generally range through
the woods) to a considerable extent.

.Sir Johx RlCHARDSOH says that when resident in the fur countries this
Bear almost invariably hibernates, and that about one thousand skins are
annually procured by the Hudson's Bay Company from those that are
destroyed in their winter retreats. " It generally selects a spot for its den
under a fallen tree, and having scratched away a portion of the soil, retires
to it at the commencement of a snow-storm, when the snow soon furnishes
it with a close, warm covering. Its breath makes a small opening in the
den, and the quantity of hoar-frost which occasionally gathers round the
aperture serves to betray its retreat to the hunter."

The Black Bear is somewhat migratory, and in hard winters is found to
move southwardly in considerable numbers, although not in company.
They conple in September or October, after which the females retire to
their dens before the setting in of very cold weather.

It is said that the males do not so soon resort to winter quarters as the
females, and require some time after the love season to recover their lost
fat. The females bring forth about the beginning of January.

The Indian tribes have many superstitions concerning the Bear, and it
is with some of them necessary to go through divers ceremonies before
proceeding to hunt the animal.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The Black Bear lias been found throughout North America in every
wooded district from the north through all the States to Mexico, but has
not hitherto been discovered in California, where it appears to be replaced
by the Grizzly Bear (JJrsus ferox).

GENERAL REMARKS.

This species was in the early stages of natural history regarded as
identical with the Black Bear of Europe. Pallas first described it as a
distinct animal, since which its specific name has remained undisturbed ;
its varieties have however produced much speculation, and it has frequently
been supposed, and not without some reason, that the Brown Bear of our l
west mil country was a species differing from the Black Bear.

In order to arrive at a correct conclusion on this subject we must be

AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 197

guided less by colour than by the form and structure of the animal and its
length of heel and claws : it is evident that the size can afford us no clue
whereby to designate the species, inasmuch as some individuals may he
found that are nearly double the dimensions of others.

198

PSEUDOSTOMA B O R E A L I S.— Ric ir. MSS.

The Camas Rat.

PLATE CXLII. Male, Female, and Young.

P. Ex cinereo fulvus, cauda longa pilosa ; P. bufsario minor, et gracilior,
dentibus unguibusque minoribus.

CHARACTERS.

Smaller and of more delicate form than Pseudostoma bursarius, and teeth
and claws much smaller. Tail, long, and clothed with hair. Colour, pale
yellowish-gray.

SYNONYMES.

Geomys Borealis. Rich., MSS.

Pseudostoma Borealis. Bach., Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences Philadelphia, vol. vh'

part 1, p. 103.
Geomys Townsendii. Rich., MSS.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, of moderate size ; ears, consisting of a small round opening mar-
gined by an elevated ridge, the highest portion of which is the posterior
part, and is about one line in height. The ears not hidden by the fur,
but distinctly visible. Body, moderately thick ; claws of the fore-feet,
slender and rather long ; incisors, rather long (but not large for the
genus) ; the upper ones have each a slight longitudinal groove situated
close to the inner margin. Tip of nose, naked ; feet, bare beneath ; inner
toe of fore-feet, rather short, outer next in length, middle longest, and the
toes on either side of the central one about equal ; there is a long brush
of stiff white hairs on the inner side of the inner toe. On the hind-feet the
central toe is longest, outer toes equal and short. Tail, hairy.

General colour, pale gray, the upper parts more or less washed with
yellow ; inside of pouches, under surface of body, feet, and tail, white.

THE CAMAS RAT. |93

Hairs of the body, 'lark slate colour at the niois. There is a dusky spot
behind the oars : incisors, yellow ; claws, white : tail, above, grayish, tinged
with yellow.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches Line*.

From nose to root of tail, 7 6

Tail. 2

Tar-as and claws. 1 1 1

Central claw of fore-foot, 5

Nose tO ear. 1

The above description was made from three specimens of this pouched
Sand-rat. obtained by the late Mr. Townsbnd, on the Columbia river, two
of which appeared to be in summer pelage, and the third in its autumnal

coat.

Description of another specimen senl by Mr. Townbend, marked in
Rich irdson's MSS. as G rift:

Form and -> e of the animal, nearly the same as in the specimens just
described, with the exception of the tail, which is considerably longer.
General colour, very pale gray above, with a taint yellowish wash; end
of nose, duskj gray; under parts, grayish-white; chin, pure white; tail
and feet, white, the former grayish above. Hair- of the back, verj pah
gray at the roots, pale yellow near the tips, the extreme points cinereous.

Teeth, yellowish-white; upper incisors, with a faint groove near the

internal margin. Claw- ami fore-feet, moderate white.

DIMENSIONS.

Inchn

From nose to tail. 7 li

Tail, 2 9

Tarsus, 1 Si

Central claw of fore-foot, .">

Nose to ear. 1 5

The Camas Hat derives its name, according to RlCHARDSON, from its
fondness for the bulbous root of the quamash or eatnas plant (Scilia
escuientd).

Like all the pouched Rats of America, it feeds upon nuts, roots, seeds

200 THE CAMAS RAT.

and grasses, and makes burrows, extending long distances, but not very far
beneath the surface of the ground, throwing up mole-hills in places as it
conies to the surface. These animals are generally found to be in a certain
degree gregarious, or at least a good many of them inhabiting the same
locality, and more or less associated together : and are said to be very
common on the plains of the Multnomah river.

Mr. Douglas informed Sir John Richardson that they may be easily
snared in the summer.

We believe that some of the Indians of those parts of Oregon in which
this burrowing Rat exists eat them, but have no information concerning the
peculiarities they exhibit, the number of young they produce at a time, or
the depredations they commit on the fields and gardens of the settlers.

In the Fauna Boreali Americana (p. 206). this pouched Rat (if we are
not mistaken), is given as Diplostoma bulbivorum — Camas Rat — and under
the impression that that name applies to our present animal, we have
made the above remarks in relation to it.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Specimens were obtained both by Douglas and Drummond, about the
same period of time, in the vicinity of the Columbia river in Oregon.

GENERAL REMARKS.

On a visit to Europe we carried with us three specimens of pouched
Sand-Rats, which we regarded as belonging to the same species, but being
male, female, and young. Our object was to compare them with specimens
taken from this country at the north and west by Richardson, Douglas,
Dbummond, and other naturalists. Richardson kindly showed us a
specimen brought from the Columbia river by Douglas, which, as wc
thought, appeared to be of the same species as our own. As he was then
preparing a monograph of this perplexing genus, we requested him to
describe the species, and add it to his monograph ; he consequently gave
it the above name. He however called another specimen which we had
carried with us, Geomys Townsendii. We think his monograph was never
published.

We have united what he considered two species — Geomys Borealis and
G. Townsendii — into one, having added the latter as a synonyme ; and we
have rejected Diplostoma as a genus, not only because we conceive the
characters on which it is founded to be the result of an unnatural disposi-
tion of the pouches in the dried skins, but for the reason mentioned above

THE CAMAS RAT 201

viz., that we consider the so-called Diphstoma bulbivorum to be identical
with the animal we have just described as Pscudostoma boreaUs, although the
description given by RlCHABDSOK has apparently no reference to the latter,
but on the contrary di having the true mouth

vertical (?\. He says : "The lips, which in fad are right and left, and not.
upper and under.'' Ac Besides, in the beginning of his article he mentions
that the skull is wanting. We think we may therefore reasonably pre-
sume, that although the skin had been bo twisted ami disfigured by patting
it into an unnatural form that the appellation which Mr. DOUGLAS gave it,
as "the animal known en the banks of the Colombia by the name of the
Comas Rat," did not seem to apply to it. we -hall lie right in rejecting both
the generic and specific names given by our friend Sir JOHN Richardson
to so very imperfect a specimen, and in believing that tin- skin was in
reality (although much injured and distorted) nothing hut the t'amas Rat.
as Douglas called it

202

PTEROMYS SABRINUS.— Pennant

Severn River Flying-Squirrel.

PLATE CXLIIL— Fig. 1.

P. Magnitudine P. volucellum tertia parte excedens ; cauda corpore
curtiore, patagio lumbari pone carpum in lobum rotundatum excurrente,
colore flavescente-cano obscuriore inumbrato.

CHABACTEES.

One third larger than P. volucella ; tail, shorter than the body ; flying
membrane having a small rounded projection behind the wrist. Colour, dull
yellow gray, irregularly marked with darker.

SYNONYMES.

Greater Flying-Squirrel. Forster, Philos. Trans., vol, lxii, p, 379.
Severn River Flying-Squirrel. Pennant, Hist. Quad., vol. ii. p. 153.

" " " Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 1 22.

Sciurus Hudsonius. Gmel., Syst., vol. i. p. 153.

" Sabrinub. Shaw, Zool., vol. ii., part 1, p. 157.
Pteromys Sabrinu8. Rich., Zool. Jour., No. 12, p. 519.

" " " F. B. A., p. 193.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, short and somewhat rounded ; nose, short and obtuse ; eyes,
large ; flying membrane, extending from the wrist to the middle of the
hind-leg, nearly straight, having only a slight rounded projection close to
the wrist ; tail, depressed, slightly convex on its upper surface, but quite
flat, or even somewhat concave, beneath ; it is broadest about an inch from
the body, and then tapers gradually but very slightly towards the extre-
mity, which is rounded ; the flattened form of the tail, and its distichous
arrangement, is given to it in consequence of the fur on its sides being
much longer than that on its upper surface ; the extremities are small ; the
fore-legs connected with the flying membrane down to the wrist ; the feet
are hairy both above and below. There are four short toes on the fore-
feet, and the claws are small, compressed, curved, and sharp pointed ;

SEVERN RIVER FLYING-SQUIRREL •„><);{

under their roots there is B compressed callous space, projecting from the
end of each toe, and there is a callosity in place of a thumb, armed with a
very minute nail.

There are five hind toes ; the claws resemble those of the fore feet, and
are almosl concealed i>\ the hair of the toes : the soles arc covered with a
dense brush, like the feel of a rabbit or hare. The fur is soft, long, and
silky on all parts.

[ncisors, deep orange; whiskers, black: a dark gray marking around
the eye. The hairs on the upper surface of the head and body are of a
deep blackish-gray colour from tin" roots to near tin- tip>. which are pale
reddish-brown, but distinctly presented only when the fur lies smoothly;
on tic Dying membrane the colour is a shade darker in consequent
under colour not being concealed h\ the lighter colour of the tips; the
outer surfaces of the feel are pale bluish-gray : the margins of the month,
sides of the nose, cheeks, and whole \ entral aspect of the body, white, with
a tinge of buff under the belly, and particularly under the flying membrane.
Tail, nearly the colour of the back, with an intermixture however of black
hairs: beneath.it is hull"; hair on the soles, yellowish-white.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 8

Tail, including fur. 5 9

Hei-rht of ear, 5i

Heel |m end of daw. 1

Longest hind-toe and nail, 43

Fore-toe and nail. .",

We found this interesting Flying-Squirrel in abundance at Quebec, and
many of them were offered for sale in the markets of that city during- our
sojourn there. It appears indeed to take the place of the common small
Flying-Squirrel of the United Suites (P. vohicclla) in Lower Canada, where
we did not observe the latter easl of Montreal.

We heard that one of these pretty animals was caught alive by a soldier
who saw it on the plains of Abraham, and ran it down.

A brood of young of this species, along with the mother was kept in

204 SEVERN RIVER FLYING-SQUIRRBL.

confinement by an acquaintance of ours, for about four months, and the
little ones, five in number, were suckled in the following manner : the
younglings stood on the ground floor of the cage, whilst the mother hung
her body downwards, and secured herself from falling by clinging to the
perch immediately above her head by her fore-feet. This was observed
every day, and some days as frequently as eight or ten times.

This brood was procured as follows : a piece of partially cleared wood
having been set on fire, the labourers saw the Flying-Squirrel start from a
hollow stump with a young one in her mouth, and watched the place where
she deposited it, in another stump at a little distance. The mother returned
to her nest, and took away another and another in succession, until all
were removed, when the wood-cutters went to the abode now occupied by
the affectionate animal, and caught her already singed by the fire, and her
five young unscathed.

After some time a pair of the young were given away to a friend- The
three remaining ones, as well as the mother, were killed in the following
manner :

The cage containing them was hung near the window, and one night
during the darkness, a rat, or rats {mus decumanus), caught hold of the
three young through the bars, and ate off all their flesh, leaving the skins
almost entire, and the heads remaining inside the bars. ri he mother had
had her thigh broken and her flesh eaten from the bone, and yet this good
parent was so affectionately attached to her brood that when she was
found in this pitiable condition in the morning, she was clinging to her
offspring, and trying to nurse them as if they had still been alive.

This species is said to bear a considerable resemblance to the European
Flying-Squirrel. It was first described by Foester, who not having dis-
tinguished it from the European animal, Pennant stands as its discoverer.

We did not observe any of these Flying-Squirrels on the borders of the
Yellow Stone or Upper Missouri, and have no further information as to
their habits.

In our first volume (pp. 134, 135), we mentioned that Sir John Rich-
ardson speaks of a Flying-Squirrel which he considered a variety of P.
sabrinus, and called var. B. alpinus. We then remarked that we hoped tc
be able to identify that variety when presenting an account of the habits
of P. sabrinus, and in our next article shall have the pleasure of doing so,
having named it P. alpinus.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The northern range of this species is about latitude 52° ; it has been

/;./ / . . .

/;,;■? ■

SEVERN RIVER FLYING-SQIIRREL. 20c

captured on the shores of Lake Huron, and at the bottom of James Bay,
at Moose Factory. We obtained specimens in the neighbourhood of
Quebec, where in the autumn they were exceedingly abundant.

We have not a doubt it is found in the United States south of the river
St. Lawrence, but at present have no evide

appear to exist on either slope of the Rockj Mountains, nor have we in
fact been able to find any of our smaller Bodentia of the Atlantic States
in those regions.

GENERAL REMARKS.

As long as only two species of Flying-Squirrel were known in North
America — the presenl species [P. sabrinus) and the little /'. I'olucclla — there

difficulty in deciding on the species, bul since others h
discovered in the far west, the task of separating and defining them
1ms become very perplexing. We will however endeavour, in our next
article, in which we shall describe P. alpkms, to point out those characters
which may enable naturalists to distinguish the closely allied species.

206

PTEROMYS ALPINUS.-Aud. and Bach.

Rocky Mountain Flying-Squirrel.

PLATE CXLIII.— Fig. 2.

P. Magnitudine P. sabrino major, cauda plana, lata, corpore longiore,
patagio lumbari angusto, margine recta.

CHABACTEB8.

Larger than Pteromys sabrinus ; tail, fat and broad, longer than the body ;
flying membrane, short and with a straight border.

BYKONTME.
Pteromys Sabrinus (Var. Alpinus). Rich., F. B. A., p. 19.1, pi. 18.

DESCRIPTION.

Head longer and body stouter than in P. sabrinus; the tail is also
longer, much broader, more densely clothed with hair, and has a flatter
and more elliptical form ; the flying membrane is much smaller than in P.
sabrinus, and the border is straight ; the ears are thin and membranous,
have a little fur at the base on the upper surface, and are thinly covered
on both sides with short adpressed hairs ; their form is semi-oval with
rounded tips ; the tail is flat, oblong, and oval in form ; the extremities
are rather stout, more especially the hind-feet ; the soles, palms, and under
surfaces of the toes are well covered with fur, except a small callous emi-
nence at the end of each toe. There are five eminences on the palm, of
which the two posterior ones are the largest ; and four on the soles, situated
at the root of the toes. There is a brush of soft fur near the outer edges
of the soles ; the fur is dense, very long, and has a woolly appearance ; the
longest hair on the back is fully an inch in length.

Head, nose, and cheeks, light grayish, with a slight wash of yellow ;
surface of the fur on the back, yellowish-brown, without any tendency to
the more red hue of the back in P. sabrinus.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN n.VING-SQL'IRRKL -J(i7

The fur of the throat and holly is a grayish-white, without any tinge of
buff colour ; tail, blackish-brown above, a little paler beneath.

From point of nose to root of tail, •

Tail (\ ertebrc),

(including I'm-),

Heel to longest middle toe, ....
Height of ear posteriorly, ....
Breadth between the outer edges of the H\ ing membrane

Richardson states that there is a specimen in the Hudson's Bay
Museum, which measures nine inches from the point of the nose to the
root of the tail.

II \RIT-.

We have learned little of the habits "I this animal, Drdmmokd, who
obtained it on the Rocky Mountains, states thai ii lives in pine forests,
seldom venturing from it- retreats except during the night.

From iH lieaw structure, and tin' BhortneSS of tin' DOnj pTOi

Bupports thr flying membrane, we are led to infer that it is lees capable of

Supporting itself in sailing from one tree to another, than the other species
of this genus.

GEOQRAPHICAl DI8TBTBUTI0N.
Both the specimens of DbUXXOBD and ToWNSBND were obtained id

crossing the Rocky Mountains on the usual route to the Columbia river.
We have no doubt this Bpecies will be found on the western >ide of the

Rocky Mountains, from the Russian settlements through Oregon to
California.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Richardson regarded this species as a variety of Ptrromys tabrinm (see
our first volume, p. 184), and adopted for it the name a/pinus, not to desig-
nate a species but a variety. We, on the other hand, consider it a true
species, and have applied to it the name of P. alptnus. quoting Richard-
son's var. aJj>in>is as a synonymo.

On comparing the specimen from which our drawing was made, with P.

208 ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLYING-SQUIRREL.

sabrinus from Quebec, the following appeared to be the points of difference :
alpinus is considerably the larger animal, and although the legs appear
somewhat shorter, they are stouter ; the fur is more dense and longer,
having quite a woolly appearance ; the ears are shorter than in P. sabrinus,
and are broader and more rounded. They may also be distinguished by
the colour of their fur from each other, that of alpinus on the under surface
being pure white from the roots, while the fur of P. sabrinus is tinged with
yellowish. The most striking difference, however, is the extreme shortness
of the bony process which supports the flying membrane at the fore-leg.

209

ARVICOLA TOWNSENDII— Bach

Totvksend's Arvicola.

PLATE CXLIV. Fu.. 1.— Male.

A. Mure decumano duplo minor, auriculis erectis. vellorc prominulis,
colore in dorso plumbco ad rufuin vergcnte in capite colloque.

< H \I! \rTEKS.

Half the size of the A'onray rat ; cars, upright, and visible beyond the fur ;
Plumbeous on the bach-, inclining to rufous on the head and neck.

m ffoxmn.

Ahvicoi.a Townsendii. Bnchman, Jour. Ao.iii. Nat. BcknoSB, vol. viii., part 1, p. 60.

DESCRIPTION.

Body, cylindrical ; head, rather small ; -whiskers, long, reaching beyond
the ears ; eyes, small : tooth, large : cars, large, broad, erect, extending
considerably above tho for : feet, of moderate sue ; toes, like the rest of
tins genus; thumb, protected by a rather short acute nail; tail, scaly,
Bparinglj oovered with soft hair, a low hairs at its extremity ; feet, clothed
to the nails with short brown adprcssed hairs ; fur, on the back, about
three lines long, much shorter beneath.

Whiskers, white and black ; teeth, yellow ; fur on the upper part of the
body, lead colour from the roots to near the tips, which present a mixture
of white and black points, from which results a general plumbeous colour ;
under surface, grayish-ash : nock, sides of face, nose, and an obscure line
above the eye. ashy-brown ; tail, brownish, with a few white hairs at the
tip ; feet, yellowish-brown ; claws, brown.

DIMENSIONS.

lneh«i. LinM

Length of head and body, 6

Tail, 2 6

vol. in. — 27

210 TOWNSENDS ARVICOLA.

Fore-feet to point of nails,

Heel to point of nail, 1

Breadth of ear,

The late Mr. Townsend, who captured this animal under an old log on
the banks of the Columbia river, gave us no account of its habits. We
should judge from its form, its conspicuous ears, and its general resem-
blance to the cotton rat of Carolina (Sigmodon hispidum), that it possesses
many of its characteristics. It was found in the woods, but we imagine
that it exists on the edges of the open country skirting the forests, feeding
on roots, grasses, and seeds, nestling under logs and brushwood, and
having, like the rest of the genus, four or five young at a birth.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The specimen here described was obtained on the 21st of July, 1835, by
Mr. Townsend, on the shores of the Columbia river. It no doubt is
widely distributed on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, and
replaces the Wilson's Meadow-Mouse of our northern Atlantic States.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We find it exceedingly difficult to ascertain characters to designate the
various species of Arvicolse in our country ; they resemble each other in
many particulars, and especially in colour. We can however find no
description which answers to this species in Richardson or any other
author.

211

A R V I C O I, V \ A S TT T A .—A r i>. and Bach.

SiMnr-NosFii Arvicoi.a.

PLATE CXLIV. Fto. .'.— Malb.

A. A. Pennsylvania loogior, cauda. capito. hreviore ; pedibu9, tenuibus ;
calce brevissima : oorpore supra, ferrugineo-fosco ; sabtue ex cinereo et
flavo variegato.

CH \U VCTF.RS.

Larger than Arvieola Pennsylvaniea : tail shorter than the head ; legs
small and slender ; heel very short ; body above, dark rusty broxcn, soiled
yelJou'ish-gray beneath.

PEPCRIPTIOX.

The head of this species is- rather longer and the nose sharper than in
the Arvieola* in general ; the lower incisors are long and very much
curved ; the body is Less cylindrical than thai ofWileon's Meadow-Mouse ;
ears, circular, sparingly hairy within, and well covered with fur exte-
riorlj : whiskers, slimier than the head : tail, thinly covered with hair.

The legs are rather slender, and are covered with short hairs ; the fore-
feet have naked palms ; claws, small : tarsus, more than one third shorter
than that of the much smaller Arvieola Pennsylvanica ; the fur on the back
is also shorter.

Incisors, yellowish-white j fur on the back, from the roots to near the
tips, grayish-black ; the tips are yellowish-brown and black, giving it a
rusty brown appearance : the legs and tail are light brown ; the chin,
eoiled white ; the fur on the under surface of the body is dark cinereous
from the roots to near the tips, where it is light coloured.

DIMENSIONS.

. .

lm>

Length of head and body, -

• 5

9

Head,

- 1

10

212 SHARP-NOSED ARVICOLA.

Tail, "V 6

Heel to point of nail, 6

For the sake of convenient comparison we give the dimensions of the
largest of six specimens of Arvicola Pennsylvanica :

Inches. Lines.

Length of head and body, 4 2

Head, 1 4

Tail, 1 6

Heel to point of longest nail, 11

We have found this species breeding in the vicinity of Wilson's Meadow-
Mouse, although never nearer than a few hundred yards from the latter,
and we have sometimes observed their nests in summer on large hillocks
of sedge-grass (carex) growing in marshy localities, and surrounded by
water ; they do not occupy these exposed situations, however, in winter,
but are found on more elevated knolls, under the roots of old trees or
shrubs. They produce four or five young at a birth, and certainly breed
twice, if not oftener, during the season.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The specimen which we have described was obtained by Dr. Brewer,
near Boston. We received another from J. W. Audubon, who procured
it at the falls of Niagara ; we have also frequently found it in the northern
parts of New York, where the Arvicola Pennsylvanica likewise exists ; and
we recently observed specimens near Detroit in Michigan. It appears,
however, not to be found as far to the south as Wilson's Meadow-Mouse,
as we have not succeeded in tracing it to the southern counties of Penn-
sylvania, where we have sought to obtain it.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We are not certain that this species may not have been indicated,
although not accurately, by Raffinesque in the American Monthly Maga-
zine, under the name of Lemmus noveboracensis. His descriptions, how-
ever, in every department of natural history, are so short, vague, and
imperfect, that it is impossible to identify his species with any degree of
certainty ; they have created such confusion in the nomenclature that

\4

SHARP-NOSED ARVICOLA. 213

nearly all European and American naturalists have ceased to quote him
as authority.

Sir John Richardson has described an Arvicola from the Rocky Moun-
tains, -which he refers to the above species {A. noveboracensis) of Raffi-
nesque, but which differs widely from the species here described.

214

ARVICOLA ORYZIVORA— Bach.

Rice Meadow-Mouse.
PLATE CXLIV. Fig. 3

A. Pennsylvanicam equans, capite longo, rostra acuto, corpore gracili,
auriculis prominulis, Cauda longitudine trunci ; supra ferruginea rufus,
subtus subalbida.

CHARACTERS.

Size of Arvicola Pennsylvania ; head, long ; nose, sharp ; body, slender ;
ears, prominent; tail, the length of the body, without including the head;
colour, rusty brown above, beneath ichitish.

DESCRIPTION.

In form this species bears a distant resemblance to the cotton rat (Sig-
modon hispidum) ; it is, however, a much smaller species. The ears, which
are half the length of the head, are rounded, and are thickly clothed with
hair on both surfaces ; the feet are rather small ; there is a short blunt
nail in place of a thumb ; under surface of palms, and tarsus, naked ; toes
on the hind-feet, long, the three middle ones of nearly an equal length ;
tail, rather long, thickly clothed on both surfaces with short hairs ; whis-
kers, short, scarcely reaching the ears.

The fur on the upper surface is slate colour, tipped with light brown
and black, giving it on the dorsal aspect a dark grayish-brown tint, fading
into lighter on the sides, and into whitish-gray on the belly and under
surface ; the ears are of the colour of the sides ; feet, whitish ; tail, brown
on the upper surface, lighter beneath ; whiskers, black and white.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Linei.

Length of head and body, 5 2

" of tail, 4

RICE MEADOW-MOUSE. 215

Inches. Line*.

From end of heel to point of longest nail, - - - 1 2

" point of nose to ear, 1

Height of ear, 54

The Rice Meadow-Mouse, as its name implies, is found in particular
localities in the banks of the rice-fields of Carolina ami Georgia. It.
burrows in the dykes or dams e few inches above the Line of the usual rise
of the water. Its burrow is seldom much beyond a foot in depth. It has
b compact nest at the extremity, where it produces it- young in April.
They are usual!] four or ore. In spring 1 1 « i — Mouse is in the habit of
sitting <>n the dams near the water, and is so immoveable, and bo much

resembles the colour of the surrounding earth, that it is seldom noti 1

until it moves off to it- retreat in the banks. We have observed it scratch-
ing up the rice when newly planted and before it had been overflowed bj
the wain-. When the rice is in it- milky state this animal commences
feeding on it. and continues during the autumn and winter, gleaning the
fields of the scattered -rains. We have also seen its burrows in old banks
on deserted rice-fields, and observed that it had been feeding on the large
seeds of the Gat aticum dactyloides), and on those of the wild

rye [Elymus Virginicus). A singular part of the history of the Btice Mouse
is the fact that in the extensive salt marshes along the borders of Aehlej
ami Cooper rivers, ihis species is frequently found a quarter of a mile
from the dry ground. It- nest is suspended on a bunch of interlaced
marsh grass, tn this situation we observed one with five young. At
certain seasons this little animal feed- on the -eed- of the marsh grass
(Spartina glabra). When these fail it sometimes retires to the shore for
food, but has no disr< lish to the small Crustacea and mollusks that remain
on the mud at the subsiding of the tide.

This species swims rapidly, and dive- in the manner of the European
water-rat {Arvicola amphibia), or of our Arvicola Pennsytoamca. In an
attempt at capturing some alive, they swam so actively, and dived so far
from us. that the majority escaped. Those we kept in captivity pro-
duced young in May and September; they were fed en grains of various
kinds, but always nave the preference to small pieces of meat.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

We obtained several specimens of this Mouse through the aid of our
friend Dr. Alexander Moultrie, who assisted us in capturing them on hi?

216 RICE MEADOW-MOUSE.

rice plantation in St. John's parish, South Carolina. We procured a
considerable number on the salt marshes near Charleston, saw several on
the eastern banks of the Savannah river, and near Savannah ; and the late
Dr. Leitner brought us a specimen obtained in the Everglades of Florida.
This Arvicola is said to exist as far to the north as New Jersey.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We obtained specimens of Arvicola Oryzivora in the winter of 1816, but
did not describe it until May 1836, when we designated it by the above
name. Having occasion to send descriptions of several, then undescribed,
species to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, we sent a
specimen of this animal to Dr. Pickering, requesting him and Dr. Harlan
to compare it with the Arvicola riparia of Ord, a species which we had
not seen, stating our reasons why we regarded it as distinct. In searching
in the Academy, a specimen of this species was found, and Dr. Harlan,
in opposition to the views of Pickering, felt himself authorized to publish
it in Silliman's American Journal (vol. xxxi.), bestowing on it the name
of Mus palustris, making use of the head of our specimen for an examina-
tion of the teeth.

The teeth and general appearance of this species, the form of its body,
and especially its ears and tail being thickly clothed with hair, render it
apparent that it does not belong to the genus Mus, but is more nearly allied
to Arvicola. As the name " Arvicola palustris'1 is pre-occupied (Harlan's
Fauna, p. 136), we are favoured with an opportunity of extricating it from
the confusion of synonymes in which it would otherwise be involved, and
of restoring it to its true genus under the name given by its legitimate
describer.

217

S C A L O P S T O W N S E N D 1 1 .— B a c h.

Townsbnd's Shrew-Molk.

P L \ I i. CXLV

S Magnitudine 8. aquatico duplo major, supra rufo-fuscus. Dcntibua
XLIV.

I HAB L<

Double the size of tfu common Shrew-Mole, with eight more teeth than that
species ; dark liver colour.

BYNOimraa.

Common Mou. Macken • the Pacific, dec., p. S14.

tfoi i . 1 ewia and I ink. Journey, vol. iii. p. 4-2.

Rich, Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 9.
ToWNSBNDII. Bach., .lour. Acad. Nat Sri.. n>L viii.. pari 1, p. 58.

DESCRIPTION.

Dental Formula. — [ncisive j ; Canine Jj^; Molar ^ = 44.

In the upper jaw the incisors are large, and a third higher than the
canine teeth usually termed false molars, which immediately follow them;
these are snci led by three small teeth of a nearly conical shape, increas-
ing in length from the first to the third; the fourth false molar on each
side is the smallest ; the fifth is a little larger in siae, and slightly com-
pressed : the sixth still larger, and has a considerable posterior projection ;
the four posterior cheek teeth, or true molars, are much larger and higher
than the anterior ones; the first of these (which we have called a canine
tooth) is rather small, and bilobed, with a small internal tubercle; the
second and third are the largest and nearly resemble each other, exhibiting
three distinct points, two external and posterior, and one anterior, the
external ones being the longest, and the last molar being the smallest, and
of a triangular form: in the lower jaw there arc two very small incisors
in front: next to these are two of a considerably larger size, which,
although we have called them incisors, are nearly of the same shape and
appearance a* those which succeed them.
vol. iii. — 28

218 TOWNSEND'S SHREW-MOLE.

The canine or false molars, six on each side, are nearly the same s>ize,
and incline forwards ; the three true molars, which succeed, are large,
nearly uniform in size, and correspond with those in the upper jaw,
although they are smaller.

Body, thick and cylindrical, shaped like the Shrew-Mole (Scalops aquati-
nts) ; the limbs are short, being concealed by the skin of the body nearly
down to the wrist and ankle-joints.

Palms, naked, very broad, furnished with moderately long nails which
are channelled beneath ; tail, rather thick, tapering from the root to the
tip, and nearly naked, being very sparingly clothed with short hairs : the
vertebras are equally four sided : fingers, very short, united to the roots of
the nails ; nails, slightly curved ; hind-feet, more slender than tin' lore-
feet, and distinctly webbed to the nails ; the feet are thinly clothed above,
with short hairs. The whole of the body, both upper and lower surface,
presents a velvety appearance.

The body is dark liver brown colour above, changing with the light in
which it is viewed to silvery or black shades ; the hair when blown aside
exhibits a grayish-black colour to near the tips, which in some of the points
are white, others brown black, producing the changeable colour- above
described. One of the specimens which we have seen — the one figured ia
our plate — has a whitish-yellow stripe about two lines wide, running in a
somewhat irregular line along the under surface of the body to within au
inch and a half of the insertion of the tail ; there is also a white streak
commencing on the forehead, spreading over the snout and around the
edges of the mouth and lower jaws. The teeth are white ; feet, point of
nose, and tail, flesh colour ; nails, light brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length of head and body, 8 6

tail, 1 6

Breadth of palm, 7

We were informed by Nuttall and Townsend, who mistook this species
for our common Shrew-Mole (iScalops aquaticus), that they dug and formed
galleries, and threw up little mounds of earth precisely in the manner of

TO\V\si:\jts SHREW-MOLE -Jl<>

that animal. Thej are well known to the farmers and settlers in the
valleys of < Iregon, as they traverse their fields and gardens, cutting up the
ground in some places to an injurious extent.

GEOGRAPHICAL PT-TrciprTIOX.

Tlii> species is found in considerable abundance near tlio bank? of the

Columbia and other rivers in Oregon, where our specimens worn obtained.

unable to say what is the northern limit of this animal It lias

mil yel been found on the eastern side of the Rock] Mountains, and we

□ able to determine positive!} thai it exists in California:

lmt we have little doubt thai it is the mosl common Shrew-Mole on the
Pacific side of the North American continent, where our common species
[Scalops a</n<t/irit*) does not appear to have been discovered.

Sir John Ri< hardson, who firsl described this animal from a specimen

I in the museum of the Hon. Eudson's Baj Company, obtained by

Mr. David Dot a comparison between

g and our common Atlantic species. Harlan had described the

skull of the s] ies which we have since described and figured

Brewerii, having forty-four teeth, and another which had thirty-six. Ri< ff-
ivas thus induced to Buppose thai authors had varied in their
descriptions of the Scalops from their having mentioned edentat
between the incisors and grinders, and had consequently described the
young in those specimens which had only thirty-six teeth. The young,
however, of our common aquaticus (or as Ctjvieb has called il
l is) has onl\ thirty teeth, the adull thirty-six, whilsl tht

specie- has forty-four.
On our pointing out to Sir John Richardson these particulars, he
id himself gratified to have an opportunity of correcting the error
•nto which he had inadvertently fallen.

220

GENUS DASYPUS.— Link.

DENTAL FORMULA.

Incisive 5 or j ; Canine jpj : Molars varying in the several specks from 28
<o 68 ; </(f.sf teeth cylindrical, separate, and without enamel on the inner side.

Head, long : mouth, small ; tongue, partially extensible. Body, altoge-
ther covered with a shell, or plate armour. Four or five toes to the fore-
feet, five toes to the hind-feet. Toes, armed with long nails for digging ;
mammae, two or four. Tail, rather long, round.

Stomach, simple ; intestines, without ca3ca.

Habit, living in woods, on ants, roots, and putrid animals ; rolling them-
selves up for protection ; confined to the warmer parts of America.

Nine species belonging to this genus have been described by authors.

The genus requires a revision, and the species will no doubt, from the
rage which exists at present for making new genera, be greatly subdivided.

The generic appellation is derived from ciaCus, dasus, rough, and *ovs, pous,
a foot.

DASYPUS P E B A .— D e s m.

Nine-banded Armadillo.
PLATE CX L VI.— Male.

D. Dentibus primoribus laniariisque nullis, molaribus £J§- = 32, cauda
lereti, cingulis circumdata, ad apicem solum nuda, testa zonis mobilibus,

auriculis longissimis.

CHARACTERS.

JVo incisive or canine teeth ; Molars ,-Eg=32.

Tail, round, with rings nearly its whole length. Body, with mobile bands ;
ears, very long.

SYNONYMES.

Dastpus Peba. Desm., Mammal., p. 368.

" Septem Cinctus, D. Octo Cinctus, and D. Novem Cinctus. Linn.

NINE-BAXDF.n ARMADILLO. 221

Armadillo Brazilians. Briss., Kerjne Animal, 40.
" Mexicanus. " " 41.

GuYANENSIB. " " 42.

Cachicame. Buffon, Hist. Nat, \.
T'.km \mi:. D'Azara, Paraguay, vol. ii. p. 175.
Tati Pupa. Marc. Brazil, 231.
Nine, Eiqht, oh Seven banded ' nnant's Quadrupeds, Synopsis, pp.

Pig-headed Armadillo. Grew, Mus, p. \'->. t. i.

8ix-banded Ajucasillo. Shaw's General Zoology, vol. i., paTl 1.

Gurtelthieb mil ^chtzehn Gurteln. Schreb., pp. 327, 228.

DESCRIPTION.

This singular production of nature, it might be raid, n
pig saddled with the shell of a tunic ; it i< about the size of a lai
sum: the head is small, and greatly elongated, and the neck can be
retracted entirely withdraw the head under the Bhell.

narrow and pointed : mouth, large : tongue, aculeated, and can be drawn
out three inches beyond the nose;

The head and nose arc covered with rather small plates irregu-
larly Bhaped, 1110-1 of them hexagonal. There are on the back nine
transverse bands in the specimen from which we describe, although the

number of bands is occasionally only seven or eight. The shoulders.

hams, and rump are protected by two plates, covered with larg
regularly arranged in distinct row- following the direction of the movable
transverse bands, and descending lower towards the ground than the
hand-, forming a sort oi d over the hips like the

skirt of a saddle. Thus the covering of the head ma) be compared to a
helmet, and thai of the shoulders and on the hind parte
ami thigh-pieces, the whole forming an almosl impenetrable coat-of-mail.

The tail is protected bj numerous rings, furnished with scales of the
panic substance, shape, and hardness, as those on other parts of the upper
surface of the bodj . The texture of this shell-like covering of the Arma-
dillo appi imething between turtle-shell or horn, and verj hard
sole-leatl nail, and placed far back in the head, on a
line with the corner of the mouth.

iort and stoat : nail-, strong, sharp, very slightly hooked, and
not channelled beneath : there are four toe- on each fore-foot, the middle
ones being much the longest, and the outer, shorter, and situated far
behind : there are five toes 011 the hind-feet, the central being longest, the
first and lifth -honest, and the two others nearly of an equal length. Kars,
long, narrow, and pointed, destitute of hair, and the skin on their upper

222 NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO.

surface slightly granulated, bat not protected by scales. The under surface
of the body is only covered by a soft leathery skin, as also the legs ; the
front of each font is protected by scales for about two inches above the
toes.

A few scattered hairs can be observed on the under surface of the body,
and here and there a single hair along the edges of the plates above ; the
animal may nevertheless be described as hairless. Mammae, four.

Entire surface of body, ochreous brownish-yellow ; browner along the
sides of the head and beneath the ears ; feet and nails, yellowish-brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Foot. Inches.

From point of nose to root of tail, .... 1 6

Tail. ' 8

Height of ear. 2

Point of nose to eye, 21

Nose to ear, Ah

Longest nail on fore-foot, 1

" " on hind-foot, §

The Armadillo is not "a fighting character," but on the contrary is
more peaceable than even the opossum, which will at times bite in a
sly and treacherous manner, quite severely. Indeed nature, whilst giving
to the Armadillo a covering of horn-plates or scales, which serve to
protect it from many of its foes, has not supplied it, as she has other non-
combating animals — the porcupine for instance — with sharp-pointed quills
or spines, and its only means of aggression are its claws, which although
large are better adapted for digging than aught else. The animal, how-
ever, sometimes lias been known when caught by the tail, to kick rather
hard with both fore and hind-legs, so that its captor was glad to lei go, for
• greai strength in the limbs. A friend of ours who formerly
resided in South America had a pet Armadillo in his bed-chamber, when'
it generally remained quiet during the day. but in the dark hours was active
and playful. One night after he had gone to bed, the Armadillo began
dragging about the chairs and some boxes that were placed around the
room, and continued so busily engaged at this occupation that our friend

NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 223

could not sleep. Be a1 length arose and struck a light, when to his surprise
he found boxes he had supposed greatl) too heavy for Mich an animal to
Mir. had been moved and plai so as to form b sorl of den or

hiding-place in a corner, into which the animal retreated with great appa-
renl satisfaction, and from wh< ace it could only be drawn

Mini it- daws. But in
lie Armadillo i disposition to I

and in fact one of (Item when teased by a pi ck out with its

daw- onlj tiil pi drew in its het

secure in its tough shell, yielded withoul -
to it- noisy and tormentor, until the parrot left

some less apathetic and orry.

But when the Armadillo i into the

ao
depths of tin' -oil with surprising rapiditj . This animal however on being
much alarmed rolls itself up, ami does not attempt to lly. and ii
when it has been di rging, and i- at or nea of a hole, that it

trie- to escape ; ] nt with a

stick, or be bitten at bj a dog, to making an effort bo

We have heard i[ asserted that when it has the ndvnut:

ie Armadillo upon the approach of danger, forms a

ball-shaped mass of it- lied;,, with the tail doubled under the belly, starts
down the hill and roll- to tin '■■

The principal food of f ants of various species, which

I and South America as t" lie
great pests to the inhabitants i of the world,

of 1
I

hood- where that Armadillo i> found
by -none- double boards, to prevent the
devouring the bodies. Armadillos are ild to

snakes, lizards, &c. It should thai the large

Armadillo just mentioned, although covered with p

I, and similar in form, is very different in
ization, and ha- indeed been characterized by F. Cuvier nnder the new
genus I' .

To return to our present species. The Nine banded Armadillo
were informed by Captain Charles II. Baldwin, kepi in Nicaragua, not
only by the people of the ranches, but by the inhabitants of some of the

little town-, lo tree their houses from antS, which, a- i- -aid. it . an follow
by the smell. When searching for ants about a house, the animal put- out

224 NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO.

the tongue and scrapes the ants into the mouth from around the posts on
which the houses are raised a little above the ground, and has been known
to dig down under the floors, and remain absent for three or four weeks at
a time.

When burrowing this species utters a slight squeak, quite faint however.
They are said to dig down in a straight direction when they discover a
subterranean colony of ants, without beginning at the mouth or entrance
to the ant-hole. There are two favourite species of ant with the Arma-
dillo in Nicaragua, one of which makes nests in the forks of trees in the
forests. The tree ants are white, the others small and black. The Arma-
dillos keep about the roots of the trees in order to feed upon the former,
and as we have already said, dig for the latter. They also root up the
ground with their pig-like snout, and do some damage to gardens. They
are very persevering when in pursuit of ants, and whilst they turn up the
light soil with the snout, keep the tongue busy taking in the insects.

It has been assured us that when a line of ants (which may sometimes
extend some distance in the woods) are busily engaged in carrying provision
to the general storehouse, they scatter in every direction at the instant the
Armadillo begins to dig down towards their stronghold, evidently having
some communication from head-quarters equivalent to " sauve qui peut."

The gait of these animals when not alarmed is like that of a tortoise,
and about as fast. They have nails powerfully organized for digging,
whilst their legs are only long enough to raise the body from the ground.
The holes the Armadillo excavates in the earth for its own purposes, are
generally dug at an angle of forty-five degrees, are winding, and from six
to eight feet long.

The Armadillo is generally much darker in colour than the specimen wc
figured, which having been a pet, was washed and clean when we drew it.
When in the woods these animals partake more or less of the colour of the
soil in which they find their food, as some of the dirt sticks to their shell.
Those that have been domesticated prefer sleeping above ground, but this
animal when wild lives in burrows, holes in the roots of trees, or under
rocks.

From our esteemed friend Capt. J. P. McCown, U. S. A., we have the
following: "The Armadillo is to lie found in the chaparals on the Rio
Grande. I have seen their shells or coat-of mail on the prairies ; whether
carried there by larger animals, or birds, or whether they inhabit the
prairies. 1 cannot say. I have seen many that were kept as pets and
appeared quite tame. I am inclined to the opinion that there are two
species — the larger living on the low and wet lands and in the canebrakes,
the smaller occupying the rocky hills and cliffs."

ss

NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 225

This animal is said to produce three or tour young at a time. Ii^ flesh
is eaten by the Spaniards and natives. It has been described to us by
Americans who ate of it during the Mexican war. to be about equal to the
meat of the opossum ; we have heard, however, from South Americans,
that it is considered quite a delicacy, being white, juicy, and tender; it
is cooked by roasting it in the shell.

The South American negroes catch the Armadillo at night. When they
are in the woods their dogs -cent the animal and run it to its hole (if it be
near enough to its retreat to reach it). It is thru dug out by th<
although ite its burrow to a considerable depth

brlow its usual place of rest, whilsl the diggers are at work after it. Two
or three of these animals generally keep together, or mar each other, and
the negroes always expect to kill more, when they have captured one.
The} arc said to run pretty fast when trying to reach their lades, but the
manner of their gait at such times is not known to us. Their hole- are
often dug in the sides of steep banks or hills, and in thick and dense parts

Of the woods.

We have heard that in some parts of Nicaragua the Armadillo- are so
common that thej can be purchased for a medio — six and a quarter cenl
piece.

el OGB IPHK M DISTRIBUTION.

This animal is described as existing in Brazil in South America : ii i-
found in Guiana ami Central America, is common in Mexico, and is found
in the southern portions of Texas. It i- not very uncommon near the
lower shores of the Rio Grande.

m REMARKS.

Ii is -tated that another species of Armadillo inhabits the northern

part of Mexico and penetrates also into l I i. however, we

have been unable to detect anj other species than the present as having

within the geographical limits to which this work has been

restricted.

It is now ascertained that the number of band- on the Armadillo forms
no safe guide in designating the species, in
different individuals of the same Bpecies, and D'Azara, moreover, has

shown that there are individuals of different species which have the same

number of bands.

VOL. III. — 20

226

SPERM OPHILUS ^TOWNSENDII.— Bach.

American Souslik.

PLATE CXLVII. Fig. 1.— Male.

S. Magnitudine Sciuri Hudsonii, capite parvo, corpore gracilior, auribus
caudaque brevibus, colore supra rufo-fusco griseo sparsim vario, infra palli-
diore.

CHARACTERS.

Size of Sciurus Hudsonius (red squirrel) ; head, small ; body, rather slender ;
ears and tail, short ; colour, upper surface speckled with white and brown ;
beneath, yellowish-gray.

SYNONYMES.

Arctomys (Spermophilus) Guttatus? — American Souslik. Rich., F. B. A., p. 162.
Spermophilus Townsbndii — Townsend's Marmot. Aud. and Bach., Jour. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Phil., vol. viii., part 1, p. 61.

DESCRIPTION.

This animal has a convex and obtuse nose, with the frontal bone
depressed ; the body is rather long and slender ; head, short ; ears, slightly
visible above the fur ; cheek pouches, small ; nails, slender, compressed.
and slightly arched ; the thumb protected by an acute and prominent
nail ; the second toe of the fore-foot, as in all the species of the genus,
is longest, and not the third, as in the squirrels. The first toe is a little
shorter than the second, and the third intermediate in length between
the first and second. The tail appears (in the dried specimen) much flat-
tened ; it is clothed with hairs which are longest on the sides. ^

The fur is throughout remarkably soft, smooth, and lustrous.

There is a line of white around the eye. The fur on the whole upper
surface is, for one fourth of its length from the roots, dark bluish, or nearly
black, then (a broad line of) silver gray, then (a narrow line of) dark
brown edged with yellowish-white, giving it a brownish-gray appearance,
speckled with white all over the back ; these spots are longest near the

Line

9

1

10

1

1

6

1

4

AMERICAN SOUSLIK. 227

dorsal line, becoming smaller halfway down the sides. An indistinct lino
of separation between the colours of the upper and under surfaces appears
high up along the hips and Bides; on the under surface, the hairs are
nearly black ai the roots, and are cinereous at the tips ; on the forehead,
nose, and sides of the neck, there i:- a slighl tinge of Light yellow ish-brown.
Tail, "ii the upper surface, lighl yellowish-brown edged with whitish;
beneath, whitish, with a slighl tinge of brown ; teeth, white; naik

DIMENSIONS.

Prom point of nose t" pool of tail.

Head,-

Tail (vertebra),

(to end of fur). ... -

Length of heel to end of middle claw,

In a letter addressed to n- by the late Mr. Townbend he state- that
tin- handsome Spermophile, in summer inhabits the prairies near the
Wallawalla, where it i- rather common : it becomes excessively fat, and is
eaten by the Indians, li disappears in A.ugust and re-appears early in
spring in a \erv emaciated state. We have heard from other sources that
it lives in small families, like tin' Spermophiles, generally burrowing in

holes, ami thai it is >een either sitting On the Bide of them or with the
head partially protruded, hut disappears in its underground retreat, on
the approach of man or any other animal.

OEOGB M \l DISTRIBUTION,

This species exists on the western sides of the Rocky Mountains in
Oregon, where the few specimens we have -en have ''ecu obtained

GENEB \1. REM LRK8.

Rtchakhson described this species under the name of A. guttaius, an
mimal described by Pali v^ (Glir. tab. 6 B) existing on the Wolga in
Russia ; hut Buffon mentions of that speci me of Souslik i--

intended to express the greal avidity that animal has for salt, which
induces it to go on board vessels laden with thai commodity, when it is
often taken. We should judge that its American relative has less oppor-

228 AMERICAN SOCSI.IK.

tunity of indulging in such a propensity. We carried a specimen with
us to Europe, and had an opportunity at the Berlin Museum of comparing
it with specimens from Siberia ; there is a genera] resemblance between
the animals of the two countries, but they are scarcely more alike than
the red squirrel of Europe (Sciurus vulgaris) and the red squirrel of
America (Schiras Hudsonius). They may be distinguished from each other
at a glance by the large rounded spots on the back of the Russian animal,
compared with the white and irregular specks in the American species.

As the name guttatus was pre-occupied, we have named this animal
anew, and in doing so, called it after the gentleman who furnished us the
specimen.

229

ARVICOLA TEX1 A N A— Aid. and Bach.
Texas Mi idov
PL \ T E CXLVII. FlO. .'.-Male.

A Sigmodon hispidum ininore, Bupra rufo-fuscus nigra spareim notato,
striis nigria lateralis, lateribus fuscus, infra albido.

ill m: Li

Smaller than the cotton ml (Sigmodon hispidum); hack, brownish-yellow,
spotted with irregular small blotches of black, a faint obscure stripe of black on
each side. Sides, reddish-brown : belly, whitish-gray.

l>F-< RIPTION.

This now species bears a general resemblance to the cotton ral i -
Carolina ami Georgia. Head, of moderate -i/o ; body, rather slender,
and thin in the Hank- ; hair, soft ; under fur, woolly : ears, large, ovate in
shape, extending beyond the fur. and nearly naked behind, with
margins, a few scattered hair-. Whiskers, numerous, and about as long
as lie' head ; four toes on Hi'' fore feet, with a small and almosl ii
tilde nail in place of a thumb. Five toes on the hind-feet, the outer and
nearly equal length, the other three longer, and each of about the
sane' length : legs, slender; feet, covered by Bhort hairs, and with a few

hail- between tie' tor-, no) however concealing the nails: heel, narrow,
and naked, as i- also tie' under Burface of the fore-feet.

Tail, rather long and slender, tapering to the point, and thinly covered
with hairs.

Fur. dark Blate colour on tie- bach at the roots, with reddish-yellow tips.
The longer hairs, which are tine and soft, are irregularly marked with dark
and yellowish-white at the base, and tipped with dark brown to where they
mingle With the under fur. When the hair i- laid smooth thi
obscure black stripe on the sides of the back, running from behind the
shoulders towards the rump and converging across the buttocks to a point

230 TEXAN .MEADOW-MOUSE.

at the insertion of the tail ; the remainder of the back between these
stripes is somewhat irregularly, and very slightly, waved or barred as it
were, with dark brown spots on a yellowish ground ; head, yellowish-
brown ; sides of the neck, and along the flanks to the hip, brownish-yellow.
A narrow line of yellowish-white extends under the chin and on the belly ;
tail, brown above, grayish-white beneath ; ears, brownish yellow ; whiskers,
white, with a few brown hairs interspersed.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches Lines.

From point of nose to root of tail, - 4 7

" " to ear, 1 3

" " to eye, 6

Length of tail, 4

From heel to point of longest claw, - 1 3

This is an active and rather pugnacious little rat. It is sometimes to
be seen near the edges of the chaparals, in which it makes its nest. It
mostly feeds on seeds of wild grains and grasses, although it has recently
shown a disposition to frequent the farm-yards of our enterprising Texan
settlers. Like the Arvicolae generally, this animal is a good swimmer, and
takes the water when the rains flood the flat plains, which it has pleased
the Texans to denominate " hog-wallow prairies." In the spring season
this rat devours a good many eggs of such small birds as make their nests
on the ground or in the rank grass and weeds, and it does not hesitate to
eat any dead bird or small animal it may find.

Not being very numerous, it is difficult to procure it, and as setting traps
for small animals, baited with meat, in the ehaparal, has been found almost
useless owing to larger quadrupeds than those intended to be caught seizing
the flesh, and breaking the trap to pieces, or (as is often the case) devouring
the small ones that may have been already entrapped, there is no proba-
bility that this or other small species which inhabit Texas and the neigh-
bouring countries will become familiar objects in our collections of mam-
malia for some time to come. We have therefore placed our specimens of
this rat in the museum of the Charleston College at Charleston, South
Carolina, where may also be found the skins of some other animals first
described in our work, and of which specimens, so far as we have heard,
have not been procured by others.

TEXAN MEADOW-HOUSE 031

GEOGRAPHIC W. MSTRIBUTION.

This species was first discovered on the river Brasos, and afterwards
seen in the country a 1 • > 1 1 lt the Nueces ami Rio Grande, where chapparal
thickets afford it shelter

1. i:\ki: \1. REMARKS.

Although this Meadow-MouBe approaches nearer to our cotton ral than
any other Arvicola with which we are acquainted, it presents very striking

differences; its I er and more Blender, its 1 1 narrower, tail

proportionate longer, and fur much softer. The cotton ral is of a uniform
colour .'M the back, except the ends of the long hair- being tipped with
white, hut the Texan species presents a somewhal indistinct appearance of
specks or Bpots of blackish on a yellow ground.

232

ARVICOLA OREGONI.— Bach.

Oregon Meadow-Mouse.

PLATE C XL VII. Fig. 3.— Male.

A. M. musculus magnitudine, gracilior, auribus brevitaus vellere abscoir
ditis ; colore supra cinereo fusco, i»ubtus cinereo.

CHAKACTERS.

tiize of the house mouse ; slender form ; ears, short, marly naked, and con-
cealed by the fur ; colour, ashy brown on the back, cinereous beneath.

SYNONYME.

Arvicola Oregoni — Oregon Meadow-Mouse. Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci.,

vol. viii., part i., p. GO.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, of moderate size ; body, slender, eyes, small ; ears, concealed by
the fur and nearly naked, being clothed with but a few short and scattered
hairs ; feet, small ; whiskers, as long as the head ; a very minute blunt
nail on the fore-foot ; tail, and feet, clothed with short hairs.

The fur, on the upper surface, is bluish from the roots to near the tips,
where most of the points of the hairs are black, a shade of brownish
appearing beneath ; under surface, ashy white ; above the eye, and imme-
diately in front of the shoulders there is a line of light brown ; whiskers,
white and black, the latter predominating ; feet, flesh coloured ; incisors,
yellow ; tail, dark brown above, yellowish-white beneath, with the extreme
end black. In Townsend's Notes it is stated that the specimen we have
described above, was an old male, captured on the 2d of November, 1836.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 3 0

of tail, 1 2

OREGON MEADOW-HOUSE. 033

We are unacquainted with the habits of this species, bul should judge
from its form resembling thai of Le Conte's pine Inetorvm)

thai instead of having galleries on the surface of the earth, as istfo
habil of the Meadow-Mice, this species lives principally under ground, and
only comes to the Burface al night, to seek its food ; it evidently feeds more
on roots than "u seeds.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This Ajrvicola was captured in Oregon, near the Colombia river.

\l REMARKS.

Although its Bead is rather smaller in proportion than thai of 1>k
Oont] - pine mouse (Jlrvicola pinetorum), and it~ body differing from that
animal in colour, this species is nevertheless very Bimilar u> it in form,
more especiallj in the almost naked lobe of the '-ir : and Beems t" be the
representative of thai Atlantic species in Oregon.

vol. in. — 80

i:v\

PUTORIUS FUSCUS.—Aud. and Bach.

Tawny Weasel.

PLATE CXLVIII. Male.

P. Corpore inter putorius erminius et P. vulgaris intermedio ; cauda
illius breviorc, sed hujus longiore ; apice nigro ; vellere supra fusco ;
subtus albo.

CHARACTERS.

Intermediate in size between the ermine and the common weasel of Europe ;
tail, shorter than in the former, but longer than in the latter, with the extremity
black ; body, brown above, white beneath.

Mustela Pusca. Aud. and Bach., Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., October 5, 1841, p. 94.
DeKay, Nat. Hist. State of New York. p. 35.

DESCRIPTION.

Body and neck, rather short in proportion to others of this genus, and
far more robust than the common European Weasel. The feet especially
appear a third larger, and are more thickly clothed with fur, which covers
the palms and toes, and conceals the nails completely ; ears, a little longer
and more pointed than those of either the ermine or common Weasel.

In writing this description we have several specimens of the European
common Weasel (P. vulgaris) before us, and the ends of the tails in that
species are uniformly brown, with here and there a black hair interspersed.
Although the hair of the present species is black at the extremity of the
tail, like that of the ermine, yet these hairs are short and soft, and more
like long fur, and do not present the long and coarse appearance of those
of the latter species, but lie closer along the vertebra?, and form a sharp
point at the extremity.

Claws, short and stout ; incisors equally large with those of the ermine,
but shorter ; ears, large, obtusely pointed at tip, and thinly clothed with
short adpressed hairs ; tail, cylindrical, and narrowed down to a point of
line hairs, the tip somewhat resembling a large water-colour pencil or brush.
Whiskers, as long as the head, and rather numerous. The hairs ou the

•V

T\\\M WEASEJ 23t)

body are of two kinds : the Longer hairs are n little more rigid, and far
more numerous, than on the ermine, and the under far is a little
coarser, and less woolly than the fur of the latter animal.

The whole npper surface, Bides, outside of legs, feet, ears, and tail to
within an inch of the extremity, uniform tawny brown, except on the centre
of the back and top of the tail, where the colouring darkens. Thus the body

of the animal is a shade darker than the Summer Colour of the ermine.

while the colour of the tail i-. for about an inch, nearly as black a< in that
The white on the lower surface i- not mixed with brown hairs as
in Putorius vulgaris, and not onlj occupies a broader space on the belly,
l>ut extends along Hi.' inner surface of the thighs as lo^
•whilst in P. vulgaris the white scarcely reaches the thighs. The whole of
the under surface is pure white; this colour does no! commence on the
upper lip. a- is generally the case in the ermine, but on the chin, extending
around the edges of the mouth, am! bj a well defined line along the neck,
inner part- of the fore-legs, and inner part- of the thighs, taperii
point nearlj opposite the heel mi the hind li

Whiskers, dark-brown, with a few white one- interspersed. The speci-
men from which our figure Was drawn, wa- captured on Long Island ill
Maj 1884, and is therefore in summer pels

DIMENSIONS,

For the Bake of convenient comparison we will also here srive the dimen-
sion- of the two -pen,- of Weasel to which our animal is most nearly
allied, taken from specimens now befo

P.J

Inches. Line*

ngth of head and body, - 9 0

/'. erminea.

Inches. Ltnn

11 7

P. vulgaris

tail (vertebra?), - 2
" (including fur), 3
ighl of ear posteriorly, -

9

3

4
6

6

2

24

1 9
2

We find from our note-, that in tin- State of New York in the winter of
1808, we kepi a Wea-el. which we suppose w.\\ have been this -.
confinement, together with several young ermine-. The latter all became

236 TAWNY WEASEL.

white in winter, but the former underwent no change in colour, remaining
brown. On another occasion a specimen of a brown Weasel was brought
to us in the month of December. At that season the ermines are invariably
white. We cannot after the lapse of so many years say with certainty
whether these specimens of Weasels that were brown in winter were those
of the smaller, Putorius pusillus, or the present species ; although we believe
from our recollection of the size they were the latter. We therefore feel
almost warranted in saying that this species does not change colour in
winter.

We were in the habit of substituting our American Weasels for the
European ferrets, in driving out the gray rabbit (Lepus sylvaticus) from the
holes to which that species usually resorts in the northern States, when
pursued by dogs (see vol. i. p. 59). Whilst the ermines seemed to relish
this amusement vastly, the In-own Weasel refused to enter the holes, and
we concluded that the latter was the least courageous animal.

On one occasion we saw six or seven young Weasels dug out by dogs
from under the roots of a tree in a swamp, which we believe to have been
of this species.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The specimens which we have seen of this animal all came from different
parts of the State of New York. We have however heard of the existence
of a Weasel which is brown in winter in the States of Ohio and Michigan,
which we have reason to believe is the present species.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Our early writers on natural history were under the impression that we
had but one, or at farthest two species of Weasel in our country.

Godjian supposed that there was but one Weasel in North America, and
that it was the common Weasel in summer, but was the ermine in summer
pelage, turning white in winter. Harlan gave Desmarest's description
of the European Mustela vulgaris, supposing that animal to exist in our
country.

Richardson gave two species as belonging to North America, one of
which he supposed to be identical with the common Weasel of Europe. It
is now ascertained that we have at least five species in the United States,
four of which are found in the State of New York.

237

SCIURUS FRE MONTI .— T o w n b e b d.

Fremont's Squirrel.

II \ i . • C] [X.— Fro. i.

Magnitudine Sciuri HudBonii ; caudfi corpore breviore ; auribus oris
tatia : colore supra albido, infra cinereo.

CHARACTERS,

Size of Sciurus Hudsonius; tat/, sAorfer (Aon Mr tody ; row. tufted
Colour, light gray above, ashy white beneath.

DESI RIPTION.

Upper Incisors, larger than those of S. Richardsonii or S. lanuginosus ;
lover incisors, Longer and more curved than those of S. Hudsonivs. The
first or deciduous tooth wanting.

Bodj . shorl ami stout, presenting less appearance of Lightness and agilit)
than thai of the Eudson's Baj Squirrel : head, short and broad ; forehead,
lmi slightly arched ; ears, rather short, broad, rounded, and much tufted;
whiskers, long, reaching to tin1 shoulders ; It

too on the fore-foot, slightly tin' longest ; nails, oompresBed, and shorter,
l.lunter. and less hooked than those "I' S. Hudsonius. Tail, a little shorter
than the body, of tolerable breadth, and capable of a disl
ment.

Tin- whole body is clothed with a dense coal of rather long and soft fur.

Fur on the back, dark plumbeous from the mow: on the sides, tipped

with lieht gray. There i< a narrow dark reddish line aloiej' the centre of

the back, caused bj the hairs on the dorsal line being tipped with reddish-
brown and black. On the under surface the fur i- plumbeons at the roots,
and lipped with ashy white. Tin' tuft- on the ear- are black : whiskers,
black : a line of dark l.rown runs from the end of the nose, blent
dually witli the lighter tint of the forehead ; there i- a light circle around
the eye ; sides of the nose, and lipB, yellowish-white ; upper surface of feet
gray.

238 FREMONT'S SQUIRREL.

There is a slight and almost imperceptible black stripe about a line wide
and three inches long, separating the colour of the sides from the ashy
white tint of the under surfaee. The annotations in the hairs of the tail
are somewhat indistinct : from the roots for nearly half their length they
are grayish-white, are then black, and are broadly tipped with white.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Length of head and body, 7

" tail (vertebrae), 43

" " (including fur), Qi

Height of ear posteriorly, s

" " (including tufts), I

Palm and middle fore-claw, - - » - - - II

Sole and middle hind-claw, 2

We possess no information in regard to this animal farther than that it
was obtained on the Rocky Mountains.

It no doubt, like all the other small species of Squirrels which are closely
allied with it (Rickardsonii, Hudsonius, lanuginosus, &c), feeds on the seeds
of pines, and other coniferas.

All these squirrels inhabit elevated regions of country, and in addition
to their habit of climbing, have burrows in the ground, wherein they make
their dormitories, and dwell in winter ; whilst in summer they select the
hollow of a tree, in which they construct their nests.

Their note is peculiar, like chickaree chickaree repeated in quick succes-
sion, and differing from the qua qua quah note of the larger squirrels.

By their habit of burrowing or living in holes in the ground, these small
squirrels make an approach to the genus Tamias, or ground squirrels.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The only specimen we have seen was obtained by Colonel Fremont ; it
was procured on the Rocky Mountains, on his route by the south pass to
California.

GENERA! REMARKS.

The tufts on the ears of this species are considerably larger than in any
other known species of squirrel in our country, except Sciurus dorsalis, a

FREMONTS SQUIRREL 239

beautiful new squirrel discovered in California by Mr. Woodhoose, and
recently described by that gentleman, and in this respect bear a resem-
blance to those <m the ears of the common Squirrel of Europe {Sciurus
vulgaris) ; the tufts, however, of the latter arc twice the Length of those of
S. FrSmonti, being an inch long, whilst in the latter they are half an inch
in length.

These tufts, in the specimen, originate on the outer surfai f the ear.

near the base, ami the edges of the ear are only covered with short hair-,
whilst iii the European species not onlj the posterior portions, but also the
upper edges, or rims of the ear. are thickly haired, producing so large and

thick a (nl't that the animal at first Bight appears t" have an ear m

an inch long.

240

SCIURUS FULIGINOSUS.— Bach.

Sooty Squirrel.

PLATE CXLIX. Fig. 2.

Sciui'o Hudsonio paullo major ; cauda nonnihil plana, et corpore multo
breviore ; colore plerumque supra nigro, subfusco-flavo variegato ; infra
subfusco.

CHARACTERS.

A little larger than the Hudson's Bay Squirrel (S. Hudsonius) ; tail, flatfish,
and much shorter than the body ; general colour, black above, grizzled with
brownish-yellow ; beneath, brownish.

SYNONYME.

Sciurus Fuliginosus. Bach., Monograph of the genus Sciurus, Trans. Zool. .'■'oo.,
London, August, 1838.

DESCRIPTION.

Head, short, and broad ; nose, very obtuse ; ears, short, and rounded,
slightly clothed with hair ; feet and claws, rather short and strong ; tail,
short, and flattened, but not broad, resembling that of Sciurus Hudsonius ;
the form of the body is like that of the Carolina gray Squirrel.

The limbs externally, and feet, are black, obscurely grizzled with brown-
ish-yellow ; on the under parts, with the exception of the chin and throat,
which are grayish, the hairs are aunulatcd with brownish-orange and black ;
at the roots, they are grayish-white ; the prevailing colour of the tail is
black above, the hairs being brown at the base, some of them obscurely
annulated with brown, and at the apex pale brown ; on the under side of
the tail, the hairs exhibit pale yellowish-brown annulations.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body,
" tail (vertebras),

. %y. / , %fimvt/i . £vr///v/ . >'y : , -vv'/",/ .' y*

SOOTY SQUIRREL 24 1

Inches. Lines.

Length of tail (including fur), v 6

palm to point of middle fore-claw, - - 1 8

heel, to point of longest nail, 2 1

Eeighl of ear posteriorly, 4

Length of fur on the back, 7

This dusky looking species is found in low swampy situations, ami is
said to be \<t.\ abundanl in favourable localities.

During high freshi ts, when the Bwamps are overflowed to the height of
several feet, thej nre vcr\ ai tive among the trees, leaping from branch to
branch, indiffercnl about the waters beneath. Tiny feed chief!} on pecan
nuts, and are deemed bj the French inhabitants of Louisiana to be the
most savourj of all the Squirrels.

I i. Main IL DISTRIBUTION.

We have heard of this species as existing only in Louisis
ippi, and Bj confined to the swamps.

-.1 REMARKS.

We are under the impression that this Squirrel is subject to considerable
variations in colour. We obtained, through the kindness of Col. Wade

II \ mi- ion . a mi! the different Squirrels existing alone

the shores of the Mississippi, and among them wo found -•

of this species. Some of them were of much lighter colours than the one

which we described. In Louisiana, they are often so dark in colot

be called bj the French inhabitants l< petit

The specimen from which oar original description was made, was pro-
cured near Ne\t 0) It ans, on the '24th of March. Is:1.!. It agrees in many
particulars with a skin deposited in the late museum of Mr. P
Philadelphia, which, with other specimens in that collection, is now proba-
ldy los1 for ever. Dr. II mi \\ referred to it as S. ruf venter, bul it did not
agree with Desmabest's description of that species, as we ascertained by
comparing it. On examining the description Dr. Habj \x gave of the
specimen to which he referred, we ascertained that instead of describing it
himself, lie had. with slight variations, translated DeSKAREST'b description.

242

PSEUDOSTOMA FLORI D AN A.— Aud. and Bach.

'Southern Pouched Rat.

PLATE CL. Fig. 1.— Old Male.

Unica per longitudinem stria in dentibus qui secant superioribus : corpora
P. bursario paullo exiguiore et minus robur prodente ; sacculis genarum
minoribus ; palmis multo angustioribus ; canda longiore ; pilis crassioribus.
Colore, supra subrufo-fusco, infra cinereo.

CHARACTERS.

A single longitudinal groove in the upper incisors ; body, rather smaller una
less stout inform than P. bursarius ; cheek-pouches, smaller; palms, much
narrower ; tail, longer ; hair, coarser. Colour, above, brownish-yellow, beneath.
gray.

DESCRIPTION.

The body of this species is a little smaller and more slender and elon-
gated than that of P. bursarius ; head, small ; nose, long, and not so blunt
as in that animal. The fore-foot (or hand) has the palm narrow, and less
tuberculated beneath than in P. bursarius ; nails, narrower, a little longer,
and much less arched than in that species ; and the cheek-pouches are
smaller. Tail, long (double the length of tail of P. bursarius), and has a
little tuft of hair around the base ; the rest of it, however, is naked. Feet,
naked, instead of clothed with hair as in that animal.

In the upper jaw the incisors are of moderate size, narrow, with a single
groove in the centre, and no groove on the inner edges, as in P. bursarius.

Septum, naked, with the nostrile entering in at the sides, immediately at
the roots of the incisors : whiskers, rising from the sides of the nose, short,
thin, and sparse ; eyes, small, placed near each other in the head ; the ears
exhibit a slight margin around the auditory opening ; they are placed far
back, and not distant from each other ; toes, five on each foot ; on the
fore-feet the middle toe with the nail is much the longest ; the inner poste-
rior toe is the smallest ; there are a few short rigid hairs on the inner
edge of the palm, but the foot may be described as naked ; on the hind-
foot, the claws, which are a little longer than those of P. bursarius, are
hooked, and channelled beneath : the hind-feet, to above the tarsus, are
naked.

The hairs on the body are short, the coat not being half the length of

SOUTHERN POUCHED RAT. {843

the hairs i>r P. bursarius, and feeling much coarser and more rigid than in
thai species, especially on the under surface; the cheek-pouches are Bomo-
Berently situated from those of P. bursarius: whilst in the latter
species the upper edge is more than half an inch below the bas
superior incisors, the cheek-pouches in the pi < ipen immediately

into the mouth, tin- upper edge reaching them, so thai while in P. bursarius
the food has to be taken from the pouches and conveyed round to the

mouth, the presem Bpecies is able, by the i nliar form and situation of the

opening of its pouch, to Bhove the food from the pouch immediately into
the mouth. The pouches are. internally, sparser) covered with short
hairs.

Hair on the back, plumbeous from the roots for three fourths of its
length, then yellowish, tipped with black ; on the Kelly, the hairs are cine-
reous al base, and dirtj yellow at the tips ; under the throat, they are of a
uniform ashj white. Whiskers, white, with a few (shorter on<
in-own: teeth, ; claws, light yellow, those on the hind-feel

dark brown at the points; feet and tail, flesh colour. The result of the
colouring of the hairs just mentioned is— back, brownish-yellow ; nose and
forehead, brown : under surface from the chest to the thighs, bluish-gray ;
throat, ashi white.

DIMENSIONS.

From point of no?o to root of tail. "■]

Tail. 4

Longest middle claw, j

Palm, including claw, H

Breadth of head between the eyes, £

between ears, 1 4

The Southern Pouched Rat is very Bimilar to the Canada Pouched Rat
in its habits and manner of living, the chief diffen respects

between the former and the Pseudostoma bursaria being the natural result
of different climate and situation.

This species is verj remarkable lor the apparently definite line of coun-
try it occupies, for. as far as we have been aide to ascertain, although

244 SOUTHERN POUCHED RAT.

found in many places up to the southwestern bank of the Savannah river
in Georgia, not one has ever been seen in South Carolina, or cast of that
river. This is the more singular as the wide range of the other species of
this genus would lead us to suppose it not at all likely to be restricted by
any fresh-water river, and indeed we can conceive no reason why it should
not reach even to North Carolina and portions of Virginia, where sandy
soils and dry pine lands similar to those it most frequents in Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, are widely extended.

Strangely enough, the common name applied to this animal where it is
found is " Salamander."

The Southern Pouched Rat does not, like the Pseudostoma bursarius,
remain under ground during the winter months, in a most probably dor-
mant state, but continues its diggings throughout the year, and devours
quantities of roots ajid grasses. It has hitherto been more frequently
found living in the woods than near cultivated fields and plantations, but
as the country becomes more settled will doubtless prove as great a pest
in the gardens as its more northern relative, for an account of which see
our first volume, pp. 332-339.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION'.

This species is found in the high pine barren regions, from the middle
of Georgia and Alabama to the southern point of Florida, as far as the
elevated portions of that State extend south.

We received two specimens from Major Logan in Dallas county, Ala-
bama, several from Ebenezer, about twenty-five miles above Savannah in
Georgia, and a number from the vicinity of Saint Augustine in East
Florida.

Wc have not been able satisfactorily to ascertain its western range.
We believe, however, it is not found west of the Mississippi. It is some-
what singular that this species is found on the very banks of the Savannah
river, on the western side, and that notwithstanding, no traces of it have
ever been seen east of that river, nor indeed in any portion of South Caro-
lina, although there are extensive regions of high pine lands in that State
which appear to be well suited to its habits.

GENERAL REMARKS.

It is highly probable that this is the species referred to by Raffinesque
and ot'iers as the Georgia Hamster ; inasmuch, however, as it was proba-
bly never seen by Raffinesque, and he most likely formed his new genus

SOUTHERN POUCHED HAT 245

Geomys from figures representing the cheek-ponches ns rising within the
mouth, and hanging like sac- under the throat, we have thought it as well
to decline adopting his genus thus founded in error, and to omil quoting
him in any part of our work as an authority.

246

SOREX DEKAYI.— Bach.

DeKay's Shrew.

PLATE CL. Fig. 2.— Young Male.

Magnitudine Arvicolae Pennsylvania? ; colore supra ferrugineo, ex
cinereo et flavo variegato, infra cinereo ; Cauda" brevi atque cylindraceS.

CHARACTERS.

Size of Jirvicola Pennsylvania ; rusty yellow gray colour above, cinereous;
beneath ; tail, short and cylindrical.

SYNONYMES.

Sorex DeKayi. Bachinan, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., vol. vii., part 2, p. 377, pi. 23, fig. 4.
DeKay, Nat. Hist, of New York, p. 17, pi. 5. fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION.

Dental Formula. — Incisive |; Canine^; Molar—— 32.

The two upper incisors are much curved, and pointed at tips ; the lateral
incisors are each crowned with two tubercles except the fifth, which is
smooth ; each grinder, on the upper surface, is furnished with four sharp
points ; in the lower jaw the incisors are also much curved ; the first
canine tooth is smaller than the second, and the molars are similar to those
of the upper jaw. The body bears a resemblance to that of the shrew mole
in shape. Head, rather short ; nose, distinctly bilobate ; nostrils, on the
sides ; the eye is a mere speck ; there are no external ears ; whiskers, the
length of the head ; the feet are more robust than those of any American
Shrew we have examined, and are haired on the soles ; feet, clothed with
short fine hairs ; the tail in the dry specimen is square, examined in the
flesh is rounded, slightly dilated in the middle, and covered with short
hair ; hind-foot, three middle nails nearly equal, outer toe a little longer
than the inner, which latter is the shortest.

Nose, feet, and nails, reddish-brown ; upper surface of body, rusty yellow
gray ; a shade lighter on the under surface ; whiskers, for half the length
from their roots cinereous, whitish at the tips ; incisors, black.

DEKAY'S SHREW. J J 7

DIMES

Female, captured in the garden at Minniesland near New York.

From point of nose to root of tail, 4i

Tail (vertebras), 1

(to end of hair),

From heel to point of longest nail, 8

Breadth of fore-foot, i

Mule our eighth of an inch longer than the female.

We have always found it difficull to obtain satisfactory information as
lo the habits of the smaller quadrupeds, from the fact that ninny of <»m
farmers and their men are unacquainted with the generic and even specific
names, and consequently often mistake the habits oi or species

for those of a very distinct one. Tin' various species belonging to the
1 ondylura, and Sorex. are in most cases called (and consi-
dered to be) "ground moles," and thus arc represented as all possessing

habits. The gardener who caught for us the two
described, said they were ground mole-. On showing him that they were
smaller, and had very different feet from those of any animal belonging to
the genus Sea/ops-, he said "they were only young one-, that their feet
would become large bj next year." On asking him about their nests, he
said they were not old enough as yet to have young. Wh

him to Bh0W US their holes he first directed us to the ridges made in the
soil by the ground mole.

After a careful examination, however, we ascertained that l>ik\\ '8
Shrew burrows deeper in the earth than Scalops aquaticus. The galleries
of S. I>< Kayi run along at the depth of about a fool from |
have apertures leading up to I .it shorl distances from each

oilier, bj \\ hich the animals

w onus and insects in the earth - e abroad on the

surface, and run over the ground at night in quest of food, a habit in which
the mole does not appear to i

GEOGRAPHU A I. DISTRIBUTION.

We received specimens of this small animal from >ir. Cooper, who
obtained them in New Jersej ; also one from Albany. We wen

248 DEKAY'S SHREW.

when two were captured near New York, and have neard of its existence
in New England, Maryland, and Virginia.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We have seen specimens of DeKay's Shrew which exhibited a dark slaty
gray appearance on the back and sides, and differed materially in colour
from those from which we described.

This we attributed to the dark gray ones having been killed in the
autumn or towards the approach of winter. Dr. DeKay seems to liave
described a specimen with this slaty coloured fur ; he gives its colour as
" dark bluish throughout."

$

>;

5?

249

S O R E X LO N GIRO S T RIS .— B a c m.

osbd Shrew.

PLAT K ('!.. Fig. 3.— Male,

S. Castaneus, rostro longo, caudi longi, auricula amplis, vettere bob
occultis.

rEEs.

Nose, long; ears, large, and prominent; tail, longi general colour,
i kesnut.

SYNONYMF-.

Sores I ongirostris — Lo* w. Bach., Jour. Acad. Nat Si.-i.. vol. vii.,

part 2. p. 3T< <. Lnno 1 887.
i'i lttrhincb. DeKay, Nat Bist State of New York. p. 22, pi. 5, fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION.

Dental Formula, — Incisive l

Nose, verj long : whole upper jaw bordered with whiskers, extending to
the middh lower jaw, sparsely covered with the same kind of

hair, hnl shorter; extremity of the muzzle Ij indented and

bilobed ; the eyes are distinctly visible, and larger than it
this genus ; the ear extends considerably beyond the fur, is comparatively
large and thickly clothed within and without, with short soft hairs ; the
auditor) o rered with a large oblong lobe on which a

kled a few stiff hum- hairs ; tail, nearly round, but in the dried specimen
becoming square ; it is clothed with short hair above and I
the feel and palms to the extremities of the nails; toes, five; the whole
body is slender, and the feel small and weak. The fur is close, very fine,
and glo

OUR.

uniform ehesnul : beneath, a shade lighter : points of the teeth,
dark brown ; nails, horn colour, tipped with black.
vol. in. — :V2

250 LONG-NOSED SHREW.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Length from the nose to the origin of the tail, - -11

of tail, 1

of head, I

Height of ear, i

Length of hind-foot from heel to end of nails, - - - |

We have since measured a specimen procured at Tulula falls in Georgia,
the dimensions of which were as follows :

Inches. Lines.

Length from nose to origin of tail, - - - 2 2

of tail, 1 3

We possess very little knowledge in regard to the habits of this little
Shrew. The first specimen we saw was obtained in the swamps that
border the Santee River, by Dr. Alexander Hume ; his labourers found
it whilst digging a ditch through grounds nearly overflowed with water.
Another was obtained in a singular manner. Whilst we were at the house
of Major Lee in Colleton district, his huntsman brought in some wild
ducks, and among the rest a hooded merganser (Mergus cucuttatus). There
was a protuberance on the throat of this bird, appearing as if it had not
fully swallowed some article of food at the time it was shot, On opening
the throat, it was found to contain this little Shrew, which was fresh, and
not in the least mutilated.

We saw two or three Shrews in the same vicinity which we think were
of this species, coming out of a bank on the edge of a rice field and swim-
ming in the canal at the dusk of the evening. From the above circum-
stances we are induced to think that this quadruped prefers low swampy
situations, and is to a certain extent aquatic in its habits. We more
recently obtained a specimen from Col. W. E. Haskell, of St. Paul's
parish, South Carolina, which was a shade lighter, and a little larger, than
others in our possession, but presented no specific difl'erences.

geographical distribution.

The Long-nosed Shrew (although apparently very sparingly) is found in
South Carolina. We saw a specimen in the possession of the keeper of
the public house at the Tulula falls in the mountains of Georgia. It evi-
dently extends throughout the middle States, and has been taken in New
York and New England.

LONG-NOSED SHREW. 251

GENERAL REMARKS.

The American Shrew* may be easily arranged into three natural groups ;
first, those with shorl ears and tail, of which Sorex DeKayi would form the
i\ pe : second, those n ith large palms, broadly fringed, such as S.Jimbripes ;
and third, those with long ear- and tail, of which tin' present species
would be the type.

We perceive that Dr. DbK \y has formed the present species into a new
genus, Otisorex : but a a naturalists had prei

a number of genera, one of which would include tin' pit
prefer for the present Leaving our American Shrews in the genus Sorex.
We have no hesitation in Baying thai Dr. DkK it's species pfafyrAtntu, on
which his genus was founded, is identical with S. longimsfris. the subject
of our present article.

252

SCALOPS ARGENTATUS .—A u d. and B a c h.

Silvery Shrew-Mole.

PLATE OL. Fig. 4.— Female.

S. Pilis tota longitudine albo, plumboque annulatis ; fronte, mentique
flavescente.

CHARACTERS.

Hairs, from the roots regularly cumulated with white and plumbeous ; fore-
head and chin, yellowish-white. Colour of the body, shining silver gray.

SYNONYME.

Scalops Argentatus — Silvery Shrew-Mole. Aud. and Bach., Jour. Acad. Nat.

Sci.. October 5, 1841.

DESCRIPTION.

In form this species is cylindrical, like the common Shrew-Mole (S. aqua-
ticus), to which it bears a strong resemblance. Muzzle, naked ; and the
nostrils inserted, not on the sides, as is the case in Scalops Breweri, but in
the upper surface, near the point of the nose, as in S. aquaticus. Eyes, not
visible, and appear covered by an integument ; the lips are fringed with
rather coarse hairs ; this species is pendactylous, with naked palms and
tail ; the teeth are larger, shorter, and broader than those of the common
Shrew-Mole ; the fur is long and lustrous on the back, but much shorter
and more compact on the under surface.

Teeth, and nails, white ; palms, hind-feet, and tail, flesh coloured ; nose,
forehead, lips, and chin, yellowish-white ; the fur on the back is from the
roots marked with alternate narrow bars of dark blue and white to near
the extremities, where it is broadly barred with ashy white, and so slightly
tipped with brown that the lighter colour beneath is still visible on the
surface, giving it a beautiful silvery appearance, which presents a variety
of changes, on being exposed to different rays of light. On the lower

SILVERY' SHREW-MOLE ggg

Burface the hair is plumbeous from the roots to near the tip*, where it is
barred with whitish ; it is tipped with light brown. Then- is a spot of
white on the centre of the abdomen, which is apparently accidental, as
we have occasionally observed it in other species of this genus, as well as
in the true mole (Tatpa) of Europe.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 7 i

" tail, 1

Breadth of palm. 10

From tarsus to point of longest nail, • ... 7

Dr. GEO. C. Leib, who discovered this animal in ihe prairie-
pan, crave as no account of its habits, which we presume are similar to
if the common Shre^ Mole

QEOGB IPHIC \l DISTRIBUTION.

We have not heard of this beautifully furred Mole in any other locality
than that where our specimen was procured, which is ihe onh one We have
ever seen, and the one from which our figure and description hi

made.

t IRKS.

Of the several aperies of Shrew-Mole that inhabit North America, this
in point n\' colour is the most brilliant thai

notice of naturalists. Although .. tne com.

men Shrew-Mole, yet the characters it presents have induced ns after some
hesitation and doubt, to designate it a- a new sped iv double

of the common Shrew-Mole ; the fur is much longer and Bofter,and
differs strikingly in colour and lustre Our specimen was evidently a
young animal, although the dentition was similar to thai of Sc. aquatints.
Some of the small thread-like teeth that are placed behind tin- in
the upper jaw were wanting on one Bide, and were onlj barelj risible on
the other. The young o i thirty teeth until they

nr0 more old; when thej have arrived at their full rigour

they are furnished permanently with thirty-six. The skulls of Scalops
Townsendii and S. Brewerii each contain fortv-four teeth.

254 SILVERY SHREW-MOLE.

Before we take leave of the Shrew-Moles of our country, we have to add
that Richardson (F. B. A. p. 12), in noticing the assertion of Bartram,
that a true mole, Talpa, existed in America (in which he was supposed by-
later writers to be mistaken), asserts that there are several true moles in
the museum of the Zoological Society of London, which were brought from
America, and which differ from the ordinary European species {Talpa
Europca), in being of a smaller size and having a shorter and thicker snout,
their fur being brownish-black. DeKay, in the Natural History of New
York (p. 1G), refers to the above statement. We however examined these
specimens in the Zoological Museum, and found they consisted of only two
species — our common Scalops aquaticus, which Richardson strangely mis-
took for another species, and Scalops Breweri, to which he particularly
referred. Thus far therefore no true specimen of the genus Talpa has been
discovered in America, and we have no doubt that the species referred to
by Bartram as the black mole was Brewer's Shrew-Mole, which in certain
lights appears quite black.

VULPES UTAH .—A o n . and Bach.

Jack all Fox.

PLATE CLI.

V. corpore qrandiore, pilis velleria longioribus nee non gracilioribus
quam in V. fulvo, canda magna cylindracea.

CHARACTERS

/ than Vvlpes fiilrus ; fur longer and finer than in that Spa

id cylindrical.

SUES.

Vui.n:s Utah.— Aud. ami Bach., Proc, Acad. Nat. Sci.. Phil.. 1852, p. 114.

Vt i im 8 1 " I. •■port.

l'TION.

Claws slightl] arched, compressed, channelled beneath, horn color;
hair, of two kinds, first, a coarse and long hair covering the fur beneath it ;
Becond, a dense and verj sofl lino fur. composed of hairs that are
but crimped ami wavy, as in the Bilver grey fox. Fur iilumbeous at the
radually becoming dark brown towards the tips in those parts of
the body which arc dark colored on the surface : in those parts which arc
white, the fur is white from the roots, and on no part of the animal does it
; any annulations.

I'll" long hairs arc dark-brown from the roots, yellowish-white near the
middle of their length, and are tipped with black.

On the mulcr surface the hairs arc principally white their whole extent,
with a few M:nk ones intermixed ; the fur on the tail is rather less fine
ami more woolly than mi the body.

Feei covered with sofl hair reaching beyond the toes; on the forehead
the hair is rather coarse ami short, with tine fur beneath.

Greyish-white on the head, dark brown on the neck, greyish-brown on
the dorsal line ami on the side- : the throat, under surface of the body,
insides of Legs, and feet black.

The tail is irregularly banded with dark brown and dull white, the tip
white for about three inches.

256

ACKAI.I, FOX.

Another Specimen. — Nose, both surfaces of the legs, and behind the ears,
dark, reddish-brown ; whiskers black ; under side of neck, and a line uu
the belly, liver brown. Fur on the back very line, and dark ashy-grey
from the roots : the longer hairs on the back are black at the roots, and
are broadly tipped with white ; fur on the sides, cinereous at the roots, and
yellowish-white from thence to the end.

There is a reddish tinge on the neck, extending to the shoulders ; sides
of the face grizzly-brown ; the hair on the tail is irregularly clouded with
brown and dull white, and is lightest on the under surface.

DIMENSIONS.

From point of nose to root of tail,
Tail, (vertebra?,) -

(to end of hair,)
Circumference of tail, (broadest part,)
From shoulder to fore-feet,
From rump to hind-feet,
Height of ears, (posteriorly
From point of nose to eye,
Longest hairs on the brush,
" on the body,

This animal was first noticed, by Lewis and Clark, as the large Red
Fox of the plains, (vol. 2, p. 168,) and was referred to by us in the first
volume of the Quadrupeds of North America, p. 54, where we described il
from a hunter's skin.

Having obtained a beautiful specimen from Captain Rhett, of the
United States Army, we gave it the name of Vulpes Utah, as it is, so far as
our information extends, chiefly found in the Utah territory, although it
probably ranges considerably north of the Great Salt Lake.

The habits of this beautiful Fox are similar to those of the Red Fox, and
it runs into many varieties of color.

Captain Rhett informed us that he killed the specimen, kindly presented
to us by him, near Fort Laramie.

Several specimens of Vulpes Utah have been received at the Smithsonian
Institution, and it will probably soon be well known.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This Fox, as we have ascertained since writing the above, is procured

-

VULPES UTAH.— Add. and H v< ...

PLATE CLI.

V. corpon grandiore, pilis velleris longioribus aec non gracilioribua
quam in V. fulvo, cauda magna cylindracea.

( 11 u: I

Largei than Vulpes fulvus ; fur longer and finer than in that .«/<"
largi and cylindrical.

B\ N'LNVMKS.

Vulpes Utah. — And. and Ba .114.

Vi i n -

nox.

Claws slightly arched, compressed, channelled beneath, horn color;
hair, of two kinds, first, a coarse and long hair covering the fur beneath it ;
second, a dense and very sofl fine fur, composed of hairs that are Btraight,
but crimped and wavy, as in the silver grey fox. Fur plumbeous at the
routs, gradually becoming dark brown towards the tips in those ,
the body which are dark colored on the surface ; in those parts which are
■white, the fur is white from the roots, and on no part of the animal does it
present any annulatic

The long hairs are dark-brown from the roots, yellowish-white near the
middle of their length, and are tipped with black.

On the under surface the hairs are principally white their whole extent.
with a few black ones intermixed ; the fur on the tail is rather less fine
and more woolly than on the body.

Feel covered with soft hair reaching beyond the toes ; on the forehead
the hair is rather coarse and short, with fine fur beneath.

Greyish-white on the head, dark brown on the neck, greyish-brown on

! line and on the sides; the throat, under surface of the body,
insides of legs, and feet black.

The tail is irregularly banded with dark brown and dull whito. the tip
while t'..r about three inches.

25G JACKALL FOX.

Another Specimen. — Xose, both surfaces of the legs, and behind the cars,
dark, reddish-brown ; whiskers black ; under side of neck, and a line on
the belly, liver brown. Fur on the back very fine, and dark ashy-grey
from the roots : the longer hairs on the back arc black at the roots, and
are broadly tipped with white ; fur on the sides, cinereous at the roots, and
yellowish-white from thence to the end.

There is a reddish tinge on the neck, extending to the shoulders ; sides
of the face grizzly-brown ; the hair on the tail is irregularly clouded with
brown and dull white, and is lightest on the under surface.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

From point of nose to root of tail, - - - 2 8

Tail, (vertebrae.) 1 4

" (to end of hair,) .1 8

Circumference of tail, (broadest part,) 1 8

From shoulder to fore-feet, 1 5

From rump to hind-feet, 1 6

Height of ears, (posteriorly,) - - . - - 4

From point of nose to eye, 3^

Longest hairs on the brush, 5

" on the body, 3

HABITS.

This animal was first noticed, by Lewis and Clark, as the large Red
Fox of the plains, (vol. 2, p. 1G8,) and was referred to by us in the first
volume of the Quadrupeds of North America, p. 54, where we described it
from a hunter's skin.

Having obtained a beautiful specimen from Captain Rhett, of the
United States Army, we gave it the name of Vulpes Utah, as it is, so far as
our information extends, chiefly found in the Utah territory, although it
probably ranges considerably north of the Great Salt Lake.

The habits of this beautiful Fox are similar to those of the Red Fox, and
it runs into many varieties of color.

Captain Rhett informed us that he killed the specimen, kindly presented
to us by him, near Fort Laramie.

Several specimens of Vulpes Utah have been received at the Smithsonian
Institution, and it will probably soon be well known.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This Fox, as we have ascertained since writing the above, is procured

JACKALL POX. 257

throughout the Rocky Mountain regions, although by no means abundantly,
as far north as the traders of the fur companies push their outpost-, it is
found also in Oregon.

GENERAL BEHABKS.

The exploring expedition Bent bj the United States, (1888 to If

not procure any BJ imeus of tliis Fox. although we find by Mr. Peale's

Catalogue, they obtained the Vulpes Virginianus, in both Oregon and

California.

2oS

SCIURUS MUSTELINUS.-Aud. and Bach.

Weasel-like Squirrel.

PLATE CLII.-Male. Fig. 1.

S. Cervice longissiraa ; cauda corpore longiore ; pilis curtis, rigidis,
compressis, teretibus ; omni corporis parte nigerrima.

CHARACTERS.

Neck, very long • tail, longer than the body ; hair, short, rigid, adpressed.
and glossy ; the whole body, jet black.

SYNONYMS.

Sciurus Mustelinus — Weasel Squirrel. Aud. and Bach., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.

Phil., Oct. 5, 1841, p. 32.

DESCRIPTION.

The unusually long neck of this species, together with its long slender
body, and smooth lustrous hair, give it somewhat the appearance of a
weasel, and suggested to us the specific name.

Ears, of moderate size, and nearly naked, there being only a few hairs
on the borders ; feet, covered with very short hairs, which only reach to
the roots of the nails ; tail, long, not bushy, moderately distichous.

COLOUR.

The hairs, in every part of the body, are deep black from the roots to
the tips, and the surface is glossy.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body 10

tail, 13

From shoulder to point of nose, - - - - 3 10

Tarsus, 2 5

Height of ear posteriorly, 6

WEASEL-LIKE SQUIRREL. 2C9

The Weasel-like Squirrel feeds is the woody portions of California, on
acorns, the seeds of the pines and other trees, and makes its nest in the
oaks <>]■ nut-bearing pines of that country, which, from their broad spread-
ing branches and dense leafy boughs, afford it security against the hunter,
as with equal cunning and agility it hides itself, when alarmed, amid the
evergreen foliage, and except when surprised on the ground or near the
earth, and shot instantly, can seldom be killed. There is no more tanta-
lizing game, in tact, and as the branches interlock at a moderate elevation
from the ground, the animal easily goes from one tree to another, ami so
swiftly that it is not often to lie traced in il- Course of flighl I i

We are unacquainted with the time of this animal's breeding, but pre-
Bume it brings forth about four or fire young at a birth. The young of all
Bpecies of squirrels with which we are familiar, are born blind, and remain
without sighl from four to six week.-. This is nn admirable proi

nature for their safety, as were they able to use their eyes at an earlier

period, they would doul I ity of the nest

and venture on to the branches, before they had gained strength

to preserve their footing, and would thus probably fall to the earth and be

killed.

GEOGRAPHIC \t. DISTRIBUTION.

The specimen from which our figure and description were made was
procured in California. We have no authority for statin? its northern or
southern ranee, but consider it a western species — by whicl
it i- i;t.t found east of the Rocky Mountain chain.

GENERAL REMARKS.

From it- thin covering of hair, being nearly destitute of the soft fur
usually clothing the squirrels, this species may be considered as belonging
to a moderate or warm climate. It differs widely from all the other
f Black Squirrel (aswell as all blaek varieties of Squirrel), in our
country. It has shorter and coarser hair than S. capistralux. and
tute of the white nose and ears of that species, with none of the white
in t- invariable found in X niger ; and has a smaller body, although a
much longer tail than X Juduboni, without the white, yellow, and brown
annulations in the hair which characterize that species.

260

SCIURUS AUDUBONI.— Bach.

Large Louisiana Black Squirrel.

PLATE CLII. Fig. 2.— Male.

Paulo minor quam Sciurus Niger ; aures breviores ; dentes qui cibum
secant latiores ; cauda longitudine corpori par ; capilli valde crassi, tac-
tuque asperi, sed nihilominus nitidi. Color, supra niger ; infra subfuscus.

CHARACTERS.

A little less than Sciurus niger ; ears, shorter ; incisors, broader ; tail, as
long as the body ; fur, very coarse and harsh to the touch, but glossy ; colour,
above, black, beneath, brownish.

SYNONYME.

Large Louisiana Black Squirrel — Sciurus Auduboni. Bach., Monog. of the
Genus Sciurus, p. 33. 1839.

DESCRIPTION.

Dental Formula. — Incisive ^ ; Canine 0^; Molar ^ = 20.

Our specimen has the above number of teeth. If the small anterior
molar in the upper jaw exists in the young, which we suspect to be the
case in all American species, it is deciduous ; and we are warranted in
arranging this species among those which have permanently but twenty
teeth. In the upper jaw the anterior molar is triangular in shape, and
crowned with three blunt tubercles ; the other molars are quadrangular,
with concave crowns.

Head, narrower, and body, thinner than in S. niger ; cars, short aud
conical, covered on both surfaces with short adpressed hairs, presenting no
tufts ; whiskers, longer than the head, extending to the shoulders. Fur
on the back, very coarse.

Incisors, deep orange ; whiskers, black ; back, upper parts, outsides of
limbs, and feet, black, with a faint tinge of brown. Many of the hairs are

N.°31

Plat.' fl.1!

warn

LARGE LOUISIANA BLACK SQUIRREL

261

however obscurely annotated with yellowish-white. The whole under
surface, and Ihc inner Bides of the legB, are brownish. Most of the hairs
on the under Burface are grayish-white al the base, some arc annulated
with black and yellow, and others are brown.

Chin, black, with the extreme tip whitish ; end of nose, brownish : tail,
black : when viewed beneath, the hair- exhibit deep yellow annulationsj
mosl cf the hairs are brownish toward- the tip.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, g

tail (vertebra), 8 9

" (to end of hair). U q

" palm to end of middle fore-claw, - - 1 1,

'I' el to point of Longest nail, 2 6

Height of (Mi- posteriorly, 3

Length of fur on the back, ,;

HABITS.

This Bouthern Black Squirrel was first described bj Dr. Ba( 11 max, from

a specimen obtained by .1. W. Ai di bon in Louisiana, and was named by

him after its discoverer. It frequents high grounds, and lias all the active.
restless, and playful habits of the g

GEOGRAPHICAL PISTIiTrU"riox.

The Louisiana Black Squirrel has been scon west of the Mississippi, and
a? we think is occasionally found in Texas. It is Bometimes offered for
sale in tin' New Orleans market-, being -hot in the neighbourhood of that
city.

GEM 1: W. REMARKS.

w'~ have I " informed bj son Ecers of the United States army that

a Squirrel similar to the present speciee is found in Texas and in parts of
New Mexico, hut from there being no specimens we could not p
identity the Black Squirrels these gentlemen had observed with «£ .hidu-
horn.

262

SCIURUS ABERTI.— Woodhouse.

Col. Abert's Squirrel.

PLATE OLIIL— Fig. 1.

S. Auribus magnis latisque, cristatis longis subnigris cinereisque crini-
bus ; rubra in dorso striga.

CHARACTERS.

Ears large and broad, tufted with long blackish grey hairs ; a reddish
stripe on the back.

SYNONYMES.

Sciorus dorsalis. — Woodhouse, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phi]., June, 1852, p. 110.
Sciurus Aberti. — Woodhouse, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., Dec, 1852, p. 220.

DESCRIPTION.

Ears large and broad, with very long tufts ; tail very large ; fur long,
compact, and soft ; claws long, very strong, and much curved ; whiskers
very long.

COLOUR.

General colour above dark grey, with the exception of the dorsal line
and a band extending along the external base or hind part of the ear,
which is of a rich ferruginous brown colour ; beneath, white, with the
exception of the perineum, which is grey ; cheeks greyish white ; tail
grey above with a broad white margin, and white beneath ; claws of a
black colour with the exception of their points, which are light and
almost transparent ; whiskers black ; iris dark brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Dried Skin. Inches.

Length from nose to root of tail, about, 13

From heel to point of longest nail, 2TV

Height of ears, externally, 1T»5

" " to end of tufts, 2r\

Breadth " ( ..... i

From ear to point of nose, about lT7a

Tail (vertebra), about 8

" to end of fur, 11

COL. ABERT'S SQUIRREL.

Dr. AVoodhouse, from whose description we have extracted above,
makes the following remarks: -This beautiful squirrel I procured whilst
attached to the expedition under command of ('apt. L. SlTORBAVES,
Topographical Engineer U. S. Army, exploring the Zuni and the great
and little Colorado rivers of the west, in the month of October, 1851, in
the San Francisco Mountain. New Mexico, when- I found it quite
abundant, after leaving which, I did no( Bee it again."

GEOGRAHIIi A I. IHSTRIBfTIOX.

So far as shown by the foregoing account, and according to our know-
ledge, this Bquirrel has nol been seen except in the San Francis

tain. New Mexico. It is, however, most likely that it inhabits
Biderable district of elevated ami wooded country in that pari
Continent, and may hereafter be found in California or even Oregon.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We have not been able to procure any further information regarding
this Bpecies, which was first named Saums dortalis by its discoverer, but
a subsequent examination having Satisfied him that this name had " al-
ready been applied by J. E. Gbat, to one of the same genus," he proposed
"to call it Sciwrus .Ihnti. after Col. .1. .1. Aheht, chief of the a
Topographical Engineers, V . S. Army, to whose exertions science is much
indebted." (Proi 1. A.cad. Nat. Sci., Phil., Dec. 1862,

It gives us great pleasure to welcome this beautiful new animal under
the name of Col. Abert's Squirrel.

261
SCIURUS FOSSOR.— Peale.

California Grey Squirrel.

PLATE CLIII.— Fig. 2.

S. Supra e nigro alboque intermixtis griseus, subtus albus, auribus
magnis, breviter pilosis, naso nigro, cauda disticha, albo-margiiiata, corpore
longiore.

CHARACTERS.

Move, grey ; beneath, white; ears not tufted, but clothed within and without
with short hairs ; nose black ; tail distichous, tipped with white ; body long
and rather slender.

SYNONYMES.

ScitTRUs Fossor.— Peale, Mam., &c, of the U. S. Exp. Exped., 1838-42. Phila. 1848.
Sciurus Heermanni. — Dr. Le Conte, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., Sept., 1852, p. 149.

DESCRIPTION.

"Whiskers shorter than the head ; ears large, sub triangular, rounded at
the tip, and covered both within and without with short hair, which does
not in any way form a fringe at the margin ; tail long and distichous,
with long hairs which are grey at the roots, black above and tipped with
white ; body long and rather slender ; hair on the body long and not fine.

COLOUR.

Body above light grey, produced by an intermixture of black and
white points ; the hairs are grey at base, then black, and have a pure
white annulation about the middle ; intermixed with them are a few
longer pure black hairs. A small spot towards the tip of the nose, and
an indistinct line above the eyes are black ; whiskers black. Beneath,
the body is pure white, except the perineum, which is grey ; tail grey,
blackish towards the edges, and broadly margined with white ; rather
lighter in colour beneath.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

From tip of nose to root of tail, 12 5

Head, 3 2

Length of ear, 9

Breadth of ear, 7

Fore foot to end of longest claw, .... 21

Hind foot to end of longest claw, .... 32

Tail, to end of vertebra, 9 8

hair, 13

v -

j i
s

CALIFORNIA GREY SQUIRREL. 2G5

i This beautiful squirrel has been often killed by Mr. J. E. Clements,
in the pine woods of California, near Murphy's "diggings." It is
exceedingly swift on the ground, and will not readily take to a tree, or,
if it does, ascends only a few feet, and then jumping down to the ground
runs off with its tail held up but curved downwards towards the tip like
thai of a fox when in Bight.

By the aid of a foal cur dog, it may, however, be put up a tree. In this
case it hides if a hole offers in which to conceal itself; ami unlike Borne
others of its genus, seldom leaps from one tree to another over the higher
boughs in the endeavour to make it- i

It appears to make its nesl generally in the decayed pari of an oak
tree, and in the desire to reach its secure retreat, is doubtless led to
attempt to run to this tree on the ground, rather than by ascending the
oeareat trunk and jumping from branch to branch.

A large pari id' its food consists of nuts, which arc stuck in hollows or
boles bored in tin" pine tree- by a Bpecies t called by the

Californians " Sapsuckers." These nuts are placed in holes in the hark,
which are only so deep a- to admit the nuts (which are placed small end
foremost in them), leaving the large end visible and about Bush with
the bark— they thus present the appearance of pins or pegs of wood stuck
into the trees, and are very curious objects to the eye of the Btranger.

The California grey squirrel is a roving animal. One may sometimes
see from one to a dozen in a morning's hunt in the pines, and again not
meet any. They very seldom leave the pines, but ate occasionally Been
in the dry season following the beds of the then almost empty water
courses, which afford them, in common with other animals and bird-, water
and such roots and grasses a- they cannot find on the uplands at that
period of the year.

They hark somewhat in the same tone? as the grey squirrel of the
Atlantic States, but immediately cease when they perceive they are
observed by man. Sometimes they seem to be excited to the utterance of
their cries by the whistling of the California partridges, which, near the
hills, approach the edges of the pine woods.

Mosl id' those shot by Mr. Clements were killed when running on the
ground.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This species is found in California in the wooded districts on th
of the hills, and extends to Oregon, as. in Mr. Peale's work, we have
accounts of it- having been observed there.

vol. in. — 84.

266 CALIFORNIA GREY SQUIRREL.

It is also almost a sure conclusion that it is found on the ridges of the
mountains, as far south as the nut-bearing trees invite it, and it may thus
reach quite a low latitude.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The pine nuts referred to in the account of the habits of this squirrel, as
a favourite article of food for it, are placed on the cones of the Sugar Pine,
[Pinus Lambcrtii, Douglas), so called from the gum which exudes from it,
where the bark has been wounded, becomes hard and white, and is quite
sweet to the taste.

The nuts are formed on the cones, sometimes twenty or thirty on one
cone. The Indians pound and crack them. They are very good eating,
and taste not unlike a hickory nut. The shell is thin, but hard, the nut
covered with a skin like the peach kernel, &c.

We hesitated somewhat as to adopting the name (Sciurus Fossor) given
to this species by Mr. Titian R. Peale, as his volume on the " Mammalia
and Ornithology " of the United States Exploring Expedition, <fcc, has
been suppressed ; but as about one hundred copies, it appears, were circu-
lated, we think it is only justice to Mr. Peale to quote his work, which,
as it was printed in 1848, gives his name the priority over Sciurus Heer-
manni, under which this species was described by our friend Dr. Le
Conte, September, 1852.

Its flesh is good eating, and it is sufficiently abundant in some parts of
California to make it worth the hunting for market.

S P E R M O P II I L U S H A RRI S II .—Aid. and Bach.

Harris's Bpkrmophile, or bCarmoi sijiirrel.

PLATE CLIV.— Fro. 1.

B. Magnitudine Tamia Lysteri; Btrigis duobus albis dorsalibus ab
hmneria ad femora ; fronte rufo-canescente, colle el ventre cinereis-albis,
dorso fulvo-cincrco : cauda disticha.

< i! w: k.1 TEES.

Sir* of Tamias Lysteri ; a narrow white stripe on each side of the back,

shoulder to the thighs; forehead reddish- grey ; neck ashy-white

running into yellowish iron-grey on the hack : under surface ashy white : fail

distichous.

rpnou.

Head small and delicate ; neck, rather long : body slender : legs rather
a long hair- growing oul and fringing the hind parts of the fore
legs; the cheek poaches appear rather small in tin- dried specie
thinly clothed on both surfaces -with short lire; Bhort, some-

mgular, and rather acute at the tips; tail of i
depressed al base, with the hairs growing from ing it a

decidedly distichous appearance; the teeth resemble those of T. Lysteri;
are rather small, and the lower incisors are slightly curved.

Whiskers not numeroi the ear ; hairs on the back very short,

somewhat coarse, but lying verj Bmoothly, giving the animal a glossy
appearance; on the under surface they are coarse and rigid. There are
live toes on each foot ; on the fore-feet a small tubercle in place of a thumb,
with a blunt nail ; second nail from the thumb longest, as in the rest of
the spermophili ; on the hind feet the middle toes are longest, the two on
each side being of nearly equal length, the outer considerably shorter, and
the inner shortest: claws slightly compressed, and a little curved; feet
clothed with short hairs, bul which do not conceal the nails ; the eyes are
of moderate size, and are placed midw ay between the point of the nose and
the root of the ear ; soles of feet tubcrculated and naked, except a few-
hairs between the toes.

HARRIS'S SPERMOPHILE OR MARMOT SQUIRREL.

Incisors dingy yellow ; whiskers and nails black ; back and sides
minutely speckled with white, on a yellowish-brown ground ; the hairs
are dark-brown at the roots, then white, then black, and the tips brownish-
white, with a tinge of yellow ; on the nose and forehead, the speckled
appearance of the back is superseded by a rufous tint ; between the ears,
on the neck, and a little downwards, towards the legs, greyish-white is the
prevailing color ; a narrow white stripe, rising from behind the shoulder,
and running along the side of the back to the middle of the hips, there
loses itself in the general colour of the body ; around the eye, throat, chin,
inner surface of legs, and whole under surface of body, whitish, with a few
black hairs interspersed ; a tinge of brownish-red on the outer surface of
the fore legs is more strongly red on the thighs ; feet and outer surface of
legs yellowish white.

The hairs of the tail are whitish at the roots, twice annulated with
black, and tipped with white.

There is a line of whitish yellow on the flanks, separating the colour of
the back and sides from the under surface distinctly, and extending along
beneath the reddish brown tint on the thighs, where it becomes a deeper
yellow.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body 51

" tail (vertebrae) 3i

" " to end of hair 4j

From tarsus to end of longest claw 1J

Length of fore leg from the shoulder .... 2

" hind leg from the thighs 2h

Breadth of tail, when distichously arranged - - - II

Height of ear (posteriorly) i

Longest claw on the fore foot £-

There is nothing to be said by us about the habits of this species, as it
has not been observed, so far as we know, since our specimen was pro-
cured, and we have not even a knowledge of the precise locality in which
it was obtained by Mr. J. K. Townsend, who gave the specimen to our es-
teemed friend, Edward Harris, Esq., from whom we received it some time
since, and with whose name we have honoured this pretty little animal.

I

a!

*

<

HARRIS'S SPERMOPIIILE OR MARMOT SQURREL. 26!

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Probably west of the Rocky Mountains, on the route followed by Messrs.
Nuttall and Townsekd, in their journey to Oregon overland.

GENERAL REMARKS,

This species bears a very slight resemblance to Spermophilus Int(ra!is
of Sat, but differs bo widelj from it that it is unnecessary to institute a
close comparison. It is a smaller animal, the head and cars being diminu-
tive compared with the latter ; it has a single stripe of white on the sides
of the back, whilst in Lateralis a broad white Btripe is margined on each
side by a stripe id' black, giving it the appearance of having four black
Btripes on the back, while S. Harrisii has no black about the back or sides
at all.

270

AR VIC OLA EDAX.-Le Conte.

California Meadow Mouse.

PLATE C LI V.— Fig. 2.

A. Brevis et robustus, supra spadiceo et nigro permixtus. Auribus
extra pilos extantibus. Cauda mediocri, supra nigra, subtus cinerea.

CHARACTERS.

Body short and thick; above, brown mixed with black ; ears not concealed
by the hair ; tail moderate length, black above, beneath grey.

SYNONYME.

Arvicola edax. — Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., Oct. 1853, p. 405.
DESCRIPTION.

Head short and blunt ; ears round, not entirely concealed under the
fur, hairy within and without, anti tragus large and semicircular ; feet
covered with short, shining grey hair ; thumb tubercle, with a short, very
blunt nail ; tail of moderate length, hairy above.

COLOUR.

Hair plumbeous black above and on the sides, tipped with shining
brown mixed with black ; beneath tipped with grey ; feet grey ; tail
dusky above, grey beneath, with a slight brownish tinge.

DIMENSIONS.

Length (including the tail) 5.5

of head 1.4

" " ears .5

,: " fore leg 1-3

" " hind leg 1-5

" tail 1.5

ARVICOLA EDAX. 271

This new Arvicola from California has doubtless the habits of the
genus to which it belongs. Our friend Major Le Conte does not, how-
ever, say anything in relation to its peculiarities, and as all our informa-
tion of the existence even of the animal is derived from that gentleman,
we have nothing to say further. We present our thanks to Major Lb
Coxte for the loan of the skin from which our figure was made.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

California is named as the habitat of this Meadow Mcmse; but we are
not informed whether it is widely diffused there, or is confined to certain

localities.

GEKERA1 REMARKS.

The description ami dimensions of the California Meadow Mouse above
given arc quoted with Blight alterations from Major Le Cortb's paper

cited above.

272

PROCYON CANCRIVORUS.— Cuv.

Crab-Eating Raccoon.
PLATE CLV.

P. Supra canescens plus minus in nigrum vergens, subtus flavo-albeute,
pedibus fuscoscentibus, facie albida, fascia oculum circumcingente et cum
opposite confluente nigra ; cauda rufcscente, annulis nigris.

CHARACTERS.

Body, above greyish, more or less shaded with black ; beneath, light yellow ;
feet brownish yellow ; face whitish ; a black band surrounding the eye uniting
with the opposite one ', tail reddish, annulatcd with black.

SYXONYMES.
Ursus Cancrivorus. — Cuv. Regne An., i., p. 138.
Raton Crabier. — Buff. His. Nat., Suppl. vi., p. 236, t. 32.
Aguara-pope. — DAzara, Essai i., p. 327.
Procton Cancrivorus. — Desm. in Nouv. Diet, xxxix., p. 93. 2.

" " Briggins, Paraguay, p. 2 1 3.

" " Prince Max. AVied, Beitrage ii., p. 301.

" " Griffith An. Kingd., Synopsis, Species 325, p. 111.

" " Weigmann, Arch, iii., p. 371.

" " Rengger, Paraguay, p. 113.

DESCRIPTION.

Body longer and more slender than that of the common Raccoon {P.
lotor), legs longer, ears shorter, less rounded, and more pointed, and tail
thinner than in the latter species. The tail diminishes towards the end.
Hairs coarse ; nails prominent ; feet closely haired ; under-fur short and
sparse.

Point of nose black ; whiskers white and black, a blackish band around
the eyes, extending nearly to the ears ; sides of the face, and above the
eyes, and a spot on the forehead, whitish ; extremities of ears yellowish
white, their bases dark brown ; nails black ; tail barred with black and
white ; cheeks, jaws, under-part of the neck, breast, and belly, white, with
a tinge of yellowish brown. Upper surface of body ash-brown.

V

CRAB-EATING RACCOON. 273

PIMEXSIOXS.

From point of nose to root of tail, 22

Tail (vertebrae), it

Point of nose to ear, 4\

Fore leg to poinl of longest nail, ... -8

Thigh I" poinl of longest nail,

Breadth of skull, 34

This Raccoon, as observed (in California) bj Mr. J. E. C
rallj conceals itself during the day in the oak trees which, from decay,
afford holes into which it can retreat, h climbs with great agility up the
rough bark of these until ii reaches I anch in which a

cavitj sufficiently large to hide in is found. I ir fact in

this connexion, which i- that most part of the rotted holes or places in
these California oaks are found in tl not in the trunk. We

arc informed that many trees cut down for the purpose of makii
rails, &c, are quite sound in the main stem, but the reverse in the
asionally a large lateral branch will break down
and fall to the ground — perchance startling the hunter who may be listen-
ing in hopes of hearing the sound of an approaching animal.

1 of this species consists ol rs, birds,

&c, and of late ii has been known to attack chickens on the fari
isolated settlers, sometimes endeavouring to take them off the trees
adjoining the houses.

The flesh of these animal-, when boiled first, ami afterwards roasted, is
very palatable, and not much unlike fresh pork. They are.
generally lean, and by no mean- as fat as the Raccoon
States.

This species ha j Mr. Ci ements on more than one n

apparently keeping company with the black-tailed deer (<'. Richardsonii),
being on the mountains, following the same route a i of these

animal-.

Two of those killed by Mr. Clements had been put up a tree by a dog
during the night, and were discovered by the barkii ter in the

morning. They were onlj about half a mile from the house, and when
ed, did nol offer to come down, or otherwise attempt to escape.
They had not ascended the tr& .mmi the

ground.

ippear to wander about, in q

Vol . Ii,

274 CRAB-EATING RACCOON.

food, perhaps, to an extent that is almost surprising, so that their tracks
can be seen in great numbers in various places, as, even in the dry season,
the peculiar tenacity of the soil retains the impression made by their feet,
almost as if it were the moulding-sand of the founder.

They are, however, very often observed near the water-courses, are fond
of frogs, fish, <tc, and their tracks are most likely to be seen in the neigh-
bourhood of streams, even when they are partially dried up, and present
only a water-hole here and there.

We have no further knowledge of the habits of this species than the
information given in the works of Buffon, Schombueg, D'Azara, Reng-
ger, Wagner, and the Prince of Neuwied. In Guiana it is found on the
sea-coast ; in Brazil and Paraguay, in the bushes and forests, near the
rivers and lakes. Besides crabs, it eats birds, eggs, fruits, and is espe-
cially fond of sugar-cane. In two individuals that had been tamed,
Rengger did not observe the peculiarity that they dipped their food in
the water. Schomburg (Ann. Nat. Hist., iv. 434), however, mentions
this habit of others which he saw.

In- "-iving this account of the Crab-Eating Raccoon, we are not entirely
without some doubts as to whether the animal found in Brazil and other
parts of South America, may not be different from the one in Mexico,
Texas, and California. We have, however, inclined to the conclusion that
they are the same species, and this the more readily, as the Common
Raccoon (P. lotor) has a range from Texas to quite a high northern
latitude.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

From South America, beyond the tropic, to the shores of the Gulf of
Mexico, and on the west as far as California, this species is distributed,
but is probably most abundant within the tropics. Wagner states that
it is found from the Caribbean Sea to the 26th parallel of south latitude ;
Buffon and Schomburg inform us it exists in Guiana, and we learn from
Prince Neuwied that it inhabits Brazil ; while Rengger and D'Azara
mention its occurrence in Paraguay.

general remarks.

The figure of the Crab-Eating Raccoon, given in our plate, was made
by J. W. Audubon in the British Museum, from a specimen procured in
Mexico or California.

Our description was taken from another specimen in the Charleston

C8AB-EAT15G RACCOON. 27.")

College Museum. This may account for any Blight differences between
the figure and description.

We have not possessed opportunities of instituting a careful compari-
son between this animal and Procyon Lotor ; (hey appear, however, to be
specifically distinct.

[Thus far we have endeavoured to describe the forms and give the habits of the quadrupeds
figured in our work; we will now append some descriptions, and a list of those species we
have not been able to portray, but which deserve to be noticed, as belonging to the •• Quadru-
peds of North America," and necessary to complete the list.]

MEPHITIS ZORILL A.— Gmel.

California* Skunk.
(Xot figured.)

M. Fronte macula ovali alba insignita ; macula alba ad tempus utrum-
que, strigis quatuor albis, interruptis in dorso et lateribus, cauda? apice
albo.

CHAEACTEKS.

An oval spot qftc/iite on the forehead, and a large spot on each temple ; four
interrupted white stripes on the sides and back ; tail broadly tipped with
white.

SYNONYMES.

Mephitis Zorilla. — Licht; Darstellung neue, oder wenig bekannter saiigethiere,

1827-1834. Berlin, tafel xlviii., fig. 2.
Le Zorille.— Buffon, Hist. Nat., t. xiii., p. 302, table 41.
Mephitis bi-color. — Gray, Loudon's Mag., vol. i., p. 581.
" Zorilla.— Illiger.

DESCRIPTION.

Iii form, this species may be said to be a small image of the Common
Skunk [M. Chinga).

Head, snort in proportion ; ears broad, rounded, clothed with hair on
both surfaces ; palms naked ; nails short, grooved beneath, and slightly
hooked ; whiskers short and scattering ; fur soft, like that of the domestic

CALIFORNIA^ SKUNK. U77

eat. ami composed of two kinds of hair, the under hairs being soft and

woolly, tin- others longer, interspersed among them. <>n the tail the hair
is very coarse, and. toward the extremity, rigid.

There is a white patch on the forehead, and also between the eye and
car. extending beneath the car to the middle of the bodj ; another white
stripe rises behind the car. and runs parallel with the foregoing. These
Btripes are not quite uniform on each side; the body is spotted with
white, forming three nearly uniform bars across the back. There are two
while Bpots near the insertion of the tail, on the sides and rump. The
while markings are get off by the colour of the remaining portio
body, inin-' blackish In-own. very dark on the head and ears, a little
lighter near the Hanks.

Tail brownish black, tip (for about three inches) white.

DIKKNSIONS.

InrhfS.

From point of nose to root of tail, 11 2

Tail (vertebrae), 6

" (to end of hair), 10

Shoulder to point of longest nail of fore-foot, -

teriorly), T4ff

The habits of the present animal are only partially known ; it is said to
retreat to holes in the earth, or live under roots of trees, in the crevices
birds, and the smaller quadrupeds.

This Skunk, as we are moreover informed, is aide to make itself so
offensive that few- persons are disposed to approach or capture it, rather
keeping aloof, as from the Common Skunk of our Atlanti
know n for its " perfume."

GRAPHIC \l. DISTRIB1 now

This species was found to be rather abundant, by .'. W. Audubon and

.1. <;. BELL, in California ; it was also found in Texas by tic former.
ad discovered it previouslj in California, in L820, 01- thereabouts.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The Zorilla was described by BUPPOH (Hist. Nat., torn, xiii., p. 302) as

278 CALIFORXIAX SKUNK

a species existing in South America ; his figure, however, bore consider-
able resemblance to an African species (Viverra Striata of Shaw). Subse-
quently Baron Cuvier bestowed great attention on this genus, and came
to the conclusion that all the American Skunks were mere varieties of
each other.

As far as the endless varieties of our Atlantic Species (M. Chinga) are
concerned, he was correct ; but he was greatly in error in regarding the
South American, Mexican, aud Calif or nian Skunks as being all of one
species, for they differ greatly, not only in size, form, and internal organ-
ization, but also in colour.

Besides, many species of Mephitis present scarcely any variations in
colour. The Mephitis Chinga seems to be like Lepus callotis, the Mexican
hare, and Lynx Rufus, the bay lynx, a species that may be regarded as an
exception rather than a type of the characteristic of the species.

Cuvier came to the conclusion, whilst pursuing his investigations, that
Buffon, in his Zorilla, had described the above named African species ;
but it now appears that Buffon was correct, that his specimen came from
America, and that the species is found within our limits, on the western
coast : therefore we restore his specific name of Zorilla (Le Zorille) as a
synonyme.

279

CAMS [LUPUS) (■ KISIHS.- Kim.

* oLF.

L, magnitudino canis Inpi, cranio lato, gula caudaqae rillosie, pedibus
latis, colore cinereo nigroque notato.

CHARAI TEBS.

About the sizi of the black and whit uU broad; nee/

covered with bushy hairs ; feet broad ; colour dork brindle grey.

BTKONTMBS.

I hird Voyage, vol. ii.. p
Lewis and Clarke, rol. i.. pp. 206,

\\ 01 i — Scl Icraft's Travels, p. 285.

Canis (Loti - ibine, Franklin's \»\., ]>. 054.

" Litis. — Parry. First. Scron. I, and Third \
" " Harlan, Fauna Americana, p. 81.

" " Godman, American Nat Hist, vol. i., p .

" (Lupus) occiskntalis. — (Var. o.) bub, Rich. Fauna

" occidentals, Common American W..H. — De Kay, Nat lL>t. >'f X. Y., p.

42, plate 27, % 2.
Cakis ii its. — Emory, Mass, Report, 1838, p. 26 : 1840
Lupus Oioas. — Townsend, Proc Acad. NatSoi., Phila,
imam Wolf.— Col. G. L M I iman, sco

infra).
Lobo or Loto. — Mexicans and I

DESCRIPTION.

The American Grey Wolf bears a very strikii to the

European Wolf. There are, however, some differences which appear to
be permanent, and which occur in all the varieties of American Wolves ;
the bodj is generally more robust, the legs shorter, and the muzzle thicker
and more obtuse in the latter.

280 AMERICAN GKEY WOLF.

We have examined a number of European Wolves (see vol. II., p. 102,
White American Wolf), and although there were great differences
between various specimens, we were not able to satisfy ourselves that
the American Wolf is the largest, as is supposed by Richardson. We
regard them as generally about the same size, and as exhibiting only varie-
ties, not specific differences. The body of the American Grey Wolf is long,
and rather gaunt ; muzzle elongated, and somewhat thicker than that of
the Pyrenean Wolf; head thick; nose long; ears erect and conical;
eyes oblique— as is the case in all the true wolves— pupil of the eye circu-
lar ; tail straight, and bushy. The animal does not curl it over the back,
like a dog.

Behind the cheek there is a bunch of hairs, which look like a collar.
The hairs arc of two kinds, the longer coarse and rather rigid, the under
fur soft and woolly ; whiskers very few, and coarse and rigid ; nails long,
slightly arched, and, in the specimen from which we describe, considerably
worn, as are also the teeth.

The long hairs, from their roots, for one third of their length, are yel-
lowish white, then a broad band of dark brown follows, succeeded by yel-
lowish brown, and the tips are black. The under fur is ashy brown. On
the under surface the long hairs are white nearly to the roots.

The general appearance of the upper surface is dark brindled grey, with
an indistinct dorsal line a little darker than the colour of the sides.

The under parts are dull white.

Nostrils black ; from the nose towards the eyes, reddish yellow. The
outer surface of the ears, and outsides of hind legs, from the hip to the
knee joint, are also reddish yellow. The whiskers are black.

DIMENSIONS.

Feet. Inches.

Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - 4

" of tail (vertebras), 1 1

to end of hair, 1 5

Height of ear, 4

Breadth " 3

From point of nose to end of skull, - ... m

eye to point of nose, 5

' shoulder to longest nail, .... 2 4

Longest upper canine tooth, 1£

Length of the hair on the back, 3 to 4 inches.

AMERICAS GREY WOLF.

The above description and measurements wore taken B
in the possession of our distinguished friend, Prof. Kirti \xi>. o
land, Ohio. The animal was killed in February, ami was, of coarse, in
full winter pi I

We have given the general I volume

(see pp. 126, L56, 240), and now will favour cur readers with the following
letter fro U.S. A., which will be foi

i distinct spi ci< . We have, however, tl
Mr. Townsend's name (L. G
appended to our list of names for the grey wolf, tl
or Lovo, used by the Mexicans and Texans, although it 1

naturalists that the Lobo was a distinct species from any other
wolf, and by tli wny, and with a

head like thai of a lion.

'•The Rev. John Bachu is, D. D. :

Sir, — On meeting you in Philadelphia,

at which time 1 passed a mosl agreeable evening, in company with

yourself and other distinguished natural mr arrival had

brought together— you related to us in i variety

of anecdotes illustrative of the character and habits of different

families of our Fauna : and, in the course of conversation, you inquired

I had met. in tin1 v.: I ! nerica. T then

mentioned some incidents, which occurred ral years

nplifying the gi --. power of endurance, and courage

when compared with the common wolf. As yon were

10 pronounce the 'long yarn' worth re-spinning;, I, herewith,

agreeably to your request, give you my reminiscence of tl»

"The position of Fort Gibson is, as you are probably aware, near the
junction of the Neosho with the Arkansas river ; here, in the an
formed, is a. prairie of which used to furnish, for tl

those who were fond of tin- course with greyhounds, at any time.
a start of a prairie wolf i /,. Latrans), not unfrequently a common wolf
i /.. Occidentalis), and. now and then, the giant wolf him
The last was easilj re a at a distance, by his shyness and his

and. as !),■ was generally upon the lookout, it seemed impossible
for two or three horsemen, with half a dozen greyhounds, to approach

VOL. II'

•282 AMERICAN GREY WOLF.

within half a mile of him before he showed a straight tail ; and then his
great speed always enabled him to reach cover before the dogs, notwith-
standing that two or three of them were of high blood and great fleetness,
could overcome the gap which, at the start, separated them from the
chase ; and thus the sportsmen, after several killing rides, had always'
found themselves foiled by the watchfulness and the superior speed and
bottom of this wolf.

"After a hard and unsuccessful race of this kind, several officers were one
day returning home, when in passing the farm of a Cherokee Indian, they
were told by him that a wolf of this description was in the habit of fre-
quenting the grounds about his house, almost nightly ; that he had com-
mitted numerous depredations, but that such was his cunning that he had
eluded all efforts to kill or capture him. Being assured that a fresh trail
might be struck at this point, any morning at daylight, the officers deter-
mined to try the fellow's bottom with the fox-hounds. Accordingly, a few
nights afterwards — the moon having risen about one o'clock — a party was
in the saddle, as soon as they could see upon the prairie, and on their way
to the Cherokee's house, which was about seven miles from the Fort.
They proceeded leisurely, and reached their destination about three
o'clock, purposing to let their horses and dogs rest until daylight, before
entering on the chase : the pack, I should mention, consisting of half a
dozen fox-hounds, and two or three half-curs, the latter being fleeter and
more courageous than the former. It so happened, however, that the
dogs, not being coupled, struck the trail close to the house, just as thej
arrived ; and away they went with a cry, and at a pace which showed
that the giant was right before them. For some time the wolf kept
within the narrow strip of covert which borders the Bayou Menard, and
thus the horsemen wore enabled, by a good moonlight, to keep parallel
with him on the open plain. But the wolf finding at length that the cover
afforded him no security from his pursuers, and trusting to the lightness
of his heels, dashed boldly into the prairie, and made a straight course for
the hills on the opposite side, at the distance of about three miles. Here
he again took cover ; but he was not allowed much time for repose, as the
dogs were soon upon him, and the covert which here bordered the Neosho,
being like that of the Bayou, narrow, he was soon forced to leave it and
the hills, and again take to the plain. In this way the wolf made several
bold dashes, running from one cover to another in a straight course of
from one to three miles over the plain ; and it was not until half past
eight o'clock, A.M.. that he was brought to bay. The denouement was
brought about in this way : the wolf was at last drawing near to cover
after one of the open dashes 1 have mentioned — his speed, to be sure, much

AMERICAN GREY WOLF. 288

abated, and the hounds ami horsemen within sight, behind him — when
he entered a large field thai lay between him and the thickel he wished to
gain. The field I ed ; and :i good cover, with runnii

was within a few yards of him. Be know the grounds well ; bul he did
mil calculate accurately the amount of strength necessary to clear the
fence, which here was much higher than on tin- Bide where he had
entered. Without pause, therefore, he boldly dashed at the obstacle which
now alone separated him from all he stood so much in need of; but as In"
made the leap his head Btruck the topmost rail, and he rolled backwards,
heavily, upon the ground. Bere a shout of triumph from the hunters, vi ho
wnc w iiliin view and had witnessed his fall, broke upon his oar ; ami now
ho aroused all lii i remaining i i ff »rt to effect his

escape; nature, however, was too nearly exhausted to meet the call, and
he fell prostrate upon the ground. Borses and hounds were the next
moment closing around him, he gained the fence corner, and then turned
upon his pursuers.

" A desperate Bghl ensued— one or two large and powerful half-hound
half ear dogs, in quick succession, rolled away before hiii
against them with bis heavy chest and shoulders. Time after ti
returned to the charge, for the 'l^^^ had their mettle well aroused and
were confident of victory, although each moi ainish the

our. With each successive round, dog a
recoiled more or less injured by a quick and violent snap of the giant's
jaws— here, on the right, Bat a poor, inoffi I, whose

excitement had led him into the depth of a contest for which nature had
never intended him. now writhing in agony, and howling most piteously,
hi> long twisted ears drooping lower than ever, while he cast a furtive
glance at his lacerated bark and shoulders, ju rora the jaw- of

the giant \\olf -there, on the left, laj sprawling, another, who
seemed even more hopeless than the first.

" During the mxUt several pistols had been drawn, to d<

am! save the dogS : but SUCh was the intricacy of the affair

sain change of position of the combatants, constantly interlocked, that the

i killing the dogs bj a shot were greater than of saving them:

and this continued until dogs and wolf, both, were exhausted, when the

latter was knocked on the head with a heavy club. And thus fell the

giant wolf, after a run of five hours and a half.

" In this description 1 have gone much into detail ; hut my 01
was to illustrate what 1 fully believe to he the fact, viz. that the strength,
ami endurance of (his wolf are much greater than those of the
common wolf, which was never known, in that country, to make anything

284 AMERICAN GREY WOLF.

like such a run as did this fellow. Indeed, it is only necessary to look at
the large leg bone, the strong back, the deep shoulder, and broad chest of
this wolf, to be satisfied of his superiority to the other, in the qualities I
have enumerated. I am also inclined to think that he is more resolute,
and not so easily cowed as the other species ; and in support of this opi-
nion, I proceed to the adventure that occurred to Lieut. Hoskixs, with one
of this species.

" A few weeks after this, Lieutenant Chas. Hoskixs, of the 4th Regt.
of Infantry, who, being a bold rider and an ardent hunter, was one of the
chief actors in the scene I have just described, had a severe encounter
with a giant wolf, which I will endeavour to relate as he described it to
me.

"He had mounted his horse just before sunset, one day in June, to
breathe for an hour, the fresher air of the prairie, and had ridden at a
leisurely pace about three quarters of a mile from the fort — his dogs, four
or five greyhounds, were following listlessly at his heels, dreaming as little
as himself of seeing a wolf — when on a sudden, from a small clump of shu-
mach bushes, immediately at his side, there sprang an enormous giant
wolf. By one of those instinctive impulses which it is difficult to di scribe,
horse and dogs were launched upon him before an eye could twinkle.
The wolf had hut a few yards the start ; and under such circumstances,
although the fleetest of his congeners, he stood no chance of escaping from
his still fleeter enemies ; in fact, before he had run fifty yards he was
caught by the flanks and stopped. Here a most furious light commenced :
it is a well known fact that the greyhound is sometimes a severe fighter,
owing to his great activity and his quick, slashing snap, and Hoskixs's dogs
were, in addition, in the habit of coursiug the prairie-wolf during the fall
and winter mouths, on which occasions the affair was very generally, after
a short chase, terminated in about one minute, by the victim having his
throat and bowels torn into ribands. This, however, was a different
affair ; they had encountered an ugly customer, and the battle was long
and of varied aspect. Sometimes the wolf would break entirely clear from
the dogs, leaving several of them floored ; again, however, within a few
yards he would be checked, and the battle be resumed ; so that during a
long struggle there was little change of ground.

'• The fight was continued in this way, the prospect of victory or of
defeat frequently changing, until both parties were quite exhausted.

" And now, here lay the wolf in the centre, with his tongue hanging
from his jaws ; and at the distance of a few feet, the dogs around him,
bleeding and panting for breath. At this juncture, Hoskixs, who had not
even a penknife in his pocket, was unable to terminate the affair ; he sat

AMERICAN GREY WOLF.

upon his horse, a silent and admiring spectator of the strange scene. At
length, when ho thought his il'>ir- had somewhat recovered their breath, he
called on them to return to the charge. <>M Cleon, a blac
strength and courage, was the only one who obeyed the summons — be
sprang fiercely at the wolfs throat ; the hitter, however, who had risen to
his feet, by o well timed snap - and hind head,

and retaining his hold, was grinding away on the poor fellow's skull with
his immense jaws. Tl much for any hunter to witness — a

favourite dog held helpless, in a grip tl

to end his day-. EJOSKINS v. inter, and a <

and determined man — poor fellow, he afterwards fell, fighting •
lantly, at the battle of Monterey, Mexico : on tin- occasion he Bprang
from his horse and seized the wolf by the hind leg, and by a violent jerk
rausod him to i> but only to find, in less than an instant, the

lamped upon his own leg. lie told me, the follow-
ing day, that he plainly felt the jar as the wolfs large canine teeth clashed
against each other in the calf o\' his leg, BO powerful was the snap of his
jaw-.

" The wolf, however, made <■■ make or lacerate the wound ;

at the -nine time it occurred to the hunter that this would he the only
effect of :ni\ exertion on his own part to extricate his limb; and there-
fore, with the wolf's hind leg in his riirht hand, and his left leg in the
wolf's jaws, he stood perfectly quiet, while poor ■

\ before him, apparently more dead than
" In a moment, how i •, I and raised his head ; and then

r spoke to him again. Promptly the old fellow obeyed the call,
and this time he made good his hold upon the wolf's throat : whereupon
our hunter's leg was at once released. The other dogs now. having pretty
well recovered their breath, also re-attacked the wolf ; and this round bo
disabled him that the affair might be considered a
however, had all been severely handled, and were completely

Mown that they were unable to make an end of the combat by killine
him outright. At this juncture a Cherokee hoy. who was on his way
up : but neither had he a knife nor any other
weapon. Boskins then, as his only resource, unbuckled the rein- of his
bridle this horse, well used to such scenes, was quietly feeding, close by),
and making of these a slip-noose, he, with the assistance of the

■ the wolfs head, when pulling on the opposite ends, they sue-
eeeded in Strangling the already exhausted animal. After resting with
his dogs a little while, EOSKINS was enabled to mount his ho
return home, with all of them except poor Clcon, who was so much

■2 30 AMERICAN GREY WOLF.

exhausted as to be unable to keep his legs. A light wagon was imme-
diately sent out for him, and the old dog was received at the fort in
triumph, together with the body of his vanquished adversary. He was,
nevertheless, laid up in hospital for several days, as was his master, whose
leg became inflamed, and prevented his mounting his horse again for a
fortnight.

" The next morning I saw the wolf hanging by the heels, at the front of
the piazza of Hoskins's quarters ; and he was, beyond all comparison, the
largest wolf that I ever laid eyes upon. His dimensions were taken at
the time ; but I have no memoranda, and I will not venture to speak from
memory.

" The colour and general appearance, however, of these two specimens
(the skins of which were preserved) were, I very well recollect, alike ;
viz. a mixture of rusty black and grey about the head, back, and flanks,
interspersed with a yellowish rusty brown. But the striking marks of
distinction were the large size and the breadth of the head, and the small-
ness of the tail, when compared with other species ; the tail was decidedly
shorl and scant of hair : the head was very remarkable — I speak of it as I
saw it in the flesh — the front view, taking in what would be included
within a line, drawn between the ears, and two others from those to the
point of the nose, presented very nearly an equilateral triangle ; the head
of the common wolf being much more ovate. Had the skull been stripped
of its integuments, I doubt not it would have shown, to a certain degree,
a corresponding enlargement in the occipital region.

" I feel no hesitation in asserting that these wolves were of the species
recently described by Mr. Towxsend as L. Gigas ; for I did not at the
time, nor have I at any time since, entertained in my own mind a doubt
of tins wolf being a distinct species.

'• Without instituting any strict inquiry, from personal examination, as
to species or varieties, I have seen a good deal of the wolves of the west
during some years past, and from a dift'erencc I have observed in the man-
ners or character of those I have met with in the field, I incline to the
belief that an additional species, between L. Occidentalis and L. Lalrans,
will yet be satisfactorily established.

" G. A. M."

Philadelphia, July, 1851.

287

A R VI CO LA DEK ^ Y I.— Aud. and Bach.

si Arvicoi \.
(Not figured)

A. Corpore longo ac tenui : naso acuto : auriculis el i
vcllere tereti ac nitente ; supra fusca, subtus cano-fusco.

CHAKAI TEBS.

ng and sl( mli r .' nose sharp :
lustrous,' dark brown above, hoary brown beneath.

S\ NONl MBS.

Abvicola fulv a, Glossy Arvicola. — Aud. and Bach., Jour. Acad. N.v 5

- \-n,
u Oneida, Oneida Meadow Mouse.— De Kay, Nat I!

York, 1842, pt, i. p.

" " Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, l'lnl.. Oct. 2,

p. 406.

This species presents more distinctive markings than anj other of the
American Arvicolse ; its bodj is less cylindrical, and its nose less obtuse
than :ni\ of our other species ; its ears are prominent, rising two lines
above its smooth, compact fur ; its lower incisors are verj long, and much
exposed, considerably curved; tail longer than the head, thinly covered
with short hairs ; legs long and Blender, giving the animal thai appearance
of lightness and agility observable in the mouse.

Incisors yellowish white : the hairs, which arc very short, like those on
the pine mouse of Le Conte, are at the roots, on the upper surface, plum-
beous, broadlj tipped with brow n, ui\ ing it a bright chestnut colour : the

hair- .mi the legs ami toes arc a little lighter, on the under suri

im1.mii' is cinereous.

GLOSSY ARVICOLA.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 3 9

tail, 1 -4

Height of ear ('posteriorly), 2i

Length of tarsus, 7

We have obtained no information in regard to the habits of this species.
De Kay, who obtained a specimen in the neighbourhood of Oneida Lake,
in the state of New York, says that it prefers moist places.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

This Arvicola, according to De Kay, exists in the western part of the
state of New York. Our specimen was received from Mr. Fothergill,
who procured most of his specimens, we believe, from St. Lawrence county,
New York.

We, however, understood that this individual came from Illinois.

GENERAL REMARKS.

It will be perceived, from the dates of our several publications, that we
described this species a year previous to De Kay ; the name we gave it,
however (Arvicola fulva), is pre-occupied by Lemmas fu/vus, Geoff, which
is an arvicola found in France.

As De Kay described the same animal, without a knowledge of our pre-
vious publication of it, we have named it after that naturalist, and have
given his name (A. Oneida) as a synonyme.

280

A R VI COL A V P E L L A .— L e C o n t e.

W 'ii>. i si 'a Ai.\ [i

A. Aurilms brevissimis sub pilia occultis, int Pedibus

gracilibus, brevibus. Cauda brevi, supra obscure badia, Bubtus cinereo-
plumbea.

chab \

Ears very short, concealed beneath tin- fur, clothed with hair on both sul-
fites ; feet slender and short ; tail short, brown above, greyish beneath.

iNTME.
Arvicoi.a Aii i i v. — L Conte, Proc. \ 3, p. 405.

DESCRIPTION.

Head short and blunt ; oars rounded, very short, Blightly hairy, both
withiu and without, entirely concealed under the fur, antitragus short,
Bemi-circular. Legs very short ; feet covered with short, shining hairs;
thumb tubercle furnished with a short, blunt nail ; tail very .-hort.

Hair dark load-colour, above tipped with In-own. redder on t!
beneath grey, inclining to brownish on the chin and throat; feet pale
brownish ; tail brown above, greyish beneath.

DIMENS

Inches.

Length (including the tail), 4

of head, 1

" fore leg, 5

'• hind " 1 1

" tail, 7

vol. in. — 37

290 WOODIIOUSE'S ARVICOLA.

This animal was procured in Pennsylvania by Dr. Woodhouse, in the
cultivated portions of that state, and probably has the same propensities
and instincts as the other Arvicolse of North America.

As Major Le Conte gave it no common name, we have taken the
liberty of calling it Woodhocse's Arvicola, after the gentleman who
procured it.

291

A R V I C O L A A U S T E R V S .— L e Come.

Buss's Arttcola.

gored.)

A. Supra fusco et nigro permixtus, Bubtus obscure schistostu. Auribna
extra piloa extantibus, extua pilosis. Cauda gracili, dons'- :

ciiAi: k

above mixed brown and black, beneath dark slate-colour, mixed with
n (he fur, hairy on the outside ; tail slender, thickly

clothed with hair.

■ .YME.
rriOX.

large and blunl : ears rounded, longer than the fur, outwardly
hairy, inwardly only >o on the upper margin : antitragus
cular : whiskers shorter than the head ; feel covered with shining hair ;
thumb tubercle with a compressed, sharp, hooked nail.
Tail slender, covered with short hair,-'.

"in.

Hair, above dark plumbeous, tipped with brown and black, beneath
dark slate-coloured, mixed with brown, particularly on the breast, the
upper and under surfaces of the bod} being nearlj alike ; whiskers black
and grey ; feel grey ; tail mixed brown and black above, brownish grey

beneath.

DIMES*

I.ilHS.

Length, 5

of head, 1 3

" cars,

" '• fore leg, 1 1

" " hind " 1 5

" tail, 1 4

292

iAIRD'.S ARVICOLA.

Of tlie habits and manners of this species we have no account.
Like the foregoing, it has had no common name bestowed on it by
Major Le Conte. "We therefore have called it Baird's Arvicola, as
it was found or obtained by Prof. Baird. It inhabits Wisconsin.

AR VIC OLA CAM IOIJ NIC A.— Peaie.

A. Subvariegatua rufescenti-fusco el nigro. Corpora brevi ct robusto,
pilia Bpeciem hirsutici habentibua revera tamen mollibus et Ievibus. Am-i-
bna Bub-magnis, pene Bub pilia occultis. Cauda supra fusca, subtua fusco-
cinerca.

I II A 1, '

Body short and thick ; hair long and shining, at the roots- plumbeous Mark,
above and on thr sides tipped with reddish brown and Mark ; cars rath,r /ar<rr,
near/;/ conceded by thr fur ; toil brown above, brownish grey beneath.

SI KEB.

Akyicola California.— Peale, Zool. Explo. I icped., Mammalia, 16.

Califorhioi s. I . Conte, Proc. v ad, t, 1853,

IPTION.

Body short ami thick : hair rather long, and Bhiaiag : head blunl : cars
large but almost concealed in the fur, hairy on both • i clothed

with Bhort, glossy hair: tubercle of the thumb furnished with a com-
pressed, blunt nail. Tail round ; whiskers numerous, but slender.

OUE,

Hair of the body plumbeous black at the and on the sides

tipped will! reddish brown and Mark ,0 ?jve jt a ]lir.

Bute appearance ; feel greyish brown : . white.

1MMEV

Inches. Liar

Length, 5 7

" of head, I 3

" " fore leg, o

" llin(i " 1 5

" " tail, 2

ARVICOLA OCCIDENTALS.— Peale.

Western Arvicola.

A. Pilis mollissimis et tenuissimis, extreniitatibus superioribus runs
sine ulla nigri admistione, auribus sub-pilis occultis. Cauda, sub-cotn-
supra ct subtus concolore rufa.

CHARACTERS.

Hair very soft and fine ; ears concealed under the fur, hairy only on the out-
side. Tail slightly compressed, reddish coloured above and beneath.

SYNONYMES.

Arvicola occidentals — Peale, Zool. Expl. Exped., i. c. 45.

" " Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Oct. 25, 1853,

p. 408.

DESCRIPTION.

Ears round, entirely concealed under the fur, hairy only on the outside,
antitragus rather short ; head blunt ; feet covered with short, lustrous
hair ; thumb tubercle with a compressed, sharp nail. Tail slightly com-

COLOUR.

Hair dark plumbeous, above tipped with bright rufous without any
admixture of black : beneath grey, hair on the feet rufous. Tail rufous,
both above and below. Incisors pale yellow.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 4T3„

tail, 2rV

" hair beyond tail vertebra?, .... ^

" hind foot, fi

" lore " (from wrist to end of toes), - - s\-

head, 1,»0

Obtained at Puget's Sound, Oregon, by the United States Exploring
Expedition.

ARVICOLA (HESPEROMYS) CAMPESTRIS.— Le Coitte.

A. Supra fuscus, subtus cinereo-fusi I magno, auribus

ovalibns, obtusis, pilia brei il litis.

c II LB I

''/■own, beneath greyii id tliinly

i an nd with hair.

SrNONYME.

Ill -n ROMTS I LH1 ■ ' .

Hair plumbeous Mark, above tipped with brown, beneath with i
brown, darker aboul the mouth. Head large ; ears large, oval, blunt,
thinly covered, both within ami without, with verj

hair. Logs ami feet brown. Tail well clothed with tolerably longhair.

Length, 3

" of head, 1

tail, i

"This Bpeciea was found in (ho collection of the Academy of Natural

Sciences, Philadelphia, ami labelled Mus Campestris, from New Jersey.

The specimens wore preserved in alcohol, ami therefore scarcely fil to be

i : there was, however, enough to show that they were different

from any hitherto described animal." (Le Coxte.)

ARVICOLA (HESPEROMYS) SONORIENSIS.— Le Conte.

Sonora. Field Mouse.

A. Supra saturate cinereus fuscescente-cano leviter intcrrnixtus, subtus
albescens. Capite elongato, auribus maguis. Cauda modica.

CHARACTERS.

Above, dark grey slightly mixed with broivnish ; breast whitish. Head long
and pointed ; legs large J tail moderate.

SYNONYME.

Hespekomvs Soxokiensis. — Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., Oct., 1853,
p. 413.

DESCRIPTION.

Hair above dark cinereous or slate-colour, slightly mixed with brownish
grey, more thickly on the head, nose, and behind the ears, and with grey
on the sides ; beneath whitish, except on the throat, which is mixed slate-
colour and whitish. Head elongated, pointed ; ears large, oval, hairy
both within and without, and with a distinct, narrow grey margin. Feet
covered with short, whitish brown hair. Tail moderate, above dark brown,
beneath paler.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length, 3 3

of head, 1 2

ears, 4

fore leg, 1

hind " 1 8

tail, 1 9

" Resembles in some degree the H. Leucopus. Collected by the Bound-
ary Commission, under Major Graham." (Le Conte.)

297

A R V I C O L A RUBRICATUS.-Ricu.
I;- n Sum d Mi ldow Moi si .

A. Supra obscure" plumbeus ; subtoa j-alli.li- cinereus, lateribus miniatis,

cauda breviuscuhi, pollice luinimo.

( il LBACTEBS.

Back slate-coloured, belly ash-coloured, sides nearly tcarlet, tail rather short.
Thumb of fore foot rudimentary. Size a little greater than that of the com-
7non domestic mouse.

Bl Ni'WMK.

Arvicola rihricatis. — Kick Zoo). Beeohey^ Voy, M.mimH^ p. 7.

The above arc the characters of a meadow mouse, which burrows in the
turfy soil on the ahorea of Behring's Straits, drawn up from Mr. I
notes. In the colours of its fur. and dimensions, it most resembles the
Jlrvicola teconomus (Pall. glir. n. 125., pi. 1 1. A.), and appears to be quite
distinct from any American meadow mouse hitherto described. There is
no specimen in the collection. (RlCHABDSON.)

PEROGNATHUS P E N I C I L L A T U S .— Woodhouse.

Tuft-tailed Pouched Rat.
CHARACTERS.

Jibove yellowish brown, beneath white ; tail longer than the head and body,
peniciUate, with bright brown hair.

Perognathus Penicillatus. — Woodhouse, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phil., Dec,
1852, p. 200.

DESCRIPTION.

Head of moderate size, not easily distinguished from the neck ; incisors
small and partially exposed, upper ones sulcate in the middle. Nose
small and rather pointed, extending some distance beyond the incisors ;
whiskers light brown, irregularly mixed with black ; eyes dark brown,
and of moderate size ; ears nearly round and moderate, almost naked ante-
riorly, and covered posteriorly with tine brown fur; the tragus and anti-
tragus are quite prominent. The external meatus is protected by a tuft
of short, black bristles extending across the ear. Tail about one inch
and a quarter longer than the head and body, round, gradually tapering,
and covered with hair ; on the superior and middle portion commences a
row of long, silky hairs, which gradually increase in width until they form
a tuft at the end. Fore legs short, feet small, with four well developed
toes and a short thumb, which is armed with a nail ; palms naked. Hind
legs and feet long, having five toes, terminated by nails. Feet and toes
covered with fine short fur ; soles naked. The fur longer on the back
than on the belly ; it is thick, soft, and silky.

Incisors yellow, top of head and back dark yellowish brown, lighter on
the sides ; fur at base light ash colour. Throat, belly, vent, fore legs, and
inner portions of thighs white. The white commences at the nostrils, and
forms a well marked line to the thighs, and extending down to the heel,

TITT-TAU.KD l'OlVHF.n RAT.

•2; to

leaving the front of 1 1 1 1 -_r 1 1 white, the remainder and outer portion light
yellowish brown; feel white. Under portion of tail white, above dark

brown ; the long hair of the tail is a rich brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from tip of nose to root of tail, -

" of tail (vertebra'!.

" '■ ear anterior,

" " whiskers,

" " os calcis, middle toe nail.
Distance from anterior angle of orbit to tip of nose,

:;■;
•3
1-7
V

■ttf

OEOGBAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

New Mexico, west of Etio Grande.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Of the habits of this animal 1 know but little. The specimen in my
0D is a male, ami was procured in the San Francisco Mountain,
New Mexico. (Woodhouse.)

300

PSEUDOSTOMA. (GEOMYS) FULVUS— Woodiiouse.

Reddish Pouched Rat.

CHARACTERS.

Light reddish brown above, beneath whitish. Ears small, round, and covered
with thick, short, black fur. Tail long in proportion when compared with
others of this genus.

SYNONYME.
Geomys fulvus. — Woodhouse, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1852, p. 201.

DESCRIPTION.

Head large, nose broad, covered with short, thick fur, with the excep-
tion of a small space at tip and the margins of the nostrils, which are
naked. The nose extends a short distance beyond the plane of the inci-
sors. The incisors are exserted, with three convex smooth sides, the exte-
rior broadest, and of a yellowish colour ; their cutting edges are even.
The upper incisors extend downwards and inwards ; the under ones are
one-third longer than the upper, and slightly narrower. Ears small and
round, covered with short, thick, black fur externally. Eyes larger than
is common in this genus. Tail round, thick at base, and gradually taper-
ing. The fore claws are long, compressed, slightly curved, and pointed.
The claw on the middle toe is the longest, the fifth is the shortest, and that
of the thumb resembles much the claw of the fourth toe of the hind foot,
both as regards size and shape. The toes on the hind feet are a little
longer and more slender than those of the fore feet ; the nails short, some-
what conical and excavated underneath.

Head, cheeks, back, and sides bright reddish brown, being darker on
the top of the head and back. The breast, vent, feet, inner portion of
legs and thighs white, slightly inclining to ash ; abdomen very light red-
dish brown ; fur at base dark ash colour above, beneath light ash. Edges
of cheek pouches encircled with rufous ; the long hair of the back extends
about one-third the length of the tail. The tail is covered with short,

REDDISH POUCHED RAT. 301

•white, silky hairs, terminating in a small tuft. The fore feet above are
covered with short, white hair ; the toes on their inner side have a row of
long white hairs; palms naked. Claws are opaque, white for half their
extent, the other half transparent j there is a small, oblong, reddish brown
spot in the centre of each. The hind foot are covered above with white
hairs, solos naked. The lips, on their inner Bide, are covered with short,
""<' white hair, with a band of short, lino, black fur encircling the mouth.
Whiskers silvery white.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from tip of nose to root of tail, .... ,v

" of tail (vertebra), 1-3

from anterior angle of eye to tip of nose, - - -7

" " tip of nose to auditory opening, - - - 11 J

" of os calcis, including middle toe and claw, ■ - 1-1

" from elbow to end of middle hind claw, - - 1*8

" of middle lore claw, •}

" " hind claw, --..... •■>}

" " fur on back, '2J

" " whiskers, about 1-

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTR1
Now Mexico, wesl of Rio Grande.

GENEB W. REM \KK<.

The specimen in my collection was procured near the San Francisco

Mountain, New Mexico, where they were quite abundant.

These Pouched Hats of the genus Perognathas and Geomys I procured
whilst attached as Surgeon and Naturalist to the partj under command of

Capt. SlTGREAVES, U.S. Army, exploring the Zufii. and Little and Croat
Colorado Rivers of the west. (WoODHOUSE.)

A.RVICOLA MONTANA.— Peale.

Peale's Meadow Mouse.

A. Forma rotundata ; capite magno ; auribus mediocribus et vellere poene
vestitis ; dentibus flavis ; oculis parvis, nigris ; pilis subtilibus sericisque,
in dorso brunneis nigrisque intermixtis ; infra plumbeis. Cauda pedibusque
brevi nitente pilo indutis. Mystacibus albis nigrisque : maramis octo, qua-
tuor in abdomine, in pectore totidem.

CHARACTERS.

Form rounded ; the head large, ears moderate and nearly covered with fur ;
teeth yellow ; eyes small, black ; hair fine and silky ; that of the back brown
and black, intermixed ; beneath lead-coloured ; tail and feet covered with short,
glossy hairs ; whiskers white and black ; teats eight in number, four pectoral,
and four abdominal.

SYNONYME.

Arvicola Montana.— Peale, Mammalia and Ornithology United States Exploring
Expedition, vol. viii., p. 44.

DIMENSIONS.
Total length 6 1 inches, including the tail, which is 14 inches long.

GENERAL remarks.

Our specimen was obtained on the 4th of October, near the head waters
of the Sacramento River, in California. (Peale.)

In relation to Arvicola Riparia of Ord, we have concluded that it is
identically the same as A. Pennsylvania of that naturalist. We have
given an account of this animal at p. 341, Vol. I. We merely mention
that it is so much better known as A. Pennsylvanica than as Riparia, that
we would, setting aside the dates of description by Mr. Ord, prefer to let
the name of Pennsylvanica remain, and for the future consider riparius as
a synonyme only.

We may further remark, that had we had an opportunity of examining

;;ii:i

a specimen of the bo called "Arvicola nparius," from the locality in which
Mr. Ord procured his original, before our article on ./. Penmyhwnka was
published, we should have given either the one or the other name as a
Bynonyme. AVe have lately had a one specimen of this Arvicola from the
locality from whence Mr. Obd obtained his original specimen.

30-1

PSEUDOSTOMA C A S T A NO PS.— B a i rd.

Chestnut-cheeked Pouched Eat.

(In Stansbury's Report of the Expedition to the Great Salt Lake, p. 313.)

DESCRIPTION.

General colour pale yellowish brown. There is an ample patch of light
chestnut on the side of the head and face, deepest above. The dorsal line
is not darker than the rest of the fur. Size intermediate between P. borea-
lis and P. bursarius.

The colour of the fur above is slightly grizzled, and much lighter than
in P. bursarius j beneath paler ; throat, space between the fore legs and
arms pale rusty. The chestnut marking on the side of the head is very
strongly defined, occupying on each side a nearly circular space of about
one and three quarter inches in diameter, with the ear as the centre.
These chestnut spaces do not quite meet on the crown and occiput, but
leave a rectilinear interval, coloured like the rest of the back, of about one-
eighth of an inch in width. On the muzzle, however, from above the eyes
the colour of the opposite sides is confluent. The hind feet and toes are
thinly covered with whitish hairs, which on the fore feet appear more fer-
ruginous.

The claws are white, but sufficiently transparent to allow the coagu-
lated blood to show through them.

DIMENSIONS.

Length to base of tail (approximate), - - - - 8

" of tail, 21

" " hand (along the palm), li

" " middle anterior claw, i

" " hind feet (along sole) from heel, - - - 1$

CHESTNUT-CHEEKED POUCHED RAT. 305

This beautiful Bpecies was collected by Lieutenant A.BERT, on the prairie
mad to Bent's fork.

The above description and remark we have taken from Prof. Bairp,
with scarcely any altei

We have added an English name to the ai

vol. in.— 39

306

PSEUDOSTOMA (GEOMYS) HISPIDUM.-Le Conte.

P. Pilis concoloribus riifo-fuscis minus subtilibus tectus, cauda brevi-
nuda, auribus obsoletis.

SYN0NYME.
Geomys HispiDtM.— Dr. Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1852, p. 158.

DESCRIPTION.

One specimen, Mexico, Mr. Pease's collection. This species differs
from all the others in having the fur very coarse and harsh, and entirely
of a reddish brown colour. Beneath it is slightly greyish, but the differ-
ence in colour is by no means obvious. The ears are not at all prominent,
being merely openings in the skin. The whiskers are as long as the head.
The upper incisors are broken off, but enough remains to show that they
were deeply grooved near the middle of the anterior surface ; it is impos-
sible to determine if there is a second subinarginal groove. The tail is
completely naked except at the root. The feet are precisely as in the
other species of this division of the genus. (Dr. Le Conte.)

dimensions.

Length from nose to root of tail, 11*5

Tail, 3

Anterior foot to end of claw of third toe, - 1*7

Posterior foot to end of claw of third toe, • - - 1*9

SOT

PSEUDOSTOM.V U MB RIN U S.— R ich.

l.i LDBl > n a'« Sakd B a.

G. Super umbrinus, Bubter griseos, gulS pedibusque albidis, cand
vestita longitudine capitis.

CHABACTBE8.

Umber brown on the dorsal aspect, prey below, with white feet and throat,
and a prey hairy tai' as long as the head.

BTHOI I

Geomvs Umbmnub, — Rich, Fauna Boreali Americana, p.

" " I»r. I 1'liila., 1852, p. 1G2.

Head large, nose wide ami obtuse, and with the exception of the nos-
trils, covered with fur similar in colour ami quality to thai 00 the crown
of the head. The nostrils are small round openings, half a line apart,
with a. furrowed septum, and having their superior margins naked and
vaulted ; a narrow, hairy, upper lip, not exceeding a line in width, sepa-
rates the nostrils from the upper incisors. The whiskers are white, and
are shorter than the head. The incisors are much exscrted, ami are with-
out grooves on their anterior surfaces, which are slightly convex, and of
a deep yellow colour. The lips unite behind the upper incisors, so as to
Form a naked furrow leading towards the mouth, which is rendered more
complete by the stiffness of the hairs on each Sid'1 of it. The check
pouches are of a soiled buff colour, and are clothed throughout their exte-
rior surface with very short, soft, whitish hairs, which do not lie so close
as entirely to conceal the skin. The middle of the pouch is opposite to
the car, and its anterior margin extends forwards to between the eye and
the angle of the mouth ; its tip is rounded.

The body, iu shape, resembles that of a mole. It is covered with a
Kmooth coat of fur, of the length and quality of that of a meadow mouse ;
1 at possessing more nearly the lustre and appearance of the fur of a musk

308 LEADBEATER'S BAND-RAT.

rat. For the greater part of its length from the roots upwards, it has a
blackish grey colour. On the upper and lateral parts of the head, and
over the whole of the back, the tips of the fur are of a nearly pure umber-
brown color, deepest on the head, and slightly intermixed with chestnut
brown on the flanks. The belly, and fore and hind legs, are pale grey,
with, in some parts, a tinge of brown.

The sides of the mouth arc dark-brown, with a few white hairs inter-
mixed. The chin, throat, feet, ami claws, are white. The tail is round
and tapering, and is well covered with short greyish white hairs ; the
hairs on the sides of the fore-feet are rather stiff, and curve a little over
the naked palms ; those on the hind-feet are shorter ; the posterior extremi-
ties are situated far forward.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

Length of head and body, 7

of head, 1 8

" tail, 1 9

Distance from the end of the nose to the anterior

angle of the orbit, 9

" Although this animal is not an inhabitant of the fur countries, the
above description has been inserted with the view of rendering the
account of the genus more complete." (Richardson.)

Richardson received no information respecting its manners or food.
The specimen came from the south-western part of Louisiana.

300

PSEUDOSTOM A (GEOMYS) MEXICANUS.— Le Conte.

P. Mexicanus, mollipilosus, saturate cinereus, supra nigro-tinctus, naso
brunneo, oauda mediocri, pilosa, versus apicem subnuda, auribus brevibus,
primoribua superioribus medio profunde sulc

s^ NOK

Lichtenstein, Abhatidl. Berl. Akad. 1827, 118.
" " Branta, Muis. :J7.

"
" " Sohins, Syn. Mam. 2,

trdsoo, i;< p. Brit As?. C, 156.
Syn. M n
" " lb. 8.

One specimen, Mexico, Mr. J. Spearman. Fur very fine, shining, verv
dark cinereous, above tipped with black, beneath entirely cinereous : nosa
and whiskers brownish ; brea I and fore-legs slightly tinted wit]
Ears short Upper incisors with a v< die of the

anterior surface. Peel thinlj clothed with brownish hair. Tail covered
with hair, which and long at the base, gradually becoming

Bhorter and more seamy, leaving the tip almost naked. (Dr. Le Conte.)

DIMENSIONS.

Length from nose to root of tail, 11

" tail. 5

i to end of middle .law , 17

Ilindd'oot to end of middle claw, 17

SOREX FORSTERI .— R ichardson.

Forster's Shrew Mouse.
(Not figured.)

S. Cauda tetragona longitudine corporis, auriculis brevibus vestitis, dorso
xerampelino, ventre murino.

CHARACTERS.

Tail as long as the body and square ; ears short and furry ; back brown,
belly pale yellowish brown.

SYNONYMES.

Shrew, No. 20.— Forster, Phil. Trans., vol. lxii., p. 381.

Sorex Forsteri. — Richardson, Zool. Jour., No. 12, April, 1828.

" " Bachuian, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sei., Philadelphia, vol. vii., part ii.,

p. 386.

DESCRIPTION.

Nose, long, somewhat divided at the tip ; ears, hairy, not much shorter
than the fur, but still concealed ; body slender ; feet small ; tail long,
four-sided ; hair short, fine, and smooth.

COLOUR.

The fur is for two thirds of its length dark cinereous above, tipped with
brown ; beneath it is cinereous.
Feet flesh coloured ; nails white.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 21

of head, Z

Height of ear, b

Length of tail, Ii

From point of nose to eye, t

811

SOREX C 00 PERI.— B \. b

Cooper's Shkkw.

figured.)

CHARACTERS.

Body very small ; nose hug ; no external ears ; tail as long as (he body :
tolour, dark brown.

SYXOXYME.

Sorex Cooi-eri. — Ha. -11111111, .lour. Acad. Nat, ScL, Philadelphia, vol. vii., part ii.,
1837, p. 388.

DESCRIPTION.

Bod; very Blender, head rather long, and nose thin and pointed ; legs

slender and long, especially the hind legs. They are covered with tine

adpreased hairs to the extremities of the nails. Tail large and thick

for the size of the animal ; flattened on the sides and beneath,

above, clothed with line hair and tipped with a pencil of hairs.

is small, but is visible through the for, and apparently not covered by an

integument.

The point of the nose is slightly divided ; there is no external ear. and
the transverse auditory opening is completely concealed by the fur.

COLOUR.

Hair cinereous for two thirds of its length above, and tipped with shin-
ing chestnut brown ; beneath tipped with ash color ; feet grey ; tail brown
above, silver grey beneath.

DIMENSIONS.

From point of nose to tail, 1 i

Length of tail, II

From eye to point of nose, I

Length of head, 8

From heel to middle Claw, rt

312

SOREX FIMBRIPES.— Bach.

Fkinge-footkd Siikew.

CHARACTERS.

No external ears ; tail a little shorter than the body ; feet broad, fringed
at the edges ; body dark brown.

sraoxvME.

Sores Fimbrifes. — Bach, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, vol. vii., part ii.,
p. 391.

DESCRIPTION.

Nose long and movable, with the tip slightly lobed ; head large and
flat. The eye is a mere speck, covered by the common integument, and is
found with great difficulty. Whiskers, long, extending considerably
beyond the head ; no external ears, and the transverse auditory opening
very small ; fore-feet broad, and clothed with short fine hairs extending
to the extremities of the nails, the edges on the lower surface consider-
ably fringed beneath the palms with long brownish hairs. Tail of mode-
rate size, square, and gradually tapering to the point.

The fur is considerably longer than in any other of our species of shrew
of the same size.

Teeth yellowish ; whiskers white ; there is a lightish edge around the
upper lip ; feet dingy yellow.

The fur on the upper surface is for two thirds of its length, bluish ash,
and is tipped with brown, which gives it a changeable brown appearance.
Throat and beneath dark fawn colour. Under side of tail buff ; point of
tail nearly black.

FRINGE-FOOTED SHREW.

313

DIMENSIONS.

From point of nose to root of tail, ■

Length of tail, -

From orifice of ear to p >inl i

" eye to po

" heel to end of middle claw,
Breadth of fore-feet, -
Length of \\ biskers, -

VOL. Ill, tO

SOREX PERSON ATUS. — St. Hillaire.

SYNONYMES.

Sorex Personatus — St. Hillaire, Guerin's Mag. de Zoologie pour 1833, pi. 14.
" " Bachman, Monogr. N. American species of Sorex, Jour

Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. vii., part ii., p. 398.

DESCRIPTION.

Hair reddish brown above, light ash coloured beneath, end of the nose
blackish brown above, ears small and concealed in the fur ; tail rather
square, one third of the total length of the animal.

DIMENSIONS.

Length to root of tail, 2

of tail, 1

We have never seen this shrew. The specimen from which the descrip-
tion was taken by St. Hillaire (translated above) was sent from America
by Milbert (1827).

315

GEORVC 11 IS (. IMK N LAN DIC US.— Rich,

: \\H 1.1'MMlNc;.

A. Exauriculatus, rostra acuto, palmis tetradactylis hirsutis ; unguibus
apice cylindrico producto, lined dorsali ni

CHARA<

Earless; with u sharp nose; forrfvet hairy beneath, with four toes, armed
wit?> claws, having sharp cylindrical points : a dark strip* along I
of the back.

SI KOin UES.

ind Lemming. — Rich, Fauna l!o-
lericana, p. 134.
Moi be, Sp, IS. Foster, Pliila Trans. Kh.. p,

Ham n Rat I -I ' nt, Vrct. Zool., vol. i.. p. 138 1

Mua Grcbni indicus. — Richardson, Parry's Second Voy., App. |
• h\ iw ik — Esquimaux.

DESCRIPTION.

Size — rather loss than a rat : head rounded, narrower than the body,
tapering slightly from the auditory opening to the eyes ; nose acul

i srnal ears, but the site of the auditory opening is denoted by
an obscure transverse brownish streak in the fur. The ey< >
other and small. The fur on the cheeks is a little puffed up. The upper
lip is deeply divided ; lower li rth of the uppi

whiskers long; body thickly covered with long and soft fur. Tail very
short : the fore extremities project very lii

incline slightly inwards, are small, and the toes very short : both are
covered thickly above and below, with strong hairs curving downwards,
and extending beyond the claws. The onl\ naked puis on the foot are a
minute, Hat. unarmed callus, in place of a thumb, and a rounded smooth
callus at the extremity of each toe. These callosities do not project for-

316 GREENLAND LEMMING.

ward under the claws, and have no resemblance to the large, compressed,
horn}', under portions of the claws of the Hudson's Bay Lemming.

The claws are long, strong, curved moderately downwards, and inclining
inwards. Soles of the hind-feet hairy, and the hairs project beyond the
claws. The hind-feet have live toes, of which the three middle ones are
nearly of a length. The hind-claws are slightly arched, narrow, but not
sharp at the points ; they are thin, hollowed out underneath, and calcu-
lated to throw back the earth which has been loosened by the fore-claws.

The general colour of the upper parts of the body and of the head is
dark greyish brown, arising from an intimate mixture of hairs tipped with
yellowish-grey and black ; the black tips are the longest, and, predomi-
nating down the centre of the back, produce a distinct stripe. The ven-
tral aspect of the throat, neck, aud body, exclusive of some rusty mark-
ings before the shoulders, is of an unmixed yellowish-grey colour, which
unites with the darker colour of the back by an even line running on a
level with the tail and inferior part of the cheek. The fur both on the
back and underneath presents, when blown aside, a deep blackish-grey
colour from the tips to the roots. The tail is of the same colour as the
body at the root, but the part which projects beyond the fur of the rump
is only a pencil of stiff white hairs.

The above is copied, with some alterations, from Richardson's ^descrip-
tion, which was drawn up from a male, killed August 22, in Repulse bay.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lin^a.

Length of head and body, 6 3

" tail, 9

" " fore-leg from palm to the axilla, - - 1 1

" " longest fore-claw, 4

" " palm of middle-claw, ... - Q

" whiskers, 1 4

We refer our readers to the Fauna Boreali Americana for some inter-
esting general remarks on the Lemmings, comparing those of the Ameri-
can continent with European species. We know nothing of the habits
of this one.

317

D I P O D O M Y S ORD II.— Woodhottse.

Or] ' 9C

CM IRACTERS.

Light reddish brown above, beneath white : tail short, and penicillate at (he
end.

SI HOm MB.
Dipodomyg Ordit. — Woodhouae, Pi . Nat S ... 1'hili.. I1-:..!, p,

PTION.

A little smaller than I). PhUipsu, Gray ; head and tail shorter, nose
long and pointed, extending some distance beyond the incisors ; ears some-
and. the anterior portion almost naked, posteriorly covered with
short fine hair.

Hark reddish brown above ; sides light reddish brown ; fur as

the nose, half of the cheek, ^p< > t behind the ear. band
across the thigh and beneath, pure white ; a black spot at the base of the
long whiskers ; a Buperciliarj ridge id' white on either Bide : tie
I a ted portion id' the tail is formed of long white hair?, with bright brown
tips.

DIMENSIONS.

Total length from tip of nose to root of tail, -

of vertebra of tail. ....
of tail, including hair at tip.
of os calcis, including middle toe and nail.
" " of car,

Inrhr,.

5

1 f.

■46

GEOGRAPHIC A I. DISTRIBUTION.

Western Texas

ORD'S POO'IIED MOr.SK.

:EXKliAL IiEM \l;K-.

This animal I procured at El Paso on the Rio Grande, on my way to
Santa Fe, whilst attached to the party under the command of Captain L.
Sitgeeates, United States Army. I have named it in honour of Mr. Ord,

President of this Society. (Woodhouse.)

319

ARVICOLA (HESPERQMYS) TEX *.NA<— Woodhouse.

CHAB ICTEBS.

Smaller titan Mas leucopus, head shorter and man blunt, ears smaller and

more round, brown above, and white, inclining to yellowish, beneath.

Bl \ >NYME.

oj»ra Texana.- Woodhouse, Proc. Vcad. Nat. Sci., 1'Ml.i.. 1853, p. 242.
DESCRIPTION.

Head large, blunt Eyea prominent, ami dark brown. Bars large,
erect, roundish, oval, blunt, sparsely covered outwardly with Bhorl ad-
pressed brown hairs, inwardly with grey. Thumb "!' fore-feet a tubercle,
furnished with a long blunt nail, two middle toes the longest, -
Hind-feet furred, with the exception of the Bole. Whiskei

Hair dark cim tipped with pale brown, and dusk]

have rather a mottled appearance ; beneath white inclining to yellowish ;
the two colours, that is to say above and beneath, tolerably distinctly

separated from eaeli other in a straight line. Tail above brown

white : nose mixed brown ami grey, or pale brown. "Whiskers Mark and

grey : legs white OU their inner surface only, feet white, (he hairs

ing over the nails.

DIMENSIONS.

Total length from tip of nose to root of tail, - - - 2,',,

" of tail, -J,',,

of head, l .'„

Height of ear, -,'„■

Breadth of ear, T3o

Fore-legs, 1

Hind-legs, 1T00

320 ARVICOLa l'EXANA.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Western Texas.

GENERAL REMARKS.

I procured this little animal on the Rio Grande near El Paso, whilst
attached to the party under the command of Captain L. Sitgreaves, U.
S. Topographical Engineers, on our way to explore the Zuni and Colorado
rivers. Of its habits I know nothing. My attention was called to this
animal by Major Le Conte, who has been for some time engaged in the
study of the mice of our country. (Woodhouse.)

823

SCALOPS -EN EUS.— C lssin.

Black-cj \». d -

^v^o^•v^i^;.

. 1'liihi., 1S53, p. 299.

DESCRIPTION.

Upper jaw, after the two incisors, having on cadi Bide seven false molars,
which are pointed and nearly equal, except the la^t. which is double tin-
size of either of the others, and has a small exterior l>a~;»I lobe. Molars
three ; the first with four external lob > being very small, the

second largo and pointed, the third Bhort, blunt, and deeply emi
tin- fourth lobe also blunl and Bborl ; besides these the first molar has one
interior and one posterior lobe, second molar with throe short external
lobes, the intermediate one emarginate ; also two interior large and
pointed, and one posterior similar to the interior lobe; third molar with
two short external lobes, the posterior one emarginate, and two interior
lobes and > lobe.

Lower jaw with two incisors on oaeli side, the anterior of which is the
shorter; these are followed l>y six false molars, which are pointed and
nearly equal in Bize, except tic last, which is much larger ami furnished
with a minute posterior loin1 at the base. Molars throe, each deeply sili-
cate on the external surface ami composed of two large external lobes and
three smaller ami shorter internal 1

First and fifth toes of forefeet equal, second shorter, first and fiftli toes
of the hind-foot equal, other three nearly so.

Entirely shining, brassy In-own. very glossy, and in some lights appear-
ing to be almost metallic ; darker on the top of the head, and lighter and
more obscure on the chin and throat ; nose dusky ; feet brownish ; nails
and first joint of the toes black ; palms dusky ; soles of the hind-feet dark
brown ; tail light broiru, thinly furnished with scattering bristles.

VOL. HI. 11

322

BLACK-CLAWED SHREW MOLE.

DIMENSIONS.

Total length (of specimen in spirits), about
" " of head, - - - -

" " of fore-feet,

" " of hind-feet, -

" " of tail, --- -

5

2

1-15

1-40

1-25

GENERAL REMARKS.

This is the most beautiful species of mole yet discovered in America,
and exhibits almost the brilliancy of colour which distinguishes the
remarkable South African animals which form thfi genus Chrysochloris,
of this family.

A single specimen, apparently fully adult, is in the collection of the
Exploring Expedition, labelled as having been obtained in Oregon. In
its dentition and otherwise it is a strict congener of Scahps Towntendii,
but is much smaller and of a different color. Its black claws are espe-
cially remarkable, and distinguish it from all other species of the genus.

(Cassin.)

S C A L O P S LATIMANUS.— Bach.

Trv in Siikkw Moi B.

BTNONTHB.

Scalops Latimam is. — Bach, 1 History, vol. i., p. 41.

1'TION.

Larger than the common shrew-mo],-, intermediate in Bin between 8.

Tmrnsendi and S. lircurri. Hair longer ami thinner than in either of the
other species, and slightly curled. Palms larger than in any other known
species. Tail naked.

GOLOtTB.

Colour nearly black.

Dnraramn.

InchM. Line*.

Length to root of the tail. 7 7

" of the tail, 10

Breadth of the palm, 10

of the tarsus, 7

GEOGRAPHIC A I. JMSTIMBITIOM.

Mexico and Texas.

MUS LE CONTII. — Bach.

Le Coxte's Mouse.
M. Supra rufo-fuscus, subtus albo-fiavus ; cauda corpore breviore.

CHARACTERS.

Tail shorter than the body, reddish brown above, light fawn beneath.

SYNONYMES.

Mns Le Contei. — Aud. and Bach, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. viii., pt. ii.,

p. 306.
Reithrodon Le Contei. — Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., Oct. 1853,
p. 413.

DESCRIPTION.

About half the size of a full grown mouse. Its body is covered by
a very thick coat of soft fur and coarser hairs intermixed. The upper
fore-teeth are deeply grooved. The head is of a moderate size ; the fore-
head so much arched as to present nearly a semicircle. Nose rather sharp,
with a caruncle beneath each nostril pointing downwards- Whiskers
shorter than the head. Ears round, moderate in size, and slightly pro-
truding beyond the long fur, nearly naked ; a few hairs are sprinkled
along the inner margins. The legs are short and rather stout ; feet
covered with short adpressed hairs ; nails long and but slightly hooked ;
adapted to digging. The rudimentary thumb is armed with a blunt nail.
The tail, which is round, is sparsely clothed with hair.

Teeth yellow ; eyes black ; nails light brown ; whiskers white and
black. The fur on the back and chest is plumbeous at base, tipped with a
mixture of reddish brown, and dusky, giving it a dark reddish-brown
appearance. The lips, chin, and feet are a soiled white. On the throat,
belly, and under surface of the tail, the fur is cinereous ; at the roots tipped
with fawn colour. Upper surface of tail brown.

LE COXTE'S MOUSE, 825

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 2 1;

" of tail, 2

Hcijrht of car, U

Length of tarsus, k

GENERAL REMARKS.

iecimen from which tlio above description was taken was procured
. Georgia by Major Le Conte.

326

MUS MICHIGANENSIS.

Michigan Mouse.
M. Buccis flavis, corpore supra fusco-canescente, subtus albido.

CHARACTERS.

Cheeks yellow, body light greyish-brown above, whitish beneath.

SYNONYME.

Mus Miciiiganensis. — Aud. and Bach, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. viii.,
pt. ii., p. 304.

DESCRIPTION.

The head is of moderate size at base, gradually tapering to a sharp-
pointed nose. The eyes, which appear to be rather smaller than those of
the white-footed mouse, are placed farther forward. "Whiskers the length
of the head. The ears on both surfaces are so sparingly clothed with short
hairs as, without close examination, to appear naked. Legs short and
slender, covered with hair to the extremities of the toes. Soles naked.
On each fore-foot there are four toes, with a rudimeutal thumb, protected
by short but rather sharp nails. The hind-feet are pendactylous. The
tail, which is round, is clothed with rather short hairs. Mamma?, six pec-
toral and four abdominal. The fur on the whole body is very short and
smooth.

The incisors, which are small, are yellow. The whiskers are nearly all
white ; a few immediately below and above the eyes being black. On the
cheeks there is a line of yellowish fawn colour running along the sides to
the neck. The feet, nails, ears, and tail are light brown. The hairs on
the upper surface are light plumbeous at the roots, and tipped with light
brown and black. On the throat, inner surface of the thighs, and on the

MICIlKi.W MOUSE. 327

abdomen, they arc yellowish white. There is do distinct line of demarca-
tion between the colours of the back and under surface, nor does the
white extend along the rides, as in the white-footed mouse.

DIVERSIONS.

Inches. Line*.

Length of head and body, 4

of tail, 2 6

" of tarsus, 5

Height of ear, 4

OENERA.L REMARKS.

This species bears some resemblance in size and colour, both to the com-
mon honse mouse [M. mtiscuhis) and the white-footed mouse {M. leucopus).

The colour on the back resembles the former, and on the under surface the
latter. Its tail is considerably shorter than either, and its ear- •
and much smaller than those of M. kucopus. Neither has it the white
feet so characteristic of that spi

328

PEROGNATHUS (CRICETODIPUS) PARVUS.— Peale.

P. Capite ovato : rostro elongato, acuminato, piloso, exceptis naribus
parvis convolutisque ; labiis niagnis, tumidis, et pilis brevibus consitis :
mystacibus plurimis, albis : flocco alborum pilorum seu setarum in niento :
genarum ventriculis amplis, disruptis extrinsece ori, ex supremo labio ad
guttur usque protentis ; cavitate retrorsum ad aures pertingente pilosa :
oculis mediocribus : auribus parvis, rotundis, pilose fimbriates : anteriori-
bus cruribus parvis : pede medioeri, setosis marginato pilis : unguibus
brevibus, unciuis, excepto pollieulari in orbem figurato rel ad instar
humani : postieis cruribus longis ; pedibus magnis validisque, digitis
quinque instructis, medio casteris aliquantulo longiore ; intimo digito
brevissimo, attingente tan turn inetatarsa eajterorum ossa : unguibus omni-
bus brevibus, acuminatis, modico incurvis : cauda longa, attenuate, pilis
brevibus sericia cooperta ; colore supra sepiaco-brunneo, infra albo ;
obscura lined transcurrente genas sub oculis.

Ciucetodipus Parvus. — Peale, Mamm, of U. S. Exploring Expedition, p. 53.
Perocnathus Parvus. — Dr. Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei., Phila.

DESCRIPTION.

Head ovate ; the snout elongate, pointed, and covered with hair, except-
ing the nostrils, which are small and convolute ; lips large, tumid, and
covered with short hairs ; whiskers numerous, white ; a tuft of white
hairs or bristles on the chin ; cheek-pouches spacious, opening outside of
the mouth, and reaching from the upper lip to the throat ; the cavity
extending backwards to the ears, and lined with hair ; eyes medium size ;
cars small, round, and fringed with hairs ; fore-legs small, the' feet mode-
rate, margined with bristly hairs ; the nails short, curved, excepting that
of the thumb, which is orbicular, or resembling the human thumb nail ;
hind-legs long ; the feet large and strong, five-toed ; the middle one
slightly longer than the rest ; inner toe shortest, reaching only to the end
of the metatarsal bones of the others ; all the nails short, pointed, and

PEROGN VTlll'S r.\K\ US.

329

slightly curved ; tail long, tapering, and clothed with silky hair.-. Colour
pia-brown ; beneath white ; a dark linecrossea the cheeks beneath

die cyc<.

DIMENSIONS.

i if the head ami body, -

" of head, from the nose t<> th<

" of cars,

of tail,

" of fore-leg from the elbow, -

•' of fore-foot,

" of tibia,

" of hind-foot,

" of metatarsus, ....

i.T.XERAI. REMARKS.

' this Bingular animal was obtained in Oregon, but
no notes were furnished by the person who obtained it. The formation
of its hind-legs leaves but little room to doubl that its habits are similar
to the jumping mice, Meriones Labradorius (Ri< hardson), which are inha-
bitants of tin- Bftme region* Its singularly large head, which equals it<
body in bulk, its ample cheek-pouches, long hind-legs, and long tail, pre-
sent a general form which is peculiar ami altogether very remarkable.
On dissection, the stomach was found to contain a pulpy matter, which
appeared to be the remain- of a bullions root ; the liver is very large, and
conBistsof live foliaceoua lobes; we were not able to detect any gall-
bladder.

The specimen is a female, and presents the rudiments of a fourth molar
tooth in each side of the lower jaw. which would eventually have replaced
the front ones, already much worn. (I'eale.)

vol. III.- — 4.2

330

DIDELPHIS BREVICEPS. — Bennett.

SYNONYME.
Didelfhis Breviceps. — Bennett, Zool. Proc. for 1833, p. 40.

DESCRIPTION.

Allied to D. Virginianus ; much smaller size and darker colour ; ordi-
nary woolly hairs of the body white at base, the apical half, brownish
black. Beyond this woolly hair there is an abundance of immensely long
bristly white hairs on the upper parts and sides of the body. Head,
throat, and under parts of body brownish, the hairs being white, with the
tips brown. Lips white ; a broad white dash under the eye, joining the
white lips ; a longitudinal brownish stripe extending from the eye towards
the tip of the muzzle ; brownish black hairs also surround the eye. On
the crown of the head there are long white hairs, interspersed like those
of the body, but shorter. Ears black, naked, the apex whitish ; limbs
and feet brown-black ; tail with minute bristly hairs, springing from
between the scales ; the basal half of the tail apparently blackish, and
the apical half whitish.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches. Lines.

From point of nose to insertion of tail, 12 6

Tail, 11

Tarsus to end of longest claw, .... 2

Ear to point of nose, 3

Height of ear posteriorly, 1 1

Longest bristly hairs on the back, - - - - 3

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

California. (Bennett.)

831

D I D E L P II I S C A L I FO R N I C A .—Be n n k t t .

SVXOXYMK.

Didi iiiiis Cai.ikohkica. — Bennett, Zool. Pro,-, fo? 1833, p. -10.
DESCRIPTION.

Body above brownish l>I:irk, intermediate in sise between Didelphis Vir

ginianus and D. Brtvictps, head much longer than thai of /). Ihrvircpx
ears ami legs longer, the inner toe on the hind-foot much the l"i

DIMENSIONS.

From nose to root of tail,
Tail, ....
From ear to point of nose,
Tarsus, -
Height of ear posteriorly.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The description given of the colours of 7). Bnvicrps will, in most
respects, apply to the present The long white hairs interspersed through-
out the fur, the black line running through the eye, and the black feel and
legs, would lead to the supposition that the species were identical.

But there are. notwithstanding, many striking marks of difference. The
inner toe of the present species is much larger and far separated from the
second, which at first sight seems to he united by a web.

The animal is also more lightly coloured.

Brought by DoOQLAS from that portion of California nearest to Mexi-
co. (Bennett.)

MUS CAROLINENSIS.

Carolina Mouse.
M. Dilute plumbeus, auribus longis et pilosis, cauda corpore longiore.

CHARACTERS.

Tail longer than the body ; ears long and hairy. Color light plumbeous.

SYNONTMES.

Mrs Carolinexsis. — Aud. and Bacli, Jour. xYcad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. viii., part
ii., p. 300.
" " Le Conte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., p. — , 1853.

DESCRIPTION.

In size this species is smaller than the house mouse. The upper fore-
teeth are slightly grooved. The head is short, the forehead arched, and
the nose rather blunt. Eyes small, but prominent ; whiskers longer than
the head. The ears are rather long, and have a very conspicuous incurva-
tion of their anterior margins, which are fringed with hairs ; they are
thickly clothed on both surfaces with very short hairs. The legs and feet
are small and slender, hairy to the nails. The thumb is almost entirely
composed of a short convex nail. The tail is long, clothed with short
hairs, rounded in the living animal, but square when in a dried state.
The fur, which is of moderate length, is thin, soft, and silky.

The incisors are light yellow, tipped with black ; eyes black ; point
of the nose, lips, chin, fore-feet, and nails, white. Whiskers dark brown.
There is a narrow fawn-coloured ring around the eyes. Ears, legs, and
tail light ashy brown. The fur on the back and sides is from the roots
of an uniform light plumbeous colour ; the under surface is scarcely a
shade lighter.

CAROLINA HOUSE. 333

DIMENSIONS

Length of head and body,

of tail,
Height of ear,
Length of tarsus, -

GENERAL REM IBKi

This species exists rerj sparingly in the maritime districts
Carolina, and is usually found in low grounds partially inundated. It

readily takes to the water, and swims with great facility.

834

SOREX RICH ARDSONII. — Bach.

Richardson's Shrew.

SYNONYMES.

Sorex Parvus. — Rich (non Say), Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 8.

Sorex Richardsonii. — Bacliman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. vii., part

Ears short, about half the length of the fur, covered by short fine hairs ;
muzzle long and slender, the tip slightly lobed ; the whole upper lip bor-
dered with whiskers, reaching to the ears ; the tail square, pointed at
tip ; body longer and thicker than that of S. Forsteri ; feet slender, par-
taking, in this respect, of the character of most of the species of this
genus ; nails short and slightly hooked.

The fur, from its roots to near the tip. has a dark bluish grey colour ;
from its closeness, however, this colour is not seen till the fur is removed ;
the whole upper surface is of a rusty brown colour ; beneath cinereous ;
the feet and nails are light brown.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 21

of tail, If

" of head, 1

" from upper incisors to nostrils, - i

" from eye to point of nose, i T70-

385

S O R E X BREVICAUDUS. — Say.

Short-tails) Shrew.

cd lb lctee8.

Blackish plumbeous above, a little lighter beneath ; smaller than S. Dekayi J
tail a little longer,

Bl ETONYMBS.

Bores Brevicaudto. — Say, Long's Expedition, voL i.. p. 104.
« « i ,n, rol. i.. p. 79, plate 8, fig. 1.

Harlan, Fauna, \>. 29.
" " Bachmau, Jour. \ id. x <; Soi, Phil*, vol. vii, part ii.,

p, 831.

DESCRIPTION.

The form of this species is more Blender than thai of Dekay's shrew,
and it appears about one fifth less ; the feel are a little longer and rather
large for the site of the animal ; the fur on the back long, nearly double
the length of the other species : the fore-feel are naked ; the hind ones
Bparsely covered with hair ; the nose is distinctly lobed : the orifice to
the internal ear is large, with two distinct half-divisions ; the tail in the
dried specimen appears to be square, sparsely clothed with hair which
extends beyond the tip.

COLOTR.

The nose and tail arc dark brown ; feet and nails white ; the whole
upper surface of a blackish plumbeous colour ; the under surface a little
lighter.

DIMENSIONS.

Length from tip of the nose to root of tail, 31

of heel to end of tail, £

of tail, 1

of head, *

Breadth across the head, i

336 SHORT-TAILED SHREW.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The teeth of this shrew are white, brightly tinged with chestnut brown
on the points, except the third and fourth lateral incisors in the upper
jaw, which have merely a brown speck at the tips, and the fifth, which is
while ; the posterior upper molar is small, though larger than that of
S. Dekayi ; the incisors are less curved than those of the latter species ;
there is also a striking difference in the head, that of the present species
being considerably shorter, the skull more depressed and much narrower,
appearing about one fourth less than that of Dekay's shrew.

From the number and appearance of its teeth, the specimen was evi-
dently an old animal.

-

P S E U 1) O S T O M A B I I. 15 I V () R V M . — R

BYNONTKES.

Diplostoma! Bclmvorum.— Rich, Fanna Boreali Americana, p.

DiFLOSTOMi (Gbomts) i Rich, Zoology of B ige,p,13.

Geohts Bclbivokcs. Im.i Coots, Pr . \ ad. Nat Sci., Pkila., 1852, p. 162.

rPTION.

Bodj like thai of a great mole ; furnished with cheek-pouches, each
pouch baa d semi-cup-shaped cavity when distended ; whiskers vei
eyes small The auditory openings are moderately large, but there are no
external ears. Tail short, round, and tapering, with an obtuse tip, and
thinly clothed with hair. The 1 are covered down to

the wrist and ankle joints with fur similar to that of the body ; there are
Bve toes on each fool ; the hind nails are short, conical, obtuse, and more
or less excavated underneath. The nail of the fourth toe is moi
shaped than the others.

incisors yellowish ; on the dorsal aspect the fur has a colour interme-
diate between chestnut and yellowish brown, darker on the crown of the
head than elsewhere ; on the belly the brown is mixed with a cons
portion of grey. The lips, the lower jaw, the lining of the pom
a narrow space around the an red with white fur.

to the upper part of each side of the month there is a rhomboidal

mark, which is clothed with hair of a liver brown colour.
The hind-feet arc covered above with whitish hairs.

DIMENSIONS.

Inchr*. Line!

Length of head and body. 11

" of head, .",

Breadth of head behind the eyes, when the pou

are distended, 3 (3

Length o( tail, 2 Q

of upper incisors (the exposed portion), - G

of lower incisors, 9

VOL. III. — 13

l'SKUDOSTO.UA BULBIVORUM.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We have altered in arrangement, and abridged, Sir John Richardson's
description of this pouched rat, which, in some particulars, has so very
great a resemblance to P. bursarius, as to have made us hesitate to place it
in our work.

DIPODOMYS AGILIS.-GiiBi i . .

rii \i: LCTEUS.

Tail brownish, with an indistinct whitish villa on each side ; outer third to
tip nearly uniform pale brown.

Dipodomys Auiik. — Gambel, Proo. /Lead. Nat. Sou, Phila^voL i\.. p. 77,
" " Dr.LeOonte, " " vol. vi., p. 224.

DESCRIPTION.

In the upper jaw the incisors are divided by a longitudinal furrow ;
head elongated, tapering from the ears to a sharp point ; ears nearly
round, sparsely hairy ; eyes large ; a large pouch on each Bide of the
head opening externally on the cheeks. Both hind and fore-feet with four
toes and a rudiment of a fifth. Sind-legs very long; tail Btrong, very
Blender, covered with hair, and ending in a penicillated tuft.

Two incisors and eight molars in both upper and lower jaws.

yellowish brown mixed with dinky: beneath, pure white, ex-
tending half way up the sides ; eyes dark brown.

DIMENSIONS.

lachn.

Total length, including the tail, - - - - 104
Length of tail, '■}

This beautiful Jerboa-like animal is abundant in the vineyards and cul-
tivated fields of the Pueblo de 1"- Angeles, Upper California. Like the

other pouched animals it forms extensive burrows, traversing the fields
in different directions, and is only to be dislodged during the process of
irrigation. It leaps with surprising agility, sometimes the distance of ten
feet or more at a spring, and is difficult to capture. (GaHBEL.)

340

DIPODOMYS HEERMANNI. — Le Conte.

SYNONTMB.

Dipodomvs ITeermanni. — Le Coate, Pioc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vol. vi., p. 224.

DESCRIPTION.

Tail shorter than the body ; hairs on the outer third very long ; ears
moderately small ; antitragus obsolete.

Tail brown, becoming black towards the extremity, with a broad white
vitta on each side ; tip pure black.

GENERAL REMARKS.

This species was procured in the Sierra Nevada, by Dr. Heermann.
The specimen was not quite full grown. The above description, etc., we
take from Dr. Le Conte's remarks in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences,
Philadelphia, cited above.

341

T E R O G N A T H U S F A S C I A TUS.-Wi e i> .
P. Supra o flarescentc cinereus, subtua albus, striga laterali pallido

lla\ 118.

Psrognathus I isoiatos.— Wted, Nova \ ' ' i Acad., 19, 869,

tab. 34.
" " Wagm igtlriere, Suppl. 3, 612.

" " Schiutz, Syn. Mam., 2,

DBS< BIPTION.

The upper Burface is brownish grey ; the hairs at the i
at the tip yellowish ami Mar],; animal appears speckled with

blackish ami fulvous, or i- somewhat stri]

The si.Ic> of the head, the region round the eyes, and upper margin of
the ears, are of a more 'lull reddish-yellow. The under surface is pure
white, which is separated from the colour of the back by a yellowish-red,
or rust-red Btripe extending from the nose along the i
hind-legs, ami down to tin- heel. The nose and lips appear flesh coloured
through the whitish hair; the same i> tin' case with the

The tail is reddish-grey; moi ibove, and more whitish

beneath.

DIMENJ

Indies. Lines

Entire lengA, ± 4*

Length of tail (including hair), 2 1

" of fore-foot,

of hind foot, ------ S

OEOGH M'llli \l DISTRIB1 I'MX.

This species was procured in the territories west of the State of Mis-
souri.

342

SCIURUS CLARKII. — Smith.

Clark's Squirrel.

SYNOXYME.

Sciurus Clarkii, Clark's Squirrel. — Griffiths, Cuvier, vol. iii., p. 189.
DESCRIPTION.

Back, upper parts of the head and neck, cheeks and tail, of a delicate
silver grey colour ; the shoulders, flanks, belly, and posterior extremities,
both within and without, are white with a slight ochreous tint ; on the
sides of the nose and the fore-legs this tint deepens in intensity ; the head
is rather flattened and thick, the ears small and round ; eyes black, and
situated on the sides of the head very far distant from each other, leaving
a wide expanse of forehead. The nostrils are semilunar in shape ; the
upper lip is cleft, and there is a black spot on the chin.

The tail, which is flat and spreading, is very beautiful, not so full nem-
its interior as towards the middle, and again diminishing in breadth until
it terminates in a point.

GENERAL REMARKS.

We are greatly inclined to consider this squirrel as identical with
Sciurus Fossor, of Peale, which we have figured and described. Should
other specimens of this species not be found and more positively deter-
mined, it would perhaps be better to retain the name of Sciurus Clarkii,
and give S. Fossor as a synonyme.

343

SCIURUS AN N I I. A T l S. — Smith.

Lewis's SqUIK&SL.

BTHOHTHE.

Scidrds Anmuit, Lewis's Squirrel. r, vol. Hi., p. 190.

[PTION.

Has the upper pari of the head, neck, Bhoulders, fore arm--, to tin1 arti-
culation of the arm, back, Hank, the posterior moiety of the thighs ami a
Kami round the belly, of ochrey-grey colour: all the under parts, the
inside of the limbs,and the paws are pure ochrey ; the i

round, and far back ; the eyes are black, and surrounded with tin' same
colour as the Lark : tin' nostrils open at tie* extremity of the muzzle, form-
ing a denuded black snout ; the upper lip is white and the whiskers verj
i te i. nl i- \. -r\ beautiful, extremely thick and bushy, cylindrical,
and annotated with seven black and six white bands, with the termination
black.

"This appears to be the S. AnnxJatm described by Dl
clop. Method., article Mammalogie. His specific characters are: Fur of

a bright greenish grey above, with lateral white hand-, white i

tail longer than the body, round, annotated black ami white." (Ll I

GENERAL REMARKS.

This animal was. as well as Sciurus Clarkii, brought from the north-west
by Lewis and CLARK, on their return from their celebrated journ
our continent.

The specimens were deposited in Feat.e's Museum, in Philadelphia, and
were, it is supposed, burnt up when the remains of that collection were
destroyed by lire.

Unless the peculiar annulated tail was the result of twisting that mem-
ber when the animal was skinned, it is difficult to suppose this to have
been a true squirrel. We do not know, however, any speruiophile that will
agree with the descriptiou of it.

344 LIST OF DOUBTFUL SPECIES.

Wo have above given descriptions of some quadrupeds which we have
not ourselves had an opportunity of examining — the result of the obser-
vations of other zoologists — but are not at present able to state posi-
tively that all of them are founded on good species.

We add some names of a-niiuals that have been given by authors as
belonging to our Fauna, but which we have not been willing to introduce
as such into our work, and which may, we think, be safely omitted in
future lists.

Sorcx Cinereus. — Bach. Young of S. Carolinensis.
Ursus Arctos. — Rich. A doubtful species.

Sciurus Texianus.— Bach. Grey variety of S. Capistratus, without
white ears.
" Occidcntalis. — Bach. Variety of S. Auduboni.
Arvicola Nuttalli. — Harlan. Young Mus leucopus.
Mus Virginicus. — Gmel. Probably an albino of Mus leucopus.
Lepus Campestris. — Bach. This appears to be identical with S. Town-
sendii, and wc should have given the latter name
as the synonymc.
Lipuria Hudsonica. — This is supposed to have been a distorted or muti-
lated skin. There is no animal to correspond
with the description of it.
Lepus Longicaudatus. — This is an African species from the Cape of Good

Hope.
Felis Occidentalis. — Probably Lynx rufus.

" Fasciata. "

Lutra Californica. — Grey, supposed to be L. Canadensis.
Felis Discolor. — Felis Concolor.
Condylura Macroura. — C. Cristata.
Mus Agrarius. — Godman. Mus leucopus.
Spcrmophilus Bccchcyi. — Rich. S. Douglassii.
Sorcx Talpoides. — Gapper. Probably S. Carolincnsis.
Ixahts Prohaton. — A hybrid.— Not American.
Cervus Arctica. — Rich. Requires further examination.
Lepus Mcxicanus. — L. JS'igricaudatus.
Sciurus . lurogaster. — S. Ferruginiventer.

" Californicus. — S. Nigrescens.
Sorex Canadensis. — Scalops Aquaticus.
Saccomys Anlhopilus. — South American.
Spermophilus Pealei. — Not American.

1 N I) E X .

American Black Bear,
Black it Silver Fox,

1 K

Grej Wnir.

Marsh shrew,

■ Reindeer,

Souslik, .

Aplodontia, Genua, .

Arctic Fox,

Aivt.uin a I'l.-n i\ rater,

Lewiaii, .

Pr

Armadillo, Nine banded,

Hare,

.
.-. .
Black-clan

Silver Fox,

— — Cinnamon,

California Grey Squirrel,

Meadow Moose,

Californian \n i
Hare, .

Skunk, .

.

Otter,.
Qania Familiar-is, var. Borealia,

— — (lopoi

ns,

Americana, .

■
Carolina Moose,

euros, .

irguuanos,

Kichardsonii,

Chestnut Cheeked Poached Hat
Cinnamon Bear,
Collie's Squirrel, .
Ool. Abert'e Squirrel,
Columbian Black tailed Deer,
Columbia Poached

Cooper's Sinew,
Qrab-eati

VOL. III. — 14

34G

Dasypus, Genus,

Peba,

Deer, Columbian Black-tailed,

Common American,

I>c Kay's Shrew,
Didelphis, Breviceps,

Califoraica,

Dipodomys, Genus, .
Agilis, .

Heerrnanni, .

Ordii, .

Phillippsii, .

Dog, Esquimaux,

Hare-Indian, .

Drummond's Meadow-Mouse,
Dusky Squirrel,

Enhydra, Genus,

Marina,

Esquimaux Dog,

Felis Onca,

Flying Squirrel, Severn River.

Forster's Shrew Mo
Fremont's Squirrel,
Fringe-footed Shre\
Fox, Arctic,

Black or Silver,

Jaekall, .

Genus Aplodoutia,

Capra, .

- — — Dasypus,

Dipodomys,

Enhydra,

Georychus,

■ Ovibos,

Rangifer,

Georychus, Genus, .
Georychus Grcenlandieus,

Helvolus, .

Hudsonius,

Trimucronatus,

Glossy Arvicola,

Goat. Rocky Mountain,
Greenland Lemming,
Grizzly Bear, .

Hare, Bachman's,

Hare, Californian, .

Texan, .

Hare-Indian Dog, .
Harris's Spermophile,
Hoary Marmot,
Hudson's Bay Lemir.iu

Jackass Rabbit,
Jaguar, .

Jaekall Fox,

Large-tailed Skunk,

Spermophile,

Large Louisiana Black Sqtiirrel
Lataxiua Mollis,
Le Conte's Mouse, .
Lemming, Back's,
Greenland,

Tawny, .

Hudson's Bay,

Little Nimble Weasel,
Long-nosed Shrew, .
Long-tailed Deer, .
Lepus Bachmani, .

Californieus, .

■ Texianus,

Lewis's Marmot,

Lutra Canadensis (var. Lataxi

Marmot, Hoary,

Lewis's,

Yellow-bellied, .

Marmot Squirrel, Say's, .

Harris's,

Large-tailed,

Marsh Shrew, American,
Marten, Pine, .
Meadow-Mouse, Drummond's,

— New Jersey,

Northern,

Pealc's, .

Oregon, .

■ Red-sided,

Richardson

Sonora, .

Yellow-cheeked,

California,

Sharp-nosed,

Mollis),

347

p«g«

Taw

Meadow-Moose, Texan, .

ima Floridana, .

212

Mephitis Maeroura, .

. 11

. 806

Zorilla,

27 6

— Mexicanus, .

809

Mexican Marmot Squirrel,

TJpojdes, . . .

4:1

Michigan Mouse,

886

807

Mink. Mountain Brook, •

lot

Pteromya Alpinus

SI 16

Mol< shaped Pouched Rat,

i::

SOS

Moli . Tow nsend -

217

Putoriua Agilis, ....

184

Mountain-Brook Mink,

l(M

Fusoos

184

roliua,

332

104

■ Lc Oolite's, .

Pouched Ji :

1S7

kasa

Mus Carolinensis, .

>_',

27 2

l.o Contei, . . .

884

198

Mieliiiranensis .

.

111

Musti la Maries,
Musk-Ox,

HI
897

16

Meadow Mouse,

Reddish Pouched Rat, .

Field Moose, .

Reindeer, Ann rican,

111

Nine-Banded Armadillo, .

Rice Meadow Moose,

114

Northern '■•

i:;i

Richardson's Meadow Moose, .
Shrew,

188

Ord's Pouched Mouse,

81?

1 ' rcl, .

i Iregon Meadow M u

(feat, .

188

( titer, Canada,

n

Sea,

wo

Band Rat, Leadbeater's, .

. MIS,

46

il Squirrel .

68

Moschatus, .

40

' neon, ....

Arirentatus,

Peale's Meadow Mouse, .

Latimaaua,

Perognathus Penicillatus,

898

Townseodii,

217

Parvus,

isa

Sciurus Aberti, ....

868

Fascial us .

84 1

Annulatus

Rne Marten, .

w«

Clarkii

Pouched Rat, Columbia, .

24

Audtiboni, ....

Chestnut oheeke

1,

304

CoUffli

21

. Leadbeater's,

81 '7

Feasor, ....

Mol<

43

lVnionti

237

Rcddi li

Fuliginosus,

240

Southern, .

242

Mustelinus, ....

Tnfl t nUod

Nigrescens, ....

74

Pouched Mouse, Ord's,

111

170

Pouched Jerboa Moi

187

99

Proeyon t Sancrivorus,

272

1 Fhj ing Squirrel, .

202

Pseudostoma BuJbivornm,

337

■1 Arvieola,

211

Borealis,

196
804

Shrew, American Marsh, .

Cooper's, ....

108

Douglasii, .

24

De Kay's, ....

846

Fulvus,

300

Forster's, ....

810

348

Shrew, Fringe-footed,

Long-nosed, .

Richardson's,

■ Short-tailed,

Shrew-Mole, Black-clawed,

Texan,

Townsend's.

Silvery,

Silvery Shrew-Mole,
Skunk, Californian, .

Large-tailed,

Sooty Squirrel,
Sonora Field Mouse,
Sorex DeKayi,

Longirostris, .

Palustris,

Forsteri,

Finrbripes,

Fersonatus, .

— Kichardsonii,

Brevicaudus, .

Souslik, American, .
Southern Pouched Rat,
SpermophiluB Ilarrisii,

Lateralis,

Macrourus,

Mexieanus,

Pealei,

Townsendii,

Squirrel, California Grey,

■ — Collie's, .

Col. Abert's,

Dusky,

Squirrel, Fremont's,

Large Louisiana

■ — - — Severn-River Fly

Sooty,

Weasel-like,

Tawny Lemming, .

Weasel,

Texan Hare, .

Shrew-Mole, .

Meadow-Mouse,

Townsend's Arvicola,

Shrew-Mole,

Tuft-tailed Pouched Rat,

240 Ursus Americanus,

Ferox, .

Virginian Deer,

Vulpes Folvus (var. Argeutatus),

Lagopus,

Utah, .

Weasel, Little Nimble,

Tawny,

Weasel-like Squirrel,
Western Arvicola, .
Wolf, American Grey,
Woodhouse's Arvicola,
Whistler, .

-bellied Marmot, .
-cheeked Meadow-Mous*

Page
237
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202
240
258

323
230

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