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X4st of Mammals ^ By Wilfred H. Osoood r> Anaotatod Liat of Bigdu By LoviB B. Bishop, M. D. /' ../ 7- Prepared under the direction of Dr. C. HART MERKIAM CIIIKF OF DIVISION or BIOUMICAL 8UKVBY WASHINGTON' OOVBRNMENT PRINTING O'VFICE 1900 1 ni I W: miklmilimmnitJmtiUm Pff- ^7+"/"-'-' -%^. Vow Ho. aro. [^ai!iS5?i4??^r«?'»i-*:^^^ ♦ ^•d*/Aril«J»,«»*w:g«p• rCnaa «<£ »•••?" r. rp. **-•, i"—. Prlee,lS etnlM. id&£i4Si^il ij il l\ l'»M 11 North Am«rican Fauna, No. n. Prontisp IB' H iJO i/t.' ' L U ^ WITH PARTS OF "> \V /• A '" t °''^^ ' SIHKHIA < ANA1>A AND WASIIIXCITON ii Ilt'Jl) Scoln 50 U HIP too IMKt MilAM v^ Frontispiccn. U. S. DKI'ARTMKNT Ol' ACiRlCUL TURK DIVISION (IF l'.[()l,(i(iIC.\l, SURVKY NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA ISTo. 19 L Actual I lutf 111' |iiil)lici»tii(ii, ( tiicilxT ti, liHK)] RESL'LTS OF A IIIIIIJKIKWL REniWOISS ANTE OF THE Vl'lvOX RIVER REGION General Account of the Region Annotated List of Mammals I>y WlI.FHKI) II. Osiioilll Annotated List of Birds i!y Loiis I'. r.isiK.i-, M. 1). I'rr|uir>'(l iiiiiliT IIk' iliri'i'tioii (if Dr. C. HART MERRIAM CHIKK OK DIVI.'^IdX OK I!IOI,, AVilfred IL Osgood, an assistant in the Biological Survey, proceeded t« Skagway, Alaska, and thenco over White Pass to the headwaters of the Yukon and down the entire length of the Yukon River to St. Michael. Ho was accom- panied by Dr. Louis B. Bishop, of New IIav«'n, as volunteer assistant; Dr. Bishop has prepared the report on the birds observed during the trip. These arc the first investigations of the kind undertaken on the Upper Yukon, and the results herewith presented will T)0 found to contain many important facts concerning the distribution of mammals, birds, and trees in this region. Respectfully, Hon. Jamks Wilson. Secrctart/ of A(jrl<-ultiire. V,. Haut Mkuuiam, Chief, li'toli)(jlcal SSiw^mij. I' i wsmmsms^ >'l CONTENTS. w\ Vngo. General account of the region, l>y WilfreHi)ecieH Annotated list of Hixicies - ■ " BinlH of the Yukon region, with uoteH on other HiK-ciex, by I^mia li. Hishop. . 47 Introduction Clafl8ifiequal extent or importiince, and the names applied to them arc used not to specially designate restricted parts of zones already recognized, but purely as a matter of convenience. They are longitudinal districts — that is, they are very nuich longer than wide, and each is merely a nar- row tract c()\ere(l by our route through some larger faunal region. Jjl/itu Cft/Ki/ (h'xtrlcf. Skagway and th(i country l)ordering Lynn Canal are in the northern part of that faunal area which Nelson hius called the 'Sitkan districf and which has often l)een included in the Northwest Coast district. The trees and siiruhs are nuich the same as those at Juneau, Wrangeil, and other points farthtu' .south, but the vege- tation is not((uite so dcn.sc and luxuriant. The shores of Lynn Canal are steep, rocky, and comparatively spar.scly timbered, but in some places, as at Haines, low. swampy ground aiul heavy saturated f(»re,sts are foiuul. At Skagway, ]»oplars (J'npuInK tri inula id-en and I'ojudm I I ()0 feet higher, is near the boimdary between the Lynn Canal and White Pass districts. The station is situated on the side of a wooded gulch through which a fork of Skagway River flows. The immediate vicinity is similar to the country about Skagway, but shows the influence of the Hudsonian zone of the White Pass district, which begins only a short distance beyond. On either side of the gulch are glaciated granite cliffs supporting an irregularl}' distributed vegetation, chiefly groves of poplars and dense thickets of alders, while in the bottom of the gulch conifers are the prevailing trees. The most common trees and shrubs arc lodgepole pines {Pinus murrayana), alpine firs {Ahies lasiocai'jMi)^ tidewater spruces [Pleea sitc/um«ifi), poplars or aspens {Populiwi tremuloides and Populii^hahmnifera)^ alders (^l^w?w fimi(ata), dwarf birches {Betula (jlanduUmd)^ currants {Rihes laxijloniir)), and huckleberries ( Vacclnium (mall folium). The black crowberry {Empe- trum ni(jriun) and several other heather-like plants occur in the gulch but are n»ore common higher up. Along the trickling streams are many ferns and mosses, as well as occasional patches of the lichen known as 'reindeer moss.' Among the mammals of this region are the Streator shrew {Sarex p. streatori), the Bangs white -footed mouse {Peromyacuf^ ()reax),,\hG Dawson red-backed mouse {Evokmiys dawnmit), the long-tail(!d vole {Ifitrotitti niordax), and the red squirrel {Sciuniti h. 2>(it. been smoothed and scored by glaciatiori, and the smaller and more recent ones are but jagged i'ock-})ound chiusms. These unfavorable conditions cause a rapid change in the character of the plant and animal lif(>, and from (jrlaciiir to the sununit of White Pass the /ones are Hudsonian and Arctic-alpine. A few hundred feet above Glacier the trees l>ecome smaller and more scattered, and at Sunnnit only the alpine juniper {Jtinipi'nit< mi/i(t), the b(>ar))crry {Arctostuphyhix uvam'x/'),, and depau- perat(^ .Ipine hemlocks {TsiKja mertensiana) occur. Il(>athers and mosses prevail and large areas of I'cindeer moss are conspicuous. For some distance on the sununit of White Pass (Plate 11, lig. I) the eh'vationand physiognipliy arc umch the same; the country is slightly 11 ii : i li if I. ' r ! !i I 10 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. rolling and ^'onsists entirely of granite rock, about which ding many mosses and heathers, while small alpine junipers and hemlocks struggle for existence in favorable places. The breeding birds found with these Hudsonian plants Avere ptarmigan {Lagopus inipesti'is and Z. leucuriui), pipits {Anthiis pensil/vanimm), rosy finches (Leuco»ticte t. Uttotnlis) , and golden -crowned sparrows {Zonotriehia coronata). Char- acteristic mammals noted were pikas {Ochotona collaris), hoary mar- mots (Arctfnnys ealiffatus), and mountain goats {Oreamnos montanus). Canadian. Yukon district. — Laka mihdivimm: Gn the north side of the divide the hemlocks are soon replaced by pines and spruces, and in the vicinity of Shallow Lake the boundaiy of the interior fauna and flora is reached. The change is complete at Log Cabin, British Coluni- 1)ia, nine miles from the head of Lake Bennett, where the chamcteristic features of the Canadian zone are again established and the genei-al a.spect of the country > -i very different. The most abundant tree is the white spruce {Plcea canadensis), and among shrubs seen for the first timo the buffalo berry {Lepargyrfca canadensis) is verj' common. Birds marking a change of fauna are the slate-colored junco {Junco /ij/etnalis), the Alaska jay {Perisoreus canadensis fnmifroni^, the inter- mediate sparrow {Ztmotrichia, 1. (jamheli), and the l)lack-poll warbler {Dendroica striata). A new chipnm' c {Entamias canicej)s) is very conspicuous. At the head of Lake Bennett another change occurs; the country becomes more arid and rocky and there is a tinge of Hudsonian. Lake Bennett is a long, narrow sheet of water inclosed by high granite cliffs, the sides of which are often so steep as to be unfavora))le for plant and animal life, and whose summits are doubtless similar to White Pass in fauna and flora. Cold winds .sweep down the lake much of the time, and cool shadow.s envelop the ea.st side most of the fore- noon and the west side inoMt of the afternoon, so that opporttmity for warmth i)y direct sunlight is limited. Hence there is quite a strong Hudsonian element about the lake. Among the plants' collected here are the pale dwarf laurel (Kahtila i/lauca), the Greek valerian {Polemonimn hnniih), the forget-me-not {Myosotis .sylvatica alpestris), the alpine juniper {Jiiniptrns nana), the bush cranberry {Vihumum pa^icijforiiin).! the dwarf bii-ch {Bctala t/Iandtdosa), the bearl>errv {Arctffsfa/diyfos uvanrs/').! the }>utfalo ))erry {Lij>ar(jyr(t'a c .nadtmsi,-*), the shadliush {Ainelanchier (dnifoUa), the Labrador tea {Ledinn grwn- fandicniii), and the black crowl>erry {Enqxtrwn nigrnin). Where trickling streams come down to tiie lake alder thickets al)ound, and along tei'races of rock clumps of pines and spruces as well as poplars find support. Among Hud.sonian mannnals were found pikas (^t7w- Uma collar is), hoary tnarmots (Arctomys raligatus), and Dall sheep ' Identifiwl by F. V. Covillc, cliicf Ijotaiiist, I'.S. I)i'|irtrtiiiont of Agrieiilture. Noi i4t> t I M ■ lb ■HI ^m North American Fauna No. 19. Plate II. Fig. 1.— Summit of White Pass. \ I ><«' Fig. 2.— Canadian Police Station at caribou Crossing. ! ill \i 1 h J'J ■.liM n iaaoiBBiiBaiiiiiiiiB OCT., 1900.] FAUNAL DISTRICTS. 11 {Ovin dan*.). Although the lake widens slightly iit its lower end, its outlet is a narrow strean< about 2 miles long, called (Wibou Cross- ing (Plate II, fig. 2), on thb north side of which is an open, gnissy swamp bordered by willow thickets. This low country, though very limited and not extending to the next lake, affords a breeding place for a few mammals and birds not found about Bennett. Lake Tagish, which receives the waters of Bennett through Caribou Crossing, is like Bennett in character, though not so closely walled, and is characterized by practically the .same plants and animals. The surrounding mountains are covered with dense forests, which in many places are almost impenetrable. Connected with Lake Tagish ])y a short, narrow stream, known as Six-Mile River, is Lake Marsh, a long shallow lak-.'. on each side of which extends low country, with rolling hills farther l)ack. The valley widens here tiuitc appreciably, and the open country is like that at Caribou Crossing. On the east side are sedgy J)ogs surrounded by willow thickets, and in many places a wide margin of beautiful green sedge meets the edge of the water. Rocky shores are found at some points on the northwest side, but in general the country is low and moist, in marked contrast to that about Bennett and Tagish. The mountain animals of those lakes are of course absent, and the bird life is also somewhat different. Fifty-Mile River, into which the Yukon waters proceed from Lake Marsh, is rather narrow, and for a short distance at White Horse Rap- ids ver}' swift. Its banks are chiefly al)rupt l)luffs of sand}' clay (from 60 to 100 feet high) l)ut at Miles Canyon it is confined between walls of basalt. Below the rapids the stream widens somewhat and the high banks ))ocome less frequent, often being replace^! by low ones thickly grown with willows. The timber is .somewhat .scattered, and on the rolling hills ))ack from the river l)are granite spaces may ))c fre(|uently seen. At the head of Fifty -Mile River, we first met with birch trees {Bt'tula 2>fipy'>''fcra ?), and from that time on th(\v were seer, daily. They do not grow to large size— trees more than 8 inches in diame- ter were seldom seen. Several small streams flow into Fift3'-Mile River, which favor the growth of thickets of aldt .'s along their banks and large clumps of willows about their mouths. The little l)oreal Hagvhrnah {Ai'tfintsmyrigida) grows a))nndantly on the warm exptsed slopes that occasionally alternate with the .sandy ])luffs. Lodgepole pines, are also abundant and frequently occupy large areas to the exclu- sion of all other trees. Spruce and poplar, howt;ver, are still the strong- est elements in the forest. From Fifty -Mile River we enter Lake Lebarge, the last and largest of the lakes. All about its clear, cold waters are low granite moun- tains (Plate III, fig. 1). Oi'casionally patches of heavy spruce forest are found near the water. l)ut in many ])laces dirt's rise abruptly from 11 I . i^ I'm : I I. 3. I I m 12 NORTH AMKHTOAN FAUNA. (NO. W. the water's cdjje, and the timber is very sparsely sprinkled over them. The rocks found hero and a few in Thirty-Mile River are the last we saw showing signs of glaeiation. Lake Lebargo is quite different from Lake Marsh, and is more similar to Lakes Tagish and Bennett, though all the Hudsonian elements of these are not present. River mthdivision: This area includes the section from the foot of Lake Lebarge to the mouth of the Pelly River at Fort Selkirk. There is very little variety in the character of the country between these points. Thirty -Mile River, which proceeds from Lake Lebarge, is a swift, narrow stream, and at low water is barely navigable for small steamers. A conspicuous feature of its banks, which are cut a})ruptly like those of Fifty -Mile River, is a narrow ribbon-like stratum of vol- canic ash al)out 6 inches below the surface that may be seen wherever the bank is exposed. On the mountains a short distance from the river the forest of spruce is heavier and purer than any previously noted. The poplars and willows are more confined to the brink of thv- river, and the birches are scattered. Thirty-Mile River is simply that por- tion of the Yukon between Lake Lebarge and the mouth of the lloota- linqua or Teslin River. The stream is greatly augmented by the waters of the Ilootalinqua, and from this point on to Fort Selkirk is known as the Lewes River. Below the Ilootalinqua it cuts through the Semenow Hills, for the most part abrupt, rocky, and rather barren mountains from 2,000 to 3,000 feet high. Near their bases and iit the water's edge are forested areas, but the exposed hillsides are covered with boreal sagebrush {Artemisia frigida), with here and there a pros- trate juniper or a small clump of spruces. The river now widens rapidly, receiving in succession the waters of the Big Salmon, the Little Salmon, and the Nordenskiold. The rolling hills are somethues a mile or several miles from the river bank, with low willow swamps intervening. Islands varying from 1 to 100 acres in extent and covered with luxuriant vegetation are abundant. The distribution of trees on the small, regular-shaped islands is very unifonn, the different kinds being grouped in concentric belts. Alders generally form the outer margin; next come the willows; next the poplars, rising somewhat higher; and finally the dark-green spruces, which occupy the central area. The whole effctit is quite picturesque. On the largei- islands the spruces are larger, and usually predominate to such an extent that almost everything else should be classed as under- growth (including trees and shrubs l)elonging to the genera Almis, Salix, Pojndu^i Lejiargyraia^ Comus, Vilmmum, Rostt^ Ledum ^ Yac- cinium, Rlhett^ and others). Lodgepolc pines still occur, though unlike the spruces they nowhere form continuous forest and disappear entirely a short distance beyond Fort Selkirk. The Canadian Yukon district as a whole is very well marked. Char- actei'istic mammals are the gra^ -h(>aded<'hipnuuik (7?MAf//;/r/.v (•ti/iicej>-'<), ■ t -.•* "T North Amutican Faur.a, No. 19 Plate III. 'I I Fig. 1.— Cliffs on East Side of Lake Lebarge. Fig. 2.-YUK0N River, 50 Miles below Fort Selkirk. k ! I M- ill T li ,! I j i 1 1> ■ f \ ^ OCT., 1900.] FAUNAL DIrtTRICrre. 13 r tho Boiiiu^tt jjrouiul sciuirri'l {Sj}en/i.hiliM t'iiipetr(t,2>lix!"x), tin' North- ern luisliy-twili'd rut {Xiofoimt ini,p(iiu(nij<), whitc-foott'd iiiico {/Woiiii/h- cu« oredH and Pcroinyncus iiinui<:i(hitntt at'ctic'ti.s), and tho varying huro {Lepuis sal hum). All of these species and three of tho f^onom, Entamids^ Neotoma, and /'i'roiiii/fut does not extend beyond it. Iludsonian Yuhm, (Ustrlci. — This district, as here considered, includes nil of the Yukon region from Fort Selkirk to the limit of trees. Tho Lewes Itiver is joined at Fort Selkirk by the PcUy, after which the increased volume of water flows on between heavily forested slopes and jutting clifl's (Plato III, fig. 2), which replace tho sandy banks of tho upper river. From the mouth of the Selwyn rthward tho topography of the river banks is but slightly different. The num- ber of poplars in the forest is nuich increased; tho spruces are corre- spondingly decrea.sod not only in number but also in size; while the birches about hold their own, and tho pines are lot present at all, . having disappeared between Fort Selkirk and the mouth of tho Selwyn River. As wo approach Dawson spruces become dwarfed and entirely sulx)rdiuate to the poplars, which crowd their bushy tops together for miles and miles. Tho spruces are in the gulches and in small clumps elsewhere, and a few are scattered about, their dark-green spike tops showing off well against tho billowy mass of tho lighter foliage of poplar and birch. The imdcrgrowth remains nuich tho same, and deep moss covers the ground and rocks. In damp sandy places along shore and on islands occasionally overflowed a bright-green scouring rush {Equlsetavi) grows so abundantly as to bo a chanicteristic plant. Tho alpine juniper {Jimiperus nayui) is found occasionally on hill- sides not too thickly grown with poplars, and on the more open hill- sides tho landscape is brightened by masses of firoweed {ClMmmnerion angmt'k folium)^ for even hero forest fires aro not a noveltj'. Two more largo rivers, tho AYhito and tho Stewart, empty into the Yukon in this vicinity. About the mouths of these and other tributaries is more or less low country covered with willows. Islands l)ecome i ■ < I a,i 1^^ f 'I' \ m i 14 N()KTH AMERICAN FAUNA. (NO. 19. still ni()n> miiuerous and lar^LT, and hav(i a fonvst jirowth that is inoro unifoi'in in rlmractci' than that of th(i rivtT banks. High clill's over- hanging tho I'iver are of fre([uent ofcurnMicp. From Dawson to tho Ahiska ])oundary and thonco to Ciivlo tho country is about tho same. For a long distanco in tho vicinity' of tho boundary a rango of high mountains is visible to tho northward on the right bank of tho river. Tho low, rolling hills whieh bordc'r tho upper river do not quite reach Circle, but are replaced by a broad, flat country knoAvn as tho 'Yukon Flats,' which extends from near Circle to Fort Hamlin, a distance of al)out 200 miles. Through the ' Flats ' the course of tho river ])rcaks up into a great many channels, and tho i.slands still further increase in size and numl)er. These are composed of sand and silt, in which poplars thrive l)etter than spruces, though the latter aro 1)}' no means eliminated. A wild roso {Rosa clnnamounjaf) is the most abundant shrubby plant, and on the ground ]>elow it the Eqtmetuiii is rampant. Tho hirger islands are identical in character with the mainland, and on them the spruces form (piito a heavy forest, with deep moss beneath. At Fort Ilamlin the river narrows again and flows l)etween rolling wooded hills, which are similar to many farther up the river. Small strciuns enti'r the main river freijuently, and tho timber is imich the same; poplars, alders, and Ijin-hes cover the hills in dense thickets, through which spruces are sprinkled. Alders are more numerous than before. The hills vary in height from 500 to 3,000 feet, and the highest have a distinct tim])erline at a))Out 2,000 feet. At tho mouth of tho Tanana the hills l)ecome smaller and the river very much wider. Here, at Fort (liblion. Dr. Bishop found tho larch (Larix (tinerumui) quite abundant. This was the only point at which it was seen by any of our part}'. The Lower Yukon beyond tlie Tanana is very uniform in character. Tho banks are low and rolling and overgrown with willows and alders; farther back arc higher hills covered with poplars and birch; occasion- ally tho summits of a few hills higher than the rest are devoid of trees. On the sandy islands the willow thickets are impenetrable, and where a cut bank exposes a section of them their slender pei-pendicu- lar trunks stiuid so closeh'as to present a solid front like a thick hedge or canel)i"ake. Thus it continues until tho limit of timber is reached at Andraefski, DO miles above the mouth of the Yukon. This district as a whole is characterized by absence of southern plants and animals. Among migratory bii-ds a few have their center of abundance farther south, l)ut all tho mammals are northern forms, and nearly all belong to geneiii of circumpolar distribution.* Plant life, though quite luxuriar*., is made up of only a small number of hardy species. Characteristic mammals are the Foi-t Yukon ground 'The only exceptions are Si/iuiptomyn, Fiher, mid lirHhizon. + t II n! ^ OCT., 1000.) KAL'NAL DISTKIOTH. 15 I t t squirrel {SptrntophtluH osyoodl), Daw.son rcd-hucked iiu»us»', {Ki'nttninjH daitwm!), ycllow-o.heekcd vole {MIcrotnx iraidlKxjindlnix), Yukon Xkhw- ming {Lc/ninu)i i/idi»h iij^t's), Dull varyinjj hiiro {Lcjxin (inui'lmnHs dicc'tm«), hoaiy redpoll {AcaidhiH hoiitemainii, r.rdiprtt)^ f'>x sparrow {PdnstTcNu iliaca), Bohemian waxwing {AmpelLs (jiutuIuh)^ and wheatear {Saxicola mnanthe). Alaska Tundra d/Mrief. — Tho Yukon from Andraefski o tho coast of Norton Sound is bounded on l)oth sides ))y typical tundra. Tho country is low and gently imdulating, and its surface a short distance away appears to bo thickly carpeted with grass, '"hat this is not tho real condition a short walk ashore soon demonstrate."- ; but tho delusion is so lompleto that were it not for the pn'sence of tho great river one migl fancy himself looking out over the luidulating plains at the eastern base of tlie Rocky Mountains in the western l^nitiid States. Tho flora of tho tiuidra, though devoid of trees deserving of tho name, is found on careful examination to 1)0 (piite varied. Besides tho numerous mosses and heathers and man}' sniaii berry-))earing plants aro dwarf willoAvs, birches, and ald(M's, Tho alders attain tho greatest size, but aro usually found in isolated clumps in favorable spots, where they often grow from (> to 8 feet high. Tho ground is frozen a few inches below the surface, and the heavy, spongeliko cover- ing of vegetation is kept constantly saturated. Occasioiud high bluffs on tho coast in exposed situations aro ])leak and bai'e, but besides these there is scarcely a spot not covered with low, matted vegetjition. Numerous small ponds aro irregularly distributed over tho tundra, and around them tho vegetation is ranker than elsewhere. Broken lava borders tho shores of St. Michael Island, and small moss-covered heaps of it, which form practicall}' the only .solid footing on tho island, aro scattered al)out over tho tundra. Characteristic manunals at St. Michael aro tho Hall Island fox ( Vidj>es hallenais). Nelson vole {Micro/Kn ajft'/'ar/'un), tundra red-))acked mouse (H/ootoniys dawsoni, ahiscensit^), Nelson pied lenmiing {Dicro- sUmyx ndwni), Alaska le; Miing {Lemmas ahuscem^is), and Alaska Arctic haro {Lepnti othm). Land )irds known to breed are the hoary redpoll {Acantlm hornemanni etl/pefi), common redpoll {Acaidhis llnaria), Alaska longspur {Calcarlus lapponious ala«ctii{iif<),, Avestern tree spar- row {SpheUa montlcoJa ochraccd)^ golden-crowned spai'row {Zonotrichia cotaiiatu), and Sil>orian yellow wagtail {Btidyhs farus h'ncasti'iaf.Uf<). Connuon tundra plants' aro Caasiopea tetragoiia^ Amlromalapolifolia^ Vaccinhnn, vUisidim^ 2fairania alj)ii)a, Lediiin, jKdxiMrc, Artemisia 'Nelson, lioimrt uikju Nuturnl History Collections in Aliuska, ISO, 1887. !^ I :|| m ^1; ':,! 1 il i ! 16 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19, arcttca, Ruhus clkanicemm-m^ Ruhm arcticm, Betula nana, Alnus sinua/i(, ChamcBci^tm ^rroowmfi^^'s, and Turn llago frig ida. aUMMAKY OF FAUNAL UISTUICTS. All tho country here considered is in the Iwreul zones, the Tundra district and a small part of the White Pass district belonging to the Arctic subdivison, and the Yukon Valley principally to the Hud- sonian, though it has also a well-marked Canadian section. Birds are c(, •iparatively nire in all the interior region, and it is difficult to determine the exact range of many species. Some were seen but once or twice; others appeared sporadically at rather long intervals; while still others that are known from the region wen^ not seen at all; so it is hardly safe, in making generalizations, to rely too much on the ranges observed by us. The distribution of trees and shrubby plants and of many of the mammals, however, could bo determined with much greater accuracy and constitute relitJ)lo guides in fixing the limits of the districts. These districts are in general the same as those recognized by Nelson, but with more definite and somewhat modified limits. Names slightly different from those he used are adopted here in order to agree with the commonly accepted names of the primary zones of North America. Thus tho part of his 'Alas- kan-Canadian' district here considered is called the 'Hudsonian Yukon' district, since it lies entirely within the tmnscontinental Hud- sonian zone. Owing to fluviafile conditions, tho boundaries of the Yukon districts doubtless do not agree in latitude with those which might be made away from the rivers." The zones which we successively traversed in going from Skagway to St. Michael via White Pass and tlio Yukon are: (1) Canadian; (2) Hudsonian; (8) Arctic-Alpine; (4) Canadian; (5) HudsGr.i'ui. and (H) Arctic. The Lynn Canal district is in the Canadian zone, but it has some slight peculiarities such as are to be expected in a coast district. Though it does not have the Hudsonian animals of the northern coast, it lacks seveml of tho typical Canadian forms of the coast farther south.* It is really near the northern limit of the Canadian zone on •The coast of Alaska Houth of tho iieninmila, or what litw boon known as the 'Sit- kan district,' may Ik^ eaaily (livitle rosy finch {Leucobtlctot. Uttonilis^, The Canadian Yukon district from Bcnncitt to Fort Selkirk merely represent.-) the extent to which our route entered the extreme northern part of the Can idian zone; that is, its ''mits are those of the section that our route made across the crul of a narrow tongue which extends northward from the great areas ()(<"ui)ied l)y the Canadian zoiie farther south. Owing to its being .so near the l)()rder of the Ihulsonian zone, its chara«'ter is not purely Canadian, but the presence of such forms as chipn-unks {Euti(iin((><) and white-tooted mice {Pt'/-»iiit/sct/,s) among miiaimal.s, night hawks {Chordelles) among birds, and lodgepole pines {Pinus inut'rayanii) 'Awwn^ trees, makes it evident that the Canadian element is very strong. T'he riudsoniun Yukon district represents the complete section which the Yukon River makes through the great noi'thern forest belt of the Hudsonian zone. This belt corresponds to the Alaskaiv-Canadian district outlined by TSelson. it is bounded on the south by tlu- Canadian zone and ti)e extreme northern limit of southern foi-nis, and on the north hy the treeless tundra. On the west it probatily reaches and includes the coast from Kadiak to Lynn Canal; on the ea.st its liniits are unknown. The Alaska Tundra district defines itself. Its character is the com])ined result of latitude and rigorous coast climate. Our experience in this treeless district was limited to St. Michael Ishmd and the ninety miles between Andracfski and the numth of the Yukon. The animals of this region are not all ab.so- lutely contined to it, many of them ranging some di.^tance into the forest belt. Sniiill mammals, such as the Nelson vole {Mlrrofm 02>e- rdi'iitx), occupy so-called 'islands' — local spots ottering what are prac- tically tundra conditions -as fai' within tlu^ f(H'est belt as Circle. 'Tlio WW of MinvtiiK vwnld.r at tlin lu'iiil of Lyim Canal i.-< |iartic'iilarly interesting, niiice a clowi'ly related form, M. mncruniy, \nw l)eeii found at (i lacier Bay on tlie nortli side of the mouth of the eanal and also at Juneau on the nout.i fide, and would therefore !)« exiH'cted at Sltafiway, whieti is halfway hetween. .\«™niing tliat (/KKvvinf.t has l)ceii dinperned froia the soutli northward on the coa-st, it seems that it did not reach Glacier l?ay hy way of the present niainlann, otherwise it would be found at Ska^way. .U. »(()»•.' ■ doubtless rcuclied iskugway from the interior. i4'J4— No. "lU 2 * I I ! IT 'r^ ii 11 if 18 NORTH AMKRICAN FAUNA. [NO. li». The fauna of tho Yukon l)asin as a whole is composed of two prin- cipal elements, one containing al)soIutcly circumpolar forms, cvidentl}' derived from the north, the other contjiining forms which have their center of abundance farther south. This is particularly true of the mammals. Among the genera belonging to the north may be men- tioned Rangife)\ Evotoniyn, Lemmua, and DuroHtonyx, all of which are circumpolar in distribution; those from farther south are Alces^ Sciuropterus, Eutamias, Peromyscu^, NeoUmia, Fihe)\ and Synaptomyn. With the exception of alpine species and a few wide-ranging forms, chiefly carnivores, the ^•ariations of which are not sufficiently known to be of use in deflning faunal regions, no species of manmials are common to the Yukon region and the Sitkan coast district. From this it seems that all the southern forms which reach the Yukon region have been derived from the interior rather than from the coast. This is also true of the trees and to a great degree of the birds. But, on the other hand, some species of land birds are common to the lower Yukon and the Sitkan district while a large interve- !ig area in the interior is uninhabited by them.' Srhii^phorHK rufm, Dcmlrolca towtiseiidl, and Ilyloclchla aotialuschl'iv were found on both sides of White Pass, but only rarely and for a very short distance on the interior side. PRKVIOUS WORK. Our knowledge of the natural history of the Yukon region has been derived chiefly from two sources — the members of the Kusso- Ameri- can Telegraph Expedition and the Signal Service officers formerly stationed at St. Michael. The first information was gathered by the scientific corps of the Telegraph Expedition of 1865 to 1808. Promi- nent among the members of this corps were Robert Kennicott, Wil- liam H. Dall, and J. T. Kothrock, all of whom secured valua))le speci- mens und information. The notes of Kennicott were not published, owing to his untimely death at Nulato, May 13, 1866, but numerous specimens, particularly from the vicinity of Fort Yukon, are now in the National Museum, a moinunent to his faithful pioneer work. An)ong the numerous papers on various subjects relating to Alaska published by Dail are lists of birds and manunals.'' A list of plants including some records from Fort Yukon was published by Kothrock.'' 'One of thcTO wpecies is tho varied tliruHh { Hrnjxrocirhla ninna) which wan found in the Lynn Canal district, hut not in any numlHTH ir. tiie Yukon Valley alwve I)a\v- Hon. Below Dawson it is (juite coninion along the Yukon and undoubtedly ))reedH there. It is well known to ran>j;e ulonjj; the Pacific L-oast to Kudiak, and thence to the shoreH of Kotzehue Sound and up the Kowak River. It« abaenco on tho ITpiwr Yukon and its occurrence all alonjr the coast make it extremely probable that in reaching tho Yukon its course of migration is up the river from its mouth. 'List of Birds of Alaska, by \V. II. Dall and II. M. Bannist«>r<''Trans. Chicago Acad- emy of Scionces, I, pt. 11, 2()7-.'5l(), 1800; also Alaska and it« liesourccs, by \V. IJ. Dall, Boston, Lee & Shepard, 1870. "Sketch of the Flora of Aliwka, by J. T. Rothrouk< Annua' Report Huiithsoniau Institution, 1807, 433-403. "t I .1S». i OCT., 1900.] NEW 8PECTE8. In 1S74, with the estal>]isLinent of a meteorologic^al ntation at St. Michael, work was begun ])y Lucien M. Turner. lie collected al)out St. Michael and secured specimens from the fur traders and natives on the Yukon as far up as Fort Yukon, The results of his work Avere published in the Arctic Series of the Signal Service.' Turner was relieved in 1877 In'^ E. W. Nelson, who continued to collect specimens until 1881. His work was more extensive than that of Turner, but was carried out along tlie same lines. He mado several trips up and do.vn the coast from St. Michael, and also worked about the Yukon delta and up the river as far as Anvik. L. N. McQucsten, who conducted a trading post at Fort Reliance, furnished him with numerous specimens and much valual)le information. The results of Nelson's work were also published in the Arctic Series of the Signal Service ^ and form ])y far the most valua])le contribution to the natural history- of Alaska j'et made. In 1889 an important report •' was pub- lished by Dr. George M. Dawson, covering the region of the .sources of the Yukon and down as far as Fort Selkirk. This report contains detailed descriptions of the ph3'sical features of the upper river, notes on natural history, particularly on the distribution of trees, and a list of plants by John Macoun. NEW Hl'ECIKS. Nine new species and sulwpecies of mannnals are described in the present report. They arc as follows: Sriumpkrus yukonennix. iSdurnii hudsonicus ])ctulaiw. Knlamiax canicrps. Spermophihix etiipdni plesiut. Ncotoma ndxavuim. Filur upatulatHx. Lcpus mlkiiJt. Lutreitia oIkoh iixjeii.'t. Mustela amcricaitu ncliionit. In the collection of ])irds, three new forms were found. These have been described by Dr. Bishop* as follows: ( 'aitachUcs canadensis osgoodi. Snyomis saya yukwioisis. Omlujiiis richardsoni natiirnlH.^. 'Contributions to tlio Niiturul History of Alaska, by L. M. Turner, Arctic Series, Wgnal Service, Nt>. II, Wiwliiugtoii, 1880. 'Report upon Natural IliHtory Colleetions uunle in Alaska, by E. W. Nelson, Arctic Series, Signal Service, No. Ill, Washington, 1S87. 'Geological and Natural History Survoy of Cauadu, Annual lieport, III ( 1S,S7-8.S), Pt. I, « B~'277 n, 1889. * Auk, XVII, 113-lUO, April, ItHK). i l! m ■ ii i ' 20 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. Beaidps the, iihovo, sevoral new nminmals which come within tho' scope of the present report ha\c been recently described by Dr. Mcr- riaui.' These are as follows: Leptts americanus dalli. Ijcpus othua. Vulpes hallensin. Sorex personatUK (irctiniK. Sorex luiidrenM^. Spcrmophilus onyoodi. Lemmm ynkonensw. Ixmmus alnscensis. Dicroxtony.v nehoni. Erelhizon (pixarUhm rnijops. In addition to these, throe new forms recently described by Witmer Stone ^ should be mentioned: Dicrostonyx hudgonius alnscemis {vqualn IK mlsoni Merriam). PuUifina rlxoms fnkimo. Lyn.c caiuukiisw moliipiloma. ' tproc.Wash. Acad. Rci., 11,1:^-30, March 14,1000. ■' Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., March 24, 1900, 33-49. . MAMMALS OF THE TTJEON REGION. By Wii.FUKi) II. OsciooT). INTRODUCTION. w ,. .. Tho following list, primarily Imscd on collections iniulc during the past year, includes all the known nianiinals of the Yukon region. Besides tho species which belong strictly to the Yukon, are included those found in the Lynn Canal and White Pass districts and those known to occur at St. Michael. This makes a list containing the majority of the mammals known from Alaska, which is not, however, intended to 1)0 comprehensive, but should be considered as supplementary to the list published by Nelson in 1887. As may bo seen from the itin- erary, our collections were made during a hasty trip from tho coast of southeastern Alaska to tho head waters of tho Yukon and thence down the river to St. Michael. Good series of all the common small mam- mals were secured, but the larger and rarer species were not often obtained. It was not only difficult to secure specimens of the lax'ger nianunals, ])ut it was hard to gain much accurate information in regard to them. MosI of tho miners we met had boon in tho country but a short time and their knowledge of animals was limited; natives wore seldom met on the upper river and tho few that were interviewed seemed disinclined to talk. The fur trade on the Yukon has dwindled to comparatively meager proportions. Tho Indians still })ring a few furs to tho traders every year and receive pittances of flour and tea in return; but tho trade is apparently voiy small and were it not for the transportation business which has rocl»tod to Outram Hangs for the use of spocimons, and E. W. Nelson for nuich valuable informa- tion. Tho identifications of some of tho manunals have boon verified 21 Mi i i\ 22 NORTH AMEKICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. by specialists as follows: The species of Sorex by Dr. (1 Hart Merriam; of MicTotm by Vernon Bailey, and of Zapm by Edward A. Preble. All measurements are in millimeters. LIST OF SPECIES AND SXTBSPECIES. 1. Rangifer montamM Seton-Thomi)Hon. 2. Rangifer arcdciis (Rieharclson). 3. Rangi/i-r tarandns (Linna'us). 4. Alces gigas Miller. 5. Oi'is dcdll Nelson. 6. Ore(im)i(M 7Hon/«ntM (Onl). 7. Seiuropterus yuteit";»»M sp. nov. 8. Sciurux /iit(feo})((iw ErxlulKjn. 9. Sciurux hiulMriiiciig petulaunpnhn\>. n. nov. 12. Spermophilus Osgood I Merriam. 13. Arctomiis raliguiiw I'^Hclwcholtz. 14. Cmtor niHadensis Kuhl. 15. Mux deatmanns Pallaf . 16. PeromyscMs orem Bangs. 17. Pflromi/Hcus maniculatus arcticvx (Mearns). 18. Neotoma suxamans pp. nov. 19. Evolomyg dawsoni Merriam. 20. Evotomyx dawximi alaxvenxix (MilU'r). 21. 3fi(ro/iM Hion7((,c (Merriam). 22. Miex haUcnxis Merriam. 40. Urxiix iimcricainis Pallas. 41. I'rxitx liornliillx :. nov. 44. PuUtrlus arcticus Merriam. 45. Pntoriux ricognani alascensix (Mi^r- riam.) 46. J'ntorlns riroxtts eskimo 8ton( . 47. .}fiixtt'la (imericana i.rtiwxa pi.lwp. nov. 4H. .)fitxtil(i pninanti Erxleben. 49. Clulo lusrux (L'nnieiiH). 50. Sorer pi'rxoiwtux sireaturi Merriam. 51. Sorex jiersonalus ardiriix .Merriam. 52. Sori'.i: ohscurus Merriam. 53. Sn-f.i- tandrcrmx ^lerrium. .54. Myotix luci/ugnji (Lt^ Conte). I~ I ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES. Rangifer montanns Scton-Thompson. Moiintuin Oai-iltoii. Rangifer monlaiiux Seton-Tliompson, Ottawa Naturalint, XIII, No. 5, i>, Aiitr. i 1. 1895); Allen, Bull. Am. Mu.h. Nat. Hint., N. Y., XIII, 1-18, April 3, 1!WX). This largo woodland caribou is reported ii.s ((iiite coiniuoii in northern British Columbia altout the head waters of the Yukon and ''or an indefinite disttmce nori:hward. P does not oceiir on the coiust south of Cook Inlet, but is iM'portcd from many jjoints inuncdiately beyond the summit of the coast mountains. It prefers tlie higher ground in summer and is not foimd idong river bottoms like the moose, for which reason few are killed by parties descending the river. Its flesh is smoked and dried l>y the, Indians for winter food, and when so ciiri^d is preferi"ed to all other meat of the coimtry. Tluv hides, like those of the moose, .serve the natives for variosis luticleM of (dothing and a"e utilized especially for sheping robes. I OCT., 1900.] MAMMALB OF THE YUKON REOION, 28 Bangifer arcticus (K'chardson). Barron Ground Caribou. Tho barren ground cnribou ranges over neai'ly uU of extreme north- ern North America from northwestern Labrador to tho Aleutian Islands. It was formerly abunihint over this great territory, but is now quite rare. Even at the time of Nelson's work in 1877 it had become coi...psnf.tively uncommon, though it was once common all about Norton Sound and for some distance up the river. The south- ern and interior limits of its range are uncertain. During our stay in St. Michael, I .saw half a dozen skins which h- been secured near Andraefski, 90 miles al)ove the mouth of the Yukon. There are specimens in tho National Museum from Nushaguk and Unalakleet, Alaska; and from Rampart House antl La Piern^ llou.s«>, Northwest Territory. Rangifer tarandus (Liima'us). Domesticated lieindeer. During the past few years, as is well known, an effort has been made to introduce domesticated reindeer from Siberia into Alaska. The animals as a rule have been carefidly herded, but in a few cases they have had opportunities to stray away and run wild. The herd that had perhaps the best chance to stray was one which was l)rought from Lapland to Haines in 1898, and driven inland over the Dalton trail. A short time after it started several of the animals were seen in the forest near Haines, and one of them was killed. This was the only instiince of the kind ])rought to my attention. l»ut 1 have no dou))t that reindeer have occasionally wandered from tho care of the herders at other times and in other places. Alces gigas Miller. AlaskaMoo.se. Alv,i^(ji(jit« Miller, Proi'. Biol. Soc. WiihIi., XIII, .■)7-.")0, :\riiy 20, lSi)0. The Alaska moose, as has frequently been stated, is the largest of the door family in North America. Its distril)ution along the Yukon extends from Lakes Atlin and Tagish at least to the mouth of the Taiiana and probaldy somewhat farther. Whymper ' says that it was 'never known as low as Nulato,' even in tho time of its greatest abundance. It is »>vident, however, from the record of Nelson * at the Yukon deltji, and that of Richard.son^ at tho mouth of tho ]Vrackenzie, that it does occasionally leave its favorite woodlands of the interior and w.mder as far as the Arctic coast. At present it is still quite numerous, ]»ut is chieily conlincd to the small streams tributary to tho Yukon. According to reports which came to me it is al)undant in the region al>out the upper waters of the Stewart, Pelly, and Mac^Iillan rivers. .Vlong the great river itscdf luunbers have be(>n killed during ' TravelH in Alaska ami on the Yukon, 245, 1809. ^ lieiMirt upon Natunil IliHtory Colk'ctiono in Alaska, 2H7, 1887. ■' Fauna Horcali-Aniericana, 2:t.'!, 1829. . \f 1^ 1 } ■' ' Vl I 24 NORTH AMKKICAN FATTNA. [NO. 19. the, recent influx of prospeetoi-s. At the iH^ghming of the. Klondike rush, it was not uncoinuion for ii part^' to secure one or two moose whih^ descendiu}; the river, Itiit such is rarely the case iit present. Our part}' failed to see any, though we spent nearly three months in the region: during this time we heard of but two animals being killed, one near the foot of Lake Lcbarge and another on upper Charlie Creek, a short distance above Circle; both were secured by Indians. We saw <'omparativel\' few fresh tracks. In winter, moose meat is th(> staple diet of both Indians and whites and has readily sold in the mining camps at $1 to !?2 per p. simal, and it is ])()ssible that this species occurs there with O. ditll't. Both white aiul gray sheep are reported, though all are said to be white in winter. 1 was told that white sheep were killed some years ago on (In^ <'litt's altout Lake Lebarge, l)ut I failed to (ind signs of them there. l*rosj)cctors at Fort Selkii'k say that sheep are always to be found in the mountains along Pelly liiver, i)aiticularly in the AiacMillan Mountains" near the mouth 'HariK'i'H .MiVir/.iiu'.(',4!tr)-:)()7, MHrcli, li)0(). 'Tin- f fniiii tlu' MacMilliiii MouiitaiiiHaiv wiid tu Ik? (ho 'lilack hIu^J),' wliich nami! oould hardly apj)!)- to 0. dttU'i, l)uti.s \\w. namis cuiinnoiily frivoii t<> (K Klinifi. If Kloiwi ivally docw (iccur in thi-Ho innniifahiH the rccurd is a very iiittTCHtiiif; uin', and tho locality niufh farther north than any from which thcHpccicH hiiH hoenprcviunwly recorded. #> * T. >- i OCT., 1900.] MAMMALH OK TIIK YUKON KKOION. 25 of Mat'Milliin River, iiiid thcv wcro also reported from the liead waters of the Stewart and from tlu; Taiiaiia Hills. #> ^ ! U Oreamnos montanus (Ord). Mouiituiii (loat. Goats occur on th(^ hiffli j^ranite cliffs which incloi^o the upper part of LyiHi Canal; they are also conuiion on the mountiiins near White ]*ass and ahout tin- rocky walls of Lake Hennett. 1 \va.s told that they had l>een killed recently at the upper (M)d of Little, Windy Arm on Lake Tajjish, hut ] could obtain no reliable, report of their occurrence in tiie interior beyond tliis i)oint. At Lake Le])arge they were very doubtfully reported. Their ranjre is known to extend north to White Pass ill the coast niouiitiiins at U-ast to C-opper River,' Itut does not reach far into the interior. Hunters from the mountains al)out the upi)er waters of the I'elly and Stewart rivers asserted positively that none had been heard of in that i'e<(ion. The station agent at (ilacier. near White Pa.ss summit, told me tiiat goats frequently appear on the clitl's within ea,sy view of his hou.se. I le also .showed me the hide of one tiiat had been killed near there a .short tune before our arrival. I made one .short trij) into these mountains, but fail(^d to .see any goats. The character of the cliffs is ideal for them, Imt they had evich'iitly gone farther l)ack to their sununer feeding grounds, as the abundant tracks and dung were a few weeks old. Sciuropterus yukonensis sp. nov. Yukon Flying S(|uin"el. 7'(//)i' t'ruiii Ciiniii Diiviil-Dti, Yuk mandibular series. » II. T. Allen, Strieiicf, Vll, 67, 188«. i' i if* J fl 26 NORTH AMKBICAN F ATTN A. [NO. 19. \ :;i 3ft'Uiiuremetit^.— Total length SOS; tiiil 180; hind foot (niciisurcd dry) 41. Skull: Occipitonasul longth -iO; zygomatic lu'cadth 25; postorbital constriction 10. liemarhi.— Thin .species is distinguished from l)oth /S. sahn'niM nnd S. aJjnrma by its large size and very long tail, but it is also very dif- ferent from cither in color. It is evidently a very rare .squirrel, as the type and one topotype are the only specimens known. A .speci- men from Chilkoot Inlet which may possibly bo this species has been recordef^ by Dr. George M. Dawson.' Camp Davidson is the north- ernmost point at which the genus ScturopttTus is known to occur. The type and one other .specimen were secured by It. E. Carson, who was a member of the ])oundary survey party of the V. S. Coast and Geo- detic Survey under J. E. McGrath, in IS'.K). Dr. VV. W. Kingsl)ury, also a member of the partj', writes me as follows in regard to these specimens: I send you the following notow taken from my journal rciganling two Flying Squir- rels which were captured by a nu!ndx?r of our party while in Alaska, in ISOO; their skin.>< were sent to the National ^Mu.Heuui at Wiujliington. The female was (>aught Dec. 8th, I8es alxiut one-fourth of a mile l)ack fron\ the Yukon river. This clump of trees i.s about 2J miles east of the International Ijoundary line, and on the east bank of the Yukon river. We showed these skins to Ixith McQuesten and Mayo, two traders wlio liad Iwen in that country over twenty years, and who .said that they liad seen Flying Scpiirrels along the Yukon river quite a nundxT of times before, and liad also seen them at Ft. Reliance and Ft. Yukon; but had not sei-n any of them for a nimdKTof years before this date. We also showed the skins to an Indian, who said these scjuirrcis would attack a man by flying in his face, and the Indians woulr..;i:: /^ JsV'H i4 t f'^ [ '■* , ■;••■' Hi ■. ■. [ ^i'- ■ ^ ^V^^ #7■"/^^■'i % WK ■ ^ •• t ' ■it ' 'k ^ ■ . ^- 'i i" \[..^:-^)^ 1 >'Si # - '■ • 1* J-Biftl: &<^ Fig. 1.— Nests of Red Squirrels in Spruce Thicket. Fig. 2.— Burrows made by Red Squirrels in loose Scales stripped FROM Spruce Cones. 5 Ml ' '■ fli '■ It, orT.,lflno.] MAMMALS OF THE YUKON REOT(»N. 27 » ■ * 1 t iiiiimiil is oxccodiiifjly ahuiulaiit in all tlu>, Hpriico fonvst, and d()ul>tlo8M ranges northward to the limit of trocs. Evidenti's of its activity arc to })o found all thri)Uf,'h the spruoo forest. Its {^lohulai* nests of grass, moss, l)ark, and icfiise are com- mf)n (Plate IV, Hg. 1), and are usually situated near the trunk of some slender spru('(>, 10 or 20 feet from the ground. Sometimes several will Ik! found in the sam tree, and a half dozen or more are very often to be seen at the same time Little excavations in the mos.s show where the chickarees have? been. digging for roots; and spruce cones tucked away in these and otluM' out-of-tluvway places are fur- ther tn'idence oi their sagacity. The ground is often strewn for some distance with the scales of spruce cones which they have stripped (Plat(^ IV. fig. 2). Near Lid)ut larger and darker; central portion of tiiil darker and with slight mi.xture of black; submarginal l)lack in tiiil wider; edging of tail much darker; underparts not pure white in sunmier. Similar to Sciuru« h. streatorl^ but more reddish; central portion of tail with much less admixture of l)lack; sul)terminal black in tail mu«'h narrower. Somewhat similar to >'. i' of tuil hazel, slightly mixed with black-t'pped hairs; submarginal and subterminal black in tail rather limited; euging of tail ochraceous; luider surface of tail paU'r than upper, the grayish roots of the hairs showing through. Wintrt' jiihuj,'; Similar to the coiresponding pelage of A'. Andsoiiicws, but considerably darker; median dorsal line more diffuse; tail darker and with gretitcr admixture of black in central portion. S^'ifll. — Similiir to that of hmUonlcas and its other subspecies; nasals longer and posteriorly more compressed than in S. vonconmTcnKix; orbital arch with a sharp indentation between lachrymal and postorbital process. (See Plate V, tig. 2.*) j)/'i'a,'iiic/itii. — Average of two specimens from type locality: Total length :^03; tail 120; hind foot 50. i I 1. 1 I ■ 'Topotype N'o. 97460, U. S. Nat. Mus. Compare with (ifr. 1, ■'>. roncouvfreims, No. 71889, U. 8. Nut. Mus,, from (ioldstreain, Vancouver Island. n 28 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. hi 1 * It i" Hem irh'i.—Tho, closest relationship of this red squirrel is (evidently with /ni(lfio/i/'eu« of northern Alaska.' A sinjfle specimen from Ya- kutat Bay shows a decided tendency toward the northern form, a!>d those from Cook Inlet are clearly referable to it. A more or less im- perfect specimen from Inverness, British Columbia, indicates a possi- ble intergradation with Sr/'i/rnJi li. Htrea ori. Thei-e is ample material deir^onstratinj^ by skulls as well as by color that it has no very close relationship to S. raneouvet^eitsis. My specimens of pei/ulaiw taken early in Jime are in new sunnnpr pelage or in old winter pelage just previous to oi- in process of change. The latter dou))tless does not fairly repi'esent the Avinter pelage; but in making comparison with eastern specimens, 1 have chosen those in a similar condition. Al)out Lyim Canal ruid on the southwest side of White Pass I found these red squirrds almndant. Several at (Jiacier had become quite tame, and cai> d '.-very day to the cabin of one of the I'ailroad hands to be fed. They have all the vivacious energy, curiosity, and vocal accomplishi'.ients of their pjasteni cousins, and fully maintiiin their reputation f yr roUi'-king good natun' and fearlessness. Eutamias caniceps sp. nov. Gray-headed C'hipnmnk. l)l}if frcin I^ke Txiljiirge Northwest Territory, Canada. No. !»!t2(X1, V. S. Nat. MuH., Biological Survey (\>lleetion, 9 ad. Collectinl ,Tuly 13, IHOit, by \V. II. OHgood. Original No.,()0.'{. ('harKctcvK. — Simil.a' to E. Ixmalis, but grayer. ])»rticularly the head, tail, and feet; postauricular spots more prominent; undcrparts pure white. Coh/r.—Siotunei' or jxiufhi'ddliKj jxhuji-: Sides l»right ochraceous, extending from Hanks forward and stopping immediately Itelow ears, but interrupted at shoulders \i\ tiie extension of gray froiu arm; five black stripes )n Itack very distint-t and, except outer ones, entirely unmixed with ochraceous; outer pair of light strijies pure wiiite, prominent, not continuous with postauricidar spots; inner light stripes bluish white mixed Avith ochraceou.N; top of head l)rownisli gray; postauricular spots l)luisli white, connected with throat l)y a continuous light stripe running below ear; light stripes on sides of liead promi- .,ent, almost pure white; dark stripes rufous mixed witli l)lackish, narrower and darker than in K. luiiwulh; undeiparts pur > white; feet yellowish white. Worn jxJtHji': (ienenil etfect of upptrjjarts olive gray relieved iiy thi^ black and white stripes of the buck and faint traces of the fulvous, wiiicli has been worn away; feet gray isli white; tail above l)lack, grizzled and overlaid with white, l)elow clay color submargined by black and margined by wliite. 'The limlmuiniK of noriI:"rn .Maxkn i.' 1:. re eoiL^idered tlu^ naiiie an tliat from eastern Canada, 1ml will : of K Ixu'edlis, ])iit with a sliji^htlv fuller briiln- cttsciiiul largtM" aiiditul bulhc. Mc(WurenK;)itti. — -Typc^ (from dry skin): Total l(>ii;e of the Upper Yukon. E. mnicejjH is characterized not only l»y gray head and cheeks, but by gray feet, gray edging to tail, and pure white underparts. This species is found from tlu; headwaters of the Yukon about Lake Lindeman to the vicinity of Fort Selkirk, Avhere it was last seen by our party. I foiuid it most common in the di'v and open lockj' country about Lake Bennett and Laki^ Lebaige. and a few wei'c taken in the tlii.-ketijof LcjHii'ijijrd'it al»outLake ?,Iitvsii and Fifty-Mile llivcr. It is no'; aliundant anvwherc in the region. l)ut is remarkably tame and unsuspicious. T seldom saw more tlian two oi' three in a half day's tramp, but these would often fri-k .ibout within a few feet of me as if entirely oblivious of my presence. Spermophilus empetra plesius subsp. nov. rx-nnett (Jroimd Siiuirrel. TijiH- from lU'iiiictt City, ''ojul nf Lako ]5oiiiK'tt, liritinli Coluiulmi. No. ilKilMl, V. «. Nut. yXw.y Biological Survey ('olh'ction, J ml. Collected June li). IHVitt, by W. II. Ospjoil. '^)ri);iiial Xo.,4<)."). Cio!r'>''f,i'n. — Similar to X. iinjulro and S. l-it(l!((cniKl.-i., but smaller; general color less fulvous; under side of tail always clear bright cimia- mon rufous; molar tet'th relatively much larger tlian in kadUicennU,' skull small and light if.vl otherwise slightly peculiar. CdIov. — Podhv KiiiKj 2>.\tcnsive than in i nipi^nt i\.\\i\ kudidcmKin; ni;Hlian part of ui)per side of tail grizzled l»lack and yellowish, narrow sub- margin and sul»terminal zone black, the whol(> edged and overlaid with 3'ellowi>rs arranged in zones and some puie black for their entire length. The foinier, which are most abundant, arc dark i>oty plumbi'ous at th(> I)ase followed liy a zone of light gniy, il 1 ' Sco Allen, liull. Am. Mui-. Nal. IUhI., N. Y., Ill, lOU, 181)0. uilfl'«/.' 30 NORTH AMKRUIAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. H then one of l)l!'.ck, tlu'ii yollovvish whitv, aiid liinilly :i bliirk tip. In S. c/njh'/rd, ihv iin'unjfcnu'nt is jniu'tically tiif sanio, but the upper part of the iig'it j^riiy zone blends into fulvous. .V.s this is the widest zone, it gives a fulvous suffusion to the entire ui)perparts of the ani- mal. In ple»t' 11^ the l)laek subniargin of tlie tail never shows through on the under side. II wv; Kj>r//inding farther forward, 1)eing almost on a plane with the last molar; molar teeth decidedly larger than those of Itadiucensh. M&lKitroiientx. — Type (from dry skin): Totjil length 845; tail \'erte- braj 1>3; hind foot 5(>. Skull of type: Basal length 45; zygomatic breadth 35" postor])ital constriction 13; length of nasals 18; least width of nasals (5; alveolar length of molar series 13. jRenuirkn. — The material representing S2>ernioj)hllui< t'lnjhirn is still very scanty and imperfect. Specimens from the Arctic coast an; few in number and poor in ((ualit}', while from Hudson Ba}^ on(^. flat skin, unaccompanied 1)\' a skull, is all I am able to tind. I have considered this (No. 13!t32, II.S.N.M.) to be typical of ctuin'trit and have us;»d it in making skin comparisons. Since it agrees fairly well with speci- mens of the ground squirrel whii-h has been introduced on llnalaska, I have used the skulls of these for skull comparisons. Specimens from Bristol Bay and the Alaska peninsula are apparently intermediate between rinjittrd and j>/cxiu^. S. hKHacinxix is apparently coiilincd to Kadiak Island, as specimens from the mainland iunnediately opposite the island are cranially and dentally distinct. The southern members of the group, fvy/*//;^7>/V/y/*/.s' and vor(^ \ ciy nbundant. Here their ])urrows are t(/ be found wherever the coiif'^r .lii ion of the rocks affords lodgment of suflicicnt soil. From Bennett on to Fort Selkirk they are exceedingly abundant. We saw them daily about all th«' lakes, and as we floated down Fifty-Mile and Thirty -^lile livers, we «)ften saw them bobbing in and n .secured was caught near Rink Rapids, 1»ut I learned that (juite a coh)ny of ground s(piirrels exists on the west })ank of the river just below Fort Selkirk. Spermophilns osgoodi Merriam. Fort Yukon (Iround Scjuii-rel. tSjD'niiojth'.lrix (iMjiiwIi 'M.i'rria.w, Troc. Wunh. Acail. Sci., II, IS, March 14, 19(X). From Fort Selkirk, near the limit of Sj>,'riiif>j>/iifii.'/W«,v, which wo had been •iftomed to seeing. Fifteen spccimei s Avere secured.' At this ti' •' 'Vug. 14) they were all very fat and in splendid postbreeding pelage; the entin^ underi)arts were rich ferruginous without a trace of any other 'olor; tlu*, batk was \-ery dark, and the, long tail was full and bushy. One spechuen was pure glossy black with faint shadowy indications of vcrmi<'»dation on tlu^ back. Among the specimens in the National Museum from Fort Yukon are several in this melanistie condition, showing that it is not unconnnon. The lange of this spe- ci(>s on the Yukon begins about 20 miles alK)ve Circle and extends at least to Fort Yukon and probably to the moutli of the Tanana. li i- \ Arctomys caligatus Fschscholt/. i lumy Marmot. Six specimens of the hoary lUarmot were ^ecured in the White Pnm region and about Lake Bennett, where it was v>oinnion. It is conffned ' Tliin viilimlilt' ncrii-s wmh mil'di'tnimtclv I'cstnivcil. 32 NORTH AMERICAN F^UNA. fNo. ID. ? I i' I to rocky, mountainous parts of thi^ Hiulsoniaii zon«, and consciiuent'y we did not meet with it during the latter part of our trip, and onlj' heard of it through reports from the mountains at tlic hcadwutiM-s of the White and Tanana rivers. As elsewhere, it is familiarly known as the 'whi Kr.' although occasionally rather inappropriately called 'ground hoj,.' long drawn whistle is peculiarly moiirriful, par- ticularly when oaks the deathly silence of some rocky canyon. It loves to stretch ai full length on top of a large rock and bask in the sun. I frequently found it quietly enjoying itself in this manner. Castor canadensis Kuhl. American Beaver. It hardly seems possible that half a million or more beaver skim; have been secured in the Territory of Ala.>d States, the inevitable result of continued pursuit by both whites and natives, which has so many parallels that it is useless to emphasize it here. At Fort Selkirk I saw several ))eaver skins tJiken on a small trilmtary of Stewart River, and at St. Michael 1 found a very few in tlu^ warehouses of the trad- ing companies. Beyond this I saw or heard nothing of them. Mus decumanus Pallas. Norway Rat. Large rats are exceedingly abundant at St. Michael. Tluur intro- duction nuist have been effected very recciitly, as they wei'c unknown there at the time of Nelson's work. ITnalaska has long been their northern limit on the Pacitic cotist. They find shelter about the wharves and lumber piles at St. Michael and also infest the ])uildings, particularly f(HKl warehouses. Their distribution will undoubtedly soon ))e extended all along the Yukon by means of the many steamers now plying between St. Michael and Dawson. feromyscus oreas Bangs. Bangs White-footed Mouse. Per /!//.>((•»)• oivd.H Hiin>;s, I'roc. Hio'. Soc. \Va«li., XII, H4, Murcli LM, ISilS. Long-tailed mice were Uikvu at Skagway, Glacier, Sununit, Bennett, Caribou Crossing, Fifty-Mile Uivei-, and Riidi Rapids. In general they seemed to l)e more woodland loving than the short-tailed species, though at Bennett a number were taken among bare rocks at the very water's edge. I first noticed them here whiles walking along the shore at night. They wei'(5 darting in and out among the rocks, <'hasing each other as if playing ti game of tag, and often four or five were in sight at once. /' (O'cax from the type locality is somewhat intermedi- ate between my specimens and thosi^ which come from t\w coast of Puget Sound and southern British ('olumbia. Northern specimens are slightly larger, paler, and less ruddy brown than typical nrrKn. The}' are very similar in color to oanad-'Huis and increase the prob- OCT., 1900.] MAMMALS OF THE YUKON REGION. 33 ability that the latter ha.s a transcontinental range. Their skulls are larger and have fuller braincases than those of either oreas or cana- densis. Peromyscas manicula*-.» arcticns (Mearns). Arctic White-footed Mouse. IRxiuromyg leucojMs ardicus MeariiB, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hut., N. Y., H, 285, Feb., 1890. A short-tailed white-footed mouse was found to be very comnxjn from Lake Marsh to Lake Lebarge. Thirty specimens were secured, most of them about the crevices of low ledges of I'ock along the lake shores. The name arct/'cus is only tentatively ased for these speci- mens, as its applicability can not l)e positively known until a series of Labrjulor specimens is obtained. My specimens do not differ from topotypes of aroticus, and these in turn, as stated by Bangs,' do not differ in color and size from tj^pical inanioulatiis. The description of the skull of the Gifc vt Whale River specimen examined by Bangs, how- ever, does not agree N-^ell with the chai-acters of the skulls of arctlcus, so it seems advisable to recognize arctlcus as a subspecies of manicu- kitm. It is probal)le that more material will amply justify this treat- ment of the western form. m .. Neotoma sazamans sp. nov. Northern Bushy-tailed Rat. Type from Bt'unett City, head of Iskv Bennett, British Cohniiuia. No. 98923, U. S. Nat. MuH., Biological Survey Collection, $ ad. Collected June 19, 1899, by W. H. Osgood. Original No., 462. (See Plate V, fig. 4.) Chanictirs. — Similar to Neotoma citierea drKmnumdi, but somewhat darker: underpaiis pure white; skull strongly characterized. Color. — (Tj'pe:) Above, grajMsh fawn mixed with lilack, becoming brighter on sides, where the quantity of black is much diminished; underparts and feet pure white; eyelids intense black with a limited sooty area about them; nose and anterior cheeks ashy; tail slaty above, white below. Skull. — Similar to that of JV. drummondl (Plate V, fig. 3') but with intcrorbitrtl space nai'rower; nasals narrower and more attenuate j)os- tcriorly; maxillary arm of zygoma lighter; sphenopalatine vacuities optMi; ventral surface of occipital with a high trenchant median ridge; front of incisors very pale. Mfasuri'nit'iits. — Type (from dry skin): Total length 452; tail verte- brie l'J2; hind foot -1:6. Skull of type: Ba.sal length 62; zygomatic breadth 2!»; interorbital width 5; length of na.sals 23. Remarks. — Neotoma saxainaus differs from N. cluerea^^ N. occldcn- «Ain. NttturaliHt, XXXTI, 49B, July, 1898. "^NeoUma c. rolnmhiaiia KUiot dooH not differ craiiially from N, clncrca, and therc- foH' need i.n)t be conHideretl in this connection. 'No. 75907, U. S. Nat. Muh., from JasiHjr House, Alberta. 4491— No. 1S> 3 (I ri 34 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [NO. 19. t tfiU^^ and N. druvbirumdl chiefly in its long attenuate nasaln, open sphenopalatine vacuities, and pale Incisors. The only specimens secured were caught in a slide of large granite bowlders at the head of Lake Bennett. It was ascertained to occur, however, from White Pass to the Semenow Hills. In the cliffs above Glacier on the coast side of White Pass I found signs of Neotoma^ and once one peeped out of a crevice at me while I was busily engaged stalking a hoary marmot. It also occurs sparingly in the cliffs alwut Lake Lebarge and in the Semenow Hills, where the last evidences of its presence were seen. This distribution makes it the northernmost species of the genus. One night about 10.30, as I was returning to camp at Bennett, I saw one of these rats frisking about in the rocks. It was still quite light, and I immediately stopped and stood motionless while he daited in and out of the rocks. His movements were utterly noiseless nnd so quick that my eye could scarcely follow them. For some time his little whiskered nose appeared and disappeared at various openiiigs in the rocks about ten feet away. Each time he would look steadily at me for a moment or two and then silently vanish. Gradually his curiosity overcame his caution, and in decreasing circles he canio nearer and nearer until he bobbed out right before me and then cautiously approached until he could sniff at the toe of my shoe. A slight grat- ing of my gun barrel against a rock caused him to vanish like a flash, and this time he did not reappear. Evotomys dawsoni Merriam. Dawson Rcd-l>acked Mouse. Red-backed mice are by far the most almndant iiuuniuals in the Yukon region. Although but one specimen was taken at Beiuiett, and none between there and Fifty-Mile River, in spite of considerable trapping, asidd; from this they were found all along our routt^ from Skagway to Fort Yukon. The following are the most important localities at which specimens were secured: Skagway, Glacier, Ben- nett, White Horse Rapids, Lake Lebarge, Rink Rapids, Fort Sdkii'k, Dawson, Char.lie Creek, and Circle. From a study of this series, which munbers over 100 specimens, it appears that all Ix'long t/o one species, E. daiummi. Its range probably reaches northward almost if not quite to the limit of trees. Specimens were trapped in all sorts of localities; along cold streams, under logs, in heavy moss, iti Mlerotux runways, and among i-ocks. They aliound on the large islands, where they were generally caught in dry, l)rushy places, in the dead leaves which cover the ground. We occasionally saw them du'-ing the day, and often heard tliem rust- ling the dead leaves on the ground about us as we lay in our blankets at night. They are the vermin of the miner's larder, and are always to be found about log cabins. 0» V '■: / -sprrr North American Fauna No. 19. Plate V. Skulls of Sciurus and Neotoma. (y u.) .H, > ii '.i ;|i 1. Sriiirim vniirinnrrruiiiK. 2. N'(i(iHx /iiiilwniCKH ])iiiitanii. ;l. .Sinlniiia ciurrrn ilrummondi. 4. yt'ittown wixrrmd/j.i. 4» ' I OCT., 1900.] MAMMALS OF THE YUKON REGION. ar) •it* Evotomys dawsoni alascensis (Miller). Tundra Rod-backed Mouse. Erotomi/n (danrfin^in Miller, PrcK!. Aca