594 MONOGRAPHS OP 1 NORTH AMBEICAN RODENTIA. 



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indicated by some of the later authors, as quoted beyond. From t lie time of 

 Richardson's account, 1 am not aware that other notices of the species, based 

 upon original observation or any new material, appeared until 1348, when Mr. 

 T. K. Peale, a naturalist of the United States Exploring Expedition, gave 

 another contribution to the history of the animal, based on his own experi- 

 ences and collections. We may therefore* pass over various compiled accounts 

 as not material to the present history, and take up Mr. Peale's article, above 

 cited in the synonymatic list. This consists of a description and measure- 

 ments, with remarks on the abundance of the species at Puget's Sound, and on 

 the peculiar form of the skull, which is figured on page 57. This figure, 

 though only a slight woodcut showing little detail, well represents the general 

 contour of the skull, and is notable as being the first representation of the 

 whole cranium, Richardson's specimen figured having been very defective. 



Shortly afterward, in 1853, appeared the general account of the genus 

 and species, by Audubon and Bachman, as above cited. Their figure of the 

 species was the first colored illustration of the animal, and it may be the 

 only one extant, though the skull and teeth have been figured by Rich- 

 ardson, Peale, and Baird. The drawing was made by his son, J. W. 

 Audubon, "from a line specimen in London", presumedly one of Richard- 

 son's types. These authors' notice consisted of a copy direct of Richardson's 

 characterization of the genus, an elaborate description of the species, a 

 quotation of Lewis and Clarke's account, a summary notice of the robe 

 described by Richardson, and a few general remarks, chiefly historical. They 

 alluded to two specimens then or lately extant in the Patent Office at Wash- 

 ington, being those collected by Peale, and which, they say, they were "po- 

 litely refused" permission to examine.* The collection to which the authors 

 referred was shortly afterward (1858) removed to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, where it now (1877) forms part of the National Museum. One of Peale's 

 specimens (that catalogued by Baird in 1857) remains at this date, and has 

 been examined in the preparation of the present article; the otherf I have 

 never seen, nor was more than one of them noticed by Baird. 



* Hence Professor Baird's statement, made iu 185", requires qualification. "This animal," be says, 

 "though not rare iu the vicinity of Puget's Sound, is yet very little known to naturalists, though the 

 materials at our command are richer now than a few years ago, when Audubon and Baehman were una- 

 ble to tind a specimen in any museum of the United States." — (Malum. N. Arner. 1857, 1553.) 



t Peale (op. tit. supra) speaks of his "specimens", leaving the impression that he procured more 

 than one. Two of his skulls are iu the Smithsonian. On speaking to this venerable naturalist about it, 

 the other day, Mr. Peale told me lie did not remember that he secured more than two specimens; these, 

 however, he recollected perfectly, and be gave me some delightful gossip about the grievance which so 

 ruflled Audubon's temper. 



