188 



NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



iugton black-tailed (Lepus californicus 

 wallaioalla) probably made the limit 

 of their westward distribution in the 

 lower areas of the east slope of the 

 Cascades. The black bear was present 

 throughout this area, while the grizzly 

 bear inhabited the southern section 

 only. The bobcat, coyote and cougar 

 were present in large numbers, and while 

 the Canada lynx occurred here, its 

 abundance is uncertain. Undoubtedly 

 the prong horn antelope {Antilocapra 

 americana) made this the limit of its 

 westward migrations. 



The bunchgrass prairies. This was 

 the typical coyote and sharp-tailed 

 grouse country. The many rivers which 

 drained the interior of this area coupled 

 with the rugged foothill country of the 

 Cascade and Blue Mountain ranges, 

 transformed this otherwise monotonous 

 country of bunchgrass prairie into a 

 rugged and interesting area. 



In the south it overlapped and inter- 

 mingled with the sagebrush country in 

 such a way as to make any definite 

 southern boundary impossible. 



While there was a marked difference 

 between this bunchgrass prairie and the 

 forests of the eastern slope of the Cas- 

 cades, nevertheless the fauna of each 

 was very similar; however, due to the 

 difference in the animals upon which 

 they preyed, their habits varied con- 

 siderably. The following were present 

 throughout the range mentioned: ante- 

 lope, mule deer, coyote, cougar, Cascade 

 skunk, mink, otter, beaver, and the 

 Rocky Mountain muskrat {Fiber z 

 osoyoosensis) . The black bear, cougar 

 and both lynxes inhabited the timbered 

 areas. The badger was numerous within 

 the big fertile areas, now turned into 

 wheat ranches, where he dug for the 

 plentiful pocket-gophers, mice, and 

 grovmd-squirrels. The most numerous 

 animals were the jackrabbits, the more 

 common at that time being the white- 

 tailed. 



The Blue Mountains. The Blue Moun- 

 tains are a rather extensive range massed 

 in the north-eastern section of the 



state. It was the home of the mule 

 deer, the marten (Maries pennanlii 

 pacifica), the fisher, the wolverine, the 

 coyote, the grizzly and black bears, 

 and Great Basin skunk [Mephitis occiden- 

 talis major) were probably common 

 mammals within this section, while 

 the pika (Ochotona schisticeps jeivetti) 

 is typical of the talus slopes. 



The sagebrush desert. The sagebrush 

 desert of eastern Oregon comprises 

 that area extending from the Blue 

 Mountains and bunch grass prairie to 

 the California and Nevada line and lying 

 between Idaho in the east and the Cas- 

 cade Mountains in the west. 



This big area affords a great variety 

 in types of conditions. It possesses 

 mountains, deeply worn and treeless 

 gulches, rolling sagebrush plains, lakes, 

 swamps, and timbered areas. 



It is the home of several animals that 

 have with difficulty survived, among 

 which the most interesting, owing to its 

 present pending extinction, is the prong- 

 horn antelope, which originally num- 

 bered into the thousands and moved in 

 immense bands instead of the few flocks 

 of today. 



The bighorn sheep (Ovis) was a very 

 abundant animal and probably before 

 being molested ranged considerably 

 throughout the higher areas. The mule 

 deer inhabited this entire area, as did 

 both the white-tailed and black-tailed 

 jackrabbits, the badger, the bobcat, 

 cougar. Great Basin skunk, and spotted 

 skunk (Spilogale gracilis saxatalis). 



Within the hills were found the pallid- 

 bellied marmot (Marmota Jlaviventris 

 avara), the western bushy-tailed wood- 

 rat, the Washington cottontail rabbit 

 {Sylvilagus nuttallii) and the Idaho 

 pigmy rabbit {Brachylagus idahoensis). 



The lakes and streams were the homes 

 and hunting grounds of the otter, mink, 

 beaver and Nevada muskrat {Ondatra z. 

 mergens). The cougar probably preyed 

 upon the jackrabbits, deer, and antelope, 

 and the bobcats and coyotes pursued 

 the jackrabbits and smaller game 

 throughout this area. The grizzly and 



