24 >'ATUHAL HISTORY COLLECTIO>'S IN ALASKA. 



Owing to the great exteut of Alaska and the diversity of its topographic and climatic features, 

 no generalizations of value can be made concerning the Territory as a whole. For this reason 

 I have subdivided the Territory into its well-marked faunal areas, and have given the salient 

 features of each under the following subdivisions : 



GENERAL CHARACTER AND EXTENT OF ALASKA, WITH THE FAUNAL SUBDIVISIONS. 

 A.— GENERAL NOTES. 



On most maps this Territory either occupies a small space by itself in one corner or projects 

 as an insignificant spur from the main continental mass, so that it is difficult to appreciate the 

 great area which it really covers. It extends north and .south from Cape Kaigan, latitude 54° 42', 

 to Point Barrow, 71° 27' ; in longitude from near the 140th to the 187th degree west from Green- 

 wich. The limit thus assigned includes the westward exteut of the Aleutian Islands and the 

 narrow coast belt forming the southern end of the Territory. The actual land area within the 

 Territory, is estimated to be more than 580,000 geographical square miles. For about 2,000 miles 

 its southern coast, including the Aleutian Islands, is washed by the warm current of the North 

 Pacific. North of this nearly all of Bering Sea is inclosed between the Aleutian Islands and the 

 maifijand coast to Bering Straits, forming another stretch of coast of nearly 2,000 miles. North 

 of the straits extends the Arctic coast, some 700 miles, to the vicinity of the Mackenzie River delta. 

 The eastern boundary is formed by over one-half of the western side of British America. 



This vast area, with its varied seas and great extent of latitude and longitude, also presents 

 a great variety of topographical and other physical features. 



As a natural result of the varied climatic and geographical conditions, several distinct faunal 

 areas might be expected to occur. That such exist, and are well defined, 1 propose to demonstrate 

 below. Commencing at the southern extreme, the districts are discussed in their geographical 

 sequence. 



B.— FAUNAL DISTRICTS. 



(1) SlTKAN DiSTBICT. 



Although the characteristic faunal and floral forms of this district are mainly those common 

 to the coast regions of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, and as such have been grouped 

 in what is termed the Northwest coast fauna, yet in the present connection I have considei-ed it 

 more convenient to distinguish it by the above term. 



From the southern extreme of the Territory the main Rocky Mountain chain extends along, 

 and parallel to, the coast, with its westward base reaching to the sea. 



Thus extending northward along the coast, the mountains curve about Mount Saint Elias as a 

 center, and thence extend in a westerly course along the peninsula of Aliaska, and beyond their 

 scattered elevations form the Aleutian Islands. Very rarely is the crest of the mountains 25 miles 

 from the coast, and it is usually much nearer. 



These mountains are very high, with many peaks rising from 10,000 to 15,000 feet, and culmi- 

 nating with Saint Elias, said to be about 19,000 feet above the sea. The western slope of the 

 mountains is very abrupt. 



From the west comes the warm water of the northern border of the Japanese current, which^ 

 flowing about Kadiak Island, bathes the coast thence east and south. The Sitkan district is 

 strictly limited to the coast directly influenced by this current. 



Accompanying this warm current of water is a warm, moisture-laden air current, which, 

 striking the abrupt and rugged slopes bordering the shore, is precipitated in abundant fogs and 

 rainfall, thus producing a climate of the same character and but a little more severe than that of 

 the coast district of British Columbia, AVashington, and Oregon. As a consequence the magnifi- 

 cent coniferous forests, which cover the more southern region named, extend in almost unbroken 

 array northward to the vicinity of Sitka; thence northward and westward along the coast of this 

 district the forest continues dense ; but some species of trees are missing, while all gradually 



