348 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



base of spinous dorsal, and two larger spots, or almost bands, at base 

 of soft dorsal, extending below lateral line, and a black connecting 

 band below lateral line, which extends along middle of peduncle, 

 spreading out, fan-like, at base of caudal; the general hue of the i)rickly 

 region is dark gray ; the thorax, abdomen, and base of anal yellowish- 

 white with fine blackish punctulations on these regions in the larger 

 specimen, the smaller ones without dots on this area. Fins with small 

 black spots which tend to form waving horizontal lines in their arrange- 

 ment. Veutrals almost plain yellowish-white. Brauchiostegal mem- 

 brane punctate with black in adult. Lining of mouth plain whitish. 

 Peritoneum white. 



This species is known to me from four individuals collected from the 

 Falls of the Spokane River, in Washington Territory. The largest and 

 smallest of these have been presented to the National Museum by Mr. 

 W. G. W. Harford, and their catalogue number is 30737. 



The smaller number of flu-rays separates this species readily from 

 U. aspera and U. semiscahra (D. X, 21, A. 17 in aspera ; D. YII, 18, 

 A. 14 in semiscahra)^ while the very prickly skin at once distinguishes 

 it from all others. 



San Diego, Cal., Jutie 1, 1882. 



ON THIS EASTWARD DISTRIBIJTIOIV OF THE BLACK-TAIL.ED DEER 

 (CARIACUS COI.IJMBIAIVIJS). 



By CAPT. CHAS. BEI^DIRi:, U. S. A. 



[Extracted from a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



I have for the past two years carefully examined a great number of 

 hides of the so-called black-tailed deer found in this region, and have 

 sent several lots of tails to Judge J. D. Caton, who is the best author- 

 ity on the Ccrvid(c we have. The judge is perfectly right in saying, 

 ''The most extraordinary fact in connection with this deer is the ex- 

 tremely narrow limits of its range, and this must be still farther re- 

 stricted. I am now satisfied that it reaches no farther than the east- 

 ern slopes of the Cascade Mountains instead of the foot-hills of the 

 Eockies." I have examined skins from various portions of this country, 

 a great many taken near the eastern border of the Cascades, about 

 Prineville, Oregon, also the Warm Si)ring Indian Eeservatiou, The Dal- 

 les, Camp Harney, Oregon, Yakima Valley, and the Spokane Fort 

 region, and I have to see the first true black-tailed deer skin (the Cervus 

 columbianns) yet which comes from any point east of the Cascade range. 

 I can speak i)ositively about this, as I have made very careful examina- 

 tions, and liave looked over several thousands of hides, brought to- 

 gether from various places, at the instigation of Judge Caton. If this 

 deer occurs at all east of the Cascade range, it will be found about Fort 



