ON THE ZOOLOGICAL POSITION OF TEXAS. 9 



about latitude 30o. This must be the northern limit of distribution of 

 the species. I saw numerous skins of jaguars killed on the Nueces for 

 sale in San Antonio, and heard of a pair in confinement on the Lagen- 

 illas Creek. 



FcUs ijardalis; the ocelot. This southern species is more abundant 

 than the jaguar, and has a wider range. It extends eastward to the 

 Brazos, and north and east of San Antonio, along the hilly front of 

 the first plateau region. I was informed that it is common near Fred- 

 ericksburg, but northwest, near the forks of the Llano Eiver, it was 

 unknown to the settlers. 



Uncia concolor and Lynx riifus are common all over Texas. 



Yulpes cinereoargentatus and Canis lujiiis are also abundant. 



Canis latrans I saw at several points on the central prairies of the 

 State as far north as Austin ; but I did not hear of it in the hill-country. 

 After camping in the first plateau region for nearly two months I had 

 not heard its voice, so familiar to the traveller on the northern plains. 



Mephitis mapurito. I saw a skull of this South American skunk, 

 procured by G. W. Marnock on the east side of the Eio Grande, and did 

 not hear of its range extending east of the valley of that river. 



Mephitis chinga, the common eastern skunk, is found as fiir west as 

 the Medina Eiver, at least. 



Bassaris astuta, Licht. This interesting animal is chiefly found in the 

 rough country of the first plateau region, ranging from the Eio Grande 

 to the headwaters of the Colorado. It delights in the labyrinthine 

 ravines among the brush-covered limestone clifi's, making its nest in the 

 numerous caves and fissures that penetrate them. I heard of it as 

 especially abundant in Bandera and Llano Counties. It is unknown 

 east of the first steppe. 



Procyon lotor extends to the Eio Grande, and Ursus americanus is 

 found all over Texas. 



Cynomys ludoviciamis. The prairie-dog was found by the naturahsts 

 of the Mexican Boundary Survey in the Limpia Mountains, west of the 

 Pecos. I did not see it near San Antonio, nor between that place and 

 the Llano, but I observed a village on the plain on the north side of that 

 river. Mr. Buckley, State geologist, gives the Eio San Saba as its 

 southern limit, and states that it has reached this point (which is not 

 far north of the Llano) in continuance of a gradual southern extension 

 of range. Dr. Coues, in his monograph of the Sciuridcc,* enumerates one 



* Monogra.pli8 of the Kodentia of North America, U. S. Geol. Surv. Territories, 

 vol. xi. 



