no. 3.] anderson — north western america. 151 



Distribution of the more prominent Quadrupeds, &c. 

 — Bison (Bos Americanus) : plaios of the Missouri, and of 

 the Saskatchewan as low down as Carlton. Formerly abounded 

 on the Peace River plains, but now rare and confined to the out- 

 skirts. Not found in British Columbia, save perhaps casually 

 in parts of the Rocky Mountain frontier, nor on the Columbia 

 River. Formerly used to descend the Snake River as far as 

 Boisee River, and sometimes even lower. Will soon be all des- 

 troyed I fear. Caribou or Rein-deer (Ccrvus taraudus) ; the 

 larger variety or " Rocky Mountain Rein-deer" ; found in all 

 the mountainous parts of the interior down to a certain latitude. 

 Along the Rocky Mountains this limit I judge to be about lat < 

 49° ; on the North-West Coast Range probably about 51°. 

 The smaller variety, classed by Richardson as the Rein-deer of 

 the Barren Grounds, is confined to the Arctic watershed during 

 its northward migration (March to the beginning of November) ; 

 frequenting the country around Hudson's Bay, &c, during the 

 remainder of the year. The Moose or Elk (C. alces) is found 

 generally throughout the northern parts of the country, except 

 the Barren Grounds, and the immediate sea-board of Hudson's 

 Bay, &c. ; on the Pacific watershed along the verge of the 

 Rocky Mountains as low as about 49° ; on the upper 

 Fraser, and as low down sometimes, but very rarely, as Fort 

 George. The Chevreuil or Virginian deer is found along the 

 Saskatchewan, but not in the mountainous parts, nor on the 

 north-west coast, where the " Black Tail," (C. macrotis) is 

 abundant. The last is not found on the Fraser higher than 

 Fort George. The Red-deer or Biche (generally, but of course 

 erroneously called " the Elk") is found in large herds over a 

 wide extent of country. A large variety of C. Elaphus, it is 

 classed as C. Canadensis, or the Wapiti. It is common along 

 the Saskatchewan, Peace River, &c, and was so formerly upon the 

 middle Fraser, but is now rarely, if ever, seen there. On Vancou- 

 ver Island and the adjacent mainland very numerous. It is ques- 

 tionable whether there be any specific difference between these 

 and those of the prairies. Bears, Black and Brown, (Ursus 

 Americanus) ; generally throughout the country, except the 

 immediate Arctic shores, where the Polar Bear appears. Grizzly 

 Bear (U.ferox) ; plains of the Saskatchewan, &c, southwards; 

 along the Rocky Mouutains and in most parts of British Colum- 

 bia, except Vancouver Island, and the north-west coast. Musk 

 Vol. VIII. i No. 3. 



