138 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



animals which were new to science. Chief among these is the 

 great Kadiak bear (Ursiis middendorfU) , the largest of living 

 carnivores, and rivaling the great cave bear in size. The great- 

 est among all living deer is the giant Alaskan moose (Alces 

 gigas); and next in interest come the various mountain sheep 

 of Alaska. Of especial importance is the white mountain sheep 

 (Ovis dalli), both on account of the beauty of its pelage and the 

 fact that it is widely distributed throughout Alaska. At several 

 points in its distribution it comes near to the coast, and is found 

 at a low altitude. Owing to this fact, the Society hoped to be 

 able to acclimatize on the Atlantic coast specimens of this inter- 

 esting animal if any could be captured alive. Mr. Loring there- 

 fore received instructions to spend a portion of his time in an 

 effort to capture young white sheep. He was successful in this 

 difficult undertaking, and secured three young lambs. 



The Society publishes in this Report selections from a large 

 series of pictures obtained by Mr. Loring in Alaska, illustrating 

 the country inhabited by these sheep, the method of their 

 capture, and the living animals themselves. A further series oi 

 these pictures and a detailed account of the expedition will be 

 a feature of the next Bulletin of the Society. 



It was decided by Mr. Loring, after a consultation with those 

 best posted on the distribution of sheep, to proceed to the Knik 

 Arm of Cook Inlet, on the southern coast of Alaska. He was 

 fortunate in securing the services of H. H. Hicks, a noted guide 

 of that region, as well as three Indians. He established his 

 camp on the Knik River, and spent several weeks watching the 

 mountain-side at the snow-line, for sheep. Quite a number of 

 sheep were seen in this way, and were found to graze during 

 the day on the open strip of grass above timber-line on the 

 mountain-side and below the snow which covered the crags at 

 the top of the range. The sheep retreated to these crags at night, 

 and at the first approach of danger. Bands of sheep, as well as 

 solitary individuals, chiefly rams, were visible along the moun- 

 tain-side. At last a band of ewes was seen, and finally a new- 

 born lamb was located high up on the mountain. After a hard 

 climb the various members of the party succeeded in surrounding 

 the lamb and its mother, and the former was secured without 

 much struggle on its part to escape. It was carried down the 

 mountain-side slung in an improvised hammock. 



