148 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The lambing season is at its height by June loth. After the 

 lambs have attained sufficient strength to climb and run, their 

 mothers return to the band, and about September the bands of 

 ewes are joined by the rams. The little ones frisk about, and 

 play quite like domestic lambs. The females remain in the high 

 mountain-peaks until the young are strong enough to join the 

 band and run with it. 



Mr. Hicks says he knows of three instances of two lambs at a 

 birth, but the usual number is one. Contrary to all reports, we 

 found that for a day after birth the lambs were quite helpless, and 

 made little attempt to escape. The last one captured would have 

 escaped had not the Indian killed its mother and succeeded in cor- 

 nering it. We judged it was three days old. Two others about 

 the same age succeeded in escaping us. Those captured quickly 

 became attached to us, and when left alone ran back and forth 

 in their inclosure, bleating and trying to escape, but quieted as 

 soon as they had company. Their actions were not unlike those 

 of domestic lambs. Their bleat, also, was identical, and while 

 being fed they braced themselves, dropped on their knees, bunted 

 at the feeding-bottle, and pranced about, whipping their tails from 

 side to side in a most ludicrous manner. They slept either with or 

 very near me. When first captured they were easily awakened, 

 but soon became accustomed to the noises about camp. One thing 

 which leads me to believe the lambs' period of nursing is short, . 

 is the suddenness with which their front teeth appeared. In 

 twenty-four hours after capture their teeth were fully developed, 

 and I noticed them several times nibbling at leaves or sticks. 



In June 1896, when Mr. Hicks was camped near the head of 

 Matanuska River, a band of about fifteen ewes and lambs ap- 

 proached daily for some time, and watched him from a cliff about 

 three hundred yards distant. At first they were timid, but gain- 

 ing confidence by immunity from attack they seemed to enjoy 

 watching him work about camp. Once he came from his tent 

 very suddenly, and tied a red handkerchief about his neck. This 

 movement frightened the sheep away, but they returned in a few 

 days. A severe thunderstorm that suddenly arose again sent 

 them to the rocks. 



Sciurus hurtsonius, (Erxlch.). HUDSON BAY RED 

 SQUIRREL. 

 About Tyonek these little squirrels were common, and a few 



