EXPLORATION OF WESTERD MISSOURI IN 1854. 437 
fatigued, I was well satisfied at my final success in obtaining the much-coveted 
bird. Arrived in the evening at Poge’s, on the line, thirty miles from Clymer’s— 
the first house we have seen since morning. We saw in several places where 
the prairie wolves had recently been digging burrows in the gopher mounds. 
At the time, I supposed they were after the gopher, but was informed by our 
host that they were digging these burrows for the purpose of concealing their 
whelps. A few days since there were two badgers caught in this neighborhood. 
31st.—Heavy rain all night, accompanied with much lightning and thunder. 
The storm made our otherwise uncomfortable quarters still more unpleasant. 
Cranes are only found here during fall and early spring, when vast flocks fre- 
quently visit this locality. Poge told us he shot two that differed much from 
the common species, the head being covered entirely with feathers, instead of 
the bare red skin always found on the common species. One of these was so 
slightly wounded that they kept it alive for some time. When angry it would 
erect the feathers on the crown. These were in all probability the Grus hoyanus, 
a new species recently found in Wisconsin. From Poge’s we struck a bee-line 
for Independence. The heavy rains have swelled every little rivulet into almost 
an impassable stream. 
June 1st.—Put up last night at Independence. Started at an early hour for 
Lexington. I succeeded to-day in shooting a Geomys bursarius while he was 
unloading his sacks at the mouth of his hole—the first I have been able to ob- 
tain, notwithstanding we have been continually where their works were abundant. 
As a natural history item, I record the measurement we took to-day of the 
“Missouri giant ox,” raised by H. S. Bellos, of Rochester, Andrews county, 
Missouri: Length from elbow to top of withers, 34 feet; from knee to point of 
shoulder, 3 feet; heel to point of hip, 44 feet; from brisket to top of shoulder, 
5 feet; around the knee, 22 inches; height, 19 hands, (6 feet 4 inches;) length 
from point of nose to insertion of tail, 12 feet; age, 6 years; color, red; breed, 
native. We saw the skins of two beavers that had been recently caught on an 
island in the Missouri river, ten miles above Lexington. We had intended to 
visit the spot to view their recent works, which were represented as being a 
great curiosity. Arrived at Lexington in the evening. This day is the first 
that it has failed to rain since we left. In our absence Mrs. Hoy caught a 
second red-marked garter-snake: 
2d.—Occupied in packing and forwarding our collection to the Smithsonian 
Institution, our expedition being brought to a close. 
4th.—Started home, where we arrived after a rapid and pleasant journey by 
way of Ohio. | 
The following list embraces all the species of birds observed by me in western 
Missouri: 
A list of birds noticed in Western Missouri, above Boonville, between April 16 
and June 15, 1854. ° 
Vireo flavifrons. 
Vireo solitarius. 
Vireo gilvus. 
Antrostomus vociferus. 
Chordeiles virginianus. 
Progne purpurea. 
Cathartes aura. 
Haliztus leucocephalus. 
Pandion halizetus. 
Falco anatum. 
Tinnunculus sparverius. 
Astur atricapillus. 
Accipiter fuscus. 
Accipiter cooperii. 
Buteo borealis. 
Buteo lineatus. 
Archibuteo sancti johannis. 
Nauclerus furcatus. 
Circus hudsonius. 
Bubo virginianus. 
Syrninm nebulosum. , 
Cotyle riparia. 
Chaetura pelasgia. 
Ceryle aleyon. 
Lanius ludovicianus. 
Tyrannus intrepidus. 
Tyrannus crinitus. 
Tyrannula virens. 
Tyranunula fusca. 
Tyrannula acadica. 
Setophaga ruticilla. 
Setophaga wilsonii. 
Culicivora czerulea. 
Vireo bellii. 
Vireo olivaceus. 
Icteria viridis. 
Mimus polyglottus. 
Mimus rufus. 
Mimus felivox. 
Turdus migratorius. 
Turdus mustelinus. 
Turdus wilsonii. 
Sciurus aurocapillus. 
Sylvicola coronata. 
Sylvicola petechia. 
