‘ HAPLODONTIDA—HISTORY AND HABITS OF H. RUFUS. 595 
The last period in the history of the animal begins in 1857, with the 
elaboration by Professor Baird of the material gathered by the naturalists of 
the Pacific Railroad Explorations and Surveys, and the field-notes of the nat- 
uralists themselves, published in the vi, vill, and ‘xii. volumes of the reports 
pertaining thereto. Besides Baird’s elaborate article and figures, we were 
given copious notes on the distribution, habits, &e., by Newberry, Cooper, 
Suckley, and Gibbs. 
In 1857, the genus and species were fully treated by Professor Baird, as 
far as the technical aspects of the case were concerned ; bis characterization, 
especially of the cranial and dental characters, being even more elaborate 
than that given by Richardson. ‘The skull, teeth, and some points of external 
structure, were refigured in several views. Professor Baird’s material con- 
sisted of an Exploring Expedition specimen collected by Peale, then as now 
mounted, and from which his account of the species was mainly derived; of 
three skins secured by Dr. G. Suckley at Steilacoom, Wash. Ter.; and an addi- 
tional skin taken by Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge at Astoria, Oreg., together with 
two skulls from Puget’s Sound, appertaining to Mr. Peale’s specimens. 
Dr. J. S. Newberry’s note, published in the zodlogical portion of the 
vi. volume of the Reports in 1857, ran as follows :— 
“This singular animal, called by Richardson [after Lewis and Clarke] 
the Sewed//ed, seems limited to a narrow district when compared with most of 
those which, with it, inhabit the region it occupies. In Washington Terri- 
tory it is found from the coast to the Rocky Mountains. It is doubtful 
whether it will be found south of the Columbia,* either on the coast range, 
in the Willamette Valley, or on the Cascades. Eastward, however, toward the 
base of the Rocky Mountains. it may occur. I have seen two specimens, one 
taken near Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory, by Dr. J. G. Cooper, t and 
the other obtained near the base of the Rocky mountains, which were abso- 
lutely black, presenting a striking difference in color from those obtained by 
Lewis and Clark, Douglas, and others, which were brown, and of nearly the 
shade of the muskrat.” 
* Audubon and Bachiwan say, without qualification, that it has ‘“ been procured in California”; 
and Baird remarks, “I have heard of an Aplodontia from the mountains of California, probably the same 
species, but have not seen a specimen”—possibly alluding to the statement of Audubon and Bachmen, 
just quoted, or to some earlier account, which may have occasioned the remarks of both these authors. 
t There is some misapprehension here ; for (see heyond) we find Dr. Cooper saying, in 1860, that he 
hever procured a specimen. The actual reference is probably to Dr. Suckley, who collected extensively, 
and was a collaborator of Dr. Cooper’s. 
