FAUNA OF NEBRASKA. 119 



Two raccoons are common. in Nebraska, namely, the common 

 raccoon (Procyon loter), and the black-footed raccoon (P. ffernan- 

 dezzii]. The former is the most abundant. 



The Carnivora are well represented. The Panther (Felts con- 

 color}, is the largest, or at least the most powerful. I have only 

 seen it a few times on the Niobrara and the Loup. 



The Wildcat (Lynx rufus), is comparatively common in the wooded 

 sections of the State. At rare intervals specimens of the Red 

 Wildcat (L.fasciatus] are taken in north Nebraska. The common 

 Canada Lynx (Lynx Canadensis], is widely distributed over the 

 State, but few of them have been captured. 



Several varieties of the timber wolf formerly were common in 

 the State, but are now rarely heard of. The varieties were Canus 

 occidentalls^ Var. nubilus and the White Wolf (C. occidentalism 

 Var. griseo-albus}. I have several times found this latter species 

 lingering on the flanks of herds of buffalo, apparently on the look- 

 out for any old animal that could not keep up with the herd, or was 

 unable to defend itself. 



The Coyote, or Prairie Wolf (Canis latrans^) was formerly 

 exceedingly abundant. When on exploring expeditions in unsettled 

 sections, trie cooking of supper would invariably bring them 

 around us through the night. They never venture to make an at- 

 tack under such circumstances. I doubt whether a man is ever in 

 danger from them. Settlers have destroyed so many by poison 

 that they are now rare in the oldest portions of the State. A few, 

 however, linger on even here. 



Foxes have here disappeared more completely than the wolves. 

 Formerly the Prairie Fox (Vulpes macrourus) was comparatively 

 abundant, but is now rarely seen. The Swift (V. velox), however, 

 yet holds his own in central and western Nebraska. The Gray 

 P^ox ( V. Virginianus), was never abundant. The only specimens that 

 I saw were in Pierce County, in 1869. 



A few specimens of the American Sable (Mustela Americana] 

 have been taken in northwestern Nebraska, but their presence within 

 our borders is rare. The weasels, however, are abundant, there 

 being at least seven species within the State. The most abundant 

 are the Common Weasel (Putorius noveboracensis), the Long Tailed 

 Weasel (P. longicauda) and the common Mink (P. visori). Those 

 less frequently seen are the Least Weasel (P. pusillus}, the Small 

 Brown Weasel (P. cigognanii), the Little Black Mink (P. nigrescent), 

 and the Black Footed Ferret (P. nignpas.} 



