134 



9. Puiorius longicauda, Kich. — Long-tailed Weasel. — Upper Mis- 

 souri and Platte. (Carlton House, H. B. T. Rich.) — Not uncommon 

 throughout the northwest, though seldom seen by the traveller. Its 

 skin is highly prized by the Indians, who use it for making articles of 

 dress, tobacco pouches, and for other ornamental purposes. 



10. Lutra canadensis, Sab. — American Otter. — Northern parts of 

 the United States to Florida, and west to the Rocky mountains. — Not 

 uncommon in the streams that flow from the north into the Missouri. 

 I cannot ascertain that it has been seen above the mouth of the Nio- 

 brara river on the Missouri. The only specimen obtained by our 

 party was taken in a beaver trap in the Niobrara, about eighty miles 

 above its mouth. Otter skins are imported into the country every 

 year by the traders, and are prized very highly by the Indians for 

 ornamental purposes. 



11. Mephitis mephitica. — Common Skunk. — United States, east of 

 the Missouri plains and north of Texas. — Very common throughout 

 the upper Missouri country. 



12. Taxidea americana, Waterh. — Missouri Badger. — Iowa and 

 Wisconsin to the Pacific coast, and from Arkansas to 49 N. lat. — (To 

 58 N. lat. , Rich.) — This animal is not rare, though not very abundant 

 on the Missouri. It seems to be of very little economical value, ex- 

 cept for food to the starving Indian. 



13. Frocyon lotor, Storr. — Common Raccoon. — Massachusetts to 

 Florida, and west to Fort Kearney. Not in southern Texas ? — Very 

 abundant in the vicinity of Council Bluffs, where the skin is made a 

 considerable article of trade with the Indians. It is not found high 

 up on the Missouri. The highest point that I have observed it was- 

 near the mouth of the Niobrara river, though I have been informed 

 that they are sometimes seen in the valley of White river. 



14. Ursus horibilis, Ord. — Grizzly Bear. — Plains of upper Missouri 

 to the Rocky mountains, and along their base, thence to the coast of 

 California, (not of Oregon or Washington ?) — This formidable animal 

 is still quite abundant toward the sources of the Missouri. At the 

 present time it is very seldom, if ever, seen below Fort Pierre. But 

 one skin was taken by our party. 



15. Sciurus ludovicianus , Custis. — Western Fox Squirrel. — Missis- 

 sippi valley. — Very abundant about Council Bluffs. Gradually be- 

 comes rare, and ceases near the mouth of White river. 



16. Sciurus carolinensis , Gm. — Gray Squirrel ; Black Squirrel. — 

 Eastern United States to the Missouri river. — Two specimens of this 

 squirrel were taken, one near Fort Leavenworth, and the other near 

 the mouth of the Platte. It is seldom, if ever, seen above this point. 



17. Sciurus fremontii, Towns. — Mountain Gray Squirrel. — A speci- 

 men obtained at Laramie Peak is supposed to belong to this species, 



18. Sciurus hudsonius, Pallas. — Red Squirrel ; Chickaree. — Labra- 

 dor (lat. 56*^) to Mississippi ; and in the United States from the At- 

 lantic to the Missouri river. — Several specimens supposed to be 

 identical with this species were collected in the Black Hills, and is 

 quite abundant in the oak woods of that region. 



19. Tamias quadrivittatus, Rich. — Missouri Striped Squirrel. — 

 Upper Missouri to Rocky mountains, and west to the Cascade Range. 



