146 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



nuska River country frequently bring caribou skins to the trad- 

 ers at Knik. Many of these skins are identical in color with 

 that of the animal under consideration, while others were much 

 lighter, and with longer hair. I was given to understand that 

 the dark ones were fall skins, while the light ones were from ani- 

 mals killed after midwinter, which I believe to be true. 



Alces gigas, (Miller). ALASKAN MOOSE. 



They are found at many points along the western shore of 

 Cook Inlet, sometimes within five miles of the beach. On both 

 sides of Knik Arm, and in the valley of Knik River, they are 

 common. We saw four during our stay, but did not hunt moose 

 even once. They inhabit the low, marshy ground, as well as the 

 gently rising, timbered slopes. 



The natives take advantage of windy days to hunt them, at 

 which time they can approach them within easy range .without 

 being detected. Large numbers of moose are wantonly de- 

 stroyed by the Indians. Fire Island, at the mouth of Turnagain 

 Arm, is said to be one of their favorite breeding-grounds. The 

 young are born from the middle of May to June loth, and are 

 said to be quite helpless for several days. 



Mr. H. H. Hicks, my assistant, says he has killed several cow 

 moose with " bells." 



Oreamiios montaiius, (Ord.). MOUNTAIN GOAT. 



Goats inhabit the country about the glacier at the head of Knik 

 River, some sixty miles from its mouth. On May 21st Mr. 

 Hicks and one of my Indians saw, and were near enough to have 

 shot, a goat feeding near the timber on a mountain slope on the 

 north side of Knik River, thirty miles from its mouth. Four 

 skins and skulls in possession of a trader at Knik were brought 

 from the Matanuska River district, w^here this goat is a rare in- 

 habitant of the mountains some sixty-five miles northeast of Knik. 

 Three of the specimens mentioned represented adult animals. 

 Their horns had none of the striking characters of 0. kennedyi. 



Ovis dalli, (Nelson). BALL'S SHEEP: WHITE SHEEP. 

 While common, these animals are not nearly so abundant as 

 formerly. Where hundreds roamed eight years previously, we 

 saw but sixty-four. Trails, deeply worn in the moss but over- 

 grown with grass, were found above timber-line. 



