63 



streams. Has not been met with by Mr. Mecham south of the Ar- 

 kansas. Respecting the fur, he says it is not more than one-third as 

 thick at the south as it is far north, where it is also nearly jet black 

 in color, while at the extreme south it^is nearly roan. 



O. Oiilo luscus. Wolverene. Not common. Obtained from 

 Mr. Mecham a specimen killed by him near Ogden, in June, 1871. 



10. I, ut rii Canadensis. Otter. More or less frequent in 

 Salt Lake Valley, and in the adjoining mountains. 



11. Jffepliitis mepliitica. Common Skunk. Common in 

 Salt Lake Valley and throughout the plains and mountains generally. 



13. HepliitiS bicolor. Striped Skunk. Mr. Mecham gives 

 its northern limit as about one hundred miles south of Ogden. 



U. Til xidca Americana. Badger. Of common occur- 

 rence everywhere, as well in the mountains as on the plains. 



I*KOC VO:VIIKI:. 



14:. Procyon lotor. Raccoon. Mr. Mecham gives it as rare 

 in the mountains bordering the valley, but was not aware of its oc- 

 currence in the valley itself. 



15. TJrsiis arctos. Bear. Common in the mountains every- 

 where, in its principal varieties, as the black, brown, cinnamon and 

 grizzly. In common with most hunters, he regards these forms as 

 distinct species. The cinnamon bear he gives as the smallest, with 

 an average weight of one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds. 

 The brown bear is next in size, the black third in size, and the grizzly 

 the largest. Has killed grizzlies weighing fourteen hunclre,d pounds. 

 Black bears sometimes weigh four hundred pounds, but their more 

 common weight ranges from two hundred to three hundred. At a 

 menagerie in Salt Lake City I had an opportunity of observing alive 

 and side by side specimens of the black, brown and cinnamon vari- 

 eties. The only essential difference seemed that of color, and this 

 is slight between the so-called brown and cinnamon varieties. The 

 maximum differences in physiognomy and proportions were between 

 two specimens of the "brown" bears, in which the length of the nose 

 and the facial expression generally was markedly different. 



The buffalo (Bison Americanus} appears to have been abundant at 

 some remote time in the Great Salt Lake Valley. Fragments of their 

 skulls are still here and there visible, but unless partially buried in 

 the marshes they have crumbled and nearly disappeared. I met with 



