6 



The F. concolor, however, owing to the open character of tlie country, 

 can occur only as a straggler from more wooded regions. 1 



CANID^E. 



3. Canis lupus Linn. (Common Wolf.) 



Although wolves of this species were rather common less than 

 twenty years since, they are now scarce, especially in the more set- 

 tled districts. They are usually termed "mountain" wolves, in dis- 

 tinction from the prairie wolves. 



4. Canis latrans Say. (Prairie Wolf.) 



This species Avas formerly quite numerous, much more so even than 

 the common wolf (C. lupus), but now, like that species, it is already 

 in some sections nearly extirpated. I was informed that it was still 

 common in the southern part of Guthrie county, where it not unfre- 

 quently was destructive to the lambs. It is said to far exceed the 

 common fox in boldness and cunning. In the Proceedings of the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences (Vol. i, p. 188, 1842), it 

 is stated that a specimen of this species, from Illinois, was presented 

 to the Academy by Dr. Blanding. Mr. Kennicott states that it was 

 was once common in northern Illinois. 



5. Vulpes vulgaris Fleming. 2 (Red Fox.) 



Not apparently numerous in the counties in question, particularly 

 at the southward. About Wall Lake and northwards they were re- 

 ported to be common . 3 



1 Since writing the above, I have received from Dr. C. A. White, in kind re- 

 sponse to recent inquiries of mine concerning the species of this family found in 

 Iowa, as follows : " The panther has been known within our limits but very rarely. 

 The common wild cat, or bay lynx, is occasionally found, but it is considered rare 

 game. I do not know that the Canada lynx has ever been seen in Iowa." 



2 For a recent discussion of the relationship of the so-called V.fulvus with the 

 V. vulgaris of the Old World, see the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology, No. vin, p. 159. 



3 I may here add that in Van Buren and Allegan counties in Michigan, four kinds 

 of foxes are recognized by the hunters: the "cross," the " Samson," the "com- 

 mon red," and the " gray." The latter is undoubtedly the southern gray fox ( V. 

 virginianus), and the others different varieties of the common red fox. The 

 " cross," so called, is much the rarer, and the red by far the most common. About 

 one third of all taken are of the second variety, which from the very peculiar ap- 

 pearance of their fur are termed " Samson " foxes. They are described as having 

 a coarse, crisp, woolly fur, appearing much as though they had been singed ; hence 

 their name of " Samson foxes." Their skins bring much less in market than 

 those of the common red .fox, while the animal is represented as less cunning and 

 m. !. easily trapped: they also have slightly different habits. I regret that I had 



