594 



MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMBRIOAN RODENTIA. 



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indicated by some of the Inter authors, as quoted beyond. From the time of 

 Richardson's account, I am not aware that other notices of the species, based 

 upon original observation or any new mnterinl, appeared until 1848, when Mr. 

 T. R. Peale, a naturalist of the United States Exploring Expedition, gave 

 another contribution to the history of the animal, based on his ov/n experi- 

 ences and collections. We may therefore pass over various compiled accounts 

 as not material to the present history, and take up Mr. Peale's article, above 

 cited in the synonymalic list. This consists of a ilescription and measure- 

 ments, with remarks on the abuntlance of the species at Pugel's Sound, and on 

 the peculiar form of the skull, which is figured on page 57. This figure, 

 tliough only a slight woodcut showing little detail, well represents the general 

 contour of the skull, and is notable as being the tirst representation of the 

 whole cranium, Richardson's specimen figured having been very defective. 



Shortly afterward, in 1853, appeared the general account of the genus 

 and species, by Audubon and Bachman, as above cited. Their figure of the 

 species was the first colored illustration of the animal, and it may be the 

 only one extant, though the skull and teeth have been figured by Rich- 

 ardson, Peale, and Baird. The drawing was made by his son, J. W. 

 Audubon, "from a fine specimen in London", presumedly one of Richard- 

 son's types. These authors' notice consisted of a copy direct of Richardson's 

 characterization of the genus, an elaborate description of the species, a 

 quotation of Lewis and Clarke's account, a summary notice of the robe 

 described by Richardson, and a few general remarks, chiefly historical. They 

 alluded to two specimens then or lately extant in the Patent Office at Wash- 

 ington, being those collected by Peale, and which, they say, they were "po- 

 litely refused" permission to examine.* The collection to which the authors 

 referred was shortly aflerward (1858) removed to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, where it now (1877) forms part of the National Museum. One of Peale's 

 specimens (that catalogued by Baird in 1857) remains at this dale, and has 

 been examined in the preparation of the present article; the otherf I have 

 never seen, nor was more than one of them noticed by Baird. 



* Hence Pruressor Bair<l'4iitat<'nieDt,inadein 18S7, reqiiiroaqDaliUcation. "Tbiaauimal," lie aays, 

 "thoaf{h not rare in the vicinity of Pnget'a Sound, ia yet very little known to UBtnraliata, though the 

 materiala al our command ore richer now tl.»a a few yeara ago, when Audobon and Bachmnn were una- 

 ble to find a apeoimen in any muaenm of the United Statea." — (Uamm, N. Amer. 1H57, 363.) 



tPealu (op. oi(. >»pri) apeaka of hia "apecimeot", leaving the impreiaion that he procured more 

 than one. Two of hia sknlla ore in the BniitiMoniao. On apeaking to tbia venerable natnraliat aboal it, 

 the other day, Mr. Peale told me he did not remember that he aeeored more than two gpecimena; Iheae, 

 howuver, bu recojiecled perfectly, and he gave me aonie delightful gonip alK>nt the grievance which ao 

 rtfflleil Auduhon'a temper. 



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