88 CRUISE OF THE STEAMER CORWIN. 



Alaska. The larger WDodland carihou is doul)tless the prevailing variety to the southward. 

 Reindeer are fonnd more or less regularly throughout Alaska. They were found by Mr. 

 McLenegau on the Noiltak, a.s well as l)y our party on the Kowak. Traders in the service of 

 the Alaska Coinnierciai ('i>nij»any told me of their common distrihution ov(?r the Yukon, Kus- 

 kokvini, and Aleutian divisions of tlie country. Tln^y have even lieen shot on Ouuinuik Island, 

 at the end of the )icniiisnia. But n-indecr are restless animals, irregular in their migrations 

 and habits. Sometimes they desert whole sections of country for months together, and they 

 appear to have withdrawn from many regions wliere fire-arms have been introduced. 



Notwithstanding the fact tliat large herds of i-eindeer are kept in a state of domestication 

 by the Chukchees. at East Cape, and other well-known i)laces on the Asiatic side of Bering 

 Straits, with whom tiie natives of the Alaskan side communicate regularly, there appears to 

 be no domestication of the s[)ecies wliatever in Alaska, nor, indeed, in any i>art of North 

 America. 



In time, when tiie geniTal use of tire-arms by the natives of Upper Alaska shall have reduced 

 the numbers of this wary animal, the introduction of the tame variety, which is a substantial 

 support to the people just across the Straits, among our own thriftless, alcohol-bewitched 

 Eskimos, would be a philanthropic movement, contributing more toward their amelioration 

 than any system of sciiools or kindred charities. The native boats could never accomplish the 

 importation, which would, h<:twever, present no difficulty to ordinai-y sea-going vessels. The 

 taming of the American reindeer is impracticable, for domestication, with this animal at least, 

 is the result of subjection through many generations. Something tending to render a wild peo- 

 ple pastoral or agricultural ought to be the first step toward their advancement. In our man- 

 agement of these people. piu-cJiast'd fi-om the Bussians, we have an opportunity to atone, in a 

 measure, for a century of dishonorable treatment of the Indian. 



Ovis canadensis (.s'/i«h'). Bicuohn. 



I saw a skin of the mountain sheeji in the possession of a native on the lower river, and saw 

 several spoons made from its hoi-ns. The natives told us of its existence in the high hills inland. 



Sciurus hudsouius (Palhis). Rkd Sqiiuuel {Ca-ka-la-tai-iik). 



We found red stjuirrels not uncommi.m in thf si)rucc forests of the Upper Kowak. They 

 were comparatively familiar, and sometimes chatted noisily in the trees alxnit our camjis. 



Five specimens; Upper Kowak, Jidy :2G-30. 



Castor fiber Li tine. Beaveu. 



Beaver skins were not jdentiful among the natives, but we saw ])elts occasionally that had 

 doubtless been taken in that region, as many of them were from young animals. 



Fiber zibethicua (Linn^). Muskrats. 



I saw two live muskrats swimming in the river, just a1>out tlie delta, on August •■.'•■.', and fired 

 at them, but without effect. I was impressed with the fact of their small size, although they 

 appeared to be adults. The same is true of the pelts Ave saw in the possession of the natives, 

 and of which they make garments and blankets. 



Myodesobensis Brants. Lejiming. 



A single specimen of the common lemming was obtained on the river. 



Arvicola riparius ( Oirf. ). 



We obtained specimens of this mouse in certain deserted winter houses of the natives 

 along the lower river, and in a mossy bank near our camj) at Kotzebue Sound. 



Erethizon dorsatus epixanthus (Ilrandl). Western PuucuriNE. 



Mr. Cantwell olitained three or four young porcupines near tlie source of the river in July, 

 wliich were roasted and eaten by the natives accompanying him. The species was not met 

 with elsewliere. 



Uue Specimen (young); headwaters of Kowak. July. 



