302 BUREAU OF AAIERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 176 



Twelve species of mammals are represented in this series. Although 

 large animals such as bison, elk, deer, antelope, and perhaps beaver 

 were to be expected, as they are frequently mentioned in contemporary 

 accounts, it was of special interest to discover that many smaller ani- 

 mals, not commonly eaten by our own generation, were represented in 

 the f aunal remains from the site. 



The presence of skunk, muskrat, badger, bobcat, porcupine, dog, 

 and prairie dog bones, mixed in with other kitchen refuse, suggests 

 that the occupants of this trading post were acculturated by their con- 

 tacts with the Indians. It further suggests the presence of Indian 

 women at the site. In times of game scarcity, of course, smaller animals 

 were probably hunted more than casually. It is also quite possible 

 that some of these small animals were eaten as byproducts of trapping 

 around the trading post. 



Bison, antelope, deer, and elk were the largest quantities of animal 

 bone found at the site. The bulk of the animal bones were found in 

 Features 4, 13, and 20. These features obviously were used more ex- 

 tensively than others for kitchen refuse. Eight species of mammals 

 were found in F4; six in F20; five in F15 ; four in F12, F13, FIT, and 

 F60 ; three in Fl, F6, and F21 ; two in F7, F8, F55, and F61. 



FISH BONE* 



(All specimens are catfish; most probably of the genus Ictalurus.) 

 Feature No. 



1 8 skull, visceral, and pectoral girdle bones of catfishes. 



8 An operculum and articulated hyomandibular and metaptery- 



goid elements of catfishes. 

 13 7 skull, visceral, and pectoral girdle bones, and 10 vertebrae 



of catfishes. 



15 19 skull, visceral, and pectoral girdle bones of catfishes. 



20 11 skull, visceral, and pectoral girdle bones, and 2 vertebrae 



of catfishes. 



It is difficult to arrive at an estimate of the number of catfish repre- 

 sented by these remains. Catfish bones were found in five different 

 features. Hence, an assumption can be made that at least five indi- 

 vidual catfish are represented. The actual number of catfish is prob- 

 ably much larger. 



•Identified by Dr. David H. Dunkle, associate curator, Division of Vertebrate Paleon- 

 tology, U.S. National Museum. 



