ZOOLOGY — MAMMALS. 



105 



These hares are exceedingly abundant on the left bank of the Boise river. They are so 

 numerous, that our command of 60 men subsisted on them for nearly a week. In a short ride 

 of an hour's duration to see 30 near to the trail was nothing remarkable. The natives 

 (Diggers) make garments by sewing many of their skins together. This hare breeds in great 

 numbers on the vast sage plains to the south of Boise river, between it and Snake river. They 

 are said to turn white in the winter. The flesh is rather bitter, owing probably to the sage on 

 which it feeds. 



LEPUS ARTEMISIA, Bach man. 



Sage Rabbit. 

 Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 602. 

 Sp. Ch. — Similar to the common rabbit, Lepus sylvaticus, but smaller and grayer. 



Fort Union, Nebraska. 



Fort Dalles, Oregon Territory, 1855.— 35, 50. 



50. — March 2. Length to root of tail, 12 inches ; tail to end of vertebra?, 2.00 ; of 

 hairs, 2.50. 



35. — January 12, 55. Under surface of tail, I am told by Indians, is white ; that of 

 this specimen was lost. It does not turn white in winter. Name, in dialect of the Wascos, 

 La-Zdk, 



Dimensions. 



Length from nose to root of tail 



Heel to point of longest nail 



Height of ear above plane of crown 



Ear to point of nose 



Tail vertebree, about 



From olecranon to end of longest naU 



E.xtreme stretch between fore and hind toes 



Inches. 



Lines. 



Ear as long as the head. Small intestines ; about 6 feet 9 inches long ; stomach, about 3 ; 

 caecum very long. Ileum contained 4 tseniee. 



ALCE AMERICANA, J a r d i n e . 



Moose. 



Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 631. 



Horns were obtained from some point north of Steilacoom. 



CERVUS CANADENSIS, Erxleben. 

 £lk. 



Baird, Gen. Rep. 1857, 638 



A portion of a "skull obtained in Washington Territory. 

 14 Q 



