INTEODUCTION. 



06 



Four fur traders liviug at Tort Yukou iu 1873 or 1S7G told me that the weather was inteusely 

 cold there for two months, aud that for six weeks a small bottle of mercury hauging on a project- 

 iug log- at the comer of the cabiu was frozeu solid most of the time. Mr. W. H. Dall once saw 

 the thermometer standing at -f lli'^ at Fort Yukon iu summer. From this same explorer I quote 

 the following average temperatures for Nulato and Fort Yukou. Both these stations are in the 

 midst of this district, and Fort Yukou lies under tlie Arctic Circle: 



In a brief meteorological record kept for me in ISSO-'Sl at Fort Eeliance (the point where the 

 Yukon crosses tlie British boundary line), by Mr. L. X. McQuesten, I find the lowest winter tem- 

 peratures were — 6.5'^ and — 07=> on the 19th aud 20th of November, 1880, but the thermometer 

 recorded — 50^ aud lower several times afterwards during that seasou, with long periods of minus 

 temperatures. On May-lC, 1881, the temperature arose to +58^ and the ice iu the Y'ukon broke 

 up aud began to move dowu. 



Among other plants recorded from the Yukon by Dall are mentioned red and black currants, 

 gooseberries, cranberries, raspberries, thimbleberries, salmon-berries, killikinik berries, blueberries, 

 bearberries, t wiuberries, dewberries, service-berries, mossberries, aud the fruit of Bosa cinnamomea; 

 certaiuly an abnudance of small fruits. 



The species of birds and mammals found iu this district, aud distinguishing it from the other 

 faunal areas of Alaska, are numerous. 



The mammals having their Alaskau center of abundance here and occurring rarely or very 

 much ^ess numerously elsewhere iu Alaska are — 



Lynx canadensis. 



Canis occidentaUs (the black variety). 



Vulpesfulvus argeniafns (Black Fox). 



Mustcla americana. 



Gulo luscus. 



Lutra canadensis. 



Ursus horribilis. 



Ursus rkhardsoni. 



Ursus americamts. 



Sciurns hndsonitts. 



Arctomys pruinosus. 



Castor canadensis, 



Syna2)tomys conperi. 



Erethizon dorsatiis cpixanthns. 



Lepus americanus americanus. 



Lagomys princcps. 



Aloes americana. 



Rangi/er tarandus (a large dark variety). 



Oiis montana dalli. 



Among birds, the following species appear to have their center of abundance iu this district : 



Parus cinctus ohtectiis. 

 Pants atrica2)iUus furneri. 

 Parns hudsonicus. 



Perisoreus canadensis fum ifrons. 

 Picoides americamts alascensis. 



The birds common iu other ])arts of the north, but not found in the other districts of Alaska: 



Titrdus aiicia: 

 Mcrula migraforia. 

 Cinclus mexicana. 

 Helminthopkaga celata. 

 Dendroica coronata. 

 Dendroica striata. 

 Seiurus norel>oraccnsis. 

 Ampelis garridus. 

 Clivicola riparia. 

 S. Mis. 150 5 



Loxia cnrrirosfra minor. 

 Loxia leucoptcra. 

 Zonoirichia intermedia. 

 Junco hyemalis. 

 Passerella iliaca. 

 Pica pica Itudsonica. 

 Perisoreus canadensis. 

 Sayornis saya. 

 Contopus borealis. 



