ART. VIII.-NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF FORT SISSETON, 



DAKOTA. 



By C. B. McChesney, M. D., 



Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. 

 Annotated by Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A. 



[The following paper was prepared by Dr. McChesuey as a contribution of material 

 to mj' forthcoming History of North American Mammals. Eepreienting as it does 

 much valuable and interesting information from original observations, it is published 

 intact, in advance of its incorporation in substance in my work. In making my 

 acknowledgments to the author for his cordial and well-considered collaboration, I 

 would especially call attention to his dissections of the peculiar pouches of the Geomy- 

 idce, supposed not to have hitherto been examined anatomically, as well as to the many 

 reliable measurements of fresh 'specimens, which increase the value of the prepa- 

 rations with which he has favored me. 



The collection has been deposited, in accordance with Dr. McChesuey's wish, in the 

 National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, excei)ting a number of specimens 

 intended for osteological preparations, which have been placed, likewise by Dr. 

 McChesney's desire, in the Army Medical Museum. 



I have myself confirmed the author's identifications in nearly all cases. My annota- 

 tions are bracketed, with my initials. — E. C] 



FELID^. 



Lynx canadensis, {Geoff.) liaf. 



The Canada Lynx, I am informed on what 1 believe to be reliable 

 authority, was a few years ago not uncommon on the " Coteaudes Prai- 

 ries", and even within a year past one or two animals believed to belong 

 to this species have been seen; but no specimen has been secured by me. 



Canis lateans. Say. 



The Praiiie Wolf, or Coyote, is found in this vicinity in very limited 

 numbers, and is the only representative of the genus Canis, with the 

 exception of C.familiaris, which forms an important part of this, much 

 the same as in other frontier military garrisons. 



YULPES VULGARIS PENNSYLVANICUS, (Bocld.) Coues. 



The American Eed Fox is trapped in this vicinity by Indians, but is 

 not very abundant. The special state of semi-melanism occurring in 

 this animal, and constituting var. decussatiis, or the Cross Fox, is seen to 

 some extent here. 



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