256 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



a savage we had with us killed several stags and loild goats, and 

 our men a great many turkey, very fat and big." This last point 

 was between Kenosha and Eacine. ITenDepin's goats were with- 

 out doubt antelopes. Father Joliet, a little earlier, mentions that 

 "on the Wisconsin there are plenty of turkey cock?, parrots, 

 quails, wild oxen, stag? and wild goats." All species of the deer 

 family were called stags by the early travelers. Schoolcraft men- 

 tions antelopes as occurl-ing in the Northwestern Territory, and as 

 late as 1850. Antelopes were not uncommon in soathern Minne- 

 sota, only forty miles west of the Mississippi river. It is evident, 

 then, that antelopes have retired quite leisurely. 



When the last buffalo, Bos. Americana, crossed the Mississippi 

 is not precisely known. Groveraor Dodge told me that bufialo 

 were killed on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix river the next 

 year after the close of the Blackhawk war, which would be 1833. 

 So Wisconsin had the last buffaloes east of the Mississippi river. 



The Woodland Caribon, Rangifer Caribou, were probably never 

 numerous within the limits of the state. A few, however, were 

 seen near La Point in 1840 ; none since. 



Elk, Cervus Canadensis, were on Hay river in 1863, and I have 

 but little doubt that a few still linger with us. The next to fol- 

 low the buffalo, antelope and reindeer. 



Moose,. J./ce Americanus, continue to inhabit the northern part 

 of the state, where they still range in spite of persecution. A 

 fiue cow moose was shot near the line of the Wisconsin Central 

 Eailway in December, 1877. 



A few panthers, .Ft;Zi5 Concolo r, Sive yet with us; a straggler is 

 occasionally seen. Benjamin Bones of Eacine shot one on the 

 head-waters of Black river, December, 1863. 



Wolverines, Gtdo luscus, are occasionally taken in the timber; 

 one was taken in La Crosse county in 1870. 



Of beaver, Castor Canadensif^, a few still continue to inhabit 

 some of the small lakes situated in Lincoln and adjacent counties. 



The badger, Taxidea Americana, is now nearly extinct in AVis- 

 consin. In a few years the only badger found in the state will be 

 the one on the coat of arms. 



The opossum, Didel_phis Virginiana, were not uncommon in 



