APPENDIX F 355 



G. Daniels tells me that he has seen five full grown otters to- 

 gether on Athabaska River, about November 15. Either this 

 represented a large family of four young, or the father had been 

 re-admitted to the group. 



Mephitis hudsonica Richardson. Northern Plains Skunk. 



We saw no skunks, but saw a portion of a skin hanging in a 

 bush on the bank of the lower Athabaska. Gregoire Daniels, of 

 Fort Chipewyan, informed us that the skunk is fairly common 

 near that place. He has known as many as forty to be taken in 

 one winter by a single trapper. He told us that when a skunk 

 enters an Indian teepee, a not uncommon occurrence, the Indians 

 let him alone, and keep perfectly quiet. The skunk satisfies his 

 hunger and departs in peace. The Indians say it is better so. 

 C. Harding, of Fort Resolution, informed us that during the 

 autumn of 1906 a good many skunks were taken about that 

 place, where it was formerly very rare. A few at least are now 

 taken there every year, also at Providence. 



Lutreola vison energumenos (Bangs) . Western Mink. 



We saw the tracks of mink on the banks of Slave River on one 

 or two occasions, and obtained a skull on the Nyarling River. 

 The species is generally distributed, but persistent trapping 

 keeps it from becoming common. 



Putorms cicognanii (Bonaparte). Bonaparte Weasel. 



This little weasel is found only in the southern part of the 

 region covered by our trip. A specimen, still in nearly complete 

 summer pelage, was seen on the Athabaska, near Calling River, 

 on October 30. Another, in complete winter pelage, was taken 

 on the Athabaska on October 28, as recorded in the narrative, 

 Chapter XL VII. This was a male; length, 12 in.; tail 3J in.; 

 hind-foot, If in. Pure white, except that the ears were half 

 brown, upper part of tail and a few hairs on rump were brown 

 and of course the black tail tip. (There had been no snow 

 whatever here this season.) The white fur around anus and 





