312 APPENDIX C. — MAMMALS. 



It ferrets out the caches of provisions and skins, and devours 

 their contents greedily, its enormous strength being such as to 

 enable it to remove almost every weight which may be placed upon 

 the articles concealed. It destroys the traps set for other ani- 

 mals, and tears to pieces their contents. Indeed, in the Northern 

 United States, this animal is dreaded more than the panther or 

 bear, being invested with fabulous attributes of ferocity and dan- 

 ger. This is, to a much less degree, the case in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains ; but everywhere the wolverene is "attacked with caution. 



6. Fiber zibethicus, L. — Muskrat. 



Fiber zibethicus, Aud. & Bach. Quad. L 108, pi. 13. 



The muskrat abounds over the greater part of the American 

 continent, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Its north- 

 ern and southern limits are not well ascertained : those assigned 

 to it by Audubon and Bachman are lat. 69° to lat. 30°. 



7. Speemophilus IS-lineatus, Mitchill. 



Sciurus IS-lineatus, Mitchill's Medical Kepository for 1821. 



SpermopMlus hoodi, Sabine. 



S. tridecem-lineatus, Aud. & Bach. I. 224, pi. 39. 



The little prairie squirrel, so common in Wisconsin, Michigan, 

 and Minnesota, would seem to have a very extensive range, in being 

 found by the expedition on the Platte beyond Fort Laramie. 

 The specimen is, however, immature, and it is quite possible that 

 further investigation may show this to be a species distinct from 

 the St. Peter's specimen described by Dr. Mitchill. 



8. Ovis MONTANA, Desm. — ^Bighorn. 



Ovis montanu. Rich. F. B. A. I. p. 271 ;— Aud. & Bach. Quad. II. 164, pi. 73. 



The specimen of bighorn, or Rocky Mountain Sheep, brought 

 home by Captain Stansbury, was shot on Chug- Water. It is the 

 largest individual we have ever seen, although itself possibly not 

 of maximum size. It differs somewhat from the description in 

 Audubon and Bachman, in having the posterior line of all the 

 legs yellowish white, this colour extending to the axillae in front, 

 and confluent behind with the white of buttocks, scrotum, and 



