182 University of California Publications in Zoology [^o^. 24 



in the tall grass and fireweed. Thej' were evidently more or less active 

 during the day, at least in the early morning. There is considerable 

 color variation in the series we collected, about one-fourth of the speci- 

 mens being notably grayish as compared with the rest, and with very 

 little brown on the back or ochraceous on the sides. 



Zapus saltator has been taken at the mouth of the Skeena River 

 (Preble, 1899, p. 32), and at the mouth of the Taku River (Swarth, 

 1911, p. 135). It would seem therefore that it might also range the 

 entire length of the Stikine River, and I believe it to be very possible 

 that it does so, despite our failure to obtain specimens along the lower 

 part of that stream. 



Erethizon epixanthum nigrescens Allen. Dusky Porcupine 

 Porcupines occur throughout the whole of the region we traversed, 

 but they are apparently not abundant. We saw very few. On June 12 

 one was taken a few miles west of Telegraph Creek. On July 11 one 

 was seen on the mountain side above Doch-da-on Creek, and on July 17 

 one entered our camp at the same locality. These were all that were 

 encountered during the summer. The one obtained (no. 31001), a 

 male, is not much more than half the bulk of an ordinary adult por- 

 cupine, but aside from its small size there is little about the animal to 

 suggest immaturity. It must have been born the preceding year at 

 least. It was badly infested with tapeworms, the abdominal cavity 

 containing packed masses of the parasite in almost incredible amount, 

 and this condition might, perhaps, explain the poor physical develop- 

 ment of the host. The general coloration of this animal is pale yellow, 

 the long overhairs being extftisively tipped with this color and the 

 quills being mostly yellowish. The basal portion of the body hairs is 

 dull brownish, as is also the entire face. The two other porcupines 

 that were seen, apparently normal adults, were extremely dark colored. 



Marmota caligata caligata (Eschscholtz). Northern Hoary Marmot 



Apparently a timber-line species in the upper Stikine region, and 

 descending to sea level at the coast. "Whether or not it also occurs at 

 high altitudes in the coastal region I do not know. We saw none in 

 the immediate vicinity of Telegraph Creek, though the species doubtless 

 occurs in the surrounding mountains. An acquaintance who climbed 

 Glenora Mountain on July 2 told us of seeing a marmot on the heights 

 above the timber. We ran across more or less sign on the bare ridges 

 above Doch-da-on Creek in July ; on July 23 one of the animals was 



