1926] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from the Atlin Begion 147 



Mustela cicognanii richardsonii Bonaparte. Kichardson Weasel 



Encountered but once during the summer, on July 14, when one 

 was seen. It was enduring the attack of a number of Gambel sparrows 

 that were protesting at the weasel's being abroad during the day. 



Gulo luscus (Linnaeus). Wolverene 



I obtained from a trapper at Careross the skull of a female 

 wolverene (no. 34396) trapped by him some sixty miles west of 

 Careross, during the winter of 1923-24. 



Vulpes alascensis abietorum Merriam. British Columbia Red Fox 



The collection includes a red fox skull, picked up on the summit of 

 Spruce Mountain. The species was not otherwise encountered in a 

 wild state. "Silver fox" farming is an established industry in this 

 section, and both at Careross and at Atlin there are successful fox 

 farms. 



Canis lestes Merriam. Northern Coyote 

 The northern extension of the range of the coyote into this region 

 seems to have taken place in relatively recent years, according to local 

 report, but however that may be the species now occurs in some 

 numbers at least as far north as southern Yukon Territory. 



On August 3, five coyotes, apparently a family, were encountered 

 on the summit of Spruce Mountain, above timber line (at about 5000 

 feet altitude), and two half -grown young ones (nos. 34397-34398) were" 

 shot. After my return to Berkeley I received skin and skull of an 

 adult male coyote (no. 34992) trapped at Grouse Creek, Yukon 

 Territory (just north of the British Columbia boundary, on the trail 

 to Teslin), January 10, 1925, and of an adult female (no. 36469) 

 trapped at Teslin, January 15, 1926. 



In a letter received from Mr. A. B. Taylor, government telegraph 

 operator at Atlin, and an accurate observer of animal life, under date 

 of November 5, 1925, he states : ' ' The country is overrun with coyotes, 

 and they have pretty well cleaned out the rabbits and grouse. They 

 come quite close to town and set up a howling that starts all the dogs, 

 especially in the early morning, just before dawn. After the lake 

 freezes there will be some sport chasing them in automobiles. One 

 man got eight last winter in that way. ' ' 



