1926] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from the Atlin Region 151 



Erethizon epixanthum nigrescens Allen. Dusky Porcupine 

 A porcupine killed while it was invading the garden at the mounted 

 police post at Nisuttlin Bay, Teslin Lake, on September 11, was the 

 only one seen all summer. 



Lepus americanus macfarlani Merriam. Mackenzie Varying Hare 

 Abundant everywhere in the lowlands. In crossing "White Pass, 

 May 21, we saw rabbits from the train when we had descended on the 

 east slope as far as the upper edge of timber. At Carcross they were 

 seen daily during our short stay, as they were also in the woods near 

 Atlin throughout the summer. Stands of young poplars and some- 

 times of young jack-pine were attacked and girdled by the rabbits on 

 such a scale that over areas acres in extent well nigh every tree would 

 be killed. Larger trees, too, were sufferers to some extent (see pi. 8). 

 Where trees had been chopped down and the smaller branches left 

 piled to one side, these brush piles were invariably browsed upon by 

 rabbits until nearly every vestige of bark was removed. 



Five specimens were collected (nos. 34459-34463). An adult male 

 shot July 10 still has white feet and white margined ears. In an adult 

 female taken August 22 the feet are buffy and there is no white on the 

 ears. An adult male shot September 21 has both front and hind legs 

 white and the ears are mostly white. 



These animals, all in summer pelage, are notably more grayish 

 colored, less reddish, than varying hares from the upper Skeena Valley, 

 which I have elsewhere (Swarth, 1924, p. 384) referred to the sub- 

 species L. a. columbiensis. 



Alces gigas Miller. Alaska Moose 



Abundant throughout the region. Fresh tracks were seen con- 

 stantly within a few miles of the town of Atlin, both in the lowlands 

 and well up on the mountain slopes. On the shores of Lake Teslin 

 I saw certain favored spots where the muddy banks were trodden like 

 cattle yards. That but few of the animals were seen by us through 

 the summer was largely due, of course, to the fact that, not hunting for 

 them, we made no effort to avoid noises and actions that would alarm 

 them; nevertheless, they showed wariness and ability in keeping out 

 of sight. In a country similarly populated with deer many more of 

 those animals would have been encountered. 



