Rocky Mountains. 89 



We observed about this camp a yellow flowering sensitive 

 plant, apparently a congener to the saw brier (Schranika 

 uncmata.) of the Platte and Arkansa. Its leaves are twice 

 pinnated, and manifestly irritable. We also added to our 

 collection two new species of Gaura, much smaller than G 

 mollis., which is also found here. 



Several rattlesnakes were seen and many orbicular lizards. 

 These are evidently of two distinct species, differing from 

 each other in the length of the spines, and the position of 



almost destitute of hair; the hoofs are shorter and wider tlian those of the 

 Virginianus, and more like those of the Elk. 



Length from the base of the antlers to the origin of the 



basal process. 2 inches. 



of the basal process- . . . . .2 1-2 

 from the basal process to the principal bifurca- 

 tion 4 1-2 to 5. 



from the principal bifurcation to the two other 

 bifurcations, respectively . . . 4 1-2 to 5 1-2 

 terminal prongs of the anterior branch • 4 to 4 1-2 

 of the posterior branch . 2 1-2 to 3 

 from the anterior base of the antlers to the tip 



of the superior jaw . . . 9 1-4 



from the anterior canthus of the eye to the tip 



of the jaw • . . .6 1-4 



from the base of the antler to the anterior can- 

 thus . . . . .3 

 of the ears, more than . . .7 1-2 

 of the trunk of the tail . . .4 

 of the hair at the tip of the tail, from . 3 to 4 

 This is probably the species mentioned by Lewis and Clark, vol. i. p. 

 77, under the name of Black-tailed deer, and, more frequently, in other 

 parts of the work, by that of Mule deer. It is, without doubt, a new 

 species, not having been, hitherto, introduced into the systems. 



Having mentioned the Elk, it may be proper, in this place, to express 

 our opinion, that bad as the figure. of that animal, given by Catesby, under 

 the name of Cervus major, certainly is, it was really intended to repre- 

 sent the same species with that which Gmelin calls C. canadensis. We 

 have never heard of any animal being observed in the southern or wes- 

 tern states, that could be mistaken for it, neither did we meet with, or 

 hear of the existence of any animal, which could be, by any person what- 

 ever, confounded with this species, if we except the Black-tailed deer, 

 which by an extremely inattentive observer, viewed transiently, and at 

 a great distance, might possibly be mistaken for it. But the Black-tailed 

 deer, we cannot admit ever to have been known to Catesby, when we 

 take into consideration the boundaries of the remote territory to which 

 its range is limited. Catesby's figure also is far more like the Elk than 

 the Black- tailed deer. 



VOL. II. 12 



