10 



MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr. 



Great Salt Lake Basin, but principally at the following points : 

 Leavenworth, Topeka, and Fort Hays, Kansas; Denver and 

 Park County, Colorado Territory ; Cheyenne, and Carbon 

 County, Wyoming Territory ; and the north-eastern part of the 

 Great Salt Lake Valley. The results of this expedition may be 

 briefly stated, as follows : — Altogether, about 1,700 skins were 

 collected, 1,500 of which were of birds, and the remaining 200 

 of mammals, besides many skeletons and skulls, and specimens 

 in alcohol. The collection of mammals, includes 8 elk, 12 

 black-tailed deer (^Cervus macrons'), 1 white-tailed deer (Cer- 

 vus kncurus), 25 prong-horned antelopes, 11 big-horns, or 

 Rocky Mountain sheep, and 23 buffalo. In each case both 

 sexes and the young are represented, and the specimens are 

 about equally divided between skins and skeletons. In addition 

 to these were obtained 35 skulls of antelope, 18 skulls of buffalo, 

 and a fine series of skulls of elk and black-tailed deer. Among 

 tlie smaller species are nearly 50 specimens of the little chief 

 hare (^La^omys princeps), and about 30 specimens of Cy- 

 nomys, or prairie dogs, divided about equally, betwen C. ludo- 

 viciamis and C. Gunnisonu. Many of these specimens are 

 already in the hands of able preparators ; the preparation of the 

 skeletons, which are to be retained by the Museum, having been 

 undertaken by Prof. H. A. Ward, of Rochester, N. Y., while Mr. 

 S. Jillson is engaged in mounting the skins of the larger mam- 

 mals, many of which were sent to him fresh. The collection of 

 birds contains extensive series of most of the species character- 

 istic of the Great Plains, and the central region of the Rocky 

 Mountains, including, not unfrequently, from twenty to forty of 

 a species, and representing the first or nestling, and the autum- 

 nal plumages, as well as that of the breeding season, 



Mr. Richard Bliss, of the Museum, accompanied the expedi- 

 tion for several months as ichthyologist, and Mr. C. W. Bennett 

 was engaged as taxidermist. To both of these gentlemen the 

 expedition is greatly indebted for its success, and especially to 

 Mr. Bennett, whose zeal and activity were untiring. The Mu- 

 seum is under great obligations to Major General John Pope, 

 Commander of the Department of the Missouri, for important 

 aid rendered to the expedition, and for the kindly interest with 

 which he favored its work ; to Dr. W. E. Webb, of Topeka, 

 Kansas, for many substantial favors ; and to the Hon. W. N. 



