516 



hollow log or stump, this noise probably proves an effectual means 

 of communicating alarm to each other. After keeping our pets 

 about three months they escaped from us; we never knew how or 

 where ; the lid was pushed from the box and they were gone. — J. 



M. MlLLIGAN. 



Bears, etc., in Arizona. — In Dr. Cones' article on "The 

 Quadrupeds of Arizona" (Am. Naturalist, vol. 1, No. 7, p. 354), 

 I find but two species of the Ursidae mentioned as residents, and 

 one variety, U. horriceus, as extending into Mexico. While at- 

 tached to Lt. Wheeler's Expedition as Naturalist in 1871, I saw 

 large numbers of bear skins amongst the Coyote Apaches, then 

 living at Camp Apache in Eastern Arizona. 



Black skins appeared most abundant, next grizzly, and occa- 

 sionally that of the cinnamon bear. The latter hides were in such 

 bad condition that I declined trading for them, although half a 

 pound of "Army plug" would have secured one. 



The Indians, as well as the officers at the Post, informed me 

 that bears were abundant in the Mogollon Mts., but the former 

 seldom attack a grizzly. Dr. Soule, Post Surgeon, said, that 

 while taking a horse-back ride up the wooded banks of the Rio 

 del Sal one day. he suddenly came upon four large grizzly bears, 

 and as they did not show any disposition to leave, he suddenly re- 

 traced his tracks to the Post. One large bear, of the same species 

 also, upon another occasion had the curiosity to cross the ravine 

 and go about the parade ground, until fired at by the sentinels, 

 when he trotted off, threw himself over the precipice (on the river 

 side of the post) into the water, swam across and disappeared 

 amongst the pines. 



At Bill Williams Mt., we shot one grizzly, and found numerous 

 tracks around the springs. Wild Turkeys were occasionally seen, 

 and as we approached Postal's Ranche, about twenty miles north 

 of Ft. Whipple, we saw and chased several herds of Antelope. 

 While in the mountains we also obtained live specimens of Cervus 

 macrotis Say. which appeared rather abundant. There is another 

 mammal, the beaver (Cnxtor ( "(uxulcnsis Kuhl.), mute abundant 

 near Camp Verde. Five miles northeast of the Post, Beaver 



many pelts are annually collected, though a few years will suffice 

 to exterminate a race, covering so small an area, and hemmed in 

 by waterless deserts and rocky canons.— W. Hoffman, M.D. 



