150 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA, 



[NO. 27. 



Seton, visited the region west and soutliAvest of Fort Smith in June 

 and early July, 1907, for the purpose of investigating the present 

 status of the herds. 



On the first trip, in the region of upper Salt River, 15 or 20 miles 

 southwest of Fort Smith, a herd of 13 wood bison — 2 bulls, one calf 

 of the year, and the rest cows and yearlings — was seen. The next 

 day, June 15, another herd comprising -1 bulls, 8 cows, 3 two-year-olds, 

 1 yearling, and 4 calves was observed Avithin a few miles of the same 

 place. Two other trips, to the Little Buffalo River region, west and 

 northwest of Fort Smith, were made, but the parties were unable in 

 the time at their disposal to reach the bison, though tracks a few 

 weeks old were seen. 



Jarvis concludes that the destruction of the bison is due in part to 

 illegal killing by Indians, and that the amount of damage done by 

 w^olves has been exaggerated. 



Ovibos moschatus (Zinnn.). Musk-ox. 



This famous ruminant within historic times ranged over the entire 

 extent of the Barren Grounds, from the mouth of the Mackenzie to 

 Fort Churchill. It has now become extirpated over large areas at 

 the eastern and western extremities of this range, but still exists in 

 great numbers in the less accessible parts of its habitat. (Fig. 13.) 



Edward Sabine first reported this animal from Melville Island, 

 where it was observed during Parry's first voyage. He says: 



Tliis species * * * inhabits the North Georgia Islands in the summer 

 months, * * *. They arrived in Melville Island in the middle of May. 

 crossing the ice from the southward, and quitted it on their return toward 

 the end of September." 



During Franklin's first northern journey musk-oxen were first 

 noted near the motith of Fairy Lake River, a small tributary of the 

 Coppermine, on July 4, 1821, a small herd being seen; ^' and later in 

 the season one was killed near the mouth of Hood RiA^er, at the 

 head of Bathurst Inlet.^ Richardson states that — 



To the westward they are rarely seen in any numbers lower than latitude 

 67°, although from portions of their sculls and horns, which are occasionally 

 found near the northern borders of Great Slave Lake, it is probable that they 

 ranged at no very distant period over the whole country lying betwixt that 

 great sheet of water and the Polar sea. I have not heard of their having been 

 seen on the banks of Mackenzie's River to the southward of Great Bear Lake, 

 nor do they come to the southwestern end of that lake, although they exist in 

 numbers on its northeastern arm. * * From Indian information we learn 

 that to the westward of the Rocky Mountains, which skirt the Mackenzie, there 

 is an extensive tract of barren country, wliich is also inhabited by the musk ox.^ 



^ Supplement to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. clxxxix, 1824. 

 ^Narrative Journey to Polar Sea, p. 331, 1823. 

 ^ Ibid., p. 377, 1823. 



^ Fauna Boreali-Americana, I, p. 275, 1829. 



