NATURAL HISTORY. 55) 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
The Natural history of the regions traversed—Animal life on the deserts 
—Quadrupeds—Reptiles, their great variety and numbers—Peculiar 
vegetation of the deserts—The “Prairie Dog” and its habits—The 
antelope, ete. 
Havine but incidentally spoken of the Natural History of the 
countries I passed through, I now propose to give some brief 
notices of the most remarkable animals that were seen from 
time to time. 
* In a region as barren as the greater portion of that tra- 
versed, animal life would hardly be expected to abound. 
Nevertheless, there was no spot, however barren, or however 
distant from water, where rabbits and wolves were not seen. 
On these plains, whether desert or grassy, there are fewer 
birds. Often, for days together, nothing of the feathered 
tribe was seen except the omnipresent crow. Living equally 
well on animal food, seeds, or roots, there is no place where he 
may not thrive. 
In the mountains and along the water-courses, where there 
are more or less forest trees and shrubbery, both quadrupeds 
and birds are found in greater variety. Among the former 
may be mentioned the leopard, cougar, ocelot, lynx, panther ; 
the brown, black, and grizzly bear ; the fox, antelope, and various 
kinds of deer ; the large wolf (/obo), and the coyote, raccoon, 
skunk, marmot, weasel; a great variety of moles, rats, and mice, 
