38 
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 
Erethizon dorsatum dorsatum. Canada Porcupine. — Fairly common. The 
majority of the porcupines seen were met with while they were feeding at the 
edge of some lake or stream. In a number of instances they were observed eating 
the rhizomes of water-lilies that had been pulled up by the moose. The porcu- 
pines were at times seen to secure this food, and no doubt also other kinds found 
in such places, by reaching down into the water full length of the arm, feeling 
about until some object was encountered and then hauling it in with the hand. 
Half grown specimens still accompanied by the mother were several times 
met with. 
Lepus americanus phaeonotus. Minnesota Varying Hare. — Found throughout 
the region but it was much more common in the underbrush along the North 
Kawishiwi and in the Clear Lake district than further out, as for example in the 
Isabella Lake region. This is very likely due to the greater number of enemdes 
preying upon the species in the more remote localities. 
Lynx canadensis canadensis. Canada Lynx. — I was informed by Fred Mayo, 
one of the trappers in this territory, that only once during the trapping season 
of 1919-20 did he come upon tracks of the lynx; he considered the species rare, 
having failed to secure a specimen during his trapping experience in this range. 
I was informed by Mr. John Schaefer that lynx are still occasionally brough t in 
from other parts of Lake County. 
Lynx rufus rufus. Wild Cat. — The only evidence I have personally obtained 
of the presence of the wild cat in this particular part of the county is the record 
among my notes of an old skull picked up in 1912 near the junction of the Island 
River with the Isabella. Neither of the two trappers had taken or seen any 
specimens of the wild cat in their operations of 1919, but Mr. R. G. Schreck in- 
forms me that the species is quite certainly present although scarce. 
Vulpes fulva. Red Fox. — The red fox occurs in all parts of this territory, 
apparently in moderate numbers only. One of the trappers considered it fairly 
common in the Kawishiwi River and Gabro Lake districts; the other held it to 
be rather scarce in the Isabella River and Lake region. My own evidence is 
limited to three foxes seen, two of which were taken ; one of the specimens was a 
black phase. The localities are : The South Kawishiwi about a mile below Clear 
Lake; the hill bordering the bay of the S. Kawishiwi southwest of the Gabro 
Lake portage (black specimen) ; Isabella River about half a mile below L. Isabella. 
Canis nubilus. Timber Wolf. — Found in all parts of this territory but more 
especially in the remoter districts. Signs of the timber wolf Avere frequently met 
with from the Gabro Lake region eastward and southeastward as far as my obser- 
vations extended. In September, 1912, I chanced upon one of these beasts while 
it was feeding upon a dead moose at the rapids of the Isabella River at Lake 
Bald Eagle; and in August, 1920, I shot an immature male along this same river 
at Rice Lake (Johnson, Journ. of Mammalogy, Feb., 1921). One of the trappers 
reported having seen a number of packs of wolves in this region in the winter of 
1919-20. Each of the men had taken about half a dozen of the animals in their 
trapping operations that season . The total destruction of big game by the timber 
wolf in this entire region is unquestionably quite considerable. 
Lutra canadensis canadensis. Otter. — The first signs of otters in the territory 
covered were seen in 1914, along the Isabella River at the first portage above 
Rice Lake. Here was found a recently inhabited den and also other evidence 
