184 
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 
chased by dogs, as easily as would a coon. This seems conclusive, for if a 
wolverine chased by a dog runs up a tree, that implies knowledge that a dog — 
i.e., a wolf — cannot climb, and that a tree is a refuge; hence tree-climbing 
ability — and some tree-climbing practice. 
I have read somewhere of a wolverine climbing one of the vertical poles to 
reach a platform above the ground in order to get at packages that were stored 
on the platform. At all events positive testimony that a wolverine has been 
seen to run up a tree disposes of the opinion expressed by Doctor Coues that the 
wolverine does not climb trees. 
The accounts given by Messrs. Hunter and Keele and the evidence from Mr. 
Sheldon suggest that some of those who have written about the wolverine were 
no better informed about it than ourselves. 
Mr. Hunter, as already said, was for forty years in the service of the Hudson’s 
Bay Company, and for the last twenty years was a commissioned officer in that 
service. I have no personal knowledge of him, but am disposed to credit his 
statement. 
Wild animals often perform unexpected acts which are wholly at variance 
with our preconceived ideas of them, and because these actions are new, and 
perhaps contradict our old ideas, we are likely to doubt the accuracy of the 
observation, and find it hard to believe what is told us. A few years ago when 
Mr. Sheldon reported the killing of a mountain sheep by a lynx some of us were 
much astonished, yet the same thing had been reported one hundred years before 
— but we did not know it. Mr. Sheldon’s extraordinary experience, on Mon- 
tague Island, Alaska, with the bear which unwittingly ran against him and 
knocked him down but did not attack him, is another incredible happening. 
So also is the act by a black bear in the Northwest Territories which crossed a 
river, came out on the bank, and there killed and began to eataman.^ This hap- 
pening was related by Mr. J. H. Mcllree who was long an ofiicer of the Northwest 
Mounted Police, well known to me, and absolutely trustworthy. It was sup- 
ported by ajffidavits of two men who were present. 
— George Bird Grinnell. 
A CALIFOKNIA RECOED OF MICROTUS OREGONI BAIRDI 
At the time of its description (C. H. Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 
vol. 11, p. 74, 1897), the Baird meadow mouse {Microtus bairdi as then known) 
was represented by only two specimens, both collected at the type locality 
(Glacier Peak, 7800 feet. Crater Lake, Oregon). Three additional examples 
were collected in September, 1905, by J. F. Ferry at Beswick, California (Nos. 
139,195 to 139 197, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Collection). This record 
is of special interest because it adds one more species to the list of California 
mammals. 
Comparison of specimens of bairdi with specimens of Microtus oregoni oregoni, 
from the vicinity of Astoria, Yaquina Bay, Wells, and Oregon City, Oregon, 
shows the differences between them to be subspecific rather than specific. 
— Walter P. Taylor. 
2 Forest and Stream, Vol. LXVIII, p. 974, June 22, 1907; Vol. LXX, p. 214, 
February 8, 1908. 
