76 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—47TH PARALLEL. 
PVULPES MACROURUS, Baird. 
Red Fox. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 130. 
The same remarks apply to foxes as to wolves, respecting their range. I never saw even the 
skin of one killed west of the Cascade Range, though they are undoubtedly found in small 
numbers. The great difficulty of hunting such animals in the dense forests is one reason, and 
the general substitution of strychnine for traps another why their skins are less often seen, 
many being needlessly afraid to skin an animal killed by strychnine. 
MUSTELA PENNANTII, E r x 1. 
Fisher. 
Baird, G n. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 149. 
“Fisher” skins are brought by the Indians from the mountains. They do not, however, seem 
to be common, and of their habits or distribution I have obtained no information. 
? ? MUSTELA AMERICANA, T u r t o n. 
Sable. 
While on the Cascade mountains I saw among the Indians a few skins of the size of that of 
the ermine, but without the black tip to their tail and of a cream yellow color. They were 
used as ornaments, and in trade, and valued very highly. They were said to be obtained only 
on the mountains. 
LUTRA CALIFORNIA, Gray. 
California Otter. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 187. 
The otter is abundant in every stream in the Territory, numbers living even at Cape 
Disappointment at the junction of the salt with the fresh water, where they have formed paths 
leading up the almost perpendicular rock to the dense thickets above, and quite inaccessible to 
the hunter. Though I have often watched for them, I never saw one, so nocturnal and cautious 
are they in their habits. 
ENHYDRA MARINA, Fleming. 
Sea Otter. * 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857,189. 
The sea otter is not found near the mouth of the Columbia river, as it prefers rocky coasts 
and islands. From the “Quinailt,” a small river emptying about 50 miles north, to Cape 
Flattery, numbers of skins are brought, for which the Indians, obtain an extravagant price—in 
goods, often as much as $30 to $40. 
MEPHITIS OCCIDENTALIS, Baird. 
California Skunk. 
? Mephitis mesomelas, St. Hilaire, Voy. de la Venus, Zoologie, I, 1855, 133 ; plate. 
Mephitis occidentalis, Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 194. 
Sp. Ch.—S ize of a cat. Tail vertebrae two-thirds the length of head and body. Bony palate with small narrow emargina- 
tion in the middle of its posterior edge. Color black, with a white nuchal patch, bifurcating behind and reaching to the tail, 
which is entirely black. 
