ZOOLOGY-MAMMALS. 
105 
These hares are exceedingly abundant on the left bank of the Boise river. They are so 
numerous that our command of 60 men subsisted on them for nearly a week. In a short ride 
of an hour’s duration to see 30 near to the trail was nothing remarkable. The natives 
(Diggers) make garments by sewing many of their skins together. This hare breeds in great 
numbers on the vast sage plains to the south of Boise river, between it and Snake river. They 
are said to turn white in the winter. The flesh is rather bitter, owing probably to the sage on 
which it feeds. 
LEPUS ARTEMISIA, Bachman. 
Sage Babbit. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 602. 
Sp. Ch.—S imilar to the common rabbit, Lepus sylvaticus, but smaller and grayer. 
Fort Union, Nebraska. 
Fort Dalles, Oregon Territory, 1855.—35, 50. 
50.—March 2. Length to root of tail, 12 inches ; tail to end of vertebrge, 2.00 ; of 
hairs, 2.50. 
35.—January 12, 55. Under surface of tail, I am told by Indians, is white; that of 
this specimen was lost. It does not turn white it winter. Name, in dialect of the Wascos, 
La-Ink. 
Dimensions. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Length from nose to root of tail ......_........_........_... 
15 
Heel to point of longest nail.......___..._ 
3 
8 
Height of ear above plane of crown_....._...._.... 
3 
3 
Ear to point of nose_ __ _ ___ __ 
2 
10 
Tail vertebra*, about_ _____....._ 
1 
4 
From olecranon to end of longest nail.._.....___ 
4 
2 
Extreme stretch between fore and bind toes___ 
24 
Ear as long as the head. Small intestines ; about 6 feet 9 inches long ; stomach, about 3 ; 
caecum very long. Ileum contained 4 taeniae. 
ALCE AMERICANA, Jar dine. 
Moose. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 631. 
Horns were obtained from some point north of Steilacoom 
CERYUS CANADENSIS, Erxleben. 
Elk. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. 1857, 638. 
A portion of a skull obtained in Washington Territory. 
14 Q 
