no 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
Since the preceding article was written, a large amount of additional material has been 
received by the Smithsonian Institution, from the western explorations of Lieutenant G. K. 
Warren and Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, embracing numerous specimens of skins, skeletons, and 
skulls. The time allowed for completing this report is, however, too short to permit me to re¬ 
examine the questions mooted above with the view of coming to a satisfactory conclusion. I 
can only say, in general terms, that these collections embrace specimens entirely of a yellowish 
white, all of a very large size, and giving indication of great age, and others varying through 
all intermediate stages to gray, with black tipped hairs, leaving no doubt as to their specific 
identity. Thus, No. 1856, from the Yellowstone, is everywhere of a yellowish white, the bases 
of the dorsal hairs, with a slightly brownish tinge, most conspicuous on the shoulders. There 
are a few much scattered black hairs, only visible on close examination. The fore leg exhibits 
no trace of the wolf mark. Two specimens from the south fork of the Platte agree with this 
one. 
In No. 1858 the general color is similar, with more black hairs, and a deeper brown on the 
bases of the dorsal hairs, detracting from the purity of the white. There are some black hairs 
on the upper side of the tail. No bands on the leg ; animal very old. 
In 1862, 1861, 1859, the prevalent tint above is of a dirty light-brownish rusty; decidedly 
rusty on the hack of the head, neck, and ears ; mixed with this are tufts of long hairs, white 
at base, then black, then white, and tipped with black. The tail is tipped with black. There 
is an indistinct dusky hand down the anterior face of the fore leg ; not so old as the preceding. 
No. 1868 from the North Fork of the Platte agrees with these. 
In No. 1860 the pelage is in excellent condition ; the long hairs grown out all over the hack, 
and concealing the basal fur. The prevailing color above is grayish white, waved with black, 
tipping the hairs. On the sides, the under fur only is seen, of a light ferruginous. The upper 
parts and tip of the tail are black, the latter with some white hairs. Face gray, nape and 
region about the ears pale rusty, with some black. There is no hand on the leg. 
No. 1851 is a young animal with deciduous teeth. It agrees with the last, hut is of a less 
rusty tinge. The prevailing color above is a light ash gray, waved with black. There is a 
distinct dusky hand down the fore legs. 
A skin of a wolf from Ohio, kindly loaned by Dr. Kirtland, agrees with No. 1860, hut is 
rather more rusty. 
The following is a translation of Prince Maximilian’s remarks on the varying wolf of the 
Upper Missouri, as made in his Reise in das innere Nord-Amerika, II, 1841, 95. 
“ Canis variabilis .—This wolf is distinguished from that of the eastern States (which resembles 
the European species) by the somewhat smaller size, shorter, thicker snout, somewhat shorter 
ears, and by the want of the dark stripe running down the legs in C. lupus , of Europe; also by 
the color varying from the ordinary wolf’s gray to pure white. In any troop of these animals, 
one may see some that are entirely white and pale, some more mixed with gray, and others that 
are entirely gray. In the living animal the iris is whitish-gray, washed with yellowish, dotted 
with dark on the external border, and colored with yellowish-brown around the pupil. In a 
word, the iris is pale yellowish gray-hrown, darker around the pupil. 
i£ Color of the gray variety of this wolf .—Around the eye, the cheeks, and sides of the snout, 
whitish ; forehead mixed with gray; top of the nose pale reddish; the short truncated ears are 
pale grayish-yellow; upper parts of the animal are yellowish-gray, with decided black tips to 
