THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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Pteromys (var.) alpmus .— (Rich.) 
Rocky Mountain Flying Squirrel. This squirrel I have called variety 
Alpinus of Sir J. Richardson, and I have no doubt that it is the species brought by 
Dr Townsend from the Columbia River. In size it does not differ much if at all 
from Pier Oregonenm but the colour is much lighter, the hind and fore feet 
densely covered with hair, completely hiding the claws, flaps of the flying membrane 
yellow. Found on the east slope of the Cascades, and west slope of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
Tamias quadrivittatus .— (Say.) 
This active little squirrel is common on the east slope of the Cascades, and west 
slope of the Rocky Mountains. I never met with it on the west side of the Cascade 
Mountains, where Tamius townsendii (Bach.) is the common species. I saw it at 
an altitude of about 6000 ft. above sea level. 
It is known as the ogre squirrel among the Indians, and they have a curious 
tradition accounting for the stripes upon its back, thus it runs:— 
A horrible old ogress lived on the Rocky Mountains, called Tath-a-clea, she had 
an amiable weakness for anything nice, and enjoyed a baby savage for breakfast 
as we do a bloater; her whole aim and object was to catch these juvenile delicacies, 
and craftily adopted various means to coax them within reach of her claws. 
One day a little child, the son of a chief, had strayed too far from the lodge, and the 
ogress was just laying her claws on him, when the father and mother spied the 
danger of their dusky darling. Too late to save, they both prayed to the Great 
Spirit to spare their child, and rescue it from the ogress. The Great Spirit heard 
the prayer and changed the child into this tiny squirrel, and as it deftly slipped 
through her claws the marks for ever remained on its back. 
SpermopJdlus townsendii .— (Bach.) 
Townsend’s Ground Squirrel. These small but handsome little squirrels 
are found in great numbers on the Sand Plains between the Dalis and the Spokan 
River, which river appears the boundary to its range towards the west slope of 
the Rocky Mountains. Its food must consist of wild sage and grass as nothing 
else grows there. How it obtains water I am at a loss to imagine. I have often 
seen it on dry sandy plains, where thirsty nature had not even dew to drink, miles 
and miles away from any spot where water was obtainable; they live in small holes 
dug in the sand, at the entrance to which they sit on their hind legs like a begging 
dog; on the least alarm utter a sharp whistle, and take a header into the burrow. 
Hibernates in winter. 
Hesperomys leucopus. —(Leconte.) 
White-footed Mouse. East and west of the Cascades, and on the west 
slope of the Rocky Mountains; some of the skins brought home were taken at 
Sumass Prairie on the Fraser River, and others at Fort Colville on the Columbia. 
It is scarcely possible to camp anywhere for a day or two, but this mouse infests the 
tents and stores; he eats holes in apparel, and on the Sumass prairie they devoured 
a great many of my most valuable specimens, before I was up to their predatory 
habits. 
Arvicola townsendii .— (Bach.) 
Oregon ground Mouse. This mouse is very common on the Sumass and 
Chilukweyuk Prairies, and on the open plains between the Cascades and Rocky 
Mountains. They cut regular trails through the long grass and use them until the 
