[Pg 87]

[Pg 88]

University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History



Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, A. Byron Leonard,

Edward H. Taylor, Robert W. Wilson



Volume 5, No. 9, pp. 87-117, 1 figure in text

November 28, 1951

 

 

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

 

 

PRINTED BY

FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER

TOPEKA, KANSAS

1951



23-7607

[Pg 89]

Mammals from along the Alaska Highway were obtained for the
University of Kansas Museum of Natural History in the summers
of 1947 and 1948 by Mr. J. R. Alcorn, field representative of the
Museum. He and his family visited Alberta, British Columbia, the
Yukon Territory and Alaska in an automobile and trailer from June
9, 1947, to September 6, 1947, and again from June 8, 1948, to
August 24, 1948. In 1947, considerable time was spent by Alcorn
in Alaska; trips were made on the Steese Highway to Circle and
on the Glenn Highway to Anchorage. In 1948, most of the collecting
was done in British Columbia and in the Yukon Territory but
a side trip was taken to Haines, Alaska. The collecting stations are
shown in figure 1. Alcorn's 1,252 specimens include several large
series from areas where few or no mammals had been taken
previously. Time spent at each collecting station was of short duration
(usually less than three days) and although 56 species and
subspecies of mammals are represented in the collections, it is
recognized that not all of the kinds of mammals at any one locality
were taken.

For the loan of comparative mammalian material, grateful acknowledgment
is made to officials of the following institutions:
California Academy of Sciences; Biological Surveys collection of
the U. S. National Museum; Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. C.;
National Museum of Canada. The promptness of officials of the
game commissions of the provinces and territories concerned, in
providing permits for collecting also is acknowledged. A part of
the funds for field work was made available by a grant from the
Kansas University Endowment Association. Elevations above sea
level are given in feet. Capitalized color terms refer to those in
Ridgway, Color Standards and Color Nomenclature, Washington,
D. C., 1912.

[Pg 91]

[Pg 92]

Remarks.—Shrews from extreme northwestern British Columbia
(Stonehouse Creek) average slightly larger than typical S. c.
cinereus, especially in length of tail. These animals show definite
evidence of intergradation with the larger subspecies, S. c. streatori,
but are referable to S. c. cinereus. The pallor of some shrews from
east-central Alaska (Chatanika River and Salcha River) suggests
intergradation with the pale S. c. hollisteri.

Alcorn found the cinereous shrew at most of his trapping stations.
It was captured in mouse traps baited with "chewed" rolled oats;
one was taken in a trap baited with a grasshopper. Rand (1944:35)
and Alcorn each found this shrew to be one of the commoner
mammals along the Alaska Highway, but Alcorn did not find it to be
so abundant as some of the rodents in areas in which he trapped.
The cinereous shrew was taken principally in moist woodlands,
grassy areas, and adjacent to water. One female taken on July 18
was lactating.

Remarks.—Average and extreme external measurements of the
nine adult specimens from 1 mile south of Haines are as follows:
Total length, 103 (98-105); tail, 45 (43-46); and condylobasal
length, 16.2 (16.0-16.4). Corresponding measurements of an adult
specimen (No. 1676, UKMNH) from Sitka, Alaska, are 108, 47, and
16.5. Measurements of ten adult specimens from the Chilkat River,
9 miles west and 4 miles north of Haines, are 100 (91-106), 44
(40-50), 16.0 (15.5-16.5). The slightly smaller average size of the
latter specimens indicates a trend toward the smaller S. c. cinereus,
which occurs farther inland. Skulls of some of the specimens from
the Chilkat River have a more slender rostrum than those of the
specimens from 1 mile south of Haines, and more nearly resemble
S. c. cinereus in this respect. Evidently, as indicated by Jackson
(1928:54), S. c. streatori occupies only an extremely narrow strip
of mainland in the vicinity of Haines.

Remarks.—Both specimens of this pale subspecies were trapped,
along with six Clethrionomys and one Mus, in a grassy area bordered
on one side by the road and on the other by a spruce forest. No.
21069, ?, taken on August 21, is in molt, with one patch of new
fur on the rump and another along the midline of the nape and
shoulders.

Remarks.—Some of the shrews taken in extreme southwestern
Yukon Territory (1½ miles south and 3 miles east of Dalton Post)
and in extreme northwestern British Columbia (Stonehouse Creek
and Mt. Glave) show evidence of intergradation with the coastal
subspecies, S. o. alascensis, in length of hind foot. These individuals
have a long hind foot (14 and 15); the hind feet of specimens from
the other localities listed measure 13 and 14.

Alcorn, like Rand (1944:35), found the dusky shrew to be less
common than the cinereous shrew; both were taken in the same
trap lines. The dusky shrew was taken at a higher altitude (4000
feet, on Mt. Glave) than the cinereous shrew.

Remarks.—These three shrews, in comparison with those referred
to S. o. obscurus, are paler, and the one complete skull has a slightly
higher braincase. All of the specimens were obtained in grassy
areas adjacent to the roadway.

Remarks.—Those males with worn teeth seem to have a slightly
longer and deeper rostrum with a larger, more inflated cranium
than specimens of S. p. navigator from Washington, but in other
ways resemble typical S. p. navigator. An adult male, with slightly
worn teeth, from Dezadeash Lake has sagittal and lambdoidal
crests. All of the water shrews were taken in July and early August
and at the edge of water in traps baited with rolled oats. None of
the females had embryos.

Remarks.—The 38 bats were from a colony of approximately 75
individuals, found on the south side of a house. The paper was
loose and had buckled in numerous places allowing room for the
bats to ensconce themselves between the paper and outside wall.

Remarks.—The specimen is considerably darker both above and
below than either of two specimens of M. l. alascensis from Red
Bluff Bay, Alaska. Alcorn searched ten frame buildings in an
abandoned camp on the east side of Screw Creek, for bats and
found only the one bat. It was above some droppings. No droppings
were found in other buildings.

[Pg 96]

Remarks.—In comparing specimens obtained by Alcorn with published
descriptions of O. collaris in Howell (1924:35), it appeared
that measurable geographic variation might be present in this
monotypic species. Accordingly, comparisons were made with
materials in the Biological Surveys collection of the U. S. National
Museum, the Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. C., and the National
Museum of Canada. A comparison of specimens of similar ages
showed that no subspecific separation is justified although animals
from the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Northwest Territories,
as compared with available material from Alaska, tend to be
grayer in color and longer in total length with a slightly larger skull
and greater alveolar length of molariform tooth-row in both upper
and lower jaws.

Specimens used for comparison were from the following localities:
Alaska: Mts. near Eagle (USBS), 15; 200 mi. S Fort Yukon
(USBS), 2; Upper Little Delta River, Glacier Creek, Mt. Hayes
region (USBS), 1; Glacier Creek, Mt. Hayes region (USBS), 3;
Little Delta River, Slate Creek, Red Mt. Camp, Mt. Hayes region
(USBS), 1; Muldron Glacier, Mt. McKinley (USBS), 2; Mt.
McKinley (USBS), 3; Summit of Chugach Mts., on Richardson
Highway, N of Valdez (USBS), 1; Chitina River Glacier (Nat.
Mus. Canada), 3. Yukon Territory: McMillan Pass, Canol Road,
mile 282 (Nat. Mus. Canada), 2; Rose River, Canol Road, mile 95
(Nat. Mus. Canada), 8; Tepee Lake (Nat. Mus. Canada), 1;
Conrad (Nat. Mus. Canada), 1; near Teslin Lake (Nat. Mus.
Canada), 1. Northwest Territories: headwaters of Caracajou
River, Canol Road, mile 111E (Nat. Mus. Canada), 1. British
Columbia: White Mt., Moose Arm, Tagish Lake, Atlin (Prov. Mus.,
Victoria, B.C.), 2.

Remarks.—Alcorn reports seeing few hares on his two trips to
Alaska. Near the Miniker River, a geologist told him that the numbers
[Pg 97]
of these animals had steadily declined since 1943. One of
three seen in a spruce forest on July 8, 1947, near Whitehorse was
taken by Alcorn. A young one was captured in a rat trap in a building
near the Teslin River on July 5 of the same year.

Remarks.—Rand (1944:42) experienced difficulty in assigning
subspecific names to red squirrels taken along the Alaska Highway
in northern British Columbia. Some variability as found by Rand
is noted in adults taken by Alcorn in this area. All of the specimens
assigned to T. h. columbiensis have a darker tail and more tawny
feet than T. h. preblei. The average of skulls of adults is smaller
than the skull of an adult of T. h. preblei from Yerrick Creek, Alaska.

Alcorn obtained most of the squirrels in rat traps and steel traps,
using "chewed" rolled oats as well as bits of fish and mouse bodies
as bait.

Remarks.—Specimens from extreme southwestern Yukon Territory
appear to be referable to this subspecies. The one adult female
(skull only, with body measurements) from the southwestern end
of Dezadeash Lake has a shorter skull than does any adult female
of T. h. columbiensis. No skins of adults are in the series, but the
skins of three subadults have darker upper parts, a darker tail and
less olivaceous sides than T. h. columbiensis.

[Pg 98]

Remarks.—In comparison with specimens of T. h. hudsonicus
from Iskwasum Lake, District of the Pas, Manitoba, the squirrel
from Yerrick Creek, an adult female, is larger and paler on the
upper parts and tail.

The squirrel taken at Yerrick Creek was captured in a rat trap;
Alcorn found these animals to be "fairly common" in that area.
He obtained no evidence that the natives use them for food.

Remarks.—The specimens vary much in color; most color variation
is the result of wear and fading. In pallor of coloration the
specimens taken on August 16 along the Richardson Highway, 32
[Pg 99]
miles south and 4 miles west of Big Delta, Alaska, show some
resemblance to C. p. ablusus, which occurs to the westward, although
in other diagnostic characters these specimens are typically
C. p. plesius.

Specimens in early stages of molt were taken on July 3, 4, and 14;
another specimen in an advanced stage of molt was obtained on
July 10. One melanistic individual was taken one mile northeast
of Whitehorse on July 11.

Alcorn found these ground squirrels locally abundant, especially
in the vicinity of Whitehorse in Yukon Territory. A large population
was observed along the highway west of the Teslin River;
animals were seen for several miles along the road, principally in
open coniferous forests where there was little or no underbrush.
Alcorn caught several animals near the city dump at Whitehorse.
Along the Richardson Highway he observed these ground squirrels
almost continuously for approximately ten miles. He comments
that the animals appeared to be more numerous in the man-cleared
areas along the highway than in "unmolested areas farther back
from the highway." Specimens were taken with collecting gun and
in rat traps baited with "chewed" rolled oats.

Remarks.—Specimens with worn pelage are conspicuously paler
and grayer than those in fresh pelage. Chipmunks in early stages
of molt with fresh pelage extending posteriorly to the middle of
the dorsal part of the back were taken on June 19, 20, and 22; others
in fresh pelage above, except for the hind quarters, were taken on
June 15 and on September 2.

Alcorn found this species nowhere abundant; for example, in
187 museum special traps set near Charlie Lake, 5 miles west and
3 miles north of Fort St. John, in British Columbia, he took only
one chipmunk.

[Pg 100]

Remarks.—Some of the specimens taken between Summit Pass
and Toad River show evidence of intergradation between the paler
and grayer E. m. caniceps and the brighter and browner E. m.
borealis. Rand (1944:41) also found evidence of intergradation
between these two subspecies in this area.

Along the highway, Alcorn found this species to be somewhat
more abundant in the Yukon Territory than in British Columbia.
He often found the animals occupying abandoned road camps;
seemingly they were more numerous in these areas than in undisturbed
natural habitat.

Remarks.—Although comparative material is not available at
this writing, descriptions in the literature indicate that this single
adult female belongs to the coastal form, G. s. zaphaeus. In both
color and in cranial and external measurements, this specimen appears
to agree closely with descriptions given by Howell (1918:43)
and by Cowan (1937:78 and 82), although its measurements are also
in the range of those given for G. s. alpinus by Cowan (loc. cit.).
It may be pointed out that Swarth (1936:402) regarded a specimen
from 15 miles south of Atlin, British Columbia, as G. s. alpinus.

Measurements of Alcorn's specimen are as follows: total length,
331; tail, 143; hind foot, 42; ear from notch, 23; greatest length of
[Pg 101]
skull, 41.7; zygomatic breadth, 25.7; mastoid breadth, 21.7; length
of nasals, 12.2; length maxillary tooth-row, 8.2; interorbital constriction,
8.2; and postorbital constriction, 9.0.

Remarks.—Two beaver skulls obtained by Alcorn from trapper
Johnny Pie appear to be of this subspecies. Anderson (1947:133)
records this subspecies from the Liard River, in the area from which
these specimens were taken. The trapper told Alcorn that he shot
these two beavers in the winter of 1947-48 and hung the skulls in
a tree.

Remarks.—Specimens from the localities listed above are in the
geographic range of P. m. algidus as outlined by Anderson (1947:
136). Specimens from the vicinity of Haines, Alaska, are slightly
darker indicating intergradation with P. m. hylaeus; Osgood (1909a:
54 and 56) also noted that intergradation between P. m. algidus and
P. m. hylaeus occurs in this area.

Remarks.—Specimens from 2 miles west of Teslin River resemble
P. m. borealis more than P. m. algidus both in size of skull and in
color, although I find it difficult to distinguish the specimens by
color.

Alcorn, like Rand (1945:43), found the mouse in almost every
habitat along the Alaska Highway. On the east side of the Minaker
River, one mile west of Trutch, Alcorn took 26 Peromyscus and
four Microtus in 70 museum special traps baited with chewed
rolled oats, set in a grassy area where there were birches and clumps
of willows. Peromyscus was usually abundant in old construction
camps along the highway; on July 27 in 50 traps set under
abandoned buildings at Summit Pass, Alcorn took 21 Peromyscus.
Apparently, as Swarth (1936:402) notes, the white-footed mouse
makes itself at home in such buildings, and local populations probably
increase as a result of the artificial environment that provides
favorable conditions for existence.

Remarks.—Wood rats were obtained at only two locations,
Alcorn's field notes indicating that the animals were rare and spotty
in distribution. Rand (1944:44) comments that the rats were
"scarce north of the Lower Liard Crossing."

At both localities where specimens were taken, Alcorn noted
first their characteristic droppings. At Summit Pass, droppings were
found in a rock slide at the upper limit of timber line; one rat was
taken. At the trapping station five miles west and three miles north
of Fort St. John, droppings were found in and under an old abandoned
building; four young (two prepared) and one adult were
obtained.

[Pg 103]

Remarks.—The northern bog lemming is evidently not generally
distributed along the Alaska Highway but may be locally numerous
in cover of grass and sedge especially in marsh and bog habitat.
Five specimens were obtained in a grassy area 30 feet wide by 60
feet long which was approximately 50 feet from McIntyre Creek
in the Yukon Territory. In 22 mouse traps set the first night in this
locality, three Synaptomys, six Microtus and one Sorex were taken.
One additional Synaptomys was taken on each of the following two
nights in the same area. At Deadman Lake, Alaska, one Synaptomys
was taken in heavy sedge bordering a small pond.

Remarks.—Specimens from one mile northeast of Anchorage show
little tendency toward C. r. orca from the Prince William Sound
area (see Orr, 1945:73). One specimen from this locality is slightly
darker than the others.

Red-backed mice were numerous in most localities where Alcorn
trapped. A number of specimens were taken adjacent to and within
abandoned road camps, where second growth vegetation was rank.
As in the case of C. gapperi, he found C. rutilus in varied habitats.

[Pg 104]

Remarks.—These red-backed mice were taken in various habitats:
grassy areas in aspen and poplar forest, heavy spruce forest with no
undergrowth excepting lichens and moss, thick underbrush in river
flood plain, and at the site of an old sawmill. The northwestern
distribution of this species along the Alaska Highway as found by
Alcorn is approximately the same as that found by Rand (1944:44).

Remarks.—One muskrat was shot in an old beaver pond on the
north side of the Salcha River. A skull from a carcass, that had been
left by a trapper the previous winter, was obtained at Deadman
Lake.

Remarks.—A subadult taken only a few miles from the Alaskan
border in Yukon Territory constitutes an extension of the known
range of this species to the northwest. The mouse is evidently
rare or irregular in its distribution since Alcorn did considerable
trapping in the area from which only one was taken.

[Pg 105]

The Pennsylvania meadow mouse is an abundant mammal along
the Alaska Highway. Alcorn obtained specimens at most of his
trapping stations, frequently in company with Microtus oeconomus
at the more northern localities. A preferred habitat was grassy
areas and willow clumps along streams or at the edges of lakes.
The best catches were made along well-used runways, especially
where there were piles of cut grass. These runways were used also
by Clethrionomys and other small animals. Specimens of M.
pennsylvanicus were frequently taken in the daytime; one was
taken on June 29 as it was swimming at the edge of a small lake
near the junction of the Liard River and Irons Creek in British
Columbia.

Lacking sufficient comparative material in the past, most workers
have considered that M. pennsylvanicus ranges without appreciable
geographic variation throughout most of northwestern Canada
and Alaska, where it has been referred to the subspecies, M. p.
drummondii. Dale (1940), in studying collections made in British
Columbia and southeastern Alaska, found evidence of geographic
variation and recognized two new subspecies; thus he not only
pointed out geographically variable characters but reduced the size
of the range ascribed to M. p. drummondii. A later work by Rand
(1943) considered the northwestern populations of M. pennsylvanicus
as being too variable to show distinctive groupings. The
large collection made by Alcorn offers evidence that other separable
subspecies with constant characters are present. Study of this material
indicates the presence of two unnamed subspecies, which are
named and described as follows:

Remarks.—Microtus p. alcorni is a well-defined subspecies differing
markedly from adjacent subspecies by a larger and heavier
skull and broader, more rounded and heavier zygomatic arches.
Characters examined in the specimens available are constant.
Specimens from Haines are slightly darker than those from Kluane.
An adult (No. 21534, UKMNH) from Northway has slightly more
inflated auditory bullae than those from Kluane. An adult from
Tyonek (No. 986, UKMNH) has richer brown upper parts. Measurements
of this specimen resemble closely those of animals from
Kluane, although the rostrum is noticably heavier.

Several adults were available from many of the localities of occurrence
of M. p. alcorni. At the locality 9 miles west and 4 miles
north of Haines, there were four which were considered to be old
adults. These four had larger measurements than others considered
to be fully adult. In addition, the skulls were larger and more
rugged. There were occasionally old adults in other series. For
the sake of uniformity, I have not considered these aforementioned
old adults in the comparative studies of younger adults. This subspecies
is named in honor of J(oseph). R(aymond). Alcorn, the collector.

[Pg 107]

Remarks.—For the most part the material available of this subspecies
consisted of subadults; however, comparison of adults with
those of adjacent subspecies indicates that this subspecies can be
distinguished by color of the upper parts, cranial measurements,
and size of the zygomatic arches and the auditory bullae. Specimens
from 14 miles east and 25 miles north of Fairbanks are especially
dark. One subadult (No. 21467, UKMNH) has blackish
hair on the feet and a blackish unicolored tail. No. 241696, USBS,
an old adult female, from Ketchumstock, is larger.

The specimens referred to this subspecies, vary some in color,
but vary less in cranial characters. Additional adults are needed
from western Alaska to determine how far this subspecies extends
down the valley of the Yukon River. Bailey (1900:24) lists one
specimen from Nulato, as drummondii; I have not seen it but on
geographic grounds tentatively assign it to M. p. tananaensis.

Remarks.—Adults among the specimens listed above vary but
little; one female from Assineau River in Alberta is notably more
reddish than others taken elsewhere.

Average and extreme measurements of nine adults of both sexes
of M. p. drummondii from E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch,
British Columbia, are as follows: Total length, 157 (148-165);
length of tail, 42 (37-46); condylobasal length, 25.1 (24.7-26.0);
basal length, 24.2 (23.4-25.0); length of nasals, 6.8 (6.4-7.2); zygomatic
breadth, 14.4 (13.9-14.7); breadth across auditory bullae, 12.4
(12.0-12.7); alveolar length of upper molariform tooth-row, 6.1
(6.0-6.2); Nine adults of both sexes from McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft.,
3 miles northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, have the following
measurements: 153 (147-168); 40 (33-47); 24.9 (24.2-25.5);
24.0 (23.6-24.6); 6.6 (6.2-7.2); 14.4 (13.9-15.1); 12.1 (11.7-12.5);
6.1 (6.0-6.2).

Remarks.—The single adult male, obtained by Alcorn, has been
compared by Dr. Henry W. Setzer with specimens of Microtus
muriei Nelson, M. miurus miurus Osgood, and M. m. oreas Osgood
[Pg 109]
in the United States National Museum. He reports that the specimen
is related most closely to M. miurus but exhibits characters by
which it is, at least, subspecifically distinct from these two forms of
this species. Three specimens of M. andersoni Rand and one of
M. cantator Anderson, borrowed from the National Museum of
Canada are less mature than the specimen in question. Even so,
the male from Fish Creek is less gray than M. andersoni and as seen
from measurements of the type, an adult male (Rand, 1945:42),
is larger with longer tail and has a shorter and narrower skull and
is judged to be taxonomically separable. M. cantator was named
from two specimens; both the paratype (seen by me) and seemingly
the type are too young to show clearly subspecific characters.
Alcorn's specimen is tentatively referred to M. cantator until some
adult topotypes can be obtained. Measurements of the male,
No. 21539, from Fish Creek, are: Total length, 152; length of tail,
30; hind foot, 22; condylobasal length, 28.0; basal length, 26.6; length
of nasals, 7.1; zygomatic breadth, 13.8; breadth across auditory
bullae, 11.5; least interorbital breadth, 3.3; alveolar length of upper
molariform tooth-row, 6.2.

Alcorn took this specimen in an area above timberline where a
low growth of willow was the dominant vegetation. Traps were
set where he had seen a mouse go into a small burrow. The next
morning, August 18, 1947, he found this specimen and two Microtus
oeconomus macfarlani in his traps.

Microtines of the subgenus Stenocranius from continental areas
of Alaska and Northwestern Canada are represented in collections
by a few specimens from widely separated localities. Lacking material
from intermediate localities, describers have given specific
recognition to several of these isolated populations. Future collecting
will be necessary to disclose whether the North American
mice of this subgenus belong to one or to more than one species and
may disclose whether or not there has been more than one invasion
of the North American continent by members of this Asiatic group.

Remarks.—Specimens from 1½ miles south and 3 miles east of
Dalton Post and from Dezadeash Lake in Yukon Territory and from
Stonehouse Creek in British Columbia are referred to M. l. vellerosus
although in color of upper parts they show close relationship with
M. l. littoralis. These specimens are less gray and more brown than
specimens more typical of M. l. vellerosus from the Liard River area.

Alcorn found the long-tailed meadow mouse in widely separated
areas. Most specimens were obtained in grassy situations near
water or on moist ground. The single male from Summit Pass in
British Columbia was taken above timberline.

Remarks.—In comparison with the series of M. l. vellerosus from
the Liard River area, the long-tailed meadow mice from near Haines
are more reddish brown, have a longer tail, and have a smaller skull
with smaller auditory bullae. This subspecies is restricted to the
coastal area, and as noted under the account of M. l. vellerosus,
intergradation between these two forms occurs a relatively short
distance inland.

Remarks.—Alcorn found the tundra mouse in many of the localities
at which he trapped in east-central Alaska. Specimens were
taken above timberline, along roads, in grassy areas which had been
cleared of timber, and in low vegetation bordering streams. On
August 17 at Fish Creek, 5 miles north and 1 mile east of Paxson,
Alaska, Alcorn obtained one of these mice in a tree in the daytime.
Immature specimens taken at Stonehouse Creek are, to my knowledge,
the first records for this species in British Columbia.

Remarks.—Alcorn took house mice in and near areas inhabited
by man. One mouse was taken near Whitehorse on July 10 under
a building which had not been occupied for one year. Another was
taken at the Whitehorse city dump. Near Kinuso, one specimen
was obtained at the site of an old sawmill.

Remarks.—The jumping mice listed above have been compared
with specimens of Z. h. hudsonius from Ontario and Michigan. The
zone of contact between Z. h. hudsonius and Z. h. alascensis is still
unknown; Alcorn obtained no specimens between Irons Creek and
Whitehorse. To my knowledge there are no records from this extensive
area.

Alcorn took Zapus in grassy areas at the edge of water, in an old
gravel pit, and at the site of an old sawmill. Animals were taken
as early as June 30 and as late as September 2.

[Pg 112]

Remarks.—Specimens taken by Alcorn were compared with representatives
of both Z. princeps (Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon) and Z.
hudsonius (Ontario, Michigan, Kansas, Wyoming). All have been
referred to Z. hudsonius although one female from Stonehouse Creek
shows some tendency toward Z. princeps in external measurements,
length of upper molariform tooth-row, and length of incisive
foramina.

Remarks.—Alcorn found little evidence of porcupines along the
highway. The female from the Teslin River was found under a
building. The female from Yerrick Creek was in dense underbrush
in a spruce forest and weighed 20 pounds.

Remarks.—Alcorn reported wolf sign at many of his camps along
the highway. Skulls were obtained from trappers.

Remarks.—Specimens obtained are skulls only, mostly taken in
the winter months by trappers. One fox was found dead with
porcupine quills stuck in and around its mouth.

Remarks.—One large, unsexed skull from Buckinghorse River
with part of the rostrum gone has the frontal shield strongly dished.
A young adult female taken 10 miles west of Fort Nelson on August
23, 1948, has the following external measurements: Total length,
1345; tail, 65; hind foot, 256; ear from notch, 135.

[Pg 114]

Remarks.—Of three specimens obtained at the Unahini River, two
males resemble each other closely, while the third, an old adult
represented by an unsexed skull with broken cranium, is markedly
different, the skull being noticeably shorter with shorter rostrum
and lower jaw and other distinctive features. It closely resembles
the skull of an adult male taken at the Aishihik River. Furthermore,
the first two animals show close relationships with an unsexed skull
which Alcorn obtained at the Buckinghorse River in British
Columbia.

Two males taken at the Unahini River in the Yukon Territory
have the following external measurements: Total length, 1933, 1812;
tail, 150, 96; hind foot, 262, 260; ear from notch, 129, 131. Other
specimens, skulls only, obtained from native hunters, are partly
broken. Alcorn writes that the local hunters always shoot a grizzly
in the head to be certain that it is dead.

Remarks.—One ermine was caught in a rat trap; the others were
taken within 50 yards of the trapped animal by attracting them with
squeaking calls to within shooting range. One of the weasels approached
to within ten feet of Alcorn, while he was making the
mentioned call.

[Pg 115]

Remarks.—While studying moose at Medicine Lake, near Circle
Hot Springs, Alaska, on August 9, 1947, Alcorn observed some mink
concerning which he records the following: "After waiting about
an hour a large mink was seen traveling northward on land at the
edge of the lake. It continued and went out of sight. I waited
about two minutes and then started a series of loud squeaks. To
our surprise we soon saw what we judged was the same mink. In
company with this mink were five others.... These mink
were much interested in the squeaking noise and some came within
10 feet of me. They stayed on land most of the time but some of
them made short swims a few feet out into the lake. One had a
white chin, another had a white spot on its chest. This group may
have been an adult female with her young."

[Pg 116]

Remarks.—Two skulls of male goats were obtained from a
trapper, Johnny Pie, who shot them on July 4, 1948. Field notes
indicate that both mountain goats and mountain sheep are frequently
taken by natives in the Liard River area.

Remarks.—The specimen has the following external measurements:
Total length, 1474; tail, 84; length of hind foot, 400; ear
from notch, 91. The individual is a male, seven years old, as
judged by the rings of growth on the horns. The skull is accompanied
by a skin now tanned for study purposes.

[Pg 117]

Transmitted April 9, 1951.