Chapter 2

Neotoma cinerea drummondii (Richardson)

Bushy-tailed Wood Rat

Myoxus drummondiiRichardson, Zool. Jour., 3:517, 1828. (Type probably from near Jasper House, Alberta, Canada.)Neotoma cinerea drummondiiMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 7:25, April 13, 1892.Specimens examined.—Total 4, as follows:British Columbia: Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W of Fort Nelson, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 3.

Myoxus drummondiiRichardson, Zool. Jour., 3:517, 1828. (Type probably from near Jasper House, Alberta, Canada.)Neotoma cinerea drummondiiMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 7:25, April 13, 1892.

Myoxus drummondiiRichardson, Zool. Jour., 3:517, 1828. (Type probably from near Jasper House, Alberta, Canada.)

Neotoma cinerea drummondiiMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 7:25, April 13, 1892.

Specimens examined.—Total 4, as follows:British Columbia: Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W of Fort Nelson, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 3.

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.

Synaptomys borealis dalli Merriam

Northern Bog Lemming

Synaptomys(Mictomys)dalliMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:62, March 19, 1896. (Type from Nulato, Alaska.)Synaptomys borealis dalliA. B. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 50:24, (June 30) August 5, 1927.Specimens examined.—Total 6, as follows:Alaska: E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 1.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 5.

Synaptomys(Mictomys)dalliMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:62, March 19, 1896. (Type from Nulato, Alaska.)

Synaptomys borealis dalliA. B. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 50:24, (June 30) August 5, 1927.

Specimens examined.—Total 6, as follows:Alaska: E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 1.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 5.

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, threeSynaptomys, sixMicrotusand oneSorexwere taken. One additionalSynaptomyswas taken on each of the following two nights in the same area. At Deadman Lake, Alaska, oneSynaptomyswas taken in heavy sedge bordering a small pond.

Clethrionomys rutilus dawsoni (Merriam)

Dawson Red-backed Mouse

Evotomys dawsoniMerriam, Amer. Nat., 22:650, July, 1888. (Type from Finlayson River, a northern source of the Liard River, lat. 61° 30' N, long. 129° 30' W, Yukon, Canada.)Clethrionomys rutilus dawsoniRausch, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 40:135, April 21, 1950.Specimens examined.—Total 126, as follows:Alaska: Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 17; 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 1; N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 15; 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 3; Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 32; Tok Junction, 1600 ft., 1; E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 9; 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 9; Glenn Highway, 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake, 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 2; 1 mi. S Haines, 5 ft., 2.YukonTerritory: Jct. Grafe Creek and Edith Creek, 2; 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2250 ft., 4; 2 mi. NNW Whitehorse, 2100 ft., 2; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 6; SW end Desadeash Lake, 15.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 1; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 2; Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 2.

Evotomys dawsoniMerriam, Amer. Nat., 22:650, July, 1888. (Type from Finlayson River, a northern source of the Liard River, lat. 61° 30' N, long. 129° 30' W, Yukon, Canada.)

Clethrionomys rutilus dawsoniRausch, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 40:135, April 21, 1950.

Specimens examined.—Total 126, as follows:Alaska: Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 17; 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 1; N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 15; 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 3; Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 32; Tok Junction, 1600 ft., 1; E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 9; 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 9; Glenn Highway, 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake, 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 2; 1 mi. S Haines, 5 ft., 2.YukonTerritory: Jct. Grafe Creek and Edith Creek, 2; 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2250 ft., 4; 2 mi. NNW Whitehorse, 2100 ft., 2; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 6; SW end Desadeash Lake, 15.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 1; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 2; Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 2.

Remarks.—Specimens from one mile northeast of Anchorage show little tendency towardC. r. orcafrom 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 ofC. gapperi, he foundC. rutilusin varied habitats.

Clethrionomys gapperi athabascae (Preble)

Red-backed Mouse

Evotomys gapperi athabascaePreble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:178, October 26, 1908. (Type from Fort Smith, Slave Lake, Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories, Canada.)Clethrionomys gapperi athabascaeHarper, Jour. Mamm., 13:28, February 9, 1932.Specimens examined.—Total 14, as follows:British Columbia: N side Muska River, 1200 ft., 4 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 3; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 4.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 6.

Evotomys gapperi athabascaePreble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:178, October 26, 1908. (Type from Fort Smith, Slave Lake, Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories, Canada.)

Clethrionomys gapperi athabascaeHarper, Jour. Mamm., 13:28, February 9, 1932.

Specimens examined.—Total 14, as follows:British Columbia: N side Muska River, 1200 ft., 4 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 3; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 4.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 6.

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).

Ondatra zibethicus spatulatus (Osgood)

Muskrat

Fiber spatulatusOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:36, October 6, 1900. (Type from Lake Marsh, Yukon, Canada.)Ondatra zibethica spatulataMiller, N. Amer. LandMamm.1911, p. 231, December 31, 1912.Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Alaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 1; E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. NE Northway, 1.

Fiber spatulatusOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:36, October 6, 1900. (Type from Lake Marsh, Yukon, Canada.)Ondatra zibethica spatulataMiller, N. Amer. LandMamm.1911, p. 231, December 31, 1912.

Fiber spatulatusOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:36, October 6, 1900. (Type from Lake Marsh, Yukon, Canada.)

Ondatra zibethica spatulataMiller, N. Amer. LandMamm.1911, p. 231, December 31, 1912.

Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Alaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 1; E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. NE Northway, 1.

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.

Phenacomys intermedius mackenzii Preble

Lemming Mouse

Phenacomys mackenziiPreble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:182, August 6, 1902. (Type from Fort Smith, Slave River, Mackenzie, Canada.)Phenacomys intermedius mackenziiCrowe, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist, 80:403, February 4, 1943.Specimen examined.—One fromYukon Territory: SE end Dezadeash Lake.

Phenacomys mackenziiPreble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:182, August 6, 1902. (Type from Fort Smith, Slave River, Mackenzie, Canada.)

Phenacomys intermedius mackenziiCrowe, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist, 80:403, February 4, 1943.

Specimen examined.—One fromYukon Territory: SE end Dezadeash 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.

Microtus pennsylvanicus

Pennsylvania Meadow Mouse

The Pennsylvania meadow mouse is an abundant mammal along the Alaska Highway. Alcorn obtained specimens at most of his trapping stations, frequently in company withMicrotus oeconomusat 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 byClethrionomysand other small animals. Specimens ofM. pennsylvanicuswere 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 thatM. pennsylvanicusranges 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 toM. p. drummondii. A later work by Rand (1943) considered the northwestern populations ofM. pennsylvanicusas 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:

Microtus pennsylvanicus alcorni new subspecies

Type.—Female, adult, skin with skull, No. 21552, Univ. Kansas, Mus. Nat. Hist., 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 feet elevation, Yukon Territory, Canada; 24 August 1947; obtained by J. R. Alcorn; original No. 5240.Range.—Extreme southwestern Yukon Territory and adjacent parts of Alaska as far south as Haines, as far north as Northway, and as far west along the Alaskan coast as Anchorage and Tyonek.Diagnosis.—Size large (seemeasurements); color of upper parts near (l) Brussels Brown; skull noticeably ridged; zygomatic arches heavy, rounded and relatively short; rostrum heavy; auditory bullae not greatly expanded; maxillary teeth relatively heavy and low-crowned.Comparisons.—FromM. p. drummondii(specimens from vicinity of Whitehorse, Y. T., Trutch, B. C., and Kinuso, Alberta),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all measurements taken except lengths of tail and hind foot, which are the same; color of upper parts slightly paler and more gray and less brown; underparts paler; zygomatic arches heavier, rounderand shorter; skull proportionately more massive, except the auditory bullae which are less inflated; maxillary teeth heavier and lower-crowned.FromM. p. rubidus(specimens from Atlin, B. C.),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all cranial measurements taken except length of the maxillary tooth-row which is the same; color of upperparts more gray and less brown; underparts darker; skull longer with longer nasals and heavier zygomatic arches; skull of adult more heavily ridged.FromM. p. admiraltiae(specimens from Admiralty Island),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all measurements taken; color of upper parts more gray and less brown, underparts darker.

Range.—Extreme southwestern Yukon Territory and adjacent parts of Alaska as far south as Haines, as far north as Northway, and as far west along the Alaskan coast as Anchorage and Tyonek.

Diagnosis.—Size large (seemeasurements); color of upper parts near (l) Brussels Brown; skull noticeably ridged; zygomatic arches heavy, rounded and relatively short; rostrum heavy; auditory bullae not greatly expanded; maxillary teeth relatively heavy and low-crowned.

Comparisons.—FromM. p. drummondii(specimens from vicinity of Whitehorse, Y. T., Trutch, B. C., and Kinuso, Alberta),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all measurements taken except lengths of tail and hind foot, which are the same; color of upper parts slightly paler and more gray and less brown; underparts paler; zygomatic arches heavier, rounderand shorter; skull proportionately more massive, except the auditory bullae which are less inflated; maxillary teeth heavier and lower-crowned.

FromM. p. rubidus(specimens from Atlin, B. C.),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all cranial measurements taken except length of the maxillary tooth-row which is the same; color of upperparts more gray and less brown; underparts darker; skull longer with longer nasals and heavier zygomatic arches; skull of adult more heavily ridged.

FromM. p. admiraltiae(specimens from Admiralty Island),M. p. alcornidiffers as follows: Averaging larger in all measurements taken; color of upper parts more gray and less brown, underparts darker.

Remarks.—Microtus p. alcorniis 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 ofM. 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.

Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of six adults of both sexes ofM. p. alcornifrom the type locality are as follows: Total length, 162 (149-172); length of tail, 43 (39-45); condylobasal length, 26.3 (25.6-26.3); basal length, 25.2 (24.2-25.9); length of nasals, 7.3 (6.9-7.5); zygomatic breadth, 15.3 (14.9-15.6); breadth across auditory bullae, 12.8 (12.4-13.2); alveolar length of upper molariform tooth-row, 6.4 (6.1-6.7). Seven adults of both sexes from 9 miles west and 4 miles north of Haines have the following measurements: 158 (148-165); 45 (41-50); 26.1 (25.5-26.8); 24.8 (24.4-25.7); 7.3 (7.0-7.6); 14.9 (14.3-15.1); 12.2 (11.8-13.0); 6.2 (5.9-6.3).Specimens examined.—Total 65, distributed by localities of capture as follows and deposited in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History:Alaska: E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 7; 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 1; Tyonek, Cook's Inlet, 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 37.Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2250 ft., 14; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 2; 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 3. Specimens reported by Osgood (1904:35) have not been seen by me but may be of this subspecies, and are tentatively referred to it. These are from the following localities in Alaska: Lake Clark near Keejik, near the mouth of the Chulitna River, and Kakhtul River near the junction with the Malchatna.

Specimens examined.—Total 65, distributed by localities of capture as follows and deposited in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History:Alaska: E side Deadman Lake, 1800 ft., 15 mi. SE Northway, 7; 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 1; Tyonek, Cook's Inlet, 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 37.Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2250 ft., 14; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 2; 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 3. Specimens reported by Osgood (1904:35) have not been seen by me but may be of this subspecies, and are tentatively referred to it. These are from the following localities in Alaska: Lake Clark near Keejik, near the mouth of the Chulitna River, and Kakhtul River near the junction with the Malchatna.

Microtus pennsylvanicus tananaensis new subspecies

Type.—Female, adult, skin with skull, No. 21509, Univ. Kansas, Mus. Nat. Hist., Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, Alaska; 20 July 1947; obtained by J. R. Alcorn; original No. 5023.Range.—East-central Alaska as far south as Tok Junction, as far west as Mt. McKinley, as far north as Fairbanks and as far east as Eagle.Diagnosis.—Size medium (seemeasurements); color of upper parts dark, near (n) Prout's Brown, with some individual variation; skull with zygomatic arches moderately heavy and wide; nasals relatively long; auditory bullae inflated.Comparisons.—FromM. p. alcorni(seedescription),M. p. tananaensisdiffers as follows: Smaller in all measurements taken except alveolar length of upper molariform tooth-row which is the same; color of upper parts darker, more richly brown and less gray; underparts darker; zygomatic arches less massive and narrower; auditory bullae larger and more inflated.FromM. p. drummondii(seecomparisonsunderM. p. alcorni),M. p. tananaensisdiffers as follows: Larger in all cranial measurements taken except nasal length which is the same; color everywhere slightly darker; wider across zygomatic arches; zygoma thicker; nasals, relative to length of skull, shorter; auditory bullae larger and more inflated.

Type.—Female, adult, skin with skull, No. 21509, Univ. Kansas, Mus. Nat. Hist., Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, Alaska; 20 July 1947; obtained by J. R. Alcorn; original No. 5023.

Range.—East-central Alaska as far south as Tok Junction, as far west as Mt. McKinley, as far north as Fairbanks and as far east as Eagle.

Diagnosis.—Size medium (seemeasurements); color of upper parts dark, near (n) Prout's Brown, with some individual variation; skull with zygomatic arches moderately heavy and wide; nasals relatively long; auditory bullae inflated.

Comparisons.—FromM. p. alcorni(seedescription),M. p. tananaensisdiffers as follows: Smaller in all measurements taken except alveolar length of upper molariform tooth-row which is the same; color of upper parts darker, more richly brown and less gray; underparts darker; zygomatic arches less massive and narrower; auditory bullae larger and more inflated.

FromM. p. drummondii(seecomparisonsunderM. p. alcorni),M. p. tananaensisdiffers as follows: Larger in all cranial measurements taken except nasal length which is the same; color everywhere slightly darker; wider across zygomatic arches; zygoma thicker; nasals, relative to length of skull, shorter; auditory bullae larger and more inflated.

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, asdrummondii; I have not seen it but on geographic grounds tentatively assign it toM. p. tananaensis.

Measurements.—Measurements of the type specimen are as follows: Total length, 160; length of tail, 40; condylobasal length, 26.0; basal length, 24.9; length of nasals, 6.7; zygomatic breadth, 14.5; breadth across auditory bullae, 12.5; alveolar length of upper molariform tooth-row, 6.2. Two specimens from Eagle (Nos. 128295 and 128320, USBS) have the following measurements respectively: 161, 154; 37.5, 36; 25.3, 25.4; 23.8, 23.9; 6.5, 6.8; 14.5, 14.6; 11.9, 12.3; 6.1, 6.1.Specimens examined.—Total 34, distributed by localities of capture as follows and unless otherwise stated in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History:Alaska: Near Buster Creek, Chatanika River, 1 (USBS); Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 4; Fairbanks, 2 (USBS); head of Glacier Creek, Mt. McKinley, 1 (USBS); Moose Creek, Mt. McKinley, 2 (USBS); head of Toklat River, 1 (USBS); Eagle, 4 (USBS); Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 13; Ketchumstock, 2 (USBS); 9 mi. from mouth of Robertson River, 1 (USBS); Tanana, 3(USBS); Tanana Crossing, 1 (USBS). Osgood (1909b:24) records specimens which may be of this subspecies from the following localities in Alaska: Charlie Creek, Circle, 20 miles above Circle, 40 miles above Circle, Nation Creek, and Seventy Mile Creek. Osgood (1900:36) also records specimens from near Fort Yukon. None of these has been seen by me; they are only tentatively assigned to this subspecies.

Specimens examined.—Total 34, distributed by localities of capture as follows and unless otherwise stated in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History:Alaska: Near Buster Creek, Chatanika River, 1 (USBS); Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 4; Fairbanks, 2 (USBS); head of Glacier Creek, Mt. McKinley, 1 (USBS); Moose Creek, Mt. McKinley, 2 (USBS); head of Toklat River, 1 (USBS); Eagle, 4 (USBS); Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 13; Ketchumstock, 2 (USBS); 9 mi. from mouth of Robertson River, 1 (USBS); Tanana, 3(USBS); Tanana Crossing, 1 (USBS). Osgood (1909b:24) records specimens which may be of this subspecies from the following localities in Alaska: Charlie Creek, Circle, 20 miles above Circle, 40 miles above Circle, Nation Creek, and Seventy Mile Creek. Osgood (1900:36) also records specimens from near Fort Yukon. None of these has been seen by me; they are only tentatively assigned to this subspecies.

Microtus pennsylvanicus drummondii (Audubon and Bachman)

Arvicola drummondiiAudubon and Bachman, Quadr. North Amer., 3:166, 1854. (Type, by subsequent designation, from vicinity of Jasper House, Alberta.)Microtus pennsylvanicus drummondiiHollister, Canadian Alp. Jour., Special Number, p. 23, February 17, 1913.Specimens examined.—Total 93, as follows:Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 26; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 4; 5 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. S and 53 mi. E Whitehorse, 7; E side Teslin River, 2300 ft., 16 mi. S and 59 mi. E Whitehorse, 1.British Columbia: 1 mi. NW jct. Irons Creek and Liard River, 8; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 3; N side Liard River, ½ mi. W jct. Liard River and Trout River, 1; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 13; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 2; Summit Pass, 4200 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 2; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 19; Beatton River, 115 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 2.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 4.

Arvicola drummondiiAudubon and Bachman, Quadr. North Amer., 3:166, 1854. (Type, by subsequent designation, from vicinity of Jasper House, Alberta.)

Microtus pennsylvanicus drummondiiHollister, Canadian Alp. Jour., Special Number, p. 23, February 17, 1913.

Specimens examined.—Total 93, as follows:Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 26; W side Lewes River, 2150 ft., 2 mi. S Whitehorse, 4; 5 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. S and 53 mi. E Whitehorse, 7; E side Teslin River, 2300 ft., 16 mi. S and 59 mi. E Whitehorse, 1.British Columbia: 1 mi. NW jct. Irons Creek and Liard River, 8; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 3; N side Liard River, ½ mi. W jct. Liard River and Trout River, 1; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 13; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 2; Summit Pass, 4200 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 2; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 19; Beatton River, 115 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 2.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 4.

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 ofM. p. drummondiifrom 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).

Microtuscf.cantator Anderson

Yukon Singing Mouse

Microtus cantatorAnderson, Nat. Mus. Canada, Bull. No. 102, Biol. Ser. No. 31:161, [for 1946], January 24, 1947. (Type "taken in tundra-slide above timber-line on mountain top near Tepee Lake on north slope of St. Elias Range," Yukon Territory, Canada.)Specimen examined.—One fromAlaska: Fish Creek, 3400 ft., 5 mi. N and 1 mi. E Paxson.

Specimen examined.—One fromAlaska: Fish Creek, 3400 ft., 5 mi. N and 1 mi. E Paxson.

Remarks.—The single adult male, obtained by Alcorn, has been compared by Dr. Henry W. Setzer with specimens ofMicrotus murieiNelson,M. miurus miurusOsgood, andM. m. oreasOsgoodin the United States National Museum. He reports that the specimen is related most closely toM. miurusbut exhibits characters by which it is, at least, subspecifically distinct from these two forms of this species. Three specimens ofM. andersoniRand and one ofM. cantatorAnderson, 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 thanM. andersoniand 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. cantatorwas 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 toM. cantatoruntil 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 twoMicrotus oeconomus macfarlaniin his traps.

Microtines of the subgenusStenocraniusfrom 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.

Microtus longicaudus vellerosus J. A. Allen

Long-tailed Meadow Mouse

Microtus vellerosusJ. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 12:7, March 4, 1899. (Type from upper Liard River, British Columbia, Canada.)Microtus longicaudus vellerosusAnderson and Rand, Canadian Field-Nat., 58:20, April 1, 1944.Specimens examined.—Total 127, as follows:Alaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 1.Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 ft., 2; McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 10; ½mi. W Whitehorse, 1; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 18; 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 24.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 20; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 4; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 15; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 27; SE end Muncho Lake, 4; Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1.

Microtus vellerosusJ. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 12:7, March 4, 1899. (Type from upper Liard River, British Columbia, Canada.)

Microtus longicaudus vellerosusAnderson and Rand, Canadian Field-Nat., 58:20, April 1, 1944.

Specimens examined.—Total 127, as follows:Alaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 1.Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 ft., 2; McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 10; ½mi. W Whitehorse, 1; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 18; 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 2500 ft., 24.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 20; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 4; ¼ mi. S jct. Trout River and Liard River, 15; S side Toad River, 10 mi. S and 21 mi. E Muncho Lake, 27; SE end Muncho Lake, 4; Summit Pass, 4500 ft., 10 mi. S and 70 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1.

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 toM. l. vellerosusalthough in color of upper parts they show close relationship withM. l. littoralis. These specimens are less gray and more brown than specimens more typical ofM. l. vellerosusfrom 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.

Microtus longicaudus littoralis Swarth

Long-tailed Meadow Mouse

Microtus mordax littoralisSwarth, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 46:209, October 26, 1933. (Type from Shakan, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.)Microtus longicaudus littoralisGoldman, Jour. Mamm., 19:491, November 14, 1938.Specimens examined.—Total 29, as follows:Alaska: E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 9; 1 mi. S Haines, 5 ft., 20.

Microtus mordax littoralisSwarth, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 46:209, October 26, 1933. (Type from Shakan, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.)

Microtus longicaudus littoralisGoldman, Jour. Mamm., 19:491, November 14, 1938.

Specimens examined.—Total 29, as follows:Alaska: E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 9; 1 mi. S Haines, 5 ft., 20.

Remarks.—In comparison with the series ofM. l. vellerosusfrom 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 ofM. l. vellerosus, intergradation between these two forms occurs a relatively short distance inland.

Microtus oeconomus macfarlani Merriam

Tundra Mouse

Microtus macfarlaniMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:24, March 14, 1900. (Type from Fort Anderson, Anderson River, Mackenzie district, Northwest Territories, Canada.)Microtus oec[onomus] macfarlaniZimmerman, Archiv f. Naturgesch., 11:187, September 12, 1942.Specimens examined.—Total 70, as follows:Alaska: Circle, 664 ft., 1; Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 13; Twelve Mile Summit, 3225 ft., Steese Highway, 6; 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 3; N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 28; Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 9; Fish Creek, 3400 ft., 5 mi. N and 1 mi. E Paxson, 3; Glenn Highway, 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake, 1.Yukon Territory: Jct. Grafe and Edith Creeks, 1; 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 ft., 2; SW endDezadeash Lake, 1.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 2.

Microtus macfarlaniMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:24, March 14, 1900. (Type from Fort Anderson, Anderson River, Mackenzie district, Northwest Territories, Canada.)

Microtus oec[onomus] macfarlaniZimmerman, Archiv f. Naturgesch., 11:187, September 12, 1942.

Specimens examined.—Total 70, as follows:Alaska: Circle, 664 ft., 1; Chatanika River, 700 ft., 14 mi. E and 25 mi. N Fairbanks, 13; Twelve Mile Summit, 3225 ft., Steese Highway, 6; 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 3; N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks, 28; Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 9; Fish Creek, 3400 ft., 5 mi. N and 1 mi. E Paxson, 3; Glenn Highway, 6 mi. WSW Snowshoe Lake, 1.Yukon Territory: Jct. Grafe and Edith Creeks, 1; 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2550 ft., 2; SW endDezadeash Lake, 1.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 2.

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.

Mus musculus Linnaeus

House Mouse

[Mus] musculusLinnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1:62, 1758. (Type from Upsala, Sweden.)Specimens examined.—Total 6, as follows:Alaska: 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 2.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2259 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 2; 2 mi. NNW Whitehorse, 2100 ft., 1.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 1.

[Mus] musculusLinnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1:62, 1758. (Type from Upsala, Sweden.)

Specimens examined.—Total 6, as follows:Alaska: 1 mi. NE Anchorage, 100 ft., 2.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2259 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 2; 2 mi. NNW Whitehorse, 2100 ft., 1.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 1.

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.

Zapus hudsonius hudsonius (Zimmermann)

Meadow Jumping Mouse

Dipus hudsoniusZimmermann, Geogr. Gesch., 2:358, 1780. (Type from Hudson Bay, Canada.)Zapus hudsoniusCoues, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. Terr., ser. 2, 1:253, January 8, 1876.Specimens examined.—Total 8, as follows:British Columbia: 1 mi. NW jct. Irons Creek and Liard River, 3; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 1; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 1.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 1.

Dipus hudsoniusZimmermann, Geogr. Gesch., 2:358, 1780. (Type from Hudson Bay, Canada.)Zapus hudsoniusCoues, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. Terr., ser. 2, 1:253, January 8, 1876.

Dipus hudsoniusZimmermann, Geogr. Gesch., 2:358, 1780. (Type from Hudson Bay, Canada.)

Zapus hudsoniusCoues, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. Terr., ser. 2, 1:253, January 8, 1876.

Specimens examined.—Total 8, as follows:British Columbia: 1 mi. NW jct. Irons Creek and Liard River, 3; Hot Springs, 3 mi. WNW jct. Trout River and Liard River, 1; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 1; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 1.Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 1.

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

Alcorn tookZapusin 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.

Zapus hudsonius alascensis Merriam

Meadow Jumping Mouse

Zapus hudsonius alascensisMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:223, July 15, 1897. (Type from Yakutat Bay, Alaska.)Specimens examined.—Total 18, as follows:Alaska: 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 8.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 4; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 1.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 4.

Zapus hudsonius alascensisMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 11:223, July 15, 1897. (Type from Yakutat Bay, Alaska.)

Specimens examined.—Total 18, as follows:Alaska: 1 mi. SW Fairbanks, 440 ft., 1; E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines, 8.Yukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse, 4; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 1.British Columbia: Stonehouse Creek, 5½ mi. W jct. Stonehouse Creek and Kelsall River, 4.

Remarks.—Specimens taken by Alcorn were compared with representatives of bothZ. princeps(Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon) andZ. hudsonius(Ontario, Michigan, Kansas, Wyoming). All have been referred toZ. hudsoniusalthough one female from Stonehouse Creek shows some tendency towardZ. princepsin external measurements, length of upper molariform tooth-row, and length of incisive foramina.

Erethizon dorsatum myops Merriam

Porcupine

Erethizon epixanthus myopsMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:27, March 14, 1900. (Type from Portage Bay, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska.)Erethizon dorsatum myopsAnderson and Rand, Canadian Jour. Res., 21:293, September 24, 1943.Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Alaska: Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 1.Yukon Territory: 2 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. S and 56 mi. E Whitehorse, 1.

Erethizon epixanthus myopsMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:27, March 14, 1900. (Type from Portage Bay, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska.)

Erethizon dorsatum myopsAnderson and Rand, Canadian Jour. Res., 21:293, September 24, 1943.

Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Alaska: Yerrick Creek, 21 mi. W and 4 mi. N Tok Junction, 1.Yukon Territory: 2 mi. W Teslin River, 2400 ft., 16 mi. S and 56 mi. E Whitehorse, 1.

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.

Canis latrans incolatus Hall

Coyote

Canis latrans incolatusHall, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 40:369, November 5, 1934. (Type from Isaacs Lake, 3000 ft., Bowron Lake region, British Columbia, Canada.)Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Yukon Territory: 25 mi. NW Whitehorse, 1.British Columbia: Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1.

Canis latrans incolatusHall, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 40:369, November 5, 1934. (Type from Isaacs Lake, 3000 ft., Bowron Lake region, British Columbia, Canada.)

Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:Yukon Territory: 25 mi. NW Whitehorse, 1.British Columbia: Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1.

Canis lupus pambasileus Elliot

Wolf

Canis pambasileusElliot, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 18:79, February 21, 1905. (Type from Susitna River, region of Mount McKinley, Alaska.)Canis lupus pambasileusGoldman, Jour. Mamm., 18:45, February 14, 1937.Specimens examined.—Total 3, as follows:Yukon Territory: E side Aishihik River, 17 mi. N Canyon, 1; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 1; Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 1.

Canis pambasileusElliot, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 18:79, February 21, 1905. (Type from Susitna River, region of Mount McKinley, Alaska.)

Canis lupus pambasileusGoldman, Jour. Mamm., 18:45, February 14, 1937.

Specimens examined.—Total 3, as follows:Yukon Territory: E side Aishihik River, 17 mi. N Canyon, 1; SW end Dezadeash Lake, 1; Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 1.

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

Canis lupus occidentalis Richardson

Wolf

Canis lupus occidentalisRichardson, Fauna Boreali-Americana, 1:60, 1829. (Type not designated, restricted to Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, Canada, by Miller, Smithson. Misc. Coll., 59 (no. 15):4, June 8, 1912.)Specimens examined.—Two fromBritish Columbia: Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson.

Specimens examined.—Two fromBritish Columbia: Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson.

Canis lupus columbianus Goldman

Wolf

Canis lupus columbianusGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 54:110, September 30, 1941. (Type from Wistaria, north side of Ootsa Lake, Coast District, British Columbia, Canada.)Specimens examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: Screw Creek, 10 mi. S and 50 mi. E Teslin.

Canis lupus columbianusGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 54:110, September 30, 1941. (Type from Wistaria, north side of Ootsa Lake, Coast District, British Columbia, Canada.)

Specimens examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: Screw Creek, 10 mi. S and 50 mi. E Teslin.

Vulpes fulva abietorum Merriam

Red Fox

Vulpes alascensis abietorumMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:669, December 28, 1900. (Type from Stuart Lake, British Columbia, Canada.)Vulpes fulva abietorumBailey, Nature Mag., 28:317, November 1936.Specimens examined.—Total 11, as follows:Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2559 ft., 1; Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 6; Champagne, N side Dezadeash River, 3; 1½ mi. E Tatshenshini River, 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 1.

Vulpes alascensis abietorumMerriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:669, December 28, 1900. (Type from Stuart Lake, British Columbia, Canada.)

Vulpes fulva abietorumBailey, Nature Mag., 28:317, November 1936.

Specimens examined.—Total 11, as follows:Yukon Territory: 6 mi. SW Kluane, 2559 ft., 1; Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 6; Champagne, N side Dezadeash River, 3; 1½ mi. E Tatshenshini River, 1½ mi. S and 3 mi. E Dalton Post, 1.

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

Ursus americanus cinnamomum Audubon and Bachman

Black Bear

Ursus americanus var. cinnamomumAudubon and Bachman, Quadr. North Amer., 3; 125, 1854. (Type from Northern Rocky Mountains.)Specimens examined.—Total 3, as follows:British Columbia: 10 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1; Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 2.

Ursus americanus var. cinnamomumAudubon and Bachman, Quadr. North Amer., 3; 125, 1854. (Type from Northern Rocky Mountains.)

Specimens examined.—Total 3, as follows:British Columbia: 10 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1; Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 2.

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.

Ursus species

Grizzly

Specimens examined.—Total 5, as follows:Yukon Territory: E side Aishihik River, 17 mi. N Canyon, 1; Unahini River, 5 mi. N and 1 mi. E Dalton Post, 1; Unahini River, 3 mi. N and 1 mi. E Dalton Post, 2.British Columbia: Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1.

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.

Mustela erminea arctica (Merriam)

Ermine

Putorius arcticusMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:15, June 30, 1896. (Type from Point Barrow, Alaska.)Mustela erminea arcticaOgnev, The mammals of U. S. S. R. and adjacent countries, 3:31, 1935.Specimens examined.—Four fromAlaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks.

Putorius arcticusMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:15, June 30, 1896. (Type from Point Barrow, Alaska.)Mustela erminea arcticaOgnev, The mammals of U. S. S. R. and adjacent countries, 3:31, 1935.

Putorius arcticusMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:15, June 30, 1896. (Type from Point Barrow, Alaska.)

Mustela erminea arcticaOgnev, The mammals of U. S. S. R. and adjacent countries, 3:31, 1935.

Specimens examined.—Four fromAlaska: N side Salcha River, 600 ft., 25 mi. S and 20 mi. E Fairbanks.

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.

Mustela erminea richardsonii Bonaparte

Ermine

Mustela richardsoniiBonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38, January, 1838. (Type from Fort Franklin, at western end of Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie district, Northwest Territories, Canada.)Mustela erminea richardsoniiHall, Jour. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.Specimens examined.—One fromYukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse.

Mustela richardsoniiBonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38, January, 1838. (Type from Fort Franklin, at western end of Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie district, Northwest Territories, Canada.)

Mustela erminea richardsoniiHall, Jour. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.

Specimens examined.—One fromYukon Territory: McIntyre Creek, 2250 ft., 3 mi. NW Whitehorse.

Mustela erminea alascensis (Merriam)

Ermine

Putorius richardsonii alascensisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:12, June 30, 1896. (Type from Juneau, Alaska.)Mustela erminea alascensisHall, Jour. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.Specimens examined.—One fromAlaska: E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines.

Putorius richardsonii alascensisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:12, June 30, 1896. (Type from Juneau, Alaska.)Mustela erminea alascensisHall, Jour. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.

Putorius richardsonii alascensisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:12, June 30, 1896. (Type from Juneau, Alaska.)

Mustela erminea alascensisHall, Jour. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.

Specimens examined.—One fromAlaska: E side Chilkat River, 100 ft., 9 mi. W and 4 mi. N Haines.

Mustela vison energumenos (Bangs)

Mink

Putorius vison energumenosBangs, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 27:5, March, 1896. (Type from Sumas, British Columbia, Canada.)Mustela vison energumenosMiller, North Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 101, December 31, 1912.Specimen examined.—One (broken and unsexed skull) fromYukon Territory: Champagne, N side Dezadeash River.

Putorius vison energumenosBangs, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 27:5, March, 1896. (Type from Sumas, British Columbia, Canada.)

Mustela vison energumenosMiller, North Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 101, December 31, 1912.

Specimen examined.—One (broken and unsexed skull) fromYukon Territory: Champagne, N side Dezadeash River.

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."

Martes pennanti columbiana Goldman

Fisher

Martes pennanti columbianaGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 48:176, November 15, 1935. (Type from Stuart Lake, near headwaters of Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada.)Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:British Columbia: 14 mi. N Fort Halkett, W side Smith River, 1; N side Liard River, Fort Halkett, 1.

Martes pennanti columbianaGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 48:176, November 15, 1935. (Type from Stuart Lake, near headwaters of Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada.)

Specimens examined.—Total 2, as follows:British Columbia: 14 mi. N Fort Halkett, W side Smith River, 1; N side Liard River, Fort Halkett, 1.

Martes americana actuosa (Osgood)

Marten

Mustela americana actuosaOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:43, October 6, 1900. (Type from Fort Yukon, Alaska.)Martes americana actuosaMiller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 93, December 31, 1912.Specimen examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: N side Liard River Fort Halkett, 1.

Mustela americana actuosaOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:43, October 6, 1900. (Type from Fort Yukon, Alaska.)Martes americana actuosaMiller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 93, December 31, 1912.

Mustela americana actuosaOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:43, October 6, 1900. (Type from Fort Yukon, Alaska.)

Martes americana actuosaMiller, N. Amer. Land Mamm. 1911, p. 93, December 31, 1912.

Specimen examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: N side Liard River Fort Halkett, 1.

Lynx canadensis canadensis Kerr

Canada Lynx

Lynx canadensisKerr, Anim. Kingd., vol. 1, systematic catalogue inserted between pages 32 and 33 (description, p. 157), 1792. (Type from Eastern Canada.)Specimens examined.—Total 4, as follows:Yukon Territory: Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 1.British Columbia: 14 mi. N Fort Halkett, W side Smith River, 2; Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1.

Lynx canadensisKerr, Anim. Kingd., vol. 1, systematic catalogue inserted between pages 32 and 33 (description, p. 157), 1792. (Type from Eastern Canada.)

Specimens examined.—Total 4, as follows:Yukon Territory: Marshall Creek, 3 mi. N Dezadeash River, 1.British Columbia: 14 mi. N Fort Halkett, W side Smith River, 2; Buckinghorse River, 94 mi. S Fort Nelson, 1.

Alces americana gigas Miller

Moose

Alces gigasMiller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 13:57, May 29, 1899. (Type from North side Tustumena Lake, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.)Alces americanus gigasOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 24:29, November 23, 1904.Specimens examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: 15 mi. NW Kelsall Lake.

Alces gigasMiller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 13:57, May 29, 1899. (Type from North side Tustumena Lake, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.)

Alces americanus gigasOsgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 24:29, November 23, 1904.

Specimens examined.—One fromBritish Columbia: 15 mi. NW Kelsall Lake.

Oreamnos americanus columbiae Hollister

Mountain Goat

Oreamnos montanus columbianusJ. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:20, February 10, 1904. NotCapra columbianaDesmilins, 1823.Oreamnos americanus columbiaeHollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:186, December 24, 1912. (Type from Shesley Mountains, northern British Columbia, Canada.)Specimens examined.—Two fromBritish Columbia: 12 mi. S jct. Liard River and Trout River.

Oreamnos montanus columbianusJ. A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:20, February 10, 1904. NotCapra columbianaDesmilins, 1823.

Oreamnos americanus columbiaeHollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:186, December 24, 1912. (Type from Shesley Mountains, northern British Columbia, Canada.)

Specimens examined.—Two fromBritish Columbia: 12 mi. S jct. Liard River and Trout River.

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.

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