THE QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA V2, AUDUBON and BACHMAN 1851

THE

QUADRUPEDS
OF

NORTH AMERICA.
BY

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON,

F.R.S.,

&c, &o.

AND

THE REV. JOHN BACHMAN,

VOL.

D.D., LI,D., &o.

II

NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY

V. G.

M DCCC

LI.

AUDUBON.



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by

V.G.AUDUBON,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of

H.

LUDWIG. PRINTER, 53, VESEY-8T.,

N. Y.

New- York.


—

5
s

ft

Biology Dept. Library

QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA.

GENUS LUTRA.

Ray., Cov.,

Mustela spec,

Linn., Aonyx, Lesson.

DENTAL formula.

8
6

The second

inferior incisor

much

the canine

species;

on each

dilated,

blunt, and sometimes deciduous

from

five to six, the

Head

fifth

The

little

;t

receding in most of the

first

superior molar, small,

points, but furnished

toes five

<>n

slightly papillous.

each

in

molars

in

some of the

;

ears short and

Body long and slender;

legs short;

some of the species the fifth toe on the hind
Toes webbed, armed with short claws which are not

not

Tail,

genus vary

this

species.

In

foot.

rudimental.

retractile.

with

has externally three small points,

inferior

being wanting

first

s—

large and flattish. terminating in a blunt muzzle

round; tongue

foot is

side,

hooked;

two external

spur on the inner side; the

with a broad spur internally.

— =36
5—

Molar

;

l-l

the second, cutting; the third, of similar

;

form, but larger; the fourth, with
a strong

—
I--1

Canine

Incisive -;

as

long as the body, thick,

and flattened

hori-

zontally.

Body covered externally with
shorter,

On

downy

each side of the anus, there

All the species are good

ponds, and feed on

The generic
Greek A«*

long, rigid

and glossy

hair,

with a

softer,

fur intermixed.

a small gland secreting
live

fetid matter.

along the banks of rivers and

fish.

appellation

(Ions),

is

swimmers,

is

derived from Lutra

— an Otter

:

from the

wash.

There are eleven species enumerated by authors, inhabiting the followVOL.

it.

—

1

303670


;;

CANADA OTTER.

2
ing countries

Europe

:

Guyana 1, Brazil 1, KamtThe Cape of Good Hope 1,

Island of Trinidad

1,

schatka 1, Java 1, Malay
and North America 2.

Pondicherry

1,

1,

1,

LUTRA CANADENSIS.—Sabine.
Canada Otter.

PLATE

LI.

L. vellere nitido, saturate fusco

— Male.

mentc gulaque fusco

;

albis

;

L. vul-

gare major.
CHARACTERS.

Larger than

the

European

chin and throat dusky white

;

Dark glossy brown

Vulgaris.

Otter, L.

five feet in length.

SYNONYMES.

Loutre de Canada,

Buffon, vol.

Common Otter, Pennant, Arctic
Land Otter, Warden's Hist. U.
Lutra Canadensis, Sabine,
"
**

"

xiii.,

p.

326,

Zoolog., vol.
S.,

44.

t.

653.

p.

i.,

206.

p.

Franklin's Journ., p. 653.

Brasiliensis, Harlan, Fauna, p. 72.
"
Godman, Nat. Hist., vol.

Canadensis, Dekay,

Zool., p.

1.,

p.

222.

p.

i.,

39.

description.

Head, large and nearly of a globular form
lips,

thick

ears, round, slightly ovate,

;

nose, blunt

;

and closer together than

Vulgaris, clothed densely with short hair on both surfaces
cylindrical

neck, long

;

like bristles

;

;

legs,

short

Tail, stout, gradually tapering

The longer

fur, soft, dense,

the

naked

;

;

body, long,

moustaches, very

with hair between the
feet,

;

webbed

rigid,

toes,

to the nails

its

length

;

at the base there are

two

hairs covering the fur, are glossy and rigid

and nearly as

;

in L,

toward the extremity, depressed at the base,

continuing flattened through half
oval glands.

and stout

soles of the feet, thinly clothed

tubercles at the roots of the claws,

and naked

fine as that of the

whole extent of the body, even

on the forehead and extremities.

;

Beaver, continuing through

to the extremity of the tail, but shorter


I

I



CANADA OTTER.

We

overlooked the opportunity of instituting a careful comparison be-

tween the

and teeth of the European and American Otters, and

skulls

now no

have

3

We

access to specimens of the former.

language of Dr. Dekay, whose observations

in

therefore quote the

correspond

this respect

with our recollections of a genera] comparison made at the Berlin Museum,
" In their

eleven years ago.

dentition the Otters are eminently characterized

by the enormous dilation of the two posterior cheek teeth

Our

species, in this particular, offers

Otter.

The penultimate jaw

tooth,

in the

upper jaw.

some variations from the European
in our species, has a broad internal

heel directed obliquely forward, with a deep fissure dividing the surface

two rounded and elevated portions

into

with
last

a

;

and the pointed tubercle

high shoulder posteriorly, and comparatively

broad,

is

The

elevated.

little

tubercular tooth subquadratc, nearly as large as the preceding, and

its

greater axis directed obliquely backwards with four or rather six distinct

elevated points
the

European

but the outer raised margin, which

;

Otter, appears

to

is

so conspicuous in

be indistinct or simply elevated into two

pointed tubercles, or wanting entirely, in the American."

become much worn.
worn down to the upper
in another l'rom Georgia, all the teeth arc worn
surface of the jaw teeth
down to the gums. A specimen from Canada and another from Texas
In aire, the canine as well

as the anterior molars

In a specimen from Carolina, the incisors are
:

have the teeth very pointed, and the canine projecting beyond the
These were evidently younger animals.
several occasions found the

In older

two anterior jaw

specimens

lips.

we have

on

teeth entirely wanting, as

well as some of the incisors, the former appearing to have dropped out at

about the fourth year.
COLOUR.

A

specimen from Lower Canada.

Moustaches very

brown,

light

being white, those on the sides of the face dingy white
chin light grayish brown, a shade darker under the throat

upper

;

;

many

lip

and

the lonsr hairs

covering the fur are in one half of their length from their roots dingy
white,

gradually deepening into brown.

upper surface

that of a

is

rich

on the whole of the under surface.
Otter

its

may

belly

back."

be distinguished

beins;
In

this

of the

the

Richardson states:

"The Canada

from the European species by the fur of
our

those of our distinguished friend.

Otters

colour on

same shining brown colour with

particular

mens of American

The general

dark chesnut brown, a shade lighter

observations do

not

that

Out of more than a hundred

which we have examined, many

303670

of the

correspond

ol'

with
speci-

which came


CANADA OTTER.

4

from Canada and the Rocky Mountains,

we have

but with one or two ex

ceptions found the colour on the under surface lighter than on the back.

A

specimen from Carolina, an old male, teeth much worn.
lip from the nostrils, chin and throat to near the

chest, grayish

Upper
white

the fur on the back, although not quite so long as that of speci-

;

mens from Canada,
ness.

The

It is

is

and

quite dense

whitish at the roots,

silky,

and very nearly equal

in fine-

with a bluish tinge towards the extremities.

longer hairs which conceal the fur and present the external colouring

are very nearly of the same tint as in those procured in Canada, so that
the specimens from these widely separated localities can scarcely be re-

garded even as varieties.

A

specimen from Colorado, Texas.

(The form

is

precisely similar to the Otters of

in various intermediate States.

Canada and

those existing

The palms are naked, with a

hair between the toes on the upper and under surfaces.)

The

little

less

colour

is

throughout two shades lighter than that of specimens from Canada, but
Fur on the back from the roots
the markings are similarly distributed.

brown at the tips. The long and rigid hairs on
upper surface lightish brown at the roots, then dark brown, tipped with

soiled white, inclining to

the

lightish

brown.
DIMENSIONS.

Specimen from Canada.

From

—Adult male.

point of nose to root of

Tail,

From
From

point of nose to eye,
point of nose to ear,

tail,

...

--.-.--

Feet.

5

1

7
11

4

-

-

Height of ear,
Breadth of ear at base,

Inches.

2

Of
Of

-

Specimen from Carolina.

From

point of nose to root of

tail,

-.*..-

Tail,

"

...----------

to ear,

Height of ear,
Breadth at base,

7

1

5
If

Point of nose to eye,
"

2

Weight, 23

lbs.

3f

Of
Of


CANADA OTTER.
Specimen from the Colorado,

From

nose to root of

Length of

From

in

Texas.
Feet

tail,

-

tail,

Inches.

2

7

1

6
If

point of nose to eye,
"

"

Between

to ear,

3J

-

the ears,

Height,

-

3J
10

-

Around the body behind the shoulder,
Around the body, (middle.)
Weight 20 lbs.

1

5S

1

1i

HABITS.

We

concluded our

first

volume with a brief account of Spcrmophilus

Richardsonii, the last animal figured in plates

1

lo

50 inclusive, of our

Quadrupeds of North America. Having, since that
volume was written, published about 60 more plates, we now take up our
pen to portray the habits and describe the forms and colours of the species
figured in plates 51 to 100 inclusive, and shall, we hope, be able to
of (he

illustrations

give our readers tolerably good accounts of them

days of our youth are gone, when,

examine every object

found us slumbering

full

;

although, alas

the

!

of enthusiasm, and anxious to

nature within our reach, the rising sun never

in

away

the

fresh

upon our path through the deep

hours of the morning, but beamed

forest, or lighted

up

to joy

and glad-

which we had already gained in
quest of the birds or the beasts that were to be met with; and where
ness

we

the

hill

or mountain top,

side

prolonged our

often

rambles

until

the

shades of evening

found

us yet at a distance from our camp, loaded with wild turkeys, ducks,
geese,

and perchance an

Otter.

Fresh and pleasant in our mind
ditions

among

country

;

and although more than

passed since the Otter

wc

will try to take

Ohio.

It is

is

the recollection

of our early expe-

the wild woods, and along the unvisited shores of our

was

forty years of varied

shot and drawn,

you with us

to a spot

a cold wintry morning

ing of snow, and the landscape in

:

whose

and busy

figure

we have

new
have

life

given,

on the eastern banks of the

fair

the earth concealed by a slight coverall its

original wildness.

Here

let

us

proceed cautiously, followed by that constant companion, our faithful dog.
Whilst

we

roll onward toward the
whose muddy current they will lose their clear and
limpid character, and Ik
ic as opaque and impetuous as the waves of

are surveying the quiel waters as they

great Mississippi, in

that mighty river

of the West,

we

see a dark object

making

its

way


CANADA OTTER.

g
towards the spot on which
ment.
it

we

has not observed us

It

is distinctly visible

it is

;

an

stand, through the swiftly dividing ele-

:

we remain perfectly still, and presently
and now within the range of our old

Otter,

Tear Jacket," we take but one moment to raise our piece and fire
the water is agitated by a violent convulsive movement of the animal,
our dog plunges into the river, and swimming eagerly to the Otter, seizes
surface,
it, but the latter dives, dragging the dog with it beneath the
by

the nose and
and when they reappear, the Otter has caught the dog

gun

"

;

The brave

struggling violently.

is

dog, however, does not give up, but

a few moments drags the wounded Otter to the shore, and we immeBeing anxious to figure the animal, we smooth its
diately despatch it.
in

homewards with it, where, although at that
drawn many quadrupeds, we soon select a position in
the Otter, and accordingly draw it with one foot in a

disordered fur and proceed

time

we had

which

to figure

and endeavour

steel-trap,

creature

Not

not

when

its

foot is

to represent the pain

and

terror felt

by the

caught by the sharp saw-like teeth of the trap.

from the town of Henderson, (Kentucky), but on the opposite

far

Ohio

side of the

of Indiana, there

river, in the State

is

a pond nearly one

mile in length, with a depth of water varying from twelve to fifteen

feet.

shores are thickly lined with cane, and on the edge of the water stand

Its

many

large and lofty cypress trees.

and watch

fallen trunk,

in this

animals which resorted to

engaged

in

it,

We often

used to seat ourselves on a

secluded spot the actions of the birds and

and here

we

several times observed Otters

catching fishes and devouring them.

When

pursuing a

fish,

they dived expertly and occasionally remained for more than a minute

below the

They

surface.

top of the water,

half-sunken log,

generally held their prey

when

they

came

to the

by the head, and almost invariably swam with it to a
or to the margin of the pond, to eat the fish at their ease,

having done which, they returned again to the deep water to obtain
more.

One morning we observed
neighbourhood of the root

pond opposite

to us,

some of these animals resorted to the
of a large tree which stood on the side of the

and with

that

its

overhanging branches shaded the water.

After a fatiguing walk through the tangled cane-brake and thick under-

wood which bordered
site side

the

the sides of this lonely place,

of the pond near the large tree, and

mud and water towards

Otters

was

its

attracted to us, and

at our approach.

covered that

it

On

was

roots

:

we saw

we

moved

reached the oppocautiously through

but the hearing or sight of the
several of them hastily

make

sounding the tree with the butt of our gun,

we

off
dis-

hollow, and then having placed a large stick in a

slanting position against the trunk,

we

succeeded

in

reaching the lowest


CANADA OTTER.

7

bough, and thence climbed up to a broken branch from which an aperture
into the upper part of the hollow enabled us to examine the interior.
At

was

the bottom there
retired,

quite a large space or

but whether for security or to sleep

Next morning we returned

to the

spot,

chamber

we

to

which the Otters

could not decide.

accompanied by one of our

neighbours, and having approached, and stopped up the entrance under

water as

noiselessly as possible,

we

cut a hole in the side of the tree four

or five feet from the ground, and as soon as

we

our heads,

peeped

it

was

large enough to admit

and discovered three Otters on a sort of bed
trees and other soft substances, such as

in

composed of the inner bark of

We

water grasses.

when

sufficiently

but-end, and

continued cutting the hole

we had made,

widened, took some green saplings,

managed

Our companion then

ing the stick forcibly downwards.

we

which are
which

and makes a hole or burrow

clear,

is

at the
to

the

crept into the

returned home.

frequents running streams, large ponds, and

sparingly the shores of some of our great lakes.

to

and

pieces over his neck, and then press-

split

hollow, and soon killed the Otters, with which

The American Otter

larger,

them

head of each animal firmly

to fix the

ground by passing one of these

split

It

more

prefers those waters

in the banks, the entrance

under water.

This species

lias a

singular habit of sliding

off"

and the trappers take advantage of

into the water,

the wet

sloping hanks

this habit to catch the

animal by placing a steel-trap near the bottom of their sliding places, so
that the

occasionally put their foot into

(Titers

it

as they are swiftly

gliding toward the water.
In Carolina, a very

common mode

pretty large fish on the

where

it is

the

seize

from
fish,

pan of a

is

caught either by the nose or

At

oilier

times the trap

on a

rests

on the banks of a pond or river
is

caught

Mr. Godman,

snow

is

;

in his

in

by tying
the

a

water

dives to the bottom to
foot,

and

is

generally

under the water, without

the Otter, in endeavouring to

mount

account of these singular quadrupeds, slates that
is

sliding,

and

for this

selected, to the top of

lying on the belly with the fore-feet
selves an impulse with their hind

down

set

sunk

is

in the trap.

"their favourite sport

ridge of

is

is

one end of which projects into the water, whilst the other

bait,

the log,

which

The Otter

five to ten feet deep.

found drowned.
log,

of capturing the Otter

steel-trap,

purpose

in

winter the highest

which the Otters scramble, where.
bent backwards, they give them-

legs

and swiftly glide head-foremost

the declivity, sometimes for the distance of twenty yards.

This

sport they continue apparently with the keenest enjoyment until fatigue
or

hunger induces them

to desist."


CANADA OTTER.

«?

This statement

confirmed by Cartwright, Hearne, Richardson, and

is

more recent writers who have given the

own

accordance with our

The

Otters ascend the

sometimes where it
effort to

many at a

is in

bank

at a place suitable for their diversion,

and

very steep, so that they are obliged to make quite an

is

gain the top

history of this species, and

personal observations.

;

they slide

On

sliding place.

down

in rapid succession

one occasion

we were

where there are

resting ourself on the

bank of Canoe Creek, a small stream near Henderson, which empties
into the Ohio, when a pair of Otters made their appearance, and not

They

observing our proximity, began to enjoy their sliding pastime.
glided

down

the soap-like

muddy

surface of the slide with the rapidity of

an arrow from a bow, and we counted each one making twenty-two
slides before

we

disturbed their sportive occupation.

This habit of the Otter
borders of streams,

snow

or ice, but

of sliding

down from

elevated places to the

not confined to cold countries, or to slides on the

is

pursued in the Southern States, where the earth

is

seldom covered with snow, or the waters frozen over.

dams of
common.

is

Along the reserve-

the rice fields of Carolina and Georgia, these slides are very

From

the fact that this occurs in most cases during winter,

about the period of the rutting season,
this propensity

may

we

are inclined to the belief that

be traced to those instincts which lead the sexes to

their periodical associations.

Richardson says that

this species

snow

has the habit of travelling to a great

some rapid that has resisted the
severity of the winter frosts, and that if seen and pursued by hunters on
these journeys, it will throw itself forward on its belly and slide through
the snow for several yards, leaving a deep furrow behind it, which movement is repeated with so much rapidity, that even a swift runner on snow
shoes has some difficulty in overtaking it.
He also remarks that it doubles on its track with much cunning, and dives under the snow to elude
distance through the

in search of

pursuers.

its

The
and as
fresh

for

Otter
it

is

water

is

a very expert swimmer, and can overtake almost any

a voracious animal,
fishes annually.

any particular

We

it

doubtless destroys a great

are not

species, although

it

fish,

number of

aware of its having a preference
is

highly probable that

it

has.

About twenty-five years ago we went early one autumnal morning to
study the habits of the Otter at Gordon and Spring's Ferry, on the Cooper

where they were represented as being
They came down with the receding tide in groups or
or six together.
In the space of two hours we counted

River, six miles above Charleston,
quite abundant.
families of five
forty-six.

They soon

separated, ascended the different creeks in the salt

2

CANADA OTTER.

9

marshes, and engaged in capturing mullets (Mugtl).

came

bank with a

to the

and then hastened again
their

more secure

fish in

after

retreats

more

with the rising
is

in

a minute,

the river to

and

In the small lakes

tide.

found a favourite

with the Ot-

fish

called the fresh-water trout (Grystes salmoides).

Although the food of the Otter

by hunger,

will not reject

it

when no

confinement,

in general is fish, yet

a

During the

by the Otter.

we

winter

last

pressed

we had

.ascertained

It,

wounded by

was

conjectured that

the hunters, and

was

in

This species can be kept in confinement

pond surrounded by a proper fence where a good supply of

easily in a

in

were taken from an Otters

rice field reserve-dam.

the duck had either been killed or
this state seized

Those

could be obtained were fed on beef, which

fish

that the skeleton and feathers of a wild duck
nest on the banks of

when hard

animal food of any kind.

they always preferred boiled.

is

it

They returned up

prey.

ponds of the interior of Carolina, there
ter,

most cases they

In

mouth, despatching

their

fish

procurable.

On

throwing some

Gardens

live

a small pond

fishes into

London, where an Otter was kept

in

in

alive,

the

Zoological

immediately

it

plunged off the bank after them, and soon securing one, rose to the surface holding

prize in

its

its

teeth,

and ascending the bank, rapidly ate

by large mouthfuls, and dived into the water again
repeated until

it

water

into the

lishes the

had caught and eaten

lor its use.

)tter hit

(

When

of

its

an Otter

is

animal

is,

the loot

off,

Otters

apt to lose the

however, usually caught

haunts

;

if

make

when caught young

ungainly, will follow their

We have

in

its

it

hear

sinks from the weight

and therefore heavy, and

game

if

the.

the water he deep; this

fore-feet, *it will

sometimes gnaw

escape.

are easily tamed, and although their

owner

ijait is

about, and at times are quite playful.

on two occasions domesticated the Otter.

been captured when quite young, and

became as tame and

we could

strong steel-traps placed and hailed

caught by one of the

in order to

it

powerful jaws.

shot and killed in the water,

is

it

thus engaged in devouring the luckless

skeleton, the bones heinir nearly solid

hunter consequently

in its

its

This

which had been thrown

the fish

through them, crushing the bones, which

snapping under the pressure of

When

all

for another.

gentle as the

The individuals had
two or three days
domestic dog. They

the space of

in

young of the

preferred milk and boiled corn meal, and refused to rat fish or meat of

any kind,

until they

to us. thai ai the

were several months

crawling into our lap
vol.

11.

—

—mounting our

They became

so attached

into our study they

commenced

old.

moment of their entrance
table,

romping among our books and


CANADA OTTER.

10

writing materials, and not unfrequently upsetting our ink-stand and de-

ranging our papers.

The American Otter has one litter annually, and the young, usually
two and occasionally three in number, are brought forth about the middle of April, according to Dr. Richardson, in high northern latitudes.

month

the Middle and Southern States they are about a

earlier,

In

and

Texas and Mexico about the end of February.
which the Otter spends a great portion of the day and in
which the young are deposited, we have had opportunities of examining on several occasions.
One we observed in an excavation three feet
probably

The

litter in

nest, in

bank of a

in diameter, in the

rice field

;

one in the hollow of a fallen

and a third under the root of a cypress, on the banks of Cooper
South Carolina
dant

;

the nest

;

the materials

was

— sticks,

grasses and leaves

large, in all cases protected

and beyond the influence of high water or
J.

W. Audubon

in Texas,

—

dimensions

swampy and

we have

to

catch fish for

It

was

shot whilst play-

partially flooded ground, about

already given.

Early writers have told us that the

been taught

and above

freshets.

on the twenty-third of February, 1846.

its

—were abun-

rains,

procured a fine specimen of the Otter, near Lagrange

ing or sporting in apiece of
sunset,

from the

tree,

river, in

its

common

Otter of Europe had long

owners, and that in the houses of the

great in Sweden, these animals were kept for that purpose, and would go

out at a signal from the cook, catch fish and bring

it

into the kitchen in

order to be dressed for dinner.
This,
likely,

the

however improbable

except that

we

it

may

at first appear,

is

by no means un-

doubt the fact of the animal's going by

itself for

fish.

Bewick

relates

some anecdotes of Otters which captured salmon and
which we must refer our

other fish for their owners, for particulars of

readers to his History of Quadrupeds.

Our late
some time

relative

and

since, that

friend,

N. Berthoud, Esq., of

St.

Louis, told us

while travelling through the interior of the State

of Ohio, he stopped at a house where the landlord had four Otters alive
failed to come when he whistled
when they approached their master they crawled
and with much apparent humility towards him, and looked

which were so gentle that they never
for

them, and that

along slowly

somewhat

like

enormous thick and short snakes.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The geographical range

of this species includes almost the whole con-


CANADA OTTKR.

11

North America, and possibly a portion of South America. It
been nearly extirpated in our Atlantic, States east of
however,
has,
Maryland, and is no longer found abundantly in many parts of the

tinent of

it formerly was numerously distributed.
procured most readily, in the western portions of the UniIt is still abundant
ted States and on the Eastern shore of Maryland.
of Carolina, and
fields
rice
on the rivers and the reserve-dams of the
is not rare in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

country

in

which

now

It

is

A

considerable

We

vinces.

Missouri to

are also annually obtained in the British pro-

number

any Otters during our journey up the
the Yellow Stone River, but observed traces of them in the
capture

not

did

small water courses in that direction.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Much

perplexity exists in regard to the

and consequently

Otters,

It

was

determining

in

a specimen from

1693, described

number

of species of American

nomenclature.

their

Brazil under the

name

Ray,

in

of BrazUiensis.

subsequently noticed by Brisson, Blumenbach, D'azara, Marcgrave,

ScHREBER, SHAW, and others.

We

have

not.

had an opportunity of com-

paring our North American species with any specimen obtained from
The loose and unscientific descriptions we have met with of the
Brazil.
Brazilian Otter, do not agree in several particulars with any variety of
the species found in North America; there

blance

in

size

and colour.

Should

it

is,

however, a general resem-

hereafter be ascertained by closer

investigations that the species existing in these widely removed localities

arc mere varieties, then

the.

previous

name

of Braziliensis (Rat) must

lie

substituted for that of L. Canadensis, Fr. Cuvier.
In addition to

rated the

name

the

yet undecided species of Ray, Fr. Cuvier has sepa-

Canada from

the Carolina species, bestowing on the former

of h. Canadensis, and on the latter that of

/-.

Lataxina.

tin-

Cray has

published a specimen from the more northern portions of North America
under the name Lataxina Mollis ; and a specimen which we obtained in
Carolina, and presented to our friend Mr. Watf.riiouse of London, was,
believe, published

by him under another name.

Notwithstanding these high authorities,
able

te,

regard them in any

marked than

we

others, of the

other light

same

we

confess

we

have not been

than varieties, some more strongly

species.

The

L. Lataxina of Fr. Cuvier,

and the specimen published by Wateriiouse, do not present such distinctive
characters as to justify us in separating the species from each other or from

L.

Canadensis.

The specimen published by Richardson under the name


;

CANADA OTTER.

12

was that of a

of L. Canadensis, (Fauna Boreali Americana,)

and the Mollis of Gray was, we

come

a

think,

Otter, with fur of a particular softness.
to the conclusion that all these

fine

large animal

specimen of the Canada

We have, after much deliberation,

must be regarded as

varieties of one

In dentition, in general form, in markings and in habits, they are

species.

The specimen from Texas, on account of its

very similar.

and somewhat coarser

fur, differs

lighter colour

most from the other varieties but
;

it

does

not on the whole present greater differences than are often seen in the

common mink

of the salt marshes of Carolina,

mens obtained from

when compared with

speci-

the streams and ponds in the interior of the Middle

it much resembles the rusty brown of the Caromany specimens we have examined, we have discovered shades of difference in colour as well as in the pelage among individuals obtained from the same neighbourhood. In many individuals which

Indeed, in colour

States.

lina mink.

In the

were obtained from the South and North,
miles from each other,

we

in localities

removed a thousand

could not discover that they were even varieties.

In other cases these differences

may be

On

the whole

we may observe,

colour and have

the fur longer

we proceed southward
and the

not peculiar to the Otter.
the raccoon, the
all

that the Otters of the

North are of a darker

and more dense than those of the South.

the hair gradually becomes a

fur less dense, shorter,

known effects
common mink.

accounted for from the

of climate on other nearly allied species, as evidenced in the

and coarser.

They are

common American

little

As

lighter in colour

These changes, however, are

not only observed in the mink, but in
rabbit, the Virginian deer,

and nearly

the species that exist both in the northern and southern portions of our

continent.

We

shall give

a figure of L. Mollis of Gray,

in

our third volume.


\

»

i

'/
*#,-



—

13

VULPES VELOX.—Sat.
Swift Fox.

PLATE

Kit Fox.

LII.—Male.

V. gracilis, supra cano fulvaque varices, infra albus

fulvo minor.

v.

;

CHARACTERS.

Smaller than

l/ir

American red fox, body

slender,

gray

above, varied with

beneath, white.

fulvous;

SYNONYMES.
Kit Fox, or small burrowing fox of the
Vnl.

Cams

Long's Expedition,

Yki.ox, Say.
"

"

Lewis and Clark,

rol.

400.

p.

i.,

vol.

ii.,

p.

339.

Harlan's Fauna, 91.

Godman's Nat.

"

Cams Ciskreo Argextatus,
"

plains.

pp. 28. 29.

iii..

Hist., vol.

i.,

p.

282.

Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 658.

(vulpes) Cinereo Argentatus, Richardson, Fa. B.

Ame.

p.

98.

DESCRIPTION.

This

little

Fox bears a

species of

great resemblance to our American

red fox. in shape, but has a broader face and shorter nose than the latter

species

;

in colour

it

approaches nearer

to the

gray

fox.

Its

and slender, and gives indication of a considerable capacity
tail is long, cylindrical,

The

form

for

is

speed

light
;

the

bushy, and tapering at the end.

entire length from the insertion of the superior incisors to the tip of

the occipital crest,
least distance

is

rather more than four inches and three-tenths

between the

orbital cavities nine-tenths of

:

the

an inch; between

the insertion of the lateral muscles at the junction of the frontal and pa-

bones, half an inch.

rietal

parietal

two

The

greatest breadth of this space on the

bones, thirteen-twentieths of an inch."

kinds, a

soft

(Say.)

The

hair

is

of

dense and rather woolly fur beneath, intermixed with

longer and stronger hairs.
COLOUR.

The

fur on the back,

when

the hairs are separately examined,

is

from


SWIFT FOX.

14
the roots, for three-fourths of

length, of

its

a

brownish gray colour,

light

then yellowish brown, then a narrow ring of black, then a larger ring

The upper

of pure white, slightly tipped at the apical part with black.

part of the nose
is

pale yellowish brown, on each side of which^ there

is

a patch of brownish, giving

a hoary appearance in consequence of
moustaches black
upper

it

some of the hairs being tipped with white
lip

margined by a

white hairs.

stripe of

;

;

There

is

a narrow blackish

between the white of the posterior angle of the mouth, which
The upper part of
is prolonged around the margin of the lower lip.
and
superior
surface of the
cheeks
the
the head, the orbits of the eyes,

brown

line

neck, back, and hips, covered with intermixed hairs, tipped with brown,
Towards the posblack, and white, giving those parts a grizzled colour.

back there are many long hairs interspersed, that

terior parts of the

are black

from the roots

the shoulders

jaw

is

and

to the

flanks, are of

a

sides of the neck, the chest,

dull reddish

white, with a tinge of blackish

belly, inner surface of legs,

The

tip.

orange colour

brown on

its

aad upper surface of

margins

feet,

;

;

the lower
the throat,

are white.

The

outside of the forelegs, and the posterior parts of the hindlegs, are brownThe slight hairs between the callosities of the toes are
ish orange.

on the under surface yellowish gray with a mixthe under surface is brownish
ture of black, and a few white hairs

The

brownish.

tail is

;

yellow and black at the end.
DIMENSIONS.
eet

From

point of nose to root of

tail,

i

From

end of

to

tip of

Between

i

hair,

2i

nose to end of head,

U

the eyes,

2|

Breadth between the ears,

Weight 8i

lbs.

killed at Fort Union.

Measurement of a young animal

point of nose to root of

From

1

tail,

to

Width

end of

5|

hair,

t\

at the shoulders,

Length of head,

Between the eyes,
Breadth between

04
4?

Tail, (vertebrae,)
"

8
9f

Tail, (vertebra,)
"

Inches.

...
the ears,

-

-

3|
-

-

o?
1*


SWIFT FOX.

15

HABITS.

The

Fox we ever saw

First Swift

was

alive

upper

at Fort Clark on the

It
Missouri river, at which place we arrived on the 7th of June, 1843.
had been caught in a steel-trap by one of its fore-feet, and belonged to Mr.
Chardon, the principal at the Fort, who with great kindness and politeness

presented

to us

it

our absence, (as

assuring us that good care would be taken of

;

we were

of the Rocky Mountains.) and that on our return to the

we might

easily take

it

during

then ascending the river to proceed to the base

Mandan

village,

New-York.
this Fox was a most

with us to

it

expert rat catcher,
Mr. Chardon informed us that
and that it had been kept in a loft without any other food than the rats

and mice that

caught there.

it

It

was a

beautiful animal, and ran with

On
common

our

great rapidity from one side of the loft to another, to avoid us.

approaching,

it

showed

its

teeth

and growled much

like the

red

fox.

Soou after

we

left

Fort Clark, between the western shore of the Mis-

souri river and the hills called the

French trappers, on an open

"Trois mamelles" by the Canadian and

prairie,

we saw

the second Swift

Our party had been shooting

with on this journey.

Fox we met

several buffaloes, and

our friend Ed. Harris, Esq., and ourself, were approaching the hunters
apace.

We

loot,

and Mr. Harris was mounted on

his buffalo

a Swift Fox darted from a concealed hole in the prairie almost

when

horse,

were on

my friend's steed. My gun was unfortunately loaded
Fox was chased by Mr. Harris, who took aim at it sevecould not draw sight on the animal; and the cunning fellow

under the hoofs of
with

hall,

but the

times but

ral

doubled and turned about and around
finally

escaped

in

row, or sheltered

This

slight

in

such a dexterous manner, that

a neighbouring ravine, and
itself in the cleft

adventure with

of a rock, as

Swift Fox convinced us that the

this (so called)

Hints of the wonderful speed of this animal

a

rated

we

;

and were

we

not disposed to retain

its

are considerably exagge-

name

as given by Mr. Say,

should select that of Prairie Fox as being most appropriate for

Harris, mounted on an Indian horse, had no difficulty
it

and overrunning

it.

which caused

it

nur u'uns been loaded with buck shot
It

is

sert

that

its

whom

appear

to

teristics of the

animal.

keeping up with

who have

is

Had
it.

written about

have copied Mr. Say's account of

extraordinary swiftness

Mr.

it.

should no doubt have killed

necessary to say, perhaps, that all the authors

this fox (most of

in

to double, as just mentioned.

we

it

we suppose gained its burwe did not see it start again.

it)

as-

one of the most remarkable charac-

Godman observes

that the fleetest antelope or deer,


;

SWIFT FOX.

16

passed by this

when running at

full

ease, and such

the celerity of

is

speed,

is

its

little

motion, that

it is

Fox with

the greatest

compared by the

cele-

brated travellers above quoted, Lewis and Clark and Mr. Say, " to the
flight of a bird along the ground rather than the course of a quadruped."

There

conformation

nothing in the

is

pare

with the red fox or even the

it

tail

give

gray,

we

find

when we com-

its

body and legs

in

rather a

it

the contrary,

those species, and its large head and
more heavy appearance than either of the

shorter in proportion than

bushy

species, anatomically

of this

On

viewed, indicating extraordinary speed.

foxes just named.

Saskachewan river is the most
northern limit of the rznge of the Kit Fox. Its burrows he says are
very deep and excavated in the open plains, at some distance from the
woody country. Lewis and Clark describe it as being extremely vigiand say that

lant,

On

us that the

informs

Dr. Richardson

it

betakes

itself

on the

slightest

alarm

to its

burrow.

our return to Fort Union after an excursion through a part of the

adjacent country,

Swift Fox which

we found at some distance from the stockade a young
we probably might easily have captured alive but
;

burrow was near at hand, and that it would soon reach
This was the last speciit and evade our pursuit, Mr. HarrIs shot it.
men of this Fox that we were able to observe during our journey we
fearing that

its

;

have given

its

turn voyage,

measurement

we

in

a former part of

this article.

On

our re-

found on arriving at Fort Clark that the living Swift

Fox given us by Mr. Ch ardon was in excellent condition. It was placed in a
strong wooden box lined in part with tin, and for greater security against
a collar around

escape, had a chain fastened to

its

our

homeward journey

it

was

fed

on

its

birds, squirrels,

neck.

and the

other animals, and finally safely reached our residence, near

was placed

During
flesh of

New-York,

a large cage box two-thirds sunk beneath the
surface of the ground, completely tinned inside, and half filled with earth.
When thus allowed a comparatively large space and plenty of earth to

where

it

burrow

in,

the

in

Fox immediately began

to

make

his

way

into the loose

ground, and soon had dug a hole large enough to conceal himself entirely.

While

in this

commodious prison he

meat, growing fatter every day.
rally do,

seemed anxious

to play or

and would frequently turn

it

fed regularly

He

and ate any kind of fresh

drank more water than foxes gene-

wash

in the

over, spilling the

cup which held

his supply,

water on the

floor of the

cage.

The

cross fox

which we described

in our first

volume does not appear

require water, during the winter months at least,

as one that

we have had

in

when

fed

to

on fresh meat

confinement during the past winter would not


SWIFT FOX.
drink any, and

was

bly in a wild state

not supplied with

all

for

it

11

two

or three months.

when

predatory animals drink more than

much

finement, for they are compelled to take so

Probain

con-

exercise in the pursuit

fluids, by perspiration, must go on
would probably often try to appease the

of their prey, that the evaporation of
rapidly

;

besides which, they

when unable

cravings of hunger by drinking freely,

to procure sufficient

food.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The Swift Fox appears
valley,

to

be found on the plains of the Columbia river

as well as the open country of the region

which

in

it

has generally

been observed, the extensive prairies of the eastern side of the Rocky

Mountains.
It

does not appear to be an inhabitant of

fornia, as far as

New

Mexico, Texas or Cali-

our information on the subject extends.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Our esteemed
p. 08,)

tatut,

friend, Sir

John Richardson, (Fauna Boreali Americana,

has supposed that Schreber's description of Canis cinereo argen-

applied to this species, and hence adopted his specific name, to

exclusion of Sav's

name

In our

of C. Velox.

explained our views on this subject.

first

volume, (p. 172,)

ties

of the gray fox,

Say's specific name, and
firsl

1

irginianus)

awarded

scientific describer of this

VOL.

11.

3.

we

In the descriptions of C. Virginianus

of Schrebf.r, and C. Argcnteus, Erx., they evidently described
(V.

the,

to

animal.

;

we have

him the

mere

varie-

consequently restored

credit of having

been the


;

18

MEPHITIS MESOLEUCA.—Licht.
Texan Skunk.

PLATE
M. Vitta

solitaria

LIII.—Male.

media antice

rotundata, acque lata ad

(in vertice)

basin caudae usque continuata, hac tota alba.

CHARACTERS.

The

ivhole back,

from

the

forehead

to the

tail,

and

the tail, white ; nose

not covered with hair.

SYNONYMES.
Mephitis Mesoleuca, Lichtenstein.
gethiere.

Berlin, 1827, 1834.

Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Sau-

Tab. 44, Fig.

2.

Mephitis Nasuta, Bennett. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 1833, p. 39.
M. Mesoleuca, Licht. Ueber die Gattung Mephitis. Berlin, 1838, p. 23.
DESCRIPTION.
In form, this species bears a considerable resemblance to the

common

American skunk, {Mephitis chinga.) Like all the other species of skunk,
it is wider at the hips than at
this animal has a broad and fleshy body
head
is carried near the ground,
when
walking,
the
and
shoulders,
the
;

whilst the back

low on

is

obliquely raised six or seven inches higher

;

it

stands

and progresses rather slowly. Forehead, slightly rounded
under fur,
hair, coarse and long
ears, short and rounded

its legs,

eyes, small

;

;

;

sparse, woolly,

and not very

nose, for three-fourths of

fine

;

tail,

;

of moderate length and bushy

an inch above the snout, naked.

This

is

a char-

mark, by which it may always be distinguished from the common
American skunk, the latter being covered with short hair to the snout.

acteristic

Palms naked.
COLOUR.

The whole
tail

of the long hair, including the under fur on the back, and the

on both surfaces,

is

white.

This broad stripe commences on the fore-

head about two inches from the point of the nose, running near

th».

ears,


i

i