Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska J

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1962 Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska J. Knox Jones Jr.

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The University of Nebraska State Museum VOLUME 4 . NUMBER 6 NOVEMBER 1962

J. Knox Jones, Jr.

Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA Clifford M Hardin, Chancellor Board of Regents RICHARD E. ADKINS B. N. GREENBERG, M.D. J. G. ELLIOTT CLARENCE E. SWANSON FRANK FOOTE J. LEROY WELSH JOSEPH SOSHNIK, Corporation Secretary Museum Staff C. BERTRAND SCHULTZ, Director; FRANCIS MAUPIN, Curator, Vertebrate Paleontology Guard WARREN THOMAS ATYEO, ANITA L UZUM, Curator, Entomology Herbarium EMILY J. BLASINGHAM, NATHAN L. MOHLER, Asst. Curator, Anthropology Staff Artist IVAN E. BURR, RALPH S. MUELLER, Preparator and Trailside Museum Curator Honorary Curator, Health Sciences BELVA D. CLEMENT, SALLY M. OSBORN, Asst. Curator, Geology Secretary-Clerk LOWELL W. COX, W. WINFIELD RAY, Artist, Habitat Groups Curator, Botany-Herbarium J. A. FAGERSTROM, HENRY P. REIDER, Curator, Invertebrate Paleontology Chief Preparator MARION GILBERT, KENNETH D. ROSE, M.D., Museum Registrar; Assoc. Curdor, Zoology Curator, Health Sciences WILLIAM N. GILLILAND, E. F. SCHRAMM, Consultant in Geology Curator, Geology, Emeritus CARL W. GUGLER, MARJORIE SHANAFELT, Curator, Zoology Assistant to the Director, Emeritus PRESTON HOLDER, THOMPSON M. STOUT, Curator, Anthropology Assoc. Curator, Geology JOHN A. HOWE, LLOYD G. TANNER, Consultant and Lecturer, Planetarium Assoc. Curator, Vertebrate Paleontology GILBERT C. LUENINGHOENER, NORMA D. WAGNER, Consultant and Lecturer, Planetarium Museum Shop Manager and Museum Assistant DONALD C. MARTIN, H. LLOYD WEAVER, Preparator . Consultant in Botany Research and Field Associates 1. C. G. CAMPBELL, J. KNOX JONES, JR., Classical Archaeolo;;y Zoology JOHN F. DAVIDSON, NEWELL F. JOYNER, Herbarium Consultant, Museum Displays E. MOTT DAVIS, WALLACE E. LA BERGE, Archaeology Entomology S. K. EDDY, A. L. LUGN, Classical Archaeology Geology C. ROBERT EISELE, T. C. MIDDLESWART, Vertebrate Paleontology-Higl1way Salvage Vertebrate Paleontology W. D. FRANKFORTER, JOHN M. ROBERTS, Vertebrate Paleontology Anthropology Museum Consulting CommiUee S. 1. FUENNING DWIGHT D. MILLER WILLIAM N. GILLILAND WALTER E. MILITZER ROSCOE E. HILL W. WINFIELD RAY PRESTON HOLDER C. B. SCHULTZ, Chairman ROY G. HOLLY J. Knox Jones. Jr.

Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska

BULLETIN OF VOLUME 4, NUMBER 6 The University of Nebraska State Museum NOVEMBER 1962 BULLETIN OF The University of Nebraska State Museum VOLUME 4, NUMBER 6 Pp. 89-100 NOVEMBER 1962

ABSTRACT

Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska

J. KNOX JONES, JR.

Ten species of Recent mammals that formerly occurred in Ne braska have been extirpated there by European man. Surpris ingly few specimens of the species concerned are preserved in museum collections. Perusal of a representative segment of the historical literature pertaining to Nebraska has revealed records of occurrence of most of the extirpated species that provide a basis for estimating the former distribution of each in the State.

CONTRIBUTION OF the Division of Zoology of the University of Nebraska State Museum. Jones'

Early Records of Some Mammals

from Nebraska 2

Ten species of Recent mammals that formerly occurred in Nebraska are now extinct within the State, or exist there only in captivity through re-introduction. For one species, the black bear, no specimen from Nebraska has been preserved. For three more, the grizzly bear, wolverine, and lynx, only a single speci men of each is known, and only a few specimens are available of each of the other six species. Consequently, I have inspected a representative segment of the historical literature pertaining to Nebraska in search of records of occurrence for these species that would enable me to interpret more accurately their former distribution in the State. The former distribution of each of the extinct species is in dicated beyond and reports of occurrence are listed for each. Also included are some comments on the distribution of the black-tailed prairie dog, which is still extant in Nebraska. All available records of occurrence of rare or little-known kinds, such as the mountain lion, are listed. For the wide-ranging species that were formerly abundant, such as the gray wolf, only some occurrences that have come to my attention are re corded. These were chosen as representative geographic locali: ties whenever possible so as to minimize the bibliographic en tries. Except where clearly indicated, only localities that could be accurately authenticated have been used. The year of observation, if known, is listed for each report of occurrence. References to most of the serial literature are cited in text; other references appear in the "Literature Cited" section at the end of the accounts.

'Assistant Curator in charge of Mammals, Museum of Natural His tory, University of Kansas; and Research and Field Associate in Zool ogy, University of Nebraska State Museum. a The publication of this report is made possible by the Benjamin and Rachael Maiben Memorial Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation.

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The historical literature consulted concerning Nebraskan mammals is primarily that available in the University of Kan sas Library. In addition to published sources I examined two unpublished manuscripts of considerable import. One, "The Mammals of Nebraska" by the late Mr. Merritt Cary, written about 1905, was made available to me in Washington, D. C., by Mr. Stanley P. Young of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The other, a collection of notes on Nebraska mammals compiled over a period of more than 30 years by the late Professor Myron H. Swenk, is now in my possession through the courtesy of Dr. Edson H. Fichter. Several citations have been drawn from each of these manuscripts.

Cynomys ludovicianus (ORD)-BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG Prairie dogs currently inhabit approximately the western two-thirds of Nebraska. The geographic range of the species formerly extended eastward nearly to the Missouri River. Marginal localities of reported occurrence in eastern Ne braska are: Butler County: south of Big Blue River a few miles west of Ulysses, 1844 (Carleton, 1943: 53). Cuming County: Plum Creek, near Beemer, ca. 1880 (Swenk, Bull. Agric. Exp. Sta. Nebraska, 28 (2) :5,1915). Knox County: near Ponca Creek, 1833 (Thwaites, 1905a: 292) ; near Santee, 1811 (Thwaites, 1904: 94). Merrick County: between Loup and Platte rivers, 1820 (James, 1823, 1:451). Saline County: south of Wilber (Rapp and Rapp, Nebraska Bird Review, 20: 59,1952). Washington County: Clark Creek, near Fontanelle (Swenk, loco cit.). Wayne County: 2 miles north of Wayne (Nyberg, 1938: 56). Some early observations of prairie dogs do not differ ap preciably from those recorded by twentieth century naturalists. For example, on May 23, 1811, John Bradbury found prairie dogs near the present site of Santee, Knox County, and wrote of them as follows: "The little animals had taken alarm before I reached their settlement, and were sitting singly on the small hillocks of earth at the mouth of their holes. They were very clamorous uttering a cry which had some resemblance to a shrill barking. I fired at several, but at the instance of the flash, they darted with surprising quickness into their holes, before the shot could reach them. I soon found the impossibility of procuring one with shot only, as unless they are instantaneously killed, they are certain to get into their holes, from the edges of which they never wander if a man is in sight." (Thwaites, 1904: 94-95).

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Canis lupus LINNAEUS-GRAY WOLF The time of extinction of the wolf in Nebraska is not exactly known; probably it was between 1915 and 1920. To my knowl edge the last specimen obtained in the State is mounted in the Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska. It was captured near Oconto, Custer County, in 1913. Judging from historical ac counts, the species was formerly abundant, especially in associ ation with the vast herds of bison, and extermination of the latter apparently resulted in marked reduction of wolf popula tions in the State. Trapping and poisoning for the protection of livestock, for pelts, and for bounties of one sort or another, led finally to the extirpation of the species. In the historical literature that I have seen, wolves were most commonly referred to as "buffalo wolves," "gray wolves," or "dusky wolves." Observers were prone to distinguish be tween the various color phases of the species. In addition to "gray" and "dusky" I have found "white," "brown," "black," and "yellow" also mentioned. Authors did not always distin guish between wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) and no records are admitted here that did not, in my opinion, clearly relate to C. lupus, either at the place mentioned or in previous or subsequent context. Some representative reports of occurrence are: Boyd Coun ty: Ponca Island, 1843 (Audubon and Coues, 1898, 1: 504). Buf falo County: along South Loup River, 1859 (Stolley, 1946: 26). Cedar County: northwestern part, along Missouri River, 1843 (Audubon and Coues, 1898,1: 501). Dakota County: near mouth of Iowa [=Aowa] Creek, 1843 (ib1d., 2:169). D1xon County: along Missouri River, about 10 miles below mouth of Vermillion River, 1843 (ibid., 1: 494). Greeley County: southwestern part, south of North Loup River (Foght, 1906: 87). Kearney County: about 10 miles south of Ft. Kearney, 1860 (Stolley, 1946: 42). Keith County: western part, between forks of Platte River, 1845 (Carleton, 1943: 223). Lancaster County: Lincoln, 1862 (Abbot, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 21: 119, 1930). Lincoln County: south side of Platte River, just above Brady's Island, 1842 (Fre mont, 1887: 89) . Nance County: vicinity of Genoa, 1843 (Platte, Trans. Repts. Nebraska Hist. Soc., 3: 129,1892). Nemaha County: eastern part, south of Little Nemaha River, 1858 (Watkins, CoIl. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 20: 320, 1922). Richardson County: 1/2 mile northeast of Falls City, 1855 (Wilhite, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 19: 127, 1919). Sarpy County: along Missouri River, just above mouth of Platte, 1804 (Coues, 1893: 52). Scotts

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Bluff County: near Gering (Ouderkirk, 1938: 90). Thurston County: southeastern part, along Missouri River near Black bird Hill (Thwaites, 1906: 105). Wayne County: Wayne, 1882 (Nyberg, 1938: 33). Wheeler County: no specific locality, 1895 (Cary, MS).

Ursus americanus PALLAS-BLACK BEAR Historical records of this species indicate that it occurred only in the eastern portion of the State, except along the Nio brara and Loup rivers where it ranged at least as far west as Cherry County. Probably most individuals lived in more or less continuously wooded areas, which in Nebraska (save for the southeastern part) means the immediate vicinity of major river systems. Judging from the few records found, coupled with the absence of the black bear from the vast majority of historical accounts examined, the species was uncommon in Ne braska, except possibly along the Missouri River in the south eastern part of the State. Most of the records are from locations along the Missouri. On June 21, 1812, three black bears were killed on "Fair Sun Island" [=Sun Island] between Peru and Brownville, Nemaha County (Luttig, 1920: 41). Swenk (1908: 123-124) recorded the species from "the Missouri bottom" in Otoe County, and from "the vicinity of Rockport" [at Rockport Bend of the Missouri River], in extreme southeastern Washington County. James (1823, 1: 369) reported it from the Engineer Cantonment [= ap proximately 2 miles east of Ft. Calhoun], Washington County, in the winter of 1819-20, and Audubon recorded in his journals (Audubon and Coues, 1898, 1: 489) the sight in 1843 of a bear swimming the Missouri River from (or to) the northern Dakota County shore. Audubon went on (op. cit. :490) to remark that: "In talking with our captain [of the steamer Omega] he tells us that the Black Bear is rarely seen swimming this river, and that one or two of them are about all he observes on going up each trip." Lewis and Clark noted (Thwaites, 1905b, 6: 122) that, "The Black Bear is found in abundance [along the Missouri River] as high as the little Sieoux [sic] river ... [it is] found much higher but scerce [sic]." To the westward, Dunbar (CoIl. Kansas State Hist. Soc., 14:707,1918) reported a "large red bear" killed on January 14, 1836, "40 m[iles]. north of the Loup [River] on what is called seader [= Cedar] fork," probably in Greeley County. Foght

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(1906: 68) recorded an animal killed in 1875 between the North Loup River arid Brush Lake (long. 101 0 28' W, lat. 42 0 23' N), Cherry County, and Swenk (loc. cit.) listed records from Bear Creek (1884) and Valentine (1907), both in Cherry County, and from an unidentified locality along the Niobrara River.

Ursus horribilis ORD-GRIZZLY BEAR Grizzly bears occurred, probably uncommonly, on the high plains of western Nebraska and possibly eastward along the Niobrara River. One specimen, a skull picked up at Roubadeau Pass, Scotts Bluff County, is housed in the Museum at Scotts Bluff National Monument. Three reports of occurrence have been found in the literature: Carleton (1943: 226) mentioned that tracks of a grizzly bear were discovered in the sand along Ash Creek, Garden County, in 1845; James (1823, 2: 57), in a discussion of grizzly bears, noted that a hunter had seen a "bear," presumably a grizzly, on the "Qui Court river" [=Nio brara River] but gave no specific locality; and Marcy (1863: 172) recorded a female grizzly bear with two cubs on the "ele vated table-lands lying between the two forks of the Platte River," probably in western Keith County, but possibly in either northern Deuel County or southern Garden County, in 1858. Marcy gives an account of the killing of the adult (pp. 172- 173).

Gulo luscus (LINNAEUS)-WOLVERINE The only specimen of a wolverine on record from Nebraska is mounted and on display in the University of Nebraska State Museum. It was obtained in Scotts Bluff County [near Gering, according to Swenk, MS] in 1887. The only other report of oc currence of this species in the State is that of Beidleman (Jour. Mamm., 37: 446, 1956), who has recorded that Alfred Jacob Miller observed a wolverine at Chimney Rock, Morrill County, in 1837.

Lutra canadensis (SCHREBER) -OTTER Judging from historical accounts, the otter was formerly abundant along water courses in Nebraska. Even after the turn of the century Swenk (1908: 132) wrote: "It is not yet extir pated, however, since every year numerous specimens are taken even in the eastern counties ...." I know of only three speci mens preserved from the State: one with no more definite lo cality than "Missouri River" was taken in the 1890's; one from

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Ft. Kearney, Kearney County, was taken in 1856; and one from Lincoln Creek, west of Seward, Seward County, was obtained in 1916 (see Swenk, 1920: 1-2). The latter specimen formed the basis for Swenk's description of Lutra canadensis interior. The most recent report of an otter from Nebraska is of tracks seen along a tributary of the Republican River, west of Loomis, Phelps County, on November 8, 1918 (Swenk, MS). Additional reports of occurrence are: Antelope County: Neligh, 1895 (Cary, MS); Oakdale (Swenk, MS). Buffalo County: along South Loup River, 1859 (Stolley, 1946: 31). Cass County: Weeping Water Creek (Sturm, Nebraska Hist., 14: 259, 1933). Cherry County: Niobrara River, south of Cody (Cary, MS). Cuming County: Elkhorn River, near West Point (Swenk, 1920: 1) ; Elkhorn River, near Beemer, 1905 (Cary, MS). Deuel County: Lodgepole Creek, 22 miles from Julesburg, Colorado, 1867 (Farrell, ColI. Nebraska State Rist. Soc., 17: 253, 1913). Gage County: Blue River, near Beatrice, 1897 (Swenk, 1920: 2). HaH County: vicinity Wood River, 1860 (Anon., Nebraska I-Iist., 26: 240, 1946); no specific locality (Stolley, 1946: 77). Holt County: no specific locality, 1891 or 1892 (Swenk, 1920: 2). Lan caster County: Salt Creek, near Sprague, 1890's (Swenk, 1920: 1). Logan County: South Loup River, near Logan, ca. 1873 (Anon., Nebraska Rist., 5: 31, 1922). Madison County: no spe cific locality, winter 1905-06 (Cary, MS). Nance County: vicin ity of Genoa, 1843 (Platte, Trans. Repts. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 3: 130, 1892). Thomas County: Middle Loup River, early 1900's (Swenk, 1920: 2). Washington County: Engineer Canton ment [=approximately 2 miles east of Ft. Calhoun], winter 1819-20 (James, 1823, 1: 369).

Felis concolor LINNAEUS-MoUNTAIN LION Although probably never abundant in Nebraska, mountain lions apparently occurred throughout the State. Four actual specimens are on record. One of these was killed in 1880 near Valentine, Cherry County; the other three, a female and two young, were taken together on the Pine Ridge near Ray Springs, Sheridan County, in 1884 (see Swenk, 1908: 116-117). Additional reports of occurrence are: Buffalo County: South Loup River, 22 miles north of Kearney, 1886 (Swenk, MS). Burt County: about 3 miles west of Oakland (Dewald, Nebraska Rist., 15: 100, 1934). Cass County: no specific locality (Swenk, MS). Cherry County: south of Kennedy, 1891 (Cary, MS). Franklin County: Republican River, south of Franklin, ca. 1888

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(Jones, Jour. Mamm., 30: 313, 1949). Holt County: southern part, 1899 (Swenk, loco cit.). Valley County: no specific locality, 1879 or later (Anderson, Nebraska Hist., 13: 265, 1932). Washington County: Engineer Cantonment [=approximately 2 miles east of Ft. Calhoun], winter 1819-20 (James, 1823, 1: 369). Aughey (1880: 119) remarked that he had seen mountain lions "a few times on the Niobrara and the Loup," but listed no specific localities.

Lynx canadensis KERR-LYNX A mounted specimen in the University of Nebraska State Museum from near [3 miles west, according to Cary, MS] Nor folk, Madison County, that was obtained in November, 1890, is the only lynx on record from Nebraska (Swenk, 1908: 118). A second specimen, a female weighing 18 pounds, was taken in February of 1917 along the North Platte River at Keystone, Keith County. This animal was later mounted and was exhibit ed for a time in Lincoln, but its present location is unknown; it may no longer be extant. A photograph of the last-mentioned specimen is on file at the Museum. I have found "lynx" mentioned in several places in historical literature, but in each case I was not sure whether the reference actually pertained to this species or to the bobcat, Lynx rUfUS.

Cervus canadensis ERXLEBEN-WAPITI The wapiti, formerly abundant in Nebraska and distributed throughout the State, was seemingly extirpated at approxi mately the same time as the bison. Foght (1906: 66) reported that an animal killed in 1882 at the fork of the North Loup and Calamus rivers, Garfield County, was the last taken in that part of the State; Paine (1935: 46) mentioned the presence of wapiti near Eustis, Frontier County, at least as late as 1883; Swenk (MS) recorded them in southwestern Holt County and along the Calamus River in Brown County in the "early 1880's," as did Nyberg (1938: 55) in Wayne County. I know of no reports more recent than these. Historical accounts indicate that the species was still common in some places in Nebraska as late as the early 1870's. Some representative additional reports of occurrence are: Antelope County: southwestern part, near head of Beaver Creek, 1871 or 1872 (Cary, MS). Boyd County: Ponca Island, 1843 (Audubon and Coues, 1898, 1: 504). Buffalo County: along South Loup River, 1859 (Stolley, 1946: 30). Burt County: along

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Missouri River, 1804 (Coues, 1893: 71). Cherry County: Niobrara River, south of Merriman, 1873 (Lindsay, Nebraska Hist., 12: 259, 1930). Clay County: near Sutton (Bemis, Nebraska Hist., 14: 212, 1933). Cuming County: along Elkhorn River, near West Point (Swenk, MS). Dixon County: along Missouri River, about 10 miles below the mouth of Vermillion River, 1843 (Audubon and Coues, 1898, 1: 494). Fillmore County: no specific locality, late 1860's (Anon., 1916: 99). Greeley County: southwestern part, south of North Loup River (Foght, 1906: 87). Hall County: Grand Isle, 1813 (Rollins, 1935: 219). Harlan County: near mouth of Spring Creek, 1869 (Danker, Nebraska Hist., 39: 157, 1958). Howard County: along Loup River, about opposite Oak Creek, 1866 (Stolley, 1946: 57). Knox County: near mouth of Bazile Creek, 1843 (Audubon and Coues, 1898, 2: 168). Lan caster County: northwestern part, along Oak Creek, 1866 (Dun lap, Proc. ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 2[7]: 54, 1898). Lin coln County: near fork of Platte River, 1820 (James, 1823, 1: 463). Madison County: no specific locality, ca. 1870 (Butler, Jour. Mamm., 15:248,1934). Nance County: eastern part, near Beaver Creek, 1844 (Carleton, 1943: 110). Nuckolls County: no specific locality, 1871 (Follmer, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 17: 157, 1913). Stanton County: 6 miles east of Madison, 1871 (Swenk, 1908: 71). Thomas County: along Middle Loup River, about 5 miles east of Thedford, 1873 (Lindsay, op. cit.: 263). Valley County: near Elyria, 1875 (Foght, 1906: 66); Hascall Creek, 1879 (Anderson, Nebraska Hist., 13: 256, 1932). Wash ington County: Engineer Cantonment [=approximately 2 miles east of Ft. Calhoun], winter 1819-20 (James, 1823, 1: 370). Wheeler County: eastern part, 1877 (Cary, MS).

Bison bison (LINNAEUS)-BISON The date of extirpation of wild bison within Nebraska is in question. Garretson (1938: 154-155) believed that the last indi viduals taken in the State were the members of a herd at the "Head of the Dismal River," Hooker County, killed by Indians from the Rosebud Reservation in the winter of 1882-83. Earlier in 1882 this band· consisted of 28 adults along with seven or . eight calves. However, Hornaday (1889: 501) recorded calves taken as late as 1885 near Ogallala, Keith County, and Ouder kirk (1938: 89) reported "a few" bison in Gering Valley, near Gering, Scotts Bluff County, in the same year. The most recent record from south of the Platte River is that of Swenk (MS) , who reported that eight or 10 animals were killed in 1878 along

96 Early Records of Some Mammals from Nebraska the Frenchman River above Culbertson, Hitchcock County. The virtual annihilation of the species on the Great Plains, princi pally accomplished in the 15 years 1860-1875, is one of the most remarkable, albeit regrettable, pages in the history of the West. Probably bison were as abundant in Nebraska as in any other area of equivalent size. As a result, historical reports of their occurrence in the State are legion and only a small num ber of the records that have come to my attention will be mentioned here-records that have been selected to show the last known report of bison in the vicinity of the localities listed. Adams County: Sec. 12, Highland Twp., 1874 (Swenk, MS). Antelope County: along Elkhorn River, 8 miles [north and] west of Neligh, 1872 (Cary, MS). Chase County: Mud Springs, Sec. 20, T. 6 N, R. 40 W, 1873 (Nordin, Nebraska Hist., 10: 345, 1927) . Clay County: Lone Tree Twp., 1875 (Swenk, MS). Custer County: "West Table" west of Merna, 1879 (Haumont, Nebras ka Hist., 13: 234, 1932). Douglas County: within 10 miles of Oma ha, 1860's (Abbot, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 21: 119, 1930). Fillmore County: no specific locality, late 1860's (Anon., 1916: 99). Frontier County: along Medicine Creek, 1874 (Nordin, loco cit.). Garfield County: near fork of loup and Calamus rivers, 1875 (Foght, 1906: 66). Hall County: south of Platte River, 1874 (Stolley, 1946: 77). Harlan County: Alma, 1874 (Swenk, MS). Kearney County: no specific locality, 1873 (Hull, Trans. Repts. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 5: 272,1893). Loup County: no specific locality, ca. 1872 (Foght, loco cit.). Nuckolls County: Lost Creek, near Superior, 1863 (Adams, 1916: 216); no specific locality, 1871 (Follmer, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 17: 157, 1913). Otoe County: 1 mile west of Nebraska City, 1864 (Anon., Ne braska Hist., 26: 241, 1946). Red Willow County: divide be tween Beaver Creek and Republican River, 1873 (Watkins, ColI. Nebraska State Hist. Soc., 19: 46, 1919). Webster County: Red Cloud, 1872 (Bargman, Nebraska Hist., 18: 93, 1938). York County: Hays Twp., 1869 (Russell, Nebraska Hist., 20: 184, 1940).

Ovis canadensis SHAW-MOUNTAIN SHEEP Mountain sheep formerly occurred in Nebraska on the Wild cat Ridge and the Bighorn Ridge, among the rough buttes and canyons bordering the North Platte River, on the Pine Ridge and adjacent badlands, and possibly in the breaks along the Niobrara River. Only two actual specimens, both skulls, are on record. One is from "about 23 miles south of Agate," Sioux County (Cook, Jour. Mamm., 12: 170, 1931), and the other is

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from near Hay Springs, Sheridan County (Jones, Nat. Hist. Misc., Chicago Acad. ScL, 91: 1, 1951). Additional reports of occurrence are: Dawes County: near Crawford (Swenk, MS). Lincoln County: Birdwood Creek, 1877 (Grinnell, 1904: 325). Morrill County: Courthouse Rock, ca. 1880 (ibid.: 326). Scotts Bluff County: vicinity of Scotts Bluff, ca. 1888 (Shumway, 1921: 11). Sioux County: Spoon Butte (Cook, op. cit.: 171); "Hat Creek breaks," 30 miles north of Agate (ibid.) . Ovis canadensis was probably extinct in Nebraska by about 1890 .. Recently (1957), however, a conservation officer of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission reported the presence of at least one mountain sheep near Bridgeport, Morrill County. If true, this individual and any others now in habiting the Wildcat Ridge and adjacent areas along the Platte River probably entered the state from Wyoming. Cowan (1940: 542) and G. M. Allen (1942: 358) suggest that Ovis canadensis auduboni Merriam, the subspecies formerly inhabiting the western parts of Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota and adjacent portions of Wyoming and Montana, is extinct, which seems likely. The mountain sheep recently reported from Nebraska may, then, be of another subspecies.

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Literature Cited

ADAMS, C. E. 1916. Stirring events along the Little Blue, pp. 214-218, in Collec tion of Nebraska pioneer reminiscences. The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 361 pp.

ALLEN, G. M. 1942. Extinct and vanishing mammals of the Western Hemisphere. Special Pub I., American Comm. Int. Wild Life Protection, l1:xv + 620, illustrated.

ANONYMOUS 1916. The Badger family, pp.97-101, in Collection of Nebraska pioneer reminiscences. The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 361 pp.

AUDUBON, M. R., AND E. COUES 1898. Audubon and his journals. John C. Nimmo, London, 1: xiv + 532 and 2: viii + 552, illustrated.

AUGHEY, S. 1880. Sketches of the physical geography and geology of Nebraska. Daily Republican Book and Job Office, Omaha, 346 PP.

CARLETON, J. H. 1943. The prairie logbooks ... (edited by L. Pelzer). The Caxton Club, Chicago, xviii + 295 Pp.

CARY, M. MS. The mammals of Nebraska. On file at U. S. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C., 143 handwritten pages, about 1905.

COUES, E. 1893. History of the expedition under the command of Lewis and Clark.... Francis p. Harper, New York, l:cxxxii + 352 and 3: vi + 821-1298. COWAN, I. MeT. 1940. Distribution and variation in the native sheep of North America. Amer. MidI. Nat., 24: 505-580, 4 pIs., 1 map.

FOGHT, H. W. 1906. The trail of the Loup. Privately published, 296 pp.

FREMONT, J. C. 1887. Memoirs of my life .... Belford, Clarke Co., Chicago and N ew York, xix + 655 pp., illustrated.

GARRETSON, M. S. 1938. The American bison .... New York ZooI. Soc., New York, xii + 254 pp., illustrated.

GRINNELL, G. B. 1904. American big game and its haunts. Forest and Stream Publ. Co., New York, 497 pp., illustrated.

HORNADAY, W. T. 1889. The extermination of the American bison .... Ann. Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus., for 1887, pp. 367-548, 22 pIs.

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JAMES, E. 1823. Account of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains .... H. C. Carey and I. Lea, Philadelphia, 1: (4) + 1-503 and 2: (6) +1-442+xcviii.

LUTTIG, J. C. 1920. Journal of a fur-trading expedition on the Upper Missouri, 1812-13 (edited by S. M. Drumm). Missouri Hist. Soc., St. Louis, 192 pp., illustrated.

MARCY, R. B. 1863. The prairie traveler .... Triibner and Co., London, xvi+251 pp., illustrated.

NYBERG, D. H. 1938. History of Wayne County, Nebraska. The Wayne Herald, Wayne, Nebraska, 306 pp., illustrated.

OUDERKIRK, L. 1938. A story of the Ganser family, pp. 88-92, in Wood, A. B., Pioneer tales of the North Platte Valley and Nebraska Pan handle. Courier Press, Gering, Nebraska, 288 pp.

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