1926] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from the Atlin Region 147

Mustela cicognanii richardsonii Bonaparte. Richardson Weasel

Encountered but once during the summer, on July 14, when one
was seen. It was enduring the attack of a number of Gambel sparrows
that were protesting at the weasel’s being abroad during the day.

Gulo luscus (Linnaeus). Wolverene

I obtained from a trapper at Carcross the skull of a female
wolverene (no. 34396) trapped by him some sixty miles west of
Carcross, during the winter of 1923-24.

Vulpes alascensis abietorum Merriam. British Columbia Red Fox

The collection includes a red fox skull, picked up on the summit of
Spruce Mountain. The species was not otherwise encountered in a
wild state. ‘‘Silver fox’’ farming is an established industry in this
‘section, and both at Carcross and at Atlin there are successful fox
farms.

Canis lestes Merriam. Northern Coyote

The northern extension of the range of the coyote into this region
seems to have taken place in relatively recent years, according to local
report, but however that may be the species now occurs in some
numbers at least as far north as southern Yukon Territory.

On August 3, five coyotes, apparently a family, were encountered
on the summit of Spruce Mountain, above timber line (at about 5000
feet altitude), and two half-grown young ones (nos, 34397-34398) were
shot. After my return to Berkeley I received skin and skull of an
adult male coyote (no. 34992) trapped at Grouse Creek, Yukon
Territory (just north of the British Columbia boundary, on the trail
to Teslin), January 10, 1925, and of an adult female (no. 36469)
trapped at Teslin, January 15, 1926.

In a letter received from Mr. A. B. Taylor, government telegraph
operator at Atlin, and an aceurate observer of animal life, under date
of November 5, 1925, he states: ‘‘The country is overrun with coyotes,
and they have pretty well cleaned out the rabbits and grouse. They
come quite close to town and set up a howling that starts all the dogs,
especially in the early morning, just before dawn. After the lake
freezes there will be some sport chasing them in automobiles. One
man got eight last winter in that way.’’