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The Journals
of Lewis and Clark: The Animals
The following
excerpts are taken from entries of the Journals of Lewis
and Clark - Animals. A general description of the beasts,
birds and plants, &c. found by the party in this expedition.
The
quadrupeds of this country from the Rocky mountains to the
Pacific ocean, may be conveniently divided into
the domestic and the wild animals. The first embraces the
horse and dog only.
Animals: The horse
The horse is confined principally to the nations inhabiting
the great plains of Columbia, extending from latitude forty
to fifty north, and occupying the tract of territory lying
between the Rocky mountains, and a range of mountains which
pass the Columbia river about the great falls from longitude
sixteen to one hundred and twenty-one west. The Shoshones,
the Choppunish, Sokulks, Escheloots, Eneshures, and Chilluckittequaws,
all enjoy the benefit of that docile, noble, and generous
animal; and all of them, except the three last, possess
immense numbers.
They appear to be of an excellent race, lofty, elegantly
formed, active and durable: many of them appear like fine
English coursers; some of them are pied with large spots
of white irregularly scattered, and intermixed with a dark
brown bay: the greater part, however, are of an uniform
color, marked with stars and white feet, and resemble in
fleetness and bottom, as well as in form and color, the
best blooded horses of Virginia. The natives suffer them
to run at large in the plains, the grass of which affords
them their only winter subsistence; their masters taking
no trouble to lay in a winter's store for them: notwithstanding,
they will, unless much exercised, fatten on the dry grass
afforded by the plains during the winter. The plains are
rarely if ever moistened by rain, and the grass is consequently
short and thin. The natives, excepting those of the Rocky
mountains, appear to take no pains in selecting their male
horses for breed; and indeed, those of that class appear
much the most indifferent. Whether the horse was originally
a native of this country or not, the soil and climate appear
to be perfectly well adapted to the nature of this animal.
Horses are said to be found wild in many parts of this extensive
country. The several tribes of Shoshones who reside towards
Mexico, on the waters of the Mutlomah river, and particularly
one of them, called Shaboboah, have also a great number
of mules, which the Indians prize more highly than horses.
An elegant horse may be purchased of the natives for a few
beads or other paltry trinkets, which in the United States,
would not cost more than one or two dollars. The abundance
and cheapness of horses, will be extremely advantageous
to those who may hereafter attempt the fur trade to the
East Indies, by the way of Columbia river, and the Pacific
ocean.
Animals: The Dogs
2. The dog is unusually small, about the size of an ordinary
cur: he is usually particoloured, amongst which, the black,
white, brown, and brindle are the colors most predominant:
the head is long, the nose pointed, the eyes small, the
ears erect and pointed, like those of the wolf: the hair
is short and smooth, excepting on the tail, where it is
long and straight, like that of the ordinary cur-dog. The
natives never eat the flesh of this animal, and he appears
to be in no other way serviceable to them than in hunting
the elk.
The second division comprehends the brown, white, or grisly
bear, the black bear; the deer, common red deer, the black-tailed
fallow deer, the mule deer, the elk, the wolves, the large
brown wolf, the small wolf of the plains, the large wolf
of the plains, the tyger-cat, the foxes, the common red
fox, the silver fox, the fisher or black fox, the large
red fox of the plains, the kit-fox, or small fox of the
plains, the antelope, the sheep, beaver, common otter, sea-otter,
mink, seal, racoon, squirrels, large gray squirrel, small
gray squirrel, small brown squirrel, ground squirrel, braro,
rat, mouse, mole, panther, hare, rabbit, polecat or skunk.
Animals: Grizzly Bear
•First, the brown, white or grisly bear, which seem to be
of the same family, with an accidental variation of color
only, inhabit the timbered parts of the Rocky mountains.
There are rarely found on the westerly side, and are more
commonly below the Rocky mountains, in the plains, or on
their borders, amidst copses of brush and underwood, and
near the water courses. We are unable to learn that they
inhabit at all in the woody country, bordering on the coast,
as far in the interior as the range of mountains which pass
the Columbia, between the great falls and the rapids of
that river.
Animals: Black Bear
•2. The black bear differs in no respect from those
common to the United States. They chiefly inhabit timbered
parts of the Rocky mountains, and likewise the borders of
the great plains of the Columbia. They are sometimes found
in the tract which lies between those plains and the Pacific
ocean. One of our hunters saw one of this species, which
was the only one we have discovered since our residence
in fort Clatsop.
Animals: The Deer
•3. The deer are of three kinds: the common red deer,
the black-tailed fallow deer, and the mule deer.?1. The
common red deer inhabit the rocky mountains, in the neighborhood
of the Chopunnish, and about the Columbia, and down the
river as low as where the tide water commences. They do
not appear to differ essentially from those of the United
States, being the same in shape, size, and appearance. The
tail is however different, which is of an unusual length,
far exceeding that of the common deer. Captain Lewis measured
one, and found it to be seventeen inches long.
2. The black-tailed fallow deer are peculiar to this coast,
and are a distinct species, partaking equally of the qualities
of the mule and the common deer. Their ears are longer,
and their winter coat darker than those of the common deer.
The receptacle of the eye more conspicuous, their legs shorter,
their bodies thicker and larger. The tail is of the same
length with that of the common deer, the hair on the under
side white, and on its sides and top of a deep jetty black:
the hams resemble in form and color those of the mule, which
it likewise resembles in its gait. The black-tailed deer
never runs at full speed, but bounds with every foot from
the ground, at the same time, like the mule deer. He sometimes
inhabits the woodlands, but more often the prairies and
open grounds. It may be generally said, that he is of a
size larger than the common deer, and less than the mule
deer. The flesh is seldom fat, and in flavor is far inferior
to any other of the species.
3. The mule deer inhabit both the seacoast and the plains
of the Missouri, and likewise the borders of the Kooskooskee
river, in the neighborhood of the Rocky mountains. It is
not known whether they exist in the interior of the great
plains of the Columbia, or on the lower borders, near the
mountains which pass the river above the great falls. The
properties of this animal have already been noticed.
Animals: Elk
4. The elk is of the same species with that which
inhabits much the greatest part of North America. They are
common to every part of this country, as well the timbered
lands as the plains, but are much more abundant in the former
than in the latter. In the month of March we discovered
several which had not cast their horns, and others where
the new horns had grown to the length of six inches. The
latter were in much the best order, and from hence we draw
the inference that the leanest elk retain their horns the
longest.
Animals: Wolf
5. The wolf is either the large brown wolf, or the
wolf of the plains, of which last there are two kinds, the
large and the small. The large brown wolf inhabits the woody
countries on the borders of the Pacific, and the mountains
which pass the Columbia river, between the great falls and
rapids, and resembles in all points those of the United
States.The large and small wolves of the plains, principally
inhabit the open country and the woodlands on their borders.
They resemble, both in appearance and habit, those of the
Missouri plains. They are by no means abundant in the plains
of the Columbia, as they meet there but very little game
for their subsistence.
Animals: Tiger Cat
6. The tiger-cat inhabits the borders of the plains,
and the woody country in the neighborhood of the Pacific.
This animal is of a size larger than the wild cat of our
country, and much the same in form, agility, and ferocity.
The color of the back, neck, and sides is of a reddish brown,
irregularly variegated with small spots of dark brown: the
tail is about two inches long, and nearly white, except
the extremity, which is black. It terminates abruptly, as
if it had been amputated: the belly is white, and beautifully
variegated with small black spots: the legs are of the same
color with the sides, and the back is marked transversely
with black stripes: the ears are black on the outer side,
covered with fine, short hair, except at the upper point,
which is furnished with a pencil of hair, fine, straight,
and black, three-fourths of an inch in length. The hair
of this animal is long and fine, far exceeding that of the
wild cat of the United States, but inferior in that quality
to that of the bear of the northwest. The skin of this animal
is in great demand amongst the natives, for of this they
form their robes, and it requires four to make up the complement.
Animals: Foxes
7. Of the foxes we have seen several species.The
large red fox of the plains, and the kit-fox or small red
fox of the plains, are the same which are found on the banks
of the Missouri. They are found almost exclusively in the
open plains, or on the tops of brush within the level country:
the common red fox of the United States, inhabits the country
bordering the coast, nor does this animal appear to have
undergone any alteration.The black fox, or as it is termed
in the neighborhood of Detroit, the fisher, is found in
the woody country bordering on the coast. How it should
have acquired this appellation it is difficult to imagine,
as it certainly does not prey upon fish. These animals are
extremely strong and active, and admirably expert in climbing:
this they perform with the greatest ease, and bound from
tree to tree in pursuit of the squirrel or racoon, their
most usual food. Their color is of a jetty black, excepting
a small white spot upon the breast: the body is long, the
legs short, and resembling those of the ordinary turn spit
dog. The tail is remarkably long, and not differing in other
particulars from that of the ordinary fox.The silver fox
is an animal very rare, even in the country he inhabits.
We have seen nothing but the skins of this animal, and those
in the possession of the natives of the woody country below
the Columbia falls, which makes us conjecture it to be an
inhabitant of that country exclusively. From the skin it
appeared to be of the size of the large red fox of the plains,
resembling that animal in form, and particularly in the
dimensions of the tail. The legs Captain Lewis conjectured
to be somewhat larger. It has a long deep lead colored fur,
for foil, intermixed with long hairs, either of a black
or white color at the lower part, and invariably white at
the top, forming a most beautiful silver gray. Captain Lewis
thought this the most beautiful of the whole species, excepting
one which he discovered on the Missouri near the natural
walls.
Animals: Antelope
8. The antelope inhabits the great plains of the
Columbia, and resembles those found on the banks of the
Missouri, and indeed in every part of the untimbered country,
but they are by no means so abundant on this as on the other
side of the Rocky mountains. The natives in this place make
themselves robes of their skins, and preserve the hair entire.
In the summer and autumn, when the salmon begin to decline,
the majority of the natives leave the sides of the river,
and reside in the open plains, to hunt the antelope, which
they persue on horseback, and shoot with their arrows.
Animals: Sheep
9. The sheep is found in many places, but mostly
in the timbered parts of the Rocky mountains. They live
in greater numbers on the chain of mountains forming the
commencement of the woody country on the coast, and passing
the Columbia between the falls and rapids. We have only
seen the skins of these animals, which the natives dress
with the wool, and the blankets which they manufacture from
the wool. The animal from this evidence appears to be of
the size of our common sheep, of a white color: the wool
is fine on many parts of the body, but in length not equal
to that of our domestic sheep. On the back, and particularly
on the top of the head, this is intermixed with a considerable
proportion of long straight hairs. From the Indian account
these animals have erect pointed horns: one of our engagees
informed us that he had seen them in the black hills, and
that the horns were lunated like those of our domestic sheep.
We have nevertheless too many proofs to admit a doubt of
their existing, and in considerable numbers on the mountains
near the coast.
Animals: Beaver
10. The beaver of this country is large and fat:
the flesh is very palatable, and at our table was a real
luxury. On the 7th of January, 1806, our hunter found a
beaver in his traps, of which he made a bait for taking
others: this bait will entice the beaver to the trap, as
far as he can smell it, and this may be fairly stated to
be at the distance of a mile, as their sense of smelling
is very acute. To prepare beaver bate, the castor or bark
stone is first gently pressed from the bladder-like bag
which contains it, into a phial of four ounces, with a large
mouth: five or six of these stones are thus taken, to which
must be added a nutmeg, a dozen or fifteen cloves, and thirty
grains of cinnamon, finely pulverized and stirred together,
and as much ardent spirits added to the composition as will
reduce the whole to the consistency of mustard. All this
must be carefully corked, as it soon loses its efficacy
if exposed to open air. The scent becomes much stronger
in four or five days after preparation, and, provided proper
precaution is exercised, will preserve its efficacy for
months. Any strong aromatic spices will answer; their sole
virtue being to give variety and pungency to the scent of
the bark stone. The male beaver has six stones, two of which
contain a substance much like finely pulverized bark, of
a pale yellow color, and in smell resembling tanners oose;
these are called bark stones or castors. Two others, which
like the bark stone resemble small bladders, contain pure
strong oil, of a strong rank smell, and are called the oil
stone, and the other two are the testicles. The bark stones
are two inches in length: the others are somewhat smaller,
of an oval form, and lie in a bunch together, between the
skin and the root of the tail, with which they are closely
connected, and seem to communicate. The female brings forth
once in a year only, and has sometimes two and sometimes
four at a birth, which usually happens in the latter end
of May and the beginning of June: at this time she is said
to drive the male from the lodge, who would otherwise destroy
the young. They propagate like the fowl, by the gut, and
the male has no other sexual distinction that we could discover.
Animals: Common Otter
11. The common otter has already been described,
and this species does not differ from those inhabiting the
other parts of America.
Animals: Sea Otter
12. The sea-otter resides only on the seacoast, or
in the neighborhood of the salt water. When fully grown,
he arrives to the size of a large mastiff dog. The ears
and eyes, particularly the former, which are not an inch
in length, are thick, pointed, fleshy, and covered with
short hair: the tail is ten inches long, thick at the point
of insertion and partially covered with a deep fur on the
upper side: the legs are very short, and the feet, which
have five toes each, are broad, large, and webbed: the legs
are covered with fur, and the feet with short hair: the
body of this animal is long, and of the same thickness throughout:
from the extremity of the tail to the nose they measure
five feet. The color is a uniform dark brown, and, when
in good order and season, perfectly black. This animal is
unrivalled for the beauty, richness, and softness of his
fur: the inner part of the fur, when opened, is lighter
than the surface in its natural position: there are some
black and shining hairs intermixed with the fur, which are
rather longer, and add much to its beauty: the fur about
the ears, nose and eyes, in some of this species, presents
a lighter color, sometimes a brown: their young are often
seen of a cream-colored white about the nose, eyes and forehead,
and which are always much lighter than their other parts:
their fur is however much inferior to that of the full grown
otter.
Animals: Mink
13. The mink inhabits the woody country bordering
on the coast, and does not differ in any point from those
of the United States.
Animals: Seal
14. The seal are found on this coast in great numbers,
and as far up the Columbia river as the Great Falls, and
none have been discovered beyond them. The skins of such
as Captain Lewis examined, were covered with a short, coarse,
stiff, and glossy hair, of a reddish brown color. This animal,
when in the water, appeared of a black color, and sometimes
spotted with white. We believe that there are several species
of this animal to be found in this country, but we could
not procure a sufficient number to make the examination:
the skins were precisely of the same kind as our countrymen
employ in the manufacture of trunks.
Animals: Raccoon
15. The raccoon inhabits woody countries bordering
on the coast, in considerable numbers, and are caught by
the natives with snares or pitfalls: they hold their skins
in but little or no estimation, and very seldom make them
into robes.
Animals: Squirrels
16. The squirrels we have seen, are:
The
large gray squirrel. This animal appears to be an inhabitant
of a narrow tract of country, well covered with whiteoak
timber, and situated on the upper side of the mountains
just below Columbia falls. This animal we have only found
in those tracts which have been covered with timber; for
in countries where pine is most abundant, he does not appear:
he is much superior in size to the common gray squirrel,
and resembles in form, color and size, the fox squirrel
of the Atlantic states: the tail exceeds the whole length
of the body and the head: the eyes are dark, the whiskers
long and black: the back sides of the head and tail, and
outward part of the legs, are all of a blue-colored gray:
the breast, belly, and inner part of the body, are all of
a pure white: the hair is short, like that of the fox squirrel,
though much finer, and intermixed with a portion of fur.
The natives hold the skin of this animal in high estimation,
which they use in forming their robes. He subsists on the
acorn and filberts, which last grows in great abundance
in the oak country.
The
small gray squirrel is common to every part of the Rocky
mountains where timber abounds. He differs from the dark
brown squirrel in color only. The back sides, neck, head,
tail and outer side of the legs, are of a brownish lead-colored
gray: the tail is slightly touched with a dark reddish color,
near the extremity of some of the hairs: the throat, breast,
belly, and inner parts of the legs, are of the color of
a tanners' ooze, and have a narrow strip of black, commencing
behind each shoulder, and entering longitudinally about
three inches, between the colors of the sides and belly.
Their habits are precisely those of the dark brown squirrel,
and like them they are extremely nimble and active.
There
is also a species of squirrel, evidently distinct, which
we have denominated the burrowing squirrel. He inhabits
these plains, and somewhat resembles those found on the
Missouri: he measures one foot and five inches in length,
of which the tail comprises two and a half inches only:
the neck and legs are short; the ears are likewise short,
obtusely pointed, and lie close to the head, and the aperture
larger than will generally be found among burrowing animals.
The eyes are of a moderate size, the pupil black, and the
iris of a dark sooty brown: the whiskers are full, long,
and black: the teeth, and, indeed, the whole contour, resemble
those of the squirrel: each foot has five toes; the two
inner ones of the fore feet are remarkably short, and are
equipped with blunt nails: the remaining toes on the front
feet are long, black, slightly curved, and sharply pointed:
the hair of the tail is thickly inserted on the sides only,
which gives it a flat appearance, and a long oval form:
the tips of the hair forming the outer edges of the tail
are white, the other extremity of a fox red: the under part
of the tail resembles an iron gray; the upper is of a reddish
brown: the lower part of the jaws, the under part of the
neck, legs and feet, from the body and belly downwards,
are of a light brick red: the nose and eyes are of a darker
shade, of the same color: the upper part of the head, neck
and body, are of a curious brown gray, with a slight tinge
of brick red: the longer hairs of these parts are of a reddish
white color, at their extremities, and falling together,
give this animal a speckled appearance. These animals form
in large companies, like those on the Missouri, occupying
with their burrows sometimes two hundred acres of land:
the burrows are separate, and each possesses, perhaps, ten
or twelve of these inhabitants. There is a little mound
in front of the hole, formed of the earth thrown out of
the burrow, and frequently there are three or four distinct
holes, forming one burrow, with these entrances around the
base of these little mounds. These mounds, sometimes about
two feet in height and four in diameter, are occupied as
watch-towers by the inhabitants of these little communities.
The
squirrels, one or more, are irregularly distributed on the
tract they thus occupy, at the distance of ten, twenty,
or sometimes from thirty to forty yards. When any one approaches,
they make a shrill whistling sound,somewhat resembling tweet,
tweet, tweet, the signal for their party to take the alarm,
and to retire into their intrenchments. They feed on the
roots of grass, &c.The small brown squirrel is a beautiful
little animal, about the size and form of the red squirrel
of the eastern Atlantic states and western lakes. The tail
is as long as the body and neck, and formed like that of
the red squirrel: the eyes are black, the whiskers long
and black but not abundant: the back, sides, head, neck,
and outer part of the legs are of a reddish brown: the throat,
breast, belly, and inner part of the legs are of a pale
red: the tail is a mixture of black and fox-colored red,
in which the black predominates in the middle, and the other
on the edges and extremity: the hair of the body is about
half an inch long, and so fine and soft it has the appearance
of fur: the hair of the tail is coarser and double in length.
This animal subsists chiefly on the seeds of various species
of pine and is always found in the pine country.The ground
squirrel is found in every part of this country, as well
in the prairies as in the woodlands, and is one of the few
animals which we have seen in every part of our journey,
and differs in no respect from those of the United States.
Animals: Barking Squirrel
There is still another species, denominated by Captain
Lewis, the barking squirrel, found in the plains of the
Missouri. This animal commonly weighs three pounds: the
color is a uniform bright brick red and gray, and the former
predominates: the under side of the neck and belly are lighter
than the other parts of the body: the legs are short, and
the breast and shoulders wide: the head is stout and muscular,
and terminates more bluntly, wider, and flatter than that
of the common squirrel: the ears are short, and have the
appearance of amputation: the jaw is furnished with a pouch
to contain his food, but not so large as that of the common
squirrel: the nose is armed with whiskers on each side,
and a few long hairs are inserted on each jaw, and directly
over the eyes: the eye is small and black: each foot has
five toes, and the two outer ones are much shorter than
those in the centre. The two inner toes of the fore-feet
are long, sharp, and well adapted to digging and scratching.
From the extremity of the nose to the end of the tail this
animal measures one foot and five inches, of which the tail
occupies four inches. Notwithstanding the clumsiness of
his form, he is remarkably active, and he burrows in the
ground with great rapidity. These animals burrow and reside
in their little subterraneous villages like the burrowing
squirrel. To these apartments, although six or eight usually
associate together, there is but one entrance. They are
of great depth, and Captain Lewis once pursued one to the
depth of ten feet, and did not reach the end of the burrow.
They occupy, in this manner, several hundred acres of ground,
and when at rest their position is generally erect on their
hinder feet and rump: they sit with much confidence, and
bark at the intruder as he approaches, with a fretful and
harmless intrepidity. The note resembles that of the little
toy-dog: the yelps are in quick and angry succession, attented
by rapid and convulsive motions, as if they were determined
to sally forth in defence of their freehold. They feed on
the grass of their village, the limits of which they never
venture to exceed. As soon as the frost commences, they
shut themselves up in their caverns, and continue until
the spring opens. The flesh of this animal is not unpleasant
to the taste.
Animals: Sewellel (Mountain Beaver)
17. Sewellel is a name given by the natives to a
small animal found in the timbered country on this coast.
It is more abundant in the neighborhood of the great falls
and rapids of the Columbia than on the coast which we inhabit.
The natives make great use of the skins of this animal in
forming their robes, which they dress with the fur on, and
attach them together with sinews of the elk or deer: the
skin, when dressed, is from fourteen to eighteen inches
long, and from seven to nine in width: the tail is always
separated from the skin by the native swhen making their
robes. This animal mounts a tree and burrows in the ground
precisely like a squirrel: the ears are short, thin, and
pointed, and covered with a fine short hair, of a uniform
reddish brown: the bottom or the base of the long hairs,
which exceed the fur but little in length, as well as the
fur itself, are of a dark color next to the skin for two
thirds of the length of this animal: the fur and hair are
very fine, short, thickly set, and silky: the ends of the
fur and tip of the hair are of a reddish brown, and that
color predominates in the usual appearance of the animal.
Captain Lewis offered considerable rewards to the Indians,
but was never able to procure one of these animals alive.
Animals: Braro (Badger)
18. The braro, so called from the French engagees,
appears to be an animal of the civet species, and much resembles
the common badger. These animals inhabit the open plains
of the Columbia, sometimes those of the Missouri, and are
sometimes found in the woods: they burrow in hard grounds
with surprising ease and dexterity, and will cover themselves
in a very few moments: they have five long fixed nails on
each foot; those on the fore feet are much the longest,
and one of those on each hind foot is double, like that
of the beaver: they weigh from fourteen to eighteen pounds:
the body is long in proportion to its thickness: the fore
legs are remarkably large, muscular, and are formed like
those of the turnspit dog, and, as well as the hind legs,
are short: these animals are broad across the shoulders
and breast: the neck is short, the mouth wide, and furnished
with sharp, straight teeth, both above and below, with four
sharp, straight, pointed tusks, two in the upper, and two
in the lower jaw: the eyes are black and small; whiskers
are placed in four points on each side near the nose, and
on the jaws near the opening of the mouth: the ears are
short, wide, and oppressed, as if a part had been amputated:
the tail is four inches in length, the hair of which is
longest at the point of the junction with the body, and
growing shorter until it ends in an acute point: the hairs
of the body are much shorter on the sides and rump than
those on any other part, which gives the body anapparent
flatness, particularly when the animal rests upon his belly:
the hair is upwards of three inches in length, especially
on the rump, where it extends so far towards the point of
the tail, it conceals the shape of that part, and gives
to the whole of the hinder parts of the body the appearance
of a right angled triangle, of which the point of the tail
forms an acute angle: the small quantity of coarse fur intermixed
with the hair is of a reddish pale yellow.
Animals: Rat
19. The rat which inhabits the Rocky mountains, like
those on the borders of the Missouri, in the neighborhood
of the mountains, have the distinguishing traits of possessing
a tail covered with hair like the other parts of the body.
These animals are probably of the same species with those
of the Atlantic states, which have not this characteristic
distinction: the ordinary house rat we found on the banks
of the Missouri, as far up as the woody country extends,
and the rat, such as has been described, Captain Lewis found
in the state of Georgia, and also in Madison's cave in Virginia.
Animals: Mouse
20. The mouse which inhabits this country are precisely
the same with those which inhabit the United States.
Animals: Mole
21. The mole. This animal differs in no respect from
the species so common in the United States.
Animals: Panther
22. The panther is found indifferently, either in
the great plains of the Columbia, the western side of the
Rocky mountains, or on the coast of the Pacific. He is the
same animal so well known on the Atlantic coast, and most
commonly found on the frontiers, or unsettled parts of our
country. He is very seldom found, and when found, so wary,
it is difficult to reach him with a musket.
Animals: Hare
23. The hare on this side of the Rocky mountains
inhabits the great plains of the Columbia. On the eastward
of those mountains they inhabit the plains of the Missouri.
They weigh from seven to eleven pounds: the eye is large
and prominent, the pupil of a deep sea-green, occupying
one third of the diameter of the eye; the iris is of a bright
yellowish and silver color; the ears are placed far back,
and very near each other, which the animal can, with surprising
ease and quickness, dilate, and throw forward, or contract,
and hold upon his back at pleasure: the head, neck, back,
shoulders, thighs, and outer part of the legs and thighs
are of a lead color: the sides, as they approach the belly,
become gradually more white: the belly, breast, and inner
part of the legs and thighs are white, with a light shade
of lead color: the tail is round and bluntly pointed, covered
with white, soft, fine fur, not quite so long as on the
other parts of the body: the body is covered with a deep,
fine, soft, close fur. The colors here described are those
which the animal assumes from the middle of April to the
middle of November; the rest of the year he is of a pure
white, except the black and reddish brown of the ears, which
never change. A few reddish brown spots are sometimes inter-mixed
with the white, at this season (February 26, 1806) on their
heads and the upper part of their necks and shoulders: the
body of the animal is smaller and longer in proportion to
its height than the rabbit: when he runs he conveys his
tail straight behind, in the direction of his body: he appears
to run and bound with surprising agility and ease: he is
extremely fleet, and never burrows or takes shelter in the
ground when pursued. His teeth are like those of the rabbit,
as is also his upper lip, which is divided as high as the
nose. His food is grass, herbs, and in winter he feeds much
on the bark of several aromatic herbs, growing on the plains.
Captain Lewis measured the leaps of this animal, and found
them commonly from eighteen to twenty-one feet: they are
generally found separate, and are never seen to associate
in greater numbers than two or three.
Animals: Rabbit
24. The rabbit is the same with those of our own
country, and are found indifferently, either on the prairies
or the woodlands, and are not very abundant.
Animals: Polecat
25. The polecat is also found in every part of this
country: they are very abundant on some parts of the Columbia,
particularly in the neighborhood of the Great falls and
narrows of that river, where they live in the cliffs along
the river, and feed on the offal of the Indian fishing shores.
They are of the same species as those found in the other
parts of North America.
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