saline, and the lakes themselves show evidences of quite recent changes of level. Large areas, now dry, have been formerly occupied by lakes or inland seas, which may have had their greatest developments during the existence of gigantic glaciers, the marks of which are so abundant throughout the high Sierra. But comparatively little is known of the geology of the Great Basin, it being a vast and almost unexplored desert, which is also the case with the southeastern portion of California, covering an area of about thirty thousand square miles. Geologically, the Sierra Nevada probably includes other mountain chains, lying to the east in the Great Basin, though it is doubtless older than the Rocky Mountain chain. From geological evidence, we know that its upheaval took place before any of the Coast Ranges were formed; or, in other words, after the deposition of the jurassic, and previous to that of the cretaceous era. 28 CHAPTER VII. ZOOLOGY. General Plan. MAMMALIA: Bears-Raccoon--Skunks-Glutton-Fisher-Marten-Weasel Otter - Cougar Jaguar-Ocelot-Wild Cats-Wolf-Coyote - Foxes-Sea Lions and fish. THE ANIMALS OF CALIFORNIA. MOLLUSCA: The following is a brief systematic enumeration of the vertebrated animals of California, intended to show, as far as the allotted space will permit, how many and what sorts of creatures we have, of the four highest classes. Their scientific names are given, so that those who seek further information may find it in books which treat of them, and in which the English names are often omitted or used differently. The latter are notoriously uncertain, the same being often given to different animals, and different names to the same animal in various regions, some instances of which are here mentioned. It would be impossible to give here even a list of the invertebrate animals, and as few of them have English names, such a list would convey no information to the general reader. No complete work on the insects has yet been attempted, and the Coleoptera alone have been pretty fully described, numbering about four hundred species. The known Mollusca are nearly eight hundred species, including those of the land, fresh and salt waters. The Radiata are also as yet undetermined, but it is hoped that the Legislature will authorize the publication of complete illustrated works on all these branches, as well as those on the Vertebrates which are now being prepared by the Geological Survey. MAMMALIA. The first in rank of the animal kingdom is the class to which the name of "animals" is often improperly limited, also called "quadrupeds," although there are also numerous four-footed animals in the class of Reptiles. The name of Mammalia, or sucklers, is the only one that really defines the limits of the class, as it includes the whales, which have no legs, and the bats and seals, in which the limbs are scarcely to be called legs. Of the nine orders usually recognised in this class, three are without native representatives in California, viz: the Quadrumana, or monkeys, Pachydermata, including the hog, elephant, etc., and the Edentata, of which the armadillo and ant-eater are examples. The others are, however, abundantly represented, about one hundred and fifteen species having been found in the State or along its seaboard. ORDER CARNIVORA-FLESH-EATERS. The Grizzly Bear (1. Ursus horribilis) stands at the head of the rapacious order, although its little relative, the raccoon, is nearer the monkeys in many respects. "Grizzlies" were formerly numerous in nearly every county of the State, and so many accounts of their ferocious depredations have been published, that every one is sufficiently acquainted with the character of the animal. Now, however, they have become scarce in the more populous counties, the American rifle having destroyed or driven them away, and their audacity is so much diminished, that they are scarcely dangerous unless suddenly surprised in their dens, or wounded. When seen at some distance they usually walk away with a slow and dignified pace, showing that all they want is to be let alone. Their food, like that of their relatives, is in great part vegetable, and they have not, therefore, the bloodthirsty disposition of many of the more carnivorous animals. Though formerly considered untamable, they are now often seen in menageries, and show great sagacity, though too rough to be safely played with. Their skins are of little or no value, and only the appetite of a famishing hunter can relish the flesh of an old one. The Black Bear (2. Ursus Americanus) is limited to the counties north of San Francisco bay, and the higher part of the Sierra Nevada. It is exactly the same animal found in the Atlantic States, and differs from the grizzly not only in color, but in anatomical characters. The hair is also much softer, and the skin of considerable value for robes, etc. It is rather a timid animal, usually nocturnal in its travels, and generally runs away at the first suspicion of being hunted. Occasionally its depredations on young pigs, calves, etc., make it an object of the farmer's vengeance, and its meat is pretty good eating. The skin is worth four to eight dollars. The bears called "cinnamon" and "brown" are believed by naturalists to be merely varieties in color of the grizzly and black species, as litters of young are found varying through almost every shade between these colors, although there is nothing indicating mixture of the two species. There is, however, some reason to think that the brown bear of Mexico, a smaller kind, may be found in our southern counties. It is mentioned in the United States and Mexican Boundary Report as Ursus amblyceps, Baird. The Raccoon of Western America (3. Procyon Hernandezii) differs from the Eastern species only in some unimportant anatomical characters. It has the same mischievous, playful disposition, like that of the monkeys, and is often tamed as a pet. It is hunted only for sport, or for its skin, which is little used; but its flesh is considered good eating by many. Being very much an arboreal animal, it is scarce in proportion to the absence of timber, becoming rare in the southern counties. Its depredations on the hen-roost occasionally make it the victim of the farmer and his dogs. The skin is worth only from ten to twenty-five cents. The American Badger (4. Taxidea Americana) takes the place of the raccoon in the woodless districts and the forests, where its burrows may be seen excavating the ground in every direction-being dug in pursuit of squirrels or other small quadrupeds. Being mostly subterranean in its habits, unable to climb or to run fast, it does no injury to the farmer, but on the contrary benefits him by destroying large numbers of vermin. Its hair is coarse, its skin worth only about seventy-five cents to one dollar, and its flesh almost is uneatable. The Skunks are allied to the badger, but less subterranean, hunting what small birds, eggs, insects, etc., they can find on the ground, and, though slow-paced, find so much food as to be usually fat. Two species are common here. The large kind (5. Mephitis occidentalis) is very much like that common in the Atlantic States, but larger, and black with two white stripes. The other, (6. Mephitis bicolor), found only west of the Mississippi, is only a third the size of the preceding, and has several white stripes and spots. The fur being long, soft and finely variegated, is used to some extent by furriers, who can eradicate the well-known odor of the animal. The skins sell to them for ten to forty cents each. The Glutton, or Wolverine, (7. Gulo luscus), resembles a skunk in form, but is as large as a sheep, though with short legs. A few are killed every winter in the snowy heights of the northern Sierras. They are noted principally for robbing the hunter's traps, possessing great strength for their size, and dropping from trees on the necks of deer which they kill by biting through the blood vessels. Their skins sell for one dollar to three dollars and fifty cents each. The Fisher (8. Mustela Pennantii) is also a straggler from the snowy north to the summits of the Sierra Nevada, where a few are annually killed. The skins are worth from one to four dollars each, and well known as a material for capes, etc. This animal is chiefly arboreal, and found only in the dense timber, where it hunts birds and small quadrupeds, combining the habits of the dog and cat in its manner of securing prey. The American Sable, or Marten, (9. Mustela Americana), is also found in the high Sierra-but is rare. Its beautiful fur is well known, and its habits are like those of its larger relative-the fisher. The skin is worth from one to three dollars in its undressed state. The Mink (10. Putorius vison) is more common in the northern parts of the State, and identical with the mink of the Eastern States. Its fur is fine, but less valuable than the preceding. It is a more aquatic animal, living much on fish, but often seeking the barnyard to prey on fowls at night. Its "pelt" is worth three to four dollars. The Yellow-cheeked Weasel (11. Putorius xanthogenys) is peculiar to this State, as far as known. It is very prettily marked with brown and yellow stripes on the head, but its fur is too short to be of value, and its strong odor makes it an undesirable pet, although it might become useful as a rat-catcher, if tamed. The California Otter (11. Lutra Californica) is common in fresh water streams throughout the northern half of this State. It differs only in some anatomical characters from the otter of the Atlantic States and Europe, and its fur is of some value. As is well known, it lives entirely on fish, and is easily tamed, becoming quite docile and |