Mohave County miner., 1883-04-15
The Fauna of Arizona.


 formed citizens. This Is doubtless
 owing to the immense area of oul
 Territory, and the diversity of climate caused by the varying altitude of the different mountain ranges. The kings of our beasts are the grizzly and brown bear. Fortunately there are but few of these ferocious ani mals in the Territory. An occasional grizzly may be found in the highest mountain ranges ir the northern part of the Territory; but the large brown bear, which in Arizona is about as large as a grizzly, may be found any where in the mountain ranges which reach an elevation of 1000 feet. and upward.
 The brown bear of Arizona closely resembles the grizzly ;his head is fully as broad and as long, but his nose Is more pointed, his hair is from four to five inches long, which hangs in tangled knots. During the first month or two after they come out in spring, they are very ferocious, and if the hunter surprises him or gets in too close proximity he is almost sure to become the attacking party. We know of a rumber of instances in which prospectors and hunters have been attacked by the brown bear, some of which run very narrow escapes. We ourselves have had an experience with the brown bear which we would not care to repeat.
 There are a few cinnamon bear in the northern part of the Territory, but they are seldom found in any of the southern mountain ranges
 The little black bear inhabits most of the highest ranges of mountains. Last year they were plentiful in the Santa Cantalinas.. They are beau tiful little animal, with coat of fine jet black halr. and are much smaller than the black bear of the north and Western States.
 Next to the bear in the cat kind is the mountain lion, which are similar to those found in Colorado and Cali fornia. They are very wary but cowardly animal, and will not fight unless surprised or pressed. They abound Tn every part ofthe Territory and sometimes destroy calves and colts. but are more fond of sheep, of which they eat ravenously. They are the sheep herders' greatest enc n ! Two adult lions with their young have been known to kill as many as 50 sheep in single night. Fortu nately they are easily poisoned, and they seldom have more than one or two feasts of fresh mutton before they get dose of strychnlne
 The leopard IS found on the west ern slope of the Baboquivaries and the low ranges of mountains to the west, near the Mexican line. He Is a more compact built animal than the lion, and full as heavy. The Pa pago and Yaqui Indians say he is much more to be feared than the lion. He is beautifully marked, and his skin commands a high price, both here and in Sonora, being in demand among the Mexican vaqueros for leg gings and saddle trimmings.
 The gray wolf Inhabits the noun tain country, though they are very scarce.
 Tho coyote is found everywhere. He is larger than those east of the Rocky mountains or in northern lati- tudes.
 There are a very few partners and a few lynx, but wildcats: are found everywhere. There are a few vol veripes in the northern part of the Territory, but none, so far as we know, have been seen in the south.
 Arizona is greatly favored with deer, both of the black and white tail varieties, but their habits are ex actly the reverse of the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains; there the bIeck tails seek habitation near the snow line. Hhile the white tails are content to remain in the valleys; here the white tail deer are nearly always found in the higher noun tains, while the black tails frequent the foothills and the valleys. The mule deer, which is the largest of the deer k1nd in America, is very common on the Colorado rlver and the low mountain ranges in southern Arlzona. They are closely built, fine looking animals, and some of them are almost as large as elks. Indeed, we saw one two months ago on the