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"^ \' r mmmm t .hi V.I Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by V. G. AUDUBON, In li e Clc-k's Office of the District Com of tlie Southern District of New-York, JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. The father of John James Audubon, at the age of twelve years, left his home near Nantes, in France, and shipped as a sailor-boy before the mast in a fishing- vessel bound for this country. Soon he becfime captain of a small vessel, and by degrees was promoted until he became an officer of considerable influence and distinction in the imperial navy of Napoleon. While residing in San Domingo, in the West Indies, he made several visits to this country, and in one of them he met a lady of Spanish birth in Louisiana, whom he married. He died in 1818, at the age of ninety-five, at Eochefort on the Loire, where he owned a large estate. John James Audubon, the naturalist, was born on his father's plantation near New Orleans, in 1780, and was the youngest of a family of three sons and one daughter. When quite young, he resided for a short time in San Domingo, on his father's estate, before he was sent to France to receive his education. His father's desire was that he should enter the navy, and his studies were directed accordingly ; but even then he began to show the bent of his mind, and to evince those talents for which in after years he became so celebrated. Not only did he in his frequent excursions in the vicinity of Nantes form a large collection of objects in natural history, but even at that early age he actually made a collection of upward of two hundred drawings of French birds. Seeing his son's tastes, and that they interfered seriously with his studies, his father soon abandoned the idea of educating him either for the army or navy, and sent him at the age of seventeen to attend to his property at Mill Grove, on the Perkiomen Creek, near Philadelphia, which he had pur- chased in one of his early visits to this country. Here he indulged his passion for hunting, fishing, and collecting specimens of natural history; and, according to his own statement, first conceived the idea of that great work on American Ornithology, which has made him famous. As he after- t u JOHN JAMES Al'UUnoX, ward .rote, ■' HnntinK. iishing, unci drawing occupied my every moment • cares I knew not, and cared uotliiug for them " ' Owing to a difficulty witlx an a«ent whom his father sent over partly to assjst and partly to advise Inn, and who assumed, he thought, too much authont, he suddenly left for New York, n.aking the journey on foot mid-wmt^r m three days. IVom that city he sailed for France to lay his comp amts before hzs father, who acknowledged they were just, and prom! ised to remove his agent. He remained in France over a yea and added largely to his collection of drawings and specimens of st'uffed On his retm^ to Mill Grove his father recalled his agent, and Audu- bon was aga.n free from all control. On his previo.^ visit he h.d become acquamted with Lucy Bakewoll. whose father. William Bake- rtel ; . "t "• "'"' "' ""'" ^^"^^' '^'' *^^^ acquaintance soon npened mto affection. Before consenting to their marriage. Mr. Bake. -U adnsed A^ulubon to engage in some mercantile bu;iness; and m nt ''T^r 1 '.' "^"'^ *° ""'^ ^'^'^' ""'^ -^-^'^ '^^ -^aU-1- Z I '"""'" ''^^'"""- ^^^ ^"•^""^"' ^— r, appears to ol birds'" rrr ''• '.^ '^^""*^ P"^'^'^^* °^ gathering specimens ' ol buds and natural curiosities than to his business, wh.ch he soon neglected as he had previously done his studies. His rooms were crowded with specimens of birds, animal, mosses, eggs, and stones; and. indeed ^ch an odor emanated from them, owing to the drying of birds' skin, that his neighbors made a legal complaint against him on account of the nui- irnot mt' 1 r' ''"'' '"""' '"""""' ^""^°"" ^''^ '-^ f--J^^ that he wa not fitted for a mercantile life, he gladly returned to his old home and his pleasures. Soon after, in 1808. Audubon and Ferdinand Rosier, with whom he had beconie acquainted in his last visit to France, started far the West, hoping to make some investment or enter into some business suited to his tastes nv^stfr ---gements accordingly. He sold his property, invested the money in good, and was married the same year Audubon and his wife, with their merchandise, arrived safely at Louis- ville, having sailed down the Ohio from Pittsburg in a flat-bottomed boat such as was used for river navigation at that time Here again his favorite pursuits engrossed too much of his time and caused Lim to surrender the management of his business almost rt'.:!:;' to .ios,.er. As might be expected, it soon proved to be uusuccesstul, and JOHN JAMES AUDUUON. Ui the partupis cleteriuincd to transfer it to Heuclorsonville, about one hun- dred and twenty miles down the river. It was while in business in Louis- ville that he first met Wilson the naturalist, and the interview is thus described by him in his Ornithological Biography: "One fair morning I was surprised by the sudden entrance into our count- ing-room, at Louisville, of Mr. Aiexunder Wilson, the celebrated author of the 'American Ornithology,' of whose existence I had never until that moment been apprised. Tliis liappened in March, 1810. How well do I remember him as he then walked up to me! His long, rutiier hooked nose, the keenness of his eyes, and his prominent clieekbo.ies, stamped his countenance with a peculiar chunicter. His dress, too, was of a kind not usually seen in that part of the country : a short coat, trousers, and a waistcoat of gray clotli. His stature was not above the middle size. He iuid two rolumes under his arm; and as he approacluHl tiie table at which I was working I discovered something like astonisiuuent in his countenance. He, however, immediately proceeded t^'o dig. close tiie object of bis visit, which was to procure subscrijjtion for his work. He opcnod his books, explained the nature of his occupation, and requested my pat'-onage. I felt surprised and gratified at tlie sight of his volumes, turned over a few of his plates, and had already taken a pen to write my name in ins favor, wlien my partner rather abruptly said to me in French, ' My dear Audubon, what induces you to subscribe to this work ? Your drawings are certainly far better; and again, you must know as much of the habits of American b' as this gentleman.' Wiiether Mr. Wilson understood French or not, or if t_ suddenness wHh which I paused disappointed him, I cannot tell ; but I clearly perceived that lie was not pleased. Vanity and the en- comiums of my friend prevented me from subscribing. Mr. Wilson asked m- if I luid many drawings of birds. I rose, took down a large portfolio, laid it on the table and sliowed him,— as I would show you, kind reader, or any other person fond of such subjects,— the whole of the contents, with the sam • patience with which he bad shown me his own engravings. His surprise appeared great, as be told me he never had the most distant idea that any other individual than himself had been engaged in forming such a collection He asked me if it was my intention to publish, and when I answered in the negative, his surprise seemed to increase. And truly such was my intention • for, until long after, when I met the Prince of Musignano in Pliiladelphia, I had not tlie least idea of presenting the fruits of my labor to the world. Mr Wil- son now examined my drawings with care, asked if I should have any objec- tions to lending him a few during his stay; to which I replied that I had none He tlien bade me good-m*.rning, not, however, until I had made an arran-r- ment to explore the woods in the vicinity with bim, and bad promised to pro- cure for bim some birds, of which I bad drawings in my collection, but which he had never seen. It happened tliat he lodged in the same house with us • but his retired habits, I tbougiit, exliiliited either a strong feeling of discon- tent or a decided melancholy. The Scotch airs which he played sweetly on his flute made me melancholy too, and I felt for bim. I presented him to my wife and friends; and seeing that he was all enthusiasm, exerted myself as t IV JOHN JAMES AUDUIioN. m.io . as was ii, ,„y ,.,nvor to pn,curo for him the «pc.ciin..>us Ik- uautcd. Wo 'H.nl.d h.^cther, aad ohtaiued birds, which h. had ..ovcr belbre seen; hu^ icadcT, I d.d not .ul,.o.ilK. to his work, lur, ev... a( that tinie, ,nv collection was greater than Ins. 1 lunkinj,^ that perha,.. he n>i;,H,l he pleased' to publish the resuts ol my researches, I offere.l them to hin,, n.erely oa condition that wha r had dra^vn. or might aCterwanl draw and mnd to him, should be mentioned in h.s works us comin- frum my p.Leil. At the .smu. lime I offered to open a corre.|.ondenco with him. wlueh I thou,.M>t mi-ht prove benelieial to i,s both. He made no reply to either proposal, and before nuuiy .lays had elapsed left Louisville on his way lo New Orh.ans, little knowin- how'mn.'h his talents were ni)preciuted in our little town, at least by myself and mv friends "Some time elapsed, during which I never heard of him or his works At length, having occasion to go to Philadelj.hia, I in.iuired for liMn, and ,,aid him u visit. Ho was then drawing a white-headed eagle. He received me with civility, and took me to the exhibition-rooms of Hembrandt IVale, the artist who had then portrayed Napoleon crossing the Alps. Y Wilson spoke not of birds or drawings. Feeding, as I was forced to do, that my company was not agreeable, I parted from him; and after that I never saw him again But judge of my astonisliment, some time after, when on reading the thirty-ninth page of .he ninth volume of his 'Amorlcan Ornithology,' I found in it the fol- lowing paragraph: — "'March 23rd, 1810: I bade adieu to Louisville, to which place I had four lettf^rs of recomm.-ndation, and was tanght to expect much of everythin.r there • but neither received one act of civility from tnose to whom I was recommended' one subscriber, nor one new bird; though I delivered my letters, ransacked the' woods repeatedly, and visited all the characters likely to subscribe. Science or literature has not one friend in this place.' " Soon another change was deemed advisable, and the stock was removed to St. Genevieve, about twenty miles below St. Louis. Becoming wearied of business, Au-lubon sold his interest to his partner in 1812, and on horse- back returned to Ilendersonville, where he had left his wife and hib son Victor. His journey to St. Geneviovo, and the perils of his return, are gi-aphically described in his " Ornithological Biography,' and show him to be a man of uncommon endurance and courage. Shortly after hie return to Hendorsonville, hin second son, John Woodhouse, was born. These two sons, both of whom have recently died, are frequently mentioned in his works, and in after years, as artists and naturalists, accorappnied him in his various expeditions, and greatly aided him in preparing his great work for publication. His life here has thus been described by an eloquent writer :— " His new domicile at Hendersonville gave him ample opportunities for the prosecu- tion of his ornithological inquiries. He was accustomed to make long excursions through all the neighboring country, scouring the fields and JOHN JAMES AUDUllON. ^ the woods, and fording the lakes and the rivers. He describoa himself as setting out early in the luorniug, with no companion but his dog and gun ; the faithful tin box, containing his pencils and colors, slung to h's side ; now popping down the unconscious warbler that makes the air vooal from some neighboring tree ; now hastening to the broad shelter of a venerable oak to dnvw the form and paint the variegiitod piui^age of his victim ; now crouching for hours underneath some withered trunk, to observe the habits of some shy and timid bird ; now climbing the jagged side of a rocky pre- cipice, to find the nest-eggs of the eagle that screams and flutters upon the dry top of the storm-blasted beech still higher up ; now treading upon the huad of the serpent that hisses and wreathes among the thick leave- of the copse ; now starting the bear and cougar from their secret lairs in the fas aesses ; iw cleaving with lusty sinew, his gun and apparatus fastened above his head, the troubled waterr of .woUen stream ; now wandering for days t,hrough the illimitable and pathless thickets of the cane-brake, at night slet^ping upon the hard ground, or across the branches of treec, and by day almost perishing with thirst ; and now hailing with pleasure, at sunset, the distant but cheerful glimmer of the lonely log- cabin fire." While living at Hendersonville he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law in business at New Orleans, under the name of Audubon and Co., and invested in it all his pvuilable resources. He continued to remain, }iowever, at Hendersonville, absorbed in his favorite pursuits, and in a short time this new enterprise met the fate of the previous ones. About this time his father died, leaving him his estate in France, and about seventeen thousand dollars held in trust lor him by a friend in Richmond, Virginia. Before he could obtain the proper credentials and prove his identity this friend failed, and he received nothing. In after years he generously gave t)ie estate to his sister, and sent one of liis sons to France to make the legal transfer. His financial embarrassments increasing, he gave up all he possessed and returned to Louisville, « with his wife, gun, and drawings." At this time he was about forty years of age, and all he possessed was his collection of drawings. Still, with a dauntless heart, and not at all discouraged at the pvospect before him, he prepared to start anew in Life, hoping for better times. At Louisville, and afterward at Cincmnati, he commenced taking portraits in crayon and giving drawing lessons, and with such success that . he was again in comfortable circumstances. On the 12th of October, 1820, as we learn from his diary, he left his t VI JOHN JAiMES AUDUBO.N family iu Ciiicinmiti, \vlu!ie lio had been residing for some time, and staitiid for tlio Houtli, partly to increase his collection of drawings, and [)artly to see what conld bo done for t, o support of his family. Hi.s diary gives uu account of the maimer iu which he spent iiis time, which may bo summed up in the following extract, dated "New Orleans, Oct. 25, 1821. Rent(Hl a house in Dauphin street, at seventeen dollars a inontli, and determined to bring my family here. Since I left Cincinnati, one year ago, I have finished sixty-two drawings of birds and plants, tliroe quadrupeds, two snakes, fifty portraits of all sorts, and have subsisted by my humble talents, not having a dollar when I started. I have sent a draft to my wife, and shall begin life in this city with forty-two dollars, health, and much anxiety to pursue my plan of collecting all the birds of America." During all his troubles and wanderings, this great plan seems to have taken hold of his mind, and to this everything else bocaiuo subordinate, as will be seen in the following extract from his diary :— " Mr. Basterop called on me and wished me to join him iu painting a panorama of tho city ; but my birds, my beloved birds of America, occupy all my time, and nearly all my thoughts, and I do not wish to see any other perspective than tho last specimen of these drawings." It may be well to remark here that Audubon's diary is full of exciting personal adventures, descriptions of scenery, and the manners and customs of the times iu what were then the more unsettled parts of this country. These he has often introduced iu si arate chapters in his " Ornithological Biography," which was Mie title he gave to the text describing the plates in his folio edition of the "Birds of America." Some of these incidents we:d also incorporated, tbough not so fully, in the smaller edition of his works which he afterward published. In December, 1821, after fourteen m(3ntlis of separation, his family re- joined him. His means continued very limited, so that with the ^'^reatost difliculty ho was able to supply them with the absolute necessaries of life. In the early part of 1822 Ids diary is very brief, on account of his diffi- culty, as he says, " to procure even money enough to buy a book iu which to write it." In the spring of 1822, despairing of success in New Orleans, he started for Natchez, paying for his passage by taking the portraits of the captain and his wife. Ou the trip he found that a box containing a large number of drawings of birds had been much damaged by the breaking of a bot- tle eimtaining gunpowder; a misfortune, however, not nearly so serious as the following, which alterward l)efi 11 liim :— .lOIIN JAMES AUDUBOiN. Vll In ii siugle night two rats destroyed more than two hundred drawings, representing several hundred birds, so much so, that only a few pieces • of gnawed paper remained of his labor for years. " The burning heat," writes Audubon, " which iustiintly ru.shed through my brain, was too great to be endured, without alleeting tlui whole of my nervous system. I slept not for several laghts, and tliu days passed like days of oblivion— until my animal powers being recalled into action through the strength of my con- stitution, I took up my gun, my note-book, and my pencils, and went forth into the woods as gayly as if nothing had happened." He consoled him- self by the thought that he could make better and more faithful ones than those which had been destroyed. In the fall of that year his wife and family rejoined him at Natchez. Notwithstanding all his enthusiasm and determination, it may be a question whether he would ultimately have succeeded in establishing his reputation as an artist and naturalist, had not his wife encouraged him in every way in her power, and by her own personal efforts aided him in the sui)port of the family. He writes— "My best friends solemnly regarded me as a madman, and my wife and family alone gave me encouragement. My wife determined that my genius should prevail, and that my final suc- cess should be triumphant." After a year of vicissitudes at Nafchez, wliich he describes in his diary, Audubon started for Philadelphia, to seek employment as a teacher, and in other ways to obtain help to complete his book. He took with him his son Victor, then fourteen years of age ; and when they entered Louisville, he says he had just thirteen dollars in his pocket. Ho managed to find a place for his sou in the counting-house of a friend, and to obtain the moans of continuing his journey he took an order to paint the interior of a steamboat. In the spring of 182i, Audubon roacluHl Philadelphia with his collection of drawings, where ho made the acquaintance of Sully, the portrait painter ; Lo Suer. the zoologist and painter; Ilembrandt Peale ; Prince Carrino,' the son of Lucien Bonaparte ; and other eminent artists. He appears to luivo met with little encouragement in Philadelphia, f.)r he soon returned to Bayou Sara, where lie had left his wife and youngest son, payu.g his expenses in part by taking i^irtraits whenever opportunity offered, and suff.-ring oftentinu^s whc-n this resource failed him. He still kept up his spirits, for he writes, after visiting the Falls of Niagara-" I afterward strolled through the village to fi„,l some bread and milk, and ato a good dinner for twelve cents. I went to bed at night thinking of t Tin JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. Franklin eating his roll in the stroets of Philadelphia, of Goldsmith travel- ling by the help of his musical powers, and of other great men who had worked their wfj through hardships and difficulties to fame, and fell asleep, hoping, by persevering industry, to make a name for myself among my countrymen." In the spring of 1826 he left his family at Bayou Sara, and sailed for England from New Orleans, with the intention of seeking that aid in pub- lishing his work which he had failed to find in this country. At Liverpool he publicly exhibited his drawings at the Eoyal Institution, with consider- able profit; but at Manchester the result was otherwise. At Edinburgh he made an arrangement with Mr. Lisars, the engraver of Selby's Birds, to engrave the first number of his work, containing five plates, the size of life. On the 26th of March, 1827, while in Edinburgh, he issued the following prospectus of that great work whiea has rendered his name famous. For more than twenty-five years it had absorbed all his time and thoughts, and to it he had sacrificed both money and comfort. It has been faithfully carried out, though at the time he had not money enough to pay for the first of the ninety numbers proposed, and which when completed would cost more than one hundred thousand dollars. But Audubon was no ordi- nary man, and with discouragements on every side, he boldly commenced the undertaking, sustained almost entirely by his own indomitable courage. "PROSPECTUS. " To those who have not seen any portion of the author's collection of original drawings, it may be proper to state, that tlieir superiority consists in the accuracy as to proportion and outline, and tlie variety and truth of the attitudes and positions of the figures, resulting from the peculiar means discovered and employed by tlie author, and his attentive examination of the objects portrayed during a long series of years. Tiie author lias not contented himself, as others have done, with single profile views, but in very many instances has grouped liis figures so as to represent the originals at their natural avocations ; and has placed them on branches of trees, decorated with foliage, blossoms, and fruits, or amidst plants of numerous species. Some are seen pursuing their prey through the air, searching for food amongst the leaves and herbage, sitting in their nests, or feeding their young ; whilst others, of a diiferent nature, swim, wade, or glide in or over their allotted element. "The insects, reptiles, and fishes that form the food of these birds, have now and then been introduced into the drawings. In every instance where a differ- ence of plumage exists between the sexes, both the mule and female have been represented ; and the extraordinary ch.inges which some species undergo in tlieir prt)gres8 from youth to maturity have been depicted. The plants are all eopicd JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. IX from nature, and as many of the originals are remarkable for their beauty, their use Illness, or their rarity, the botanist cannot fail to look upon them with delight. " The particulars of the plan of the work may be reduced to the following heads : "I. The size of the work is double-elephant folio; the paper being of the finest quality. "11. The engravings are, in every instance, of the exact dimensions of the drawings, which, without any exception, represent the birds and other objects of their natural size. "III. The plates are colored in the most careful manner from the original drawings. "IV. The work appears in numbers, uf which five are published annually, each number consisting of five plates. " V. The price of each number is two guineas, payable on delivery." From Edinburgh, Audubon went to London, where he made the acquaint- ance of the celebrated painter, Sir Thomas Lawrence, through whose aid he Bold several pictures at remunerative prices. The following extracts from his letters give a fair illustration of the difficulties he encountered, and his determination still to proceed. " Without the sale of these pictures I was a bankrupt, when my work was scarcely begun ; and in two days more I should have seen all my hopes of publication blasted, for Mr. Havell, the engraver, had already called to say that on Saturday I must pay him sixty pounds. I was then not only not worth a penny, but had actually bor- rowed five pounds a few d«vs before to purchase materials for my pictures. But these pictures which Sir Thomas sold for me enabled me to pay my borrowed money, and to appear full-handed when Mr. Havell called. Thus I pa.ssed the Rubicon ! At that time I painted all day, and sold my work during the dusky hours of evening, as I walked through the Strand, and other streets, where the Jews reigned, popping in and out of Jew- shops or any others, and never refusing the offers made mo for the pictures I carried fresh from the easel." And again, "July 2nd, I am so com- pletely out of spirits, that I have several times opened my book, held the pen, and felt anxious to write ; but all in vain. I am too dull, too mourn- ful. I have given the copy of my first number of the Birds to Mr. Chil- dren—a proof; it is the only one in existence, for which he pjiid me the price of all the subscribers, i. e., two guineas ; and I may say with safety that these two guineas are the only t vo I have had on account of that work." Audubon appears soon to have recovered his spirits, for he writes :— "The King! my dear Book! had my work prosontod to his Majesty by Sir Wulte; n aller, ut the request of my most excellent friend, J. P. Children of t " JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. Di ■. ^, iiiLU lis WOICIiy 01 all KlllJrS in ffonprnl 'Plw> uchess ot Clarence al.so j.uf ao«>, her name ami all rnv fvf l i J "7"'f " f'rf^"' "»•> ••■■»«». i .:x^.:i:::tz:t:^:^;^ I. the tall of 1«23, A,u,„l,„„ left Lo„„„„ fo, p,,;,, „„„ ..^ j,^. ,.,". h. cty ,v„. ,,,,„„ ,l,e celebrated B„.„„ Cviev, by whom bo „a, iuvile.l to the Bojal Insluute, „„.l i„l,.„,l„cecl to its „,embers. Au.)„bo.'. ut ,f ll.is work of .Mr. Audubon should be e., npl e Ve Si be ^^ The result of this report was a subscriptiou by the Institute to his Ho r,n,ainea in Paris about two months, and obtained thirteen sub- JOHN JAMliS AUDU150N XI In tlie spiiug of 1829. he returned to this country, with about ten pub- lished numbers of his woik; but it waa not until fall that he joined liis family. He spent the summer in Peuusylvauia, collecting specimens of birds and making drawings. In an account of one of tliese excursions, he gives a description of the manner in which he prepared himself for' it and which was doubtless his usual custom. "I left Philadelphia at four m the morning, by the coach, with no other accoutrements than I knew to be absolutely necessary for the jaunt which I intended to make. These consisted of a wooden box, containing a small stock of linen, drawing- paper, my journal, colors, and pencils, together with twenty-five pounds of shot, some flints, a due quantum of ci.sh, my gun ' Tear Jacket,' and a heart as true to nature as ever." On his way to Bayou Sara, where he had left his wife, Audubon stopped at Louisville, and saw his son Victor for tiie first time in five years. He remained at Bayou Sara but a short time, still actively engaged in search- ing the woods for nc^v specimens, which he often brought homo alive to draw from. He then visited in succession Louisville, Washington (where he obtained the subscription of Congress to his work), Baltimore, Phila- delphia, and New York, obtaining a few names in each city. He was not only tlie publisher of his osvn work, but he was obliged to keep it con- stantly before the public by personal solicitation, in order to obtain means for Its publication. All this must have added largely to his cares and occupied mucli of his time. ' From New York, in 1830, he sailed the socond time for En-land His list of subscriptions had fallen off a little, not enough, however, to discour- age him. During his absence he had been elected a Fellow of the Royil Society, an honor which he appears to have appreciated. He visited most ot tlie principal cities in England to obtain subscriptions; but these came m so slowly, that he was obliged to resort again to painting pictures of birds and animals, which he generally sold at fair prices. The first of the four volumes of the plates was now completed, and he writes : — • "I have balanced my account with the ' Birds of America,' and the whole bs,.K... really wo,uIern,l;ibi.ytiiousand dollars have ,.La tln^^jty hands U" . ;., compleliou of the (irst volume. Who would believe tl,.,f .,1 ., i .K^jvidual, ...0 lauded i„ England without a IVieud il/uL w^^i^ ^i^.^ ^ ^Hh only s.dhc.eut pecuuiary moans to travel through it as a visitor cm have ae.,„, .hed such a task as teis puhlieutionv Vho would l^e!^ ever .u f.udon Audubou had only one sovereign lell in hi. poeUet, a UM " if a single individnuj !"■ could apply tu burrow auoLJier, wiiei 1^ t xu JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. he was on the verge of failure in the very beginning of his undertaking ; and above all, who would believe that he extricated himself from all his difficulties, not by borrowing money, but by rising at four o'clock in the morning, working hard all day, and disposing of his works at a price which a common laborer would have thought little more than sufficient remuneration for his work ? To give you an idea of my actual difficulties during the publication of ray first volume, it will be sufficient to say, that in the four years required to bring that volume before the world, no less than fifty of my subscribers, representing the sum of tifty-six thousand dollars, abandoned me. And whenever a few with- drew I was forced to leave Loudon, and go to the provinces to obtain others to supply their places, in order to enable me to raise the money to meet the expenses of engraving, coloring, paper, printing, etc.; and that, with ali my con- stant exertions, fatigues, and vexations, I find myself now having but one hundred and thirty standing names on my list. " England is most wealthy, and among her swarms of inhabitants there are many whom I personally know, and to whom, if I were to open my heart, there would be a readiness to help me for the sake of science ; but my heart revolts from asking such a favor, and I will conanue to trust in that Providence which has helped me thus far." In the autumn of 1831, Audubon again returned to this country, and almost immediately started on an expedition to Florida, hoping there to find both land and water birds which he had not yet seen. His journal at that time is very full, and abounds in most exciting adventures and incidents. In the next year, with his wife and sous, he went to Maine, and thence, in an United States revenue cutter, to the Bay of Fundy, and afterward to Labrador, still in pursait of new birds, principally aquatic. In the mean time he had sent his sou Victor to England, to attend to his interests there while he continued his researches, making drawings fvom birds, and re-drawings when he thought that the previous ones might be im- proved. In the course of these researches he again made a visit to Labrador, which he has very fully described in his diary. The following extract will show that these expeditions consumed much money as well as time :— " We reached New York on the morning of the Ttli of September, and, thank God, found all well. I paid the balance of the Ripley's charter, eight hundred and sixty-two dollars, and a balance of four hundred and thirty dollars, to * * * which he had advanced to * * * for me. I was not very well pleased that nearly the whole burden of the Labrador voyage was put on my shoulders, .or rather taken out of my poor purse ; but I was silent, and no one knew my thoughts on that subject." In the spring of 1834, he made his third visit to England, where he JOHN JAME8 AUDUBON. XIU remained two years busily occupied in writing the text of the plates, and obtaining subscriptions. He gives in one of his letters an amusing ac count of a visit to Baron Rothschild, who subscribed to his book without seeing it, or inquiring the price ; but when some months after he presented his bill for the numbers delivered, amounting to one hundred pounds, the baron refused to give more than five pounds, and actually returned them because Audubon would not sell them at that price. After a residence of about two years in England, he again returned to this country with Victor, his eldest son, to collect more materials for his work. For nearly two years he travelled through the Southern States, and even in Texas— then an independent republic; increasing at the same time his collection of drawings and knowledge of birds. He obtained a few subscribers, but his expenses far exceeded his receipts. In his estimate of the cost of his book, Audubon never took into account these traveUiug expenses, which, during its publication, had amounted to a large sum. He then made his fourth and last voyage to England, where he wrote the fourth and fifth volumes of the text, which, with the last volume of the plates, were published in 1839, twelve years after the first drawing was placed in the hands of the engraver, and about twenty-four years since he first conceived the plan of the work. That same year he returned to this country, and immediately, with his accustomed energy, commenced the publication of the octavo edition of the "Birds of America" in numbers, which he finished in about four years. In the life-size, or folio edition, the birds were arranged without any plan, except to make the numbers generally uniform in interest, and as Audubon could furnish the engraver with drawings. In this edition the bir^V are scientifically classified, which adds much to its value as a book of reference, and to correspond with this new arrangement the Ornithological Biography was entirely rewritten. During the publication of this new edition h^ was still engaged in searching for new specimens, so that it actually contains many birds not found in the larger work. Its convenient form, and the comparatively moderate price at which it was published, with the frmly established reputation of Audubon as a naturahst, have given to this edi- tion a success which has even exceeded his expectations, and has compen- sated him for the loss he must have sustained in the publication of his larger work. It will long remain an acknowledged standard on all questions relating to the birds of this country, and a monument to the energy and ability of its author. For several years Audubon, with the aid of his sons and the Rev. John t XIV JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. Bachman, D.D., Lis brothor-in-law, had been gathering materials for a woric on the Quadrupeds of North America. He had not seen the great plains of the far West nor the Eocky Mountains, and he felt that he must do so, if he would describe properly the animals to be found there, of which very little was known. Although he had lost the vigor of youth, and even of early manhood, he determined to carry out his long-cherished desire to make this journey, which he knew would be more perilous than any he had undertaken, and which he also knew would be his last. This journey was undertaken in 1843, and is fully described in his diary. When Audubon returned from this expedition, he was over sixty years of age, yet he began at once the publication of his new work with almost his old energy. The first volume of plates was published in 1846, under his own super- vision ; but the second and third volumes, published in 1851 and 1854, were published under the direction of his sous. The work contained one hun- dred and fifty-five magnificent plates, engraved from original sketches, and representing three hundred and twenty animals, either of life-size, or their scale distinctly given. The animals are drawn with all that accuracy of outline, that grace and vigor of action, that fidelity of form and color which characterized the pencil of this great naturalist. They seem to be living, moving, breathing animals, instinct with life and activity. Shortly after the publication of this folio edition, an octavo one was issued in i ambers, uniform with the smaller edition of the Birds previously published, and containing as many plates as the larger. After 1848 his health as well as his mind began to fail, and finally he lost the use of his eyes, which had been remarkable for their brilliancy, and he was obliged to be led about and watched over by his friends. Just before his death, however, they resumed, in part, their former beauty, so much so that one of his sons remarked at the time, — " Father's eyes have now their natural expression." But this varied and eventful life was now drawing to its close. On the 27th of January, 1851, at the age of seventy-two, surrounded by his family, the great American naturalist quietly passed away. His remains now lie in the family vault in Trinity Church cemetery, which adjoins his own property on the Hudson river, near New York ; and his two sons, so often and tenderly mentioned in his works, have since been laid by his side. " For sixty years or more he had followed, with more than religious devotion, a beautiful and elevated pursuit, enlarging its boundaries by his discoveries, and illustrating its objects by his art. In all climatp« ""d ir, JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. XV all weathers ; scorched by burning suns, drenched by piercing rains, frozen by the fiercest colds; now diving fearlessly into the densest forest, now wandering alone over the most savage regions; in perils, in difficulties, and in doubts ; with no companion to cheer his way, far from the smiles and applause of society; listening only to the sweet music of birds, or to the sweeter music of his own thoughts, he faithfully kept his path. The records of man's life contain few nobler examples of strength of purpose and in- defatigable energy. Led on solely by his pure, lofty, kindling enthusiasm, no thirst for wealth, no desire of distinction, no restless ambition of eccen- tric iharacter, could have induced him to undergo as many sacrifices, or sustained him under so many trials. Higher principles and worthier motives alone enabled him to meet such discouragements and acconjplish such miracles of achievement. He has enlarged and enriched the domains of a pleasing and useful science ; he has revealed to us the existence of many species of birds before unknown ; he has given us more accurate information of the forms and habits of those that were known ; he has cor- rected the blunders of his predecessors ; and he has imparted to the study of natural history, the grace and fascination of romance." G. E. L.— 1870. t INTRODUCTION. In presenting the following page<^ to the public, the authors desire to say a few words explanatory of the subject on which they have written. The difficulties they have attempted to surmount, and the labour attending their investigations, have far exceeded their first anticipations. Many of the " Quadrupeds of North America" were long since described by European authors, from stuffed specimens; and in every department of Natural History, additions to the knowledge of the old writers have been making for years past; researches and investigations having been undertaken by scientific observers in all parts of the world, and many specimens accumulated in the Museums of Europe. Com- paratively little, ho^vever, has of late been accomplished toward the proper elucidation of the animals which inhabit the fields, forests, fertile prairies, and mountainous regions of our widely' extended and diversified country. The works of Harlan and of Godman were confined to the limited number of species known in their day. The valuable "Fauna Boreali Americana" of Richabdson w„s p^in. cipully devoted to the descriptior -.ecies which exist in the British Provinces, north of . . ,;. ,d States ; and the more recent work of Dr. Dekay protesses to describe only the Quadrupeds of the State of New York, although g^ .-ing a t n INTRODUCTloff. catalogue of those noticed by authors as existing in other portions of North Amei-ica. Several American and European Zoologists have, however, at different times, given the .esults of their investigations in various scientific journals, thus making it important for us to examine numberless papers, i)ublished in different cities of Euro])e and America. We have, in all cases, sou-hfc to discover and give due credit to every one who has in this manner made known a new species; but as pof-^^bly some author may have published discoveries in a j'-iirnal we have not seen, we must at once announce our conviction, that the task of procuring and reading all the zoological papers scattered through the pages of hundreds of periodicals, in many different languages, is beyond our power, and that no one can reasonably complain when we take the liberty of pronouncing for ourselves on new or doubtful species without hesitation, from the sources of knowledge to which we have access, and from our own judgment. From the observations we have already made, we are in- duced to believe that a considerable number of species are yet undescribed, while others, now imperfectly knouu, require a closer investigation and a more scientific arrangement; and it will be a part of our task to give an account of the former and define the position of the lati.r The geographical range whic^, r.x Lav?, selected for our in- vestigations is very extensive, comprising the British and Kussian possessions to the north, the whole of the United States and their territories, California, and that part of Mexico north of the tropic of Cancer, we h&ving arrived at the conclu- sion that, in undertaking the natural history of a country, our ^ U^ INTP.ODUOTION. VII researches should not be confined by the artificial boundaries of States— which may be frequently changed— but by those divisions the limits of which are fixed by nature, and where new forms mark the effects of a low latitude and warm climate. In this way America is divided into three i){iit8:~ North America, which iucludes all that country lying north of the tropics; Central or Troj)ical America, the countries within the tropics; and South America, all that country south of the tropic of Capricorn. Within the tropical region, peculiar forms are presented in every department of nature— we need only instance the Monkey tribe among the animals, the Parrots among the birds, and the Palms among the plants. A considerable portion of the country to which our attention has been directed, is at the present period un uncultivated and almost unexplored wild, roamed over by ferocious beasts and warlike tribes of Indians. The objects of our search. Quadrupeds, are far less numerous taan birds at all times, and are, moreover, generally nocturnal in their habits, and consequently obtained with far greater difficulty than the latter. Although the Genera may be easily ascertained, by the forms and dental arrangements peculiar to eac'i, many speoiea so neariy approach each other in size, while they are so variable in colour, that it is exceedingly difficult to separate them, especially closely allied squirrels, hares, mice, shrews, Ac, with positive certainty. We are, therefore, far from supposing that our ^vork will be frec^ from errors, or that we shall be able to figure and describe eve.y species that may exist within our range; although we t Vlll INTRODUCTION. have spared neither time, labour, nor expense, in collecting materials for this undertaking. We have had our labours lightened, however, by many ex- cellent friends and gentlemen in different portions of the country, who have, at great trouble to themselves, procui'cd and sent us various animals — forwarded to us notes upon tht habits of different species, procured works on the sulyect otherwise beyond our reach, and in many ways excited our warmest feelings of giatitude. Mr. J. K. Townsend, of Ph'.la- delphia, allowed us to use the rare and valuable collection of Quadrupeds which he o])tained during his laborious re- searches on the western prairies, the Eocky Mountains, and in Oregon, and furnished us with his notes on tlieir habits and geographical distribution. Spencer F. Baikd, Esq., of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, aided us by carefully searching various libraries for notes and information in regard to species published in different journals, and also by obtaining animals from the wilder portions of his State, tfec. ; Dr. Baruitt, of Abbeville, S. C, prepared and mounted specimens of Lepus aquaticus, and several other species; Dr. Tuomas M. Brewer, of Boston, favoured us with specimens of a new species of shrew-mole (Scalops Breweri), and simdry arvicolre; Edjiuxd Rui'i'iN, Esq., of Virginia, sent us several specimens of tho rodentia inhabiting that State, and obliged us by communi- cating much information in regard to their geographical range; the late Dr. John Wright, of Troy, K Y., furnished us valuable notes on the various species of quadrupeils found in the northern part of the State of New York, and several specimens; Dr. Wurdeman, of Charleston, supplied us with several specimens of various species of bat from Cuba, thereby INTRODUCTION. IZ enabling us to compare them with genera and epeciea existing in America. To Professor Lewis E. Gibbes, of the College of Charleston, we express our thanks, for several specimens of rare quadrupeds, and for his kindness in imparting to us much information and scientific knowledge. Among others to whose zeal and friendship we are most indebted, we are proud to name: Dr. Geo. C. Shattuck and Dr. Geo. Parkman, of Boston ; J. Prescott Hall, Esq., James G. King, Esq., Major John Leconte, Mr. J. G. Bell, and our old friend Issachar Cozzens, of New York ; Hon. Daniel Wadsworth, of Hartford; W. O. Ayres, Esq. of Sag Har- bour. Long Island; Edward Harris, Esq., of Moorestown, New Jersey; Dr. Samuel George Morton and Samuel BispiiAM, Esq., of Philadelphia; Wm. Case, Esq., Cleveland, Ohio; Ogden Hammond, Esq., of South Carolina; Gideon B. Smith, Esq., M. D., of Baltimore ; Messrs. P. Chouteau, Jr., ut in doing so we think we should only swell the list of synonymes, and add to the confusion which already prevails in re gard to some of the species belonging to this genus. UIMENSIONS. Adult Male. — [Finr Specimen.] From point of nose to lOot of tail Tail (vertebra) ... 30 inches. 5 do. COMMON AMEHICAN WILD CAT. Tail, to ct'.d of hair - - ► . . From nose to end of skull .... From nose, following the cuna'ure of the head Tufts on the cars ..... Breadth of oar ----.. Anterior longth of ear . . .. . Length of neck ..... Weight nlhs. 5 5i inchoy, - 4i do. do. 1 I do. U do. If do. 4 do HABITS. The general appearanee of this species conveys the idea of a degree ol ferocity, which cannot with propriety be considered as belonging to itu character, although it will, when at bay, siiow its sharp teeth, and with outstretched claws and iiiliirialed despair, repel the attacks of either man or dgg, sputtering the while, and roiling its eyes like the common cat. It is, however, generally cowardly when attacked, and always flies from its pursuers, if it can ; and although some anecdotes have been re- lated to us of the strength, daring, and fierceness of this animal, such as it' having been known to ki)' i.t different times a sheep, a full-grown doe, attack a child in the woods, &c. ; yet in all the instances that have come under our ovvrn notice, we have found it veiy timid, and always rather inclined to be.it a retreat, than to make an attack on any animal larger than a hare or a young pig. In the American Turf Register, there is an interesting extract of a letter from Dr. Coleman, U. S. A., written at Fort Armstrong, Prairie du Chien, giving an account of a contest between an eagle and a. Wild Cat. After a fierce struggle, in which the eagle was so badly wounded as to be unable to fly, the Cat, scratched and pierced in many places, and having had one eye entirely " gouged out " in the com- bat, was found lying dead. In hunting at night for racoons and opossums, in which sport the negroes on the plantations of Carolina take great delight, a Cat is occasionally "freed" by the dogs ; and the negroes, who seldom carry a gun, climl) up the tree and shake him off as they would do a racoon, and although he fights desperately, he is generally killed by the dogs. During a botanical excursion through the swamps of the Edisto river, our attention was at- tracted by the barking of a small terrier at the foot of a sapling, (young tree.) On looking up, we observed a Wild Cat, about twenty feet from the ground, of at least three times the size of the dog, which he did not appear to be much afraid of. He seemed to have a greater dread of man, however, than of this diminutive specimen of the canine race, and leaped from the tree as we drew near. t 6 COMMON AMERICAN WILD CAT. The Wild Cat pursues his prey with both activity and cunning, sometimes boundiiij? suddenly upon the olyect of his rapacity, somctim s with stealthy pace, approaching it vr. the darkness of nijjjlit, spiziner, the dry beds of streams or brooks, to jiick up the cat- fish, &c., or cray-fish and frogs that remain in the deep holes of the creeks, during the drought of summer. The Wild Cat not only makes great havoc among the chickens, turkeys, and ducks of the planter, but destroys many of the smaller quadrupeds, as well as partridges, and such other birds as he can surprise roosting on the ground. The hunters often run down the Wild Cat with packs ot fox-hounds. When hard presstid by fast dogs, and in an open country, he ascends a tree with the agility of a squirrel, but the baying of the dogs calling his pursui-rs to the spot, the unerring rifle brings him to the ground, when, if not mortally wounded, he fights fiercely with the pack until killed. He will, however, when |)ursued by himters with hourds, frequently eludes both dogs and huntsmen, by an exercise of in- stinct, so closely bordering on i( ason, that we are bewildered in the at* COMMON AMEllJUAN WILD CAT. tempt to separate it from the latter No sooner does he beeome avvaro that the enemy is on his track, than, nstead of taking a straight eourso for the deepest forest, he speeds to on« of the largest old-fields over-ro^vn with briery thiekets, in the neighbourhood ; and having reached this tangled maze, he runs in a variety of circles, crossing and re-crossing his path many tin,es, and when he thinks the scent has been diffused sufli- oiently m ditferent directions by this mana3uvre, to puzzle both men and dogs, he creeps slyly forth, and makes for the woods, or for some well known swamp, and if he should be lucky enough to find a half-dried-un pon or a part of the swamp, on which the clayey bottom is moist anij stickj, he seems to know that the adhesive soil, covering his feet and legs, so lar destroys the scent, that although the hounds maybe in full cry on reachu.g such a place, and while crossing it, they will lose the ::i"iiti:r""^'^" -"- -^ -- ? -^^- --^ of^w";^"":: '" ""^^"^^^^^ ^l--'l t>y tl- dogs, gains some tract of bu, at .ood, common especially in the pine lands of Carolina, where fallen and up.ght trees are alike blackened and scorched, by he fire ha has run among them burning before it every blade of gis ev ry eaf an.l shrub, and destroying many of the largest trees in its furl's course; and here, the charcoal and ashes on the ground after ZT tlie trunk ,,1 a (Men tree, that has bee, charred in the eornlLali,.™ «-.n genera,,, pn. any hound, a, fault. Shonid no such clnoe XaS ^e v„h,„ h„ reach, he doe, no. despair, but exerting his powe^ of flS feet distant, as he c.n [-''Z..'<'' <" I"K'> "P iato a tree some - c,ose,;,ua..e::;tri t;:::,::,.'*:,:-' "rr t '^ J; 6 COMMOiN AMERICAN WILD CAT. !n some parts of Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, the Wild Cat has at times become so great a nuisance as to have aroused the spirit of vengeance in the hearts of the planters, who are constant suf- ferers from his depredations. They have learned by experience, that one Cat will do as much mischief among the pigs and poultry as a dozen gray foxes. They are now determined to allow their hounds, which they had hitherto kept solely for the favourite amusement of deer hunting, and which had always been whipped-in from the trail of the Wild Cat, to pursue him, through thicket, briar patch, marsh, and morass, until he is caught or killed. Arrangements for the Cat-hunt are made over night. Two oi three neighbours form the party, each one bringing with him all the hounds he can muster. We have seen thirty of the latter brought together on such occasions, some of which were not inferior to the best we have examined in England, mdeed, great numbers of the finest fox-hounds are annually imported into Carolina. At the earliest dnwn, the party is summoned to the spot previously fixed on as the place of meeting. A horn is sounded, not low and with a single blast, as is usual in hunting the deer, lest the timid animal should be startled IVom its bed among the broom-grass {Andropagon (li.ssitiforu.i) and bound away out of the drive, beyond the reach of the hunter's double-barrel loaded with buckshot ; but with a loud, long, and oft- repeated blast, wakening the echoes that rise from the rice-fields and marshes, and are reverberated from shore to shore of the winding sluggish river, until lost among the fogs and shadows of the distant forest. An answering horn is heard half a mile off", and anon comes another response from a diderent quarter. The party is soon collected, they are mounted, not on the lleetest and best-blooded horses, but on the most sure-footed, (sometimes called "Old field Tackles,"^ which know how to avoid the stump-holes on the burnt grounds o^ i<> pine lands, which stand the fire of the gun, and which can not only go with tolerable speed, but are, to use a common expression, " tough as a pine knot." The hunters greet each other in the open-heartod manner char- acteristic of the Southern planter. Each pack of dogs is under the guidance of a coloured driver, whose business it is to control the hounds and encourage and aid them in the hunt. TIk; drivers ride in most (vises the ilcetest horses on the ground, in ord(>r to be able, whilst on a deer hunt, to stop the dogs. These men, who are so important to the succesfc of the chase, are possessed (tf a good deal of intelligence and shrewd- ness, are usumIIv much iitted, and regarding themselves as belonging li COMMOIN AMERICAN WILD CAT. g the aristocracy of the plantation, are apt to look down upon their fellow- servants as inferiors, and consider themselves privileged even to crack a Joke with their masters. The drivers are ordered to stop the dogs if a deer should be started, a circumstance which often occurs, and which has saved the life of many a Cat, whose fate five minutes before this un- lucky occurrence was believed to be sealed. Orders are given to destroy the Cat fairly, by running him down with the hounds, or if this cannot be done, then by shooting him if he ascends a tree or approaches within gun shot of the stand which the hunter has selected as the most likely place for him to pass near. The day is most auspicious— there is not a breath of wind to rustle the falling leaves, nor a cloud to throw its shadows over the wide joyous landscape. The dew-drops are sparkling on the few remaining leavefi of the persimmon tree, and the asters and dog-fennel hang drooping . beneath their load of moisture. The dogs are gambolling in circles around, and ever and anon, in spite of all re- straint, the joyous note breaks forth— the whole pack is impatient for the chase, and the young dogs are almost frantic with excitement. But we have not time for a farther description of the scene— whilst we are musing and gazing, the word is given, "Go!" and off start the hounds, each pack following its own driver to different parts ,f the old fields or along the borders of the swamps and marshes. Much time, labour and patience are usually required, before the «Cat^' can be found by the dogs- sometimes there is a sudden burst from one or the otlier of the packs awakening expectation in the minds of the huntsmen, but the driver is no^, to be so easily deceived, as he has some dogs that never open at a mbbit, and the snap of the whip soon silences the riotous young babblers Agani there is a wild burst and an exulting shout, giving assurance that better game than a rabbit is on foot; a.id now is heard a distant shot •succeeded in a second of time by another, and lor an instant all is still • the echoes come roaring up through the woods, and as they gradually subside, the crack of the whip is again heard stopping the dogs. The .story. s soon told: a deer had been started-the shot was too small-or tlie distance too great, o, any other excuses (which are always at hand among hunters of fertile imagination) are made by the unsuccessful sportsman who fired, and the dogs are carried back to the "trail" of the Cat that has been growing fresher and fresher for the last half hour. At cngth "Trimbush," (and a good dog is he,) that has been working "M the cold trail for some time, begins to give tongue, in a way that brings the other dogs to his aid. The drivers now a.lvance to each other -.oouragin, their .logs; the trail becomes a drag; onward it goes ""•<•""•' ■'' •"■<«ul marsh at .he head of a rico-lh-ld. "He will soon b. t 10 COMMON AMKKICAN WILD CAT. started now ! " " lie is up ! " What a burst ! you might have heard it two miles olT — it ^unics in mingled sounds, roaring like thunder from the muddy marsh and irom the deep swamp. The barred owl, frightened from the monotony of his quiet life among the cj'press trees, commences hooting in mockery as it were, of the wide-mouthed hounds. Here they come, sweepijig through the resounding swamp like an equinoctial storm — the crackling of a reed, the shaking of a bush, a glimpse I )'■ some object that glided past like a shadow, is succeeded by the whole pack, rattling away among the vines and i'allen timbers, and leaving a trail in the mud as if a pack of wolves in pursuit of a deer had hnrried by. The Cat has gone past. It is now evident that he will not climb a tree. It is almost invariably the case, that where he can retreat to low swampy situations, or l)riar patches, he will not take a tree, but seeks to weary the dogs by making short windings among the almost impassable briar patches. He has nov/ been twisting and turning half a dozen times in a thicket covering only throe or four acres — let us go in !uid take our stand on the very trail where he last passed, and shoot him if we can. A shot is lieard on the ojjposite edge of the thicket, and again all is still ; but once more the pack is in full cry. Here he comes, almost brushing our legs as he dashes by and disappears ill the l)ushcs, ])efore we can get sight of him and pull trigger. But we see tliat the dogs arc every moment pressing him closer, that the ma- rauder is showing evidences of fatigue and is nearly " done up." He be- gins to make narrower circles, there are restless flashes in his eye, his back is now curved upwards, his hair is bristled nervously forward, his tongue hangs out — we raise our gun as he is approaching, and scarcely ten yards off — a loud report — the smoke has hardly blown aside, ere we see him lilclcss, almost at our very feet — had we waited three minutes longer, the hounds would have saved us the powder and shot ! One fine morning in autumn, when we had crossed the Ohio river at Henderson, in Kentucky, with the view of shooting some wild turkeys, geese, and perhaps a deer, we chanced to seat ourselves about fifty yards from a prostrate tree, and presently saw a Wild Cat leap on to it and go through the manccuvres we have described in a preceding page. Ho did not see us, and had scarcely reached one of the higher branches of a tall white-oak, after springing into it from the fallen tree, when we heard the; dogs, which soon came up, with the hunters following not far behind. Tht^y asked, when they perceived us, whether we had seen the "Cat" that had given them the slip. Always willing to assist the hunter who has lost his g.'iine, and having no piirticular liking towards this species, we answered in the aflirmalive, and sliowed them the animal. COMMON AMERICAN WILD CAT. 11 (If tely squatted on a large l)raiich some distance from thi ground. One of the party immediately put his rifle to his shoulder and pulled the trigger: the Cat leiiped from (he branch into the air, and fell to the earth quite dead. Whilst residing in Louisiana some twenty years since, we chanced one afternoon to surprise one of these depredators. He had secured a hare, (commoidy called rabbit,) and was so eagerly engaged in satisfying his hunger as not to observe uh, until we were near the spot where he was partially concealed behind a rotten i<)g At sight of us, he squatted flat on the ground. As we looked at him, we heard a stjuirrel close by, and turned our head for an instant, but scarce had we glanced at the S(iuirrel, when looking again for the Wild-Cat, he had disapjjeared. carrying the remains of the hare away with him. About twenty miles from Charleston, South-Cnrolina, resides a worthy friend of ours, a -.^ntieman w^ll known for his skill in the sports of the field, his hospitality to both friends and strangers, and the excellent man- ner in which his plantation is managed. The plantation of Dr. Desel is in short, ihe v.-ry ,,lace lor one who likes the sight of several fine bucks hanging on the branches of an old Pecan-nut tree; while turkeys geese, and poultry of other kinds, are seen in abundance in his well stocked poultry yards, aflbrding eerlainty of good cheer to his visitors The Doctor's g.-cse were nightly lodged near the house, in an enclo- suro which was rendered apj)Mren(ly safe, by a very high fence. As an adcbtional security, several watch dogs were let loose about the premises: besides an excellent pack of hounds, ^^hich by an occasional bark or howl during the night, sounded a note of w^arning or alarm in case any marauder, whether biped or rpiadruped, approached. Notwithstanding these precautions, a goose disappeared almost every night, aiKl no trace of the ingress or egress of the robber could be dis- covered Slow in attaching suspicion to his servants, the Dr. waited lor t.mo and watchfulness to solve the mystery. At length, the feathers and other remains of his geese, were discovered in a marsh about a r'''w-, ."r '■; '"'':;,"••'"' "'^' ^'--' -"' ^^-"^ suspicions were fastened on the Wild-Cat ; still, as he came at odd hours of the night, all attempts to catch or shoot him proved for a time unavailing. One morning however, he came about dny-light, and having cap- Mn-od a good lat .^oose, was traced by the keen noses of the hounds. The chnse xvas kept up for some time through the devious windings of "<■ < ;'<-I«.|s, wh,-n his career of mischief was brought to a close by a shot Irom the gun of our friend the Doctor, who, in self-defence, beerime Ins ,.xeculioner. Thus ended his career. In this respect he tared worse ^ 12 COMMON AMERICAN WILD CAT. than he deserved, compared with those beings of a superior nature, who not understanding that "Honestly is the best policy,'' outdo our Wild-Cat in his destructive habits, until the laws, so just and useful, when mildly, but always, enforced, put an eilectual stop to their criminal proceedings. The Wild-Cat is a great destroyer of eggs, and never finds a nest o{ grouse or partridge, wild turkey or other bird, without sucking every egg in it. Indeed, it t; '. f r>r,",cticable, seize on both young and old birds of these and otl.f "e^. Its "penchant" for a youlct nit nnturel" has suggested the - ^Aving method of capturing it in Georgia, as related to us by our friend Major Leconte, late of the United States Army. A large and strong box-trnp is constructed, and a chicken-cock (rooster), placed at the farthest end of it from the door, is tied by one leg, so that he cannot inove. There is a stout Avire partition about half way between the fowl and the door, which prevents the Cat when enter- ing the trap, from seizing the bird. The trap is then set, f o that when the animal enters, the ojjen door closes behind him by a spring, (commonly the branch of some tree bent down for the purpose, and released by a trigger set at the entrance or just within the trap.) These traps are placed in difl'erent parts of the plantations, or in the woods, and the Wild-Cat is generally attracted by the crowing of the cock at early dawn of day. Major Leconte has caught many of them by this artifice, on and about his plantations in the neighbourhood of Savannah, in Georgia; and this method of capturing the Wild-Cat is also quite common in South Caro- lina. Indeed, this species does not seem to possess the suspicion and cunning inherent in the fox, enabling the latter to avoid a trap of al- most any kind. We liave seen the Wild-Cat taken from the common log-traps set for racoons. We saw one in a cage, that had been caught in a common box-trap, baited with a dead partridge, and have heard intelligent domestics residing on the banks of the Santee river, state, tliat aff(!r setting their steel traps for otters, they frequently found the Wild-Cat caught in them instead. When this animal discovers a flock of wild turkeys, he will generally follow them at a little distance for some time, and after having ascertain- ed the direction in which they are proceeding, make a rapid detour, and concealing himself behind a fallen tree, or in the lower branches of some leafy maple, i)atiently wait in ambush until the birds approach, when he suddenly springs on one of them, if near enough, and with one bound secures it. We once, while resting on a log in the woods, on the banks 01' the Wabash river, perceived two wild turkey cocks at some distance below us, under lh(> bank near the water, pluming and picking their feathers ; on a sudden, one of them flew across the river, and the other we COMMON amb:rican wild cat. i:{ saw struggling in the grasp of a Wild-Cat, which almost instantly dragged it up the bank into the woods, and made off. On another occasion we observed an individual of this species, about nine miles from Charleston', in pursuit of a covey of partridges, {Orlyx yirginmn(f,)—so intent was the Cat upon its prey, that it passed within ten steps of us, as it was making a circle to get in advance and in the path of the birds,— its eyes were constantly fixed on the covey, and it stealthily concealed itself be hind a log it expected the birds to pass. In a second attempt the marau- der succeeded in capturing one of the partridges, when the rest in great affright flew and scattered in all directions. An individual that was kept alive at Charleston, and afterwards for a short time at our house, in the city of New- York, showed its affinity to the domestic cat, by purring and mewing at times loud 'enough to be heard at .some distance. At the former place its cry was several times mistaken for that of the common house-cat. In the woods, during the winter season its loud catterwauling can be heard at the distance of a mile. Although this species may perhaps be designated as nocturnal in its habits, it is, by no means, exclusively so, as is shown by the foregoing ac- count. We have, in fact, in several instances, seen this Cat engaged in some predatory expedition in full sunshine, both in winter and summer. It is not a very active swimmer, but is not averse to taking the water. We witnessed it on one occasion crossing the Santce river when not pursued, and at another time saw one swimming across some ponds to make its escape from the dogs. It has l)een observed, however, that when it has taken to the water during a hard chase, it soon after cither as- cends a tree or is caught by the hounds. The domicile of the Wild-Cat is sometimes under an old log, covered with vines such as the Smih/j; Zkiphus voluhilus, Riibii.i, &c., but more commonly in a hollow tree. Sometimes it is found in an opening twenty or thirty feet high, but generally much nearer the ground, frequently in a cavity at the root, and sometimes in the hollow trunk of a fallen tree, where, after collecting a considerable ouantity of long moss and dried leaves to make a comfortable lair, it produces from two to four younsr. These are brought forth in the latter end of March in Carolina ; in the Northern States, however, the kittens apjirar later, as we have heard ol an instance in Pennsylvania where two young were found on the 15th day of May, apparently not a week old. OiU' friend Dr. Samit.i, Wn.sov, of Charleston, a close observer of nature, has made the following note in our memorandum book: "April 15th, 18.39, shot a female Wild-Cat as it started from its b(>d, out of which four young ones were taken ; their eyes were not yet open." Our friend Dr. Des^ei., whom we have already mention- I 14 COMMON AMERICAN WILD CAT. 0(1, saw three youiiR onoa taken out from the hollow of a tree which was thirty foot from th.. -round. On four occasions, wc have had opporluni- lies of counting tlio young, cith.sr in the n<-st or having h.-cn v,My re- cently taken from it. In every case there wen^ tiuee young ones. In one instance tlic nest was conijjosed of long .noss, (Tilhauhia usncoides,) wiiieh seemed to have been part of an old, deserted, squirrel's nest. We onc(! made an attempt at .lomesticating one of tlie young of tliis spe- cies, wliich we obt-Jned when only two weeks old. It was a most spiteful, growling, snapjush little wretch, and showed no disposition to improve its liahits and maimers under our kind tuition. We placed it in a wooden box," from which it was constantly striving to gnaw its way out. It, one night,' escaped into our li])rary, where it made s;id work among the books, (wMch gave us some valuable lessons on the philosophy of pati(!nce, we could not have so readily found among our folios,) and left the marks of its teeth on the mutilated window-sashes. Finally, we fastened it with a light chain, and had a small kennel built for it in the yard. Here it was con- stantly indulging its carnivorous jn'opensities, and catching the young poultry, wliich it enticed within reach of its chain by leaving a portion (^f its food at the door of its house, into which it retreated until an opportu- nity offered to pounce on its unsuspecting prey. Thus it continued, grow- ing, if possible, more wild and vicious every day, growling and spitting at every servant that approached it, until at last, an unlucky blow, nn a inmishment for its mischievous tricks, put an end to its life, and with it to one source of annoyance. The Bay Lynx is generally in fine order, and oOen very fat. The meat is white, and has somewhat the appearance of veal. Although we omitted to taste it, we have seen it cooked, when it appeared savoury, and the persons who partook of it pronounced it delicious. The muscular jiowers of this species are very great, and the fore-feel -uul legs are rather largt> in proportion to the bodj\ GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. • The jveographical range of the Bay Lynx is very extensive, it being found to inhabit portions of the Continent from the tropics as far north as m°. It abounds in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and both the Caro- linas, and is Ibund in all tlie Stat(>s east of these, and likewise in New Hriuiswi(!k, and Nova Scotia. W'e have seen it on the shores of the Up- ()er Missouri more than a thousand miles above St. Louis. We examined one that had been taken a few hours before, by some hunters in Erie coun- ty, in the State of New-York, and have lienrd of its existing, although rather sparingly, in UjiperCanada, where it has been occasionally eii))'Mn short, and very soft; and the tail less distichou. than in other varieties of this species. 1 1 > 18 WOOL-CHUCK OR GROUND-HOG. D1MEN8:3N8. Adult Male. From point of nose to root of tail Tnil (vertebra') .... Tail, to end of hair . . . - Ear, poy*oriorly - . . . Girth of body ..... From fore to hind claw, when stretched We have found some difference in the length of the tai,, in different in- dividuals, it being, in some specimens, nearly seven inches long including the hair. Weight 91b. 1 1 oz. 18| inches. 3} do. 5J do. f do. 17 do. 20 do. HABITS. In the Middle States many individuals of this species seem to prefr**" stony places, and often burrow close to or in a stone wall. When this is the case, it is very difficult to procure them, as they are secure from the attacks of dogs, and much labour would be necessary in removing the large stones, and digging up the earth in order to dislodge them. From our own observations, we arc jbliged to contradict the following account given of the habits of this species. It has been said that " when about to make an inroad upon a clover field, all the marmots resident in the vicinity, quietly and cautiously steal towards the spot, being favoured in their march by their gray colour, which is not easily distinguished. "While the main body are actively engaged '• Topping the clover hejids, and gorging their 'ample chcck-pouchcs,'' one or inore individuals remain at some distance in the rear as sentinels. These watchmen sit erect, with their fore-paws held close to their breast, and ttieir heads slightly inclined, to catch every sound which may move the air. Their extreme sensibility of car enables them to distinguish the approach of an enemy long before he is sufficiently near to be dangerous, and the instant the sentinel takes alarm, he gives a clear shrill whistle, which immediately disperses the troop in every direction, and they speedily take refuge in their deepest caves. The time at which such incursions are made is generally about mid-uny, when they are less liable to be interrupted than at any other period, either by human or brute enemies," (Godman, Ame- rican Natural History, vol. ii., p. 102.) We kept two of these animals alive for ..cveral weeks, feeding them on different grasses, potatoes, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. We found them to be very active at times, though fond of placing themselves WOOD-CHL'CK OR GXIOUND-IIOO. 19 In nn erect posture, sitting on their rump, and letting their fore-legs and feet hang loosely down in iha manner of our squirrels. The old liriKilf, when itpj)roa(lu{|, opened her mouth, showed her teeth, and mad.- a raltling or clattering noise with the latter, evidently in anger. Aeither the female nor the young appeared to hecome in any (l.-gree tame during the period we kept them. The former frequently emitted a shrill whistle-like n -ise, which is a note of alarm and anger, and may be heard wiicn one is at a distance of about tlfty yards from the* animal. After we had made figures irom those specimens, we examined their mouths, but did not find any pouches like those described by Dr. G....MAN, although ihere appeared to be a cavity, not larger than would admit a common green pea, and which was the only trace of any thing like a pouch in those we procured, and in all that have been observed by us When the Wood-Ch.ok is feeding, it keeps its erect position, inclin- ing the head and fore-part of its body forward and sideways, so as to reach its ibod wilhout extending the fore-legs and feet, which are drawn back under it ; after getting a moulhliil, it draws back its head again and brings its body to an upright posture by the muscular power of the hind- legs and feet. On being surprised or pursued, this species runs very last for some eight or ten yards, and thr^n frequently stops short and squats down close to the groimd, watching to see if it has been observed; and will allow you to approach within a few feet, when it starts suddenly again, and again stoi)s and squats down as before. Not unfrequenlly un- der these circumstances, it hides its head beneath the dry leaves, or'Imid tufts of grass, to conceal itself from the pursuer. You may then gene- rally caplurc or kill it with a stick. These animals bite severely an' delend ihemselves fiercely, and will, when unable to escape, turn' anc make battle with a dog of more than double their own size. Sometimes whilst they were lying down as if asleep, we have heard them make the clattering noise before spoken of, with their teeth ; reminding us of a person's teeth chattering in an ague fit. When walking leisurely, they place their feet flat upon the ground at full length, arching the toes 'how- ever, as is the habit of squirrels. These Marmots sleep during the g'reater part of (he day, stealing from their burroAvs early in the mornin- and to- wards evening. They climb trees or bushes awkwardlv, and when they have found a comtbrtal)le situation in the sunshine, either on the branch ol a tree, or on a bush, will remain there lor hours. They clean their faces with (he fore-feet, whilst sitting up on their hind-legs, like a squirrel, anllar, where he remained in a jierfectly dormant state unt'i the latter part of February, when he escaped belbre we were aware of 'lis reaniination. We had handled him only two days previously, and could perceive no symptoms of returning vivacity. During the time he was in the celliir, tliere was certainly no necessity lor a "store of provisions" for him, as the animal was i)erfectly torpid and motionless iVom the day he was caught, until, as just mentioned, he emerged from that state and made his escape. In the month of ^lay, or sometimes in June, the female brings forth her young, generally lour or five in number. We have however on two occasions, counted seven, and on another eight, young in a litter. In about three weeks, they may be seen playing around the mouth of the WOOD-CHUCK OR GRUUxND-HOG. 23 ■jurrow, where sitting on their hind-feet in the manner of the Kangaroo, they closely watch every intruder, retreating hastily into the hole at the first notes of alarm sounded by the mother. The Wood-Chuck in some portions of our country exists in considerable numbers, although it is seldom found associating with any of its own species except while the young are still unable to provide for themselves, until which period they are g»nerally taken care of by both parents. When the young are a few months old they prepare for a separation, and dig a number of holes in the vicinity of their early domicile, some of which are only a few feet deep and are never occupied. These numer- ous burrows have given rise to the impression that this species lives in communities, which we think is not strictly the case. GEOGRAFinCAL DISTRIBUTIOK. We have found the Wood-Chuck in every State of the Union north-east of South Carolina, and throughout the Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. We have also a specimen from Hudson's Bay; but perhaps it is nowhere more plentiful than on the upper Missouri River, where we found its burrows dug in the loamy soil adjoining the shores, as well as m the adjacent woods, it is not found in the maritime districts either of North or South Carolina, but exists very sparingly in the mountainous regions of those States. We have also traced it along the eastern range of the Rocky Mountains as far south as Texas. A Marmot exists in California resembling the present species very nearly, but which wii: probably prove distinct from the latter, a point which time and a grcatci number of specimens must determine. £'. GENERAL RtMARKS. It will be observed that we have united A. monax with A. empetra, and have rejected the latter as a species. This must necessarily follow from the fact, that if there is but one species, the name monax having been first given, must be retained. Schreber appears to have committed the first error in describing from a young specimen of a variety of A. monax and erecting it into a new species. The old authors followed, and most of tJKMn being mere compilers, have constantly copied his errors. Mr. Sauinu (Transactions Linn. Soc, vol. xiii., part 2, p. .581) described a ■spocim.Mi existing in the British Museum, as A. rmpetra, which we, after ■i car.«ful examination, consider only a variety of A. monax. Mr. SAniNE'a description of the latter species is, as he informed us, compiled from various authors. Had he possessed a specimen, we think he would not nn ^ 24 WOOD-CHUCK OR GROUND-HOO. have fallen intt the common error. Dr. Richardson, who appears not to have known the A. monax, also described it under the name of A. empetra, and gave a figure of it. We have, however, been unable to discover any specific diflerences between the specimens now before us and the one so accurately described and figured by him in the Fauna- boreali-Americana. We are, therefore, compelled to consider them all as identical. 'I'he great varieties of colour to be observed in different specimens of tiiis ]\iarmot, togdther with the circumstance that no two of them are of the same size, have tended no doubt to confuse, those who have described it. We have seen them of all colours, from black to brown, and from rufous to bluish-gray, although they are most frequently of the colour represented in the plate. We have received a specimen from an eminent British naturalist as A. empetra, obtained from Hud- son's Bay, which does not differ from the present species, and which instead of being eleven inches in length, the size given to A. em- petra, measures fifteen. As Richardson's species, moreover, was from seventeen to twenty inches in length, and as we compared his speci- men (now in the museum of the Zoological Society of London) with several specimens of the Maryland Marmot, without observing the least specific dilference between them, we consider it necessary to strike ofif the Canada Marmot, or Arctomys empetra, from the North American Fauna. From the short and very unsatisfactory description, and the wretched figure of the Bahama Coney, contained in Catesby, vol. ii., p. 79, plate 79, it is very difficult to decide either on the species or genus which he intended to describe. As however nearly all our writers on natural history have quoted his Bahama Coney as referring to the Maryland Marmot, we have carefully compared his descriptions and figure with this species, and have arrived at the conclusion that Catesbv described and figured one of the species of jutia, {Capromys Founiien, Desm.,) and that his Cuniculus Buhamicnsis has been therefore erroneously quoted as a synonyme of A. monax. '^M ^ ■z. * ^ ^ •V ■^ \- i^ ^ iT' J ,?4 25 GENUS LEPUS.— Linn. DENTAL FORMULA. Incisive - ; Canine — • ; Molar — = 28. Upper incisors in pairs, two in front large and grooved, and two ira- mediately behind, small; lowei- incisors square; molars, with flat crowns, and transverse laminae of enamel. Interior of the mouth and soles of the feet furnished with hair; ears and eyes large; fore-feet with (ive toes ; hind-feet with only four ; hind-legs very long ; tail short ; mam- mae, from six to ten. The word Lepus is derived from the Latin, lepus, and Greek Eolic, Ai^rapii, (Icpon's,) a hai-e. There are about thirty known species of this genus, of which rather Die largest number (perhaps sixteen or seventeen species) exist in North and South America ; while the remainder belong to the Eastern continent. LEPUS TOWNSENDII.-Bach. Townsend's Rocky Mountain Hark. PLATE III. — Male and Femalb. L. magnitudine, L. Americano par ; auribus, cauda, cruribus tarsisque bngis.simis ; supra diluti cinereus, infra albus. characters. ^«e of the Northern hare, {L. Americanus :) ears, tail, legs, ana tarsus, very long ; colour above, light gray ; beneath, white. SYNONYMES. Upu8Town8endii, Bach., Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences. Philadelphia, vol. viii, !>'i'tl,p. 90, pi. 2,(1839,) read Aug. Y, 1838. 1 '^6 TOWNSEND'S ROCKV MOUNTAIN HARE. DEBCRIPTION Body, long and slender ; head, much arched ; eyes large ; cars, long tail very long, (compared with others of the genus,) in proportion to the size of the animal ; legs long and slender ; tarsus very long. The whole conformation of this animal is indicative of great speed. COLOUR. Crown of the head, cheeks, neck, whole upper parts, and the front of the ears and legs, externally, grny ; with a faint cream-coloured tinge. Hair, on hack and sides, whitish, or silver gray, at the roots, followed by brownish- white, which is succeeded by black, subdued gradually to a faint yellowish- white, and iinally tipped with black, interspersed with long silky hairs, .some of which are black from their roots. On the chin throat, under surface, interior of legs, and the tail, (with the exception of a narrow dark line running longitudinally on the top,) the hair is pure white from the roots. Iridcs light hazel ; around the eyes white ; back part of the tips of the ears black ; external two-thirds of the hinder part of the ears white, running down to the back part of the neck, and then blending with the colour of the upper surface; anterior third of the outer portion of the ear, the same grny colour as the back, fringed on the edge with long liiiirs, wiiicli are reddish fawn colour at the roots and white at the tips; interior of the car very thinly covered with beautiful fine white hairs, being more thickly clothed near the edge, where it is grizzly-black and yellowish; edge, fringed with pure <^'- to, becoming yellowish toward the tip, and at the tip black. Moustaches for the most part white, black at the roots, a few hairs are pure white, others wholly black. The sipecimen which was described and first published in the Transac- tions of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, was a female, procured by J. K. Townsend, Esq., on the Walla-Walla, one of the sources of the Columbia river. Another specimen now in our possession, the dimensions of which are given below, is in summer pelage, having been obtained on the flth June. There is scarcely a shade of difTeronce in its general colour, although the points of many of the hairs are yellowish-white, instead of being tipped with blnck, as in the specimen obtained by Mr. Townsend. There is also a white spot on the forehead. The young is a miniature of the adult. We observe no other diiiercnces than that tho colour is a little lighter, and the tail pure white. TOWNSEND'S ROCKY MOUNTAIxN HARE. 37 DIMENSIONS. Adult Male, (killed on the Upper Mis? juri river.) From nose to root of tail ... Tail (vertebra-) - - - . . Do., to end of hair - - . . Hei<,'ht of ear, posteriorly ... Length of head in a direct line " following the curvature " from heel to end of claw- Weight, 0| pounds. Adult Female, (shot by Edward Harris, Esq., on the 27th From nose to root of tail Tail (vertebra;) .... Do., to end of hair ... Height of ear, posteriorly Between the eyes ... From nose to hind feet (stretched out) Height from foot to shoulder Height to rump .... Young. 21} inches 3} do. If do. ^ do. 4f do. 5^ do. 5| do. July, 1843.) 21 inches. 3 do. H do. 5J do. 2 do. 30 do. m do. 14 do. 12 nches. U do. 2} do. 2f do. •^i do. 21 do. 31 do. 3* do. From nose to root of tail Tail (vertebra)) - - ■ . Do., to end of hair - - . - Height of ear, posteriorly Height from claw to shoulder Length of head in a direct line " following the curve " from heel to end of claw HABITS. We subjoin the following note, received from the original discoverer of this Hare, which contains some valuable information in regard to its habits :— " This species is common in the Rocky Mountains. I made par- ticular inquiries both of the Indians and British traders, as to the changes it undergoes at diflVrcnt seasons, and they all agreed that it never was lighter coloured. We first saw it on the plains of the Bla kfoot river, east of the mountains, and observed it in all similar situation.- during our route to the Columbia. When first ^een, which was in July, it wa.s lean vf |j J I 28 TOWNSKNO'S FtiJCKY MOUNTAFN HARE. mid unsavory, Imviiij,', like r)iir cotiimon species, llie liirvu of uii irispcl imbedded in its neck ; Imt when we arrived at Walla-VVMlla, in Septein^ i)er, we l<>iind the IndLins iind the persons attached to llit; lort iisinij; if as a connnon arlicUi ol' tbod. Inunedi.itely nll-.r wv. arrived wo were re- galed with a dish of hares, and I thonyiil I iiad never eaten anytiiing more delicious. They are found in great nuinljers on the plains covered with wild wormwood, {Artrmi .:.■(/.) Tiiey are so exceedingly lleet that no (trdinary dog can catch tliem. I have fretiuently surprised them in their fcntiis luu \)t them as they leaped away, hut I found it necessary to be very exi)edu. 's and to pull trigger at a particular instant, or the game was olF among tiie wormwood and I never saw it again. The In- dians kill them v.ith arrows hy approaching them stealthily as they lie concealed under the l)usln>s, and in winter take ihem with nets. To do this, some one or two hundred Indians, men women and ciiildreii, collect, and enclose a large space with a sliglit net about five feet wide, made of hem]); the net is kept in a vertical jmsition by pointed sticks attached to it and driven into the ground. These sticks are placed aliout live or six (eet nj)art, and at each one an Indian is stationed with a short clul) in his hand. After these Jirrangemeiits are completed a large number of Indians enter the circle and beat the bushes in vwvy direction. The iViuhtened hares dart off towards the net, and in attempting to pass are knocked on the head and secured. ISIr. l*.\MnKi:\, the su])ennfendenl, of Fen Walla-Walhu, from whom I obtained this account, says that he has oft(Mi participated in this sport witli the Indians and has known several hundred to be thus taken in a diiy. \\\wn captured alive tliey do not scream like the connnon gray rabbit, (//. Sf/!ni/inis.)" "This Hare in- habits the plains exclusively, and seems particularly fond of the vici lity of the aromatic wormwood. Inuncdiately you leave these bushes in journeying towards the sea you lose sight of the Hare." To the above account we added some farther information on our last visit to the far West. On the Nth .line 1813 whilst our men were engaged in cutting wood and bringing it on board the steamer Omega, it being neces- sary in that wild region to stop and cut wood li.r fueJ for the boat every day, one of the crew started a young ll.-ire and after a short chase the poor thing squatted and w.is killed by ji blow with a stick. It proved to be the young of Lcpiis TowimiuHi, was large enough to have left its dam, weighed rather more than one pound, and was a beautiful specimen. Its irides were pure amber -olour and the eyes large, its liair was s'ightly curled This Hare was captured more than r-velve hundred miles east of Ih^- IJocky Mount:ii,is. On the next day in the al'teriioon one of tlie negro (ire-tendi'rs being out with a rille, shot two others, both TOWNSENH'S R0(;KY MoHN'TAIN ji ARE m 29 on th. spof. The l.a.r, or fur. of this in.livi.lu.l was sli.h.U ..n-l.-.l ,.s in tho young o,.,, especially alon,. llu, hack a.ul sides, l.ut, si.^rliy af.cr ,ho sku.s had I,cc„ prepared this character disappeared. These «pcci,nenH are now in our coih'ction. Pursuing our Journey up the tortuous and • ,pid sMvam. vve ha.l not tho good lortuno to sec auy more of these i>eautifui animals un.il after our arnval at Fort Un.on near the mouth of the Y.-ilow Stone river where vve es,,d,iished ourselves for some time by the kind pennission of til.! gentlemen conneet.'d with the fur trade. ()» the ooth of .ruly.on our return Irom a huffalo-hunt, when we wore some torty or hity miles from the fort sud.Ierdy a fine hare leap..! from O.o gnss (.eforc us and stoppe.l within twenty paces. Our friend, Ea- us ..th large buck-shot u.teMd..,I for killing an„.lopes; we tired at It bu m.ss,.d: away .t wen,, and r,,n around a hill, Mr. IT.,un« follower!, and ,1 course h.u.jr ,,„„ ,,y ^^^ U,,,, ,,],, observed "Pussy" stealing carCully along wuh her ears low down trying to escape the',uiek .■ ^ o» her pursuers, the forme- gentleu.an came up to and shot her. Th,s spec.es, like all others of the same family, is tin.id and fearful in he extreme. Its speed, we think, far surpasses that of the European If the >v« is indicative of character, this animal, from its slender body long htnd legs and great length of tarsus must be the fleetest '>f the hares of the West. Tlnse hares generally place or construct their forms under a thick Mil- low bu^, or tf at a distance (Von. the water-courses on the ba k , whtch those trees grow, or when they are in the :,pen prairie, the ^ . iTJt^ ""''' ^' ^^"^^ ''-'' ^' '^^'^ ^"^ «'-^- o^- - -no or la;g: The liocky Motmtain Hare produces from four to six j-oun-^ in the .■a.-. Aslar as we have ^ en able to ascrtaln it has but It 'I.. >oung suck and follow the dam for about six weeks alVer . '^ ^ urns then, od and leaves them to provide for tla.nselves. Tl If "s.cdd of da.k-coloured, as is the case with the latter. OEOGRAPHICAI, DISTRIUlJTIOjr. Ml 30 TOWNSEND'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN HARE. shores of the lower Missouri, and has a range of fifteen hundred miles east of the great Rocky Mountain Chain. According to JMr. Toun\«e\d it is common on the Rocky Mountains and exists in considerable numhers on the --.vestern side of that great chain; and if travellers have not confounded it with other species it ex- ff^nds southwardly as far as Upper California. The period may arrive when civilization shall have drawn wealth and a large population into these regions. Then will in all probability this poor liaro lie hunted liy greyhounds followed by gentlemen on horseback ; and whilst the level plains of our vast prairies will afford both dogs and horsemen every opportunity of rapid pursuit, the great swiftness of this species will try their powers and test their speed to the utmost. GENERAL REMARKS. We have, since this species was first described had some misgivings in regard to its being entitled to the name by which we have designated it. We had previously (,Toin-n. Acad. Nat. Scien., vol. vii., part. 2, p, 349, and vol. viii., part 1, p. 80) described a species from the West, in its white win- ter colour, under the name of L. campcstris. We had no other knowledge of its summer dress than that given us by Lewis and Clark. Being however informed by Mr. Tovvnsend, who possessed opportunities of ijeeing it in win- t<'r, that the present species never becomes white, we regarded it as dis- tinct and bestowed on it the above name. We have been since assured by the residents of Missouri, that like the Northern hare, Lcpits Town- sendii assumes a white garb in winter, and it is therefore probable that the name will yet require to be changed to L. campcstris. As, however, anotluM- hare exists on the prairies of the West, the specific characters of which have not yet been determined, we have concluded to leave it as i( stands, supposing it possible that the white winter colour may belong to another species. 31 GENUS NEOTOMA.— Say et Oun. DENTAL FORMULA. Incisive -; Canine — ; Molar — = 16 Messrs. Say and Ord, who established this genus, having given an ex- tended description of its teeth, &c., we shall present a poi ion of it in (heir own words. " Molars, -;dth profound radicles. Superior jaw.— Incisors even and slightly rounded on their anterior face : first molar with five triangles, one of which is anterior, two exterior, and two interior. Second molar with four triangles ; one anterior, two on the exterior side, and a very small one on the interior side : third molar with four triangles ; one an- terior, two exterior, and a very minute one, interior. "Inferior jaw.— Incisora even, pointed at top: first molar with four di- visions or triangles, one anterior, a little irregular, then one exterior, one interior opposite, and one posterior : second molar, with four triangl Js an- terior :u.d posterior, nearly similar in form, an inttsrmediate one opposite to the interior and exterior one : third moliir with two triangles, i,nd an additional small angle on the inner side of the anterior one. Tail liuiry ; fore-feet, four toed, with an armed rudiment of a fifth toe ; liind-feet' five toed. ' i ,] "I i .in it! OBSERVA'i'IONS. The grinding surface of the molars differs somewhat from that of the molars of the genus Arvicola ; hut fhe large roots of the grind,;rs consti- tute a character essentially different. The folds of enamel which make the sides of fhe crown, do not descend so low as to the edge of the al- veolar i)rocesses; in consequence of this conformation, the worn down tooth of an old individual must exhibit insulated circles of enamel on the grinding surface. Neotoma— Gr. um, {neos,) new ; and r,^m, (/cmno,) I cut or divide. Two species of this genus have been described, both existing in North America. •1 32 NEOTOMA FLORIDAN A.— Say et Ord. Florida Rat. PLATE IV. — Male, Female, and Vouno. N. corj)ore robusto, plumbeo, quoad liiieani dorsalem nigro mixto, facie st lateribus fusco-llavcscentibus, infra albo; cauda corpore paullo cor- tiore, vellere molli. CHARACTERS. Bodij ivhiist, lead colour, mixed mkh black on the dorsal line ; face and sides fcrrugiiious-ycUow, beneath white, tail a little shorter than the body ; fur soft. SYNONYMES. Mrs Fi.oiiiiJAxus, Ord, Nouv. Ihill. dc la Societe Philomatique, 1818. Ak\ icoi.A Fi.oiiiDA.M.s, liarliiii, Fauiiii Amer., p. 142. Godniiin, Nut. Hist., vol. ii., p. 69. Mis " Say, i.ong's Expedition, vol. i., p. 54. Ni;oTo.MA Fi.oKiDANA, Say et Old, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, vol. iv., pail. 2, p. ;i52, iigurc. NiiOTOMA Flokidana, Giifliths, Animal Kingdom, vol. iii., p. 100, figure. DESCRIPTION. The form of our very common white-iboted or fleld-mousc {Mus leuco- piis) may be ri'jiardrd as a miiiialuiv of tliai of the present species; it.s body Ikis an aj)pcarance of lightness and ajjility, bearing some rescm- l)lance fo tliat of the squirrel ; snout elongated ; eyes large, resembling those ol' th(> common flying scpiirrel (/'. rolucelhi) ; ears large, prominent, lliin, sub-ovate, rlothed so (liinly with line hair as to appear naked ; tail covered with soil liair; whiskers reaeliing to the ears; legs robust; toes annulate ])enealh ; ihumb, minute; in the palms of the fore-feet there are live tubercles, and in the .soles of the hind-feet six, of which the three posterior are distant from each other; nails, concealed by hairs, which '?xtend considerably beyond them ; mamma?, two before, and four behind. COLOUR. Thi I)(h1> iiid hiiid air hud-colour, iiiterinixed with jellowish and FLORIDA RAT. 33 bmck hair ; the black preaominating on the ridge of the back .ud head forming an ind.stinct dorsal line of dark brown, gradually fading awaJ into tho brownish-yellow colour of the cheeks and sides ; border of th« abdomen and throat, buff; whiskers, white and black ; feet, white ; under surface of body, white, tinged with cream colour. In a very young specimen, the colour is dark brown on the upper sur- face, and plumbeous beneath; differing so much from the adult, that the unpractised observer might easily be led to regard it as a new species. DIMENSIONS. A.dult Male. From nose to root of tail Length of tail From fore-claws to hind-claws, when stretched - From nose to end of ears Weight 7f ounces. Weight of an old Female, 8 ounces. Young Male. From nose to root of tail From fore-claws to hind-claws, when stretched - From nose to end of ear ... Length of tail 8 inches. 5} do. 131 do. do. 2i 5-J inches H do. 21 do. 4* do. !li| ^ .1 HABITS. 1 he specimens from which we drew the figures we have given on our plate, winch represents this species in various ages and attitudes on tho bnuich of a pine tree, were obtained in South Carolina, and were pre- served ahve for several weeks in cages having wire fronts. They made I'o att,M,.pt to gnaw their way out. On a previous occasion we preserved iiu old lemale with three young (which latter were born in the cage a f.'w days after the mother had been captured) for nearly a year; by vvlu.h tune the young had attained tho size of the adult. We fed them on corn, potatoes, rice, and bread, as well as apples and other fruit, ll.ey seemed very fond of corn flour, (Indian meal.) and for several months subsisted on the acorns of the live oak. {Qucrcus virens.) They became very gentle, especially one of them which was in a se- parate cage. It was our custom at dark to release it from confinement, upon which it would run around the room in circles, mount the table we' were in the habit ..f writing at, and always make ellorts to open a parti- filiar .liawer iii ui.icli ue lv<>i.| so.ur ,.|' iis choieest food. V I' 34 FLORIDA RAT. Tliere aro oonsiderahle clifTerences in the habits of this species In va rious parts of the United States, and wc hope the study of these peculiari- ties may interest our readers. In Florida they burrow undtT stones and the ruins of dilapidated l)uildings. In Gcort:;ia and Soulli Carolina they prefer remaining in the woods. In some swampy situation in the vicinity of a sluggish stream, amid tnnghMl vines interspersed with leaves and long moss, they gather a heap of dry sticlis which they pile up into a conical shape, and which, witli grasses, mud, and dead leaves, mixed in by the wind and rain, forms, as they proceed, a structure impervious to rain, and inaccessible to the wild-cat, racoon, or fox. At other times, their nest, composed of somewhat lighter materials, is placed in the fork (branch) of a tree. About fifteen years ago, on a visit to the grave-yard of the church at Ebenezer, Georgia, we were struck with the appearance of several very large nests near the tops of some tall evergreen oaks {Qnercus aqiiati- ciis) ; on disturbing the ni />ts, we discovered them to be inhabited by a number of Florida rats of all sizes, some of which descended rapidly to the ground, whilst others escaped to the highest branches, where they were concealed among the leaves. These nests in certain situations are of enormous size. We have observed some of them on trees, at a height of from ten to twenty fet^t from the ground, where wild vines had made a tangled mass over heiid, which appeared to r.o larger tliau a cart wheel and contained a mass of leaves and sticks that would have more thiui iilled a l)arrel. Those specimens, however, which we procured on our journey up the Missouri river, were all caught in the hollows of trees which were cut down by the crew, as we proceeded, for iuel for our steamer. Lewis and Ci.ARK, in their memorable journey across the Rocky Mountains, found Ihein nestling among clefts in the rocks, and also in hollow trees. In this region they appeared to be in the habit of feeding on the prickly pear or Indian tig, {CacUis opuiUia,) the travellers having found large quanti- ties of seeds and remnants of those plants in their nests. In the Floridas, Mr. Pautram also Ibund this species. He says, " they are singular with respect to their ingenuity and great labour in the construction of their habitations, which are conical pyramids about three feet high, construct- ed with dry branches which they collect with great labour and persever- ance and pile up without any apparent order; yet they are so interwoven with one another that it would take a Ix^ar or wild cat some time to pull one of these castles to pieces, and allow the animals snllieient time to se* cure a retreat with their young." This is a very active rat, and in asccMiding tre(!S, exhibits much of the FLORIDA RAT. 35 ugility of the squirrel, although we do not recollect having observed it leaping from branch to branch m the manner of that genus, Tlie Florida rat is, in Carolina, a very harmless species ; the only de- predation we have known it to commit, was an occasional inroad on the corn.Hftlds when the grain was yet j-uicy and sweet. We have seen several whole ears of Indian corn taken from one of th<>ir nests, into which they had been dragged by these animals the previous night. They appear also to be very fond of the Chinquapin {Castania puinila), and we have sometimes observed around their nests traces of their having ied on frogs and cray-fish. This sppcies is nocturnal, or at least crepuscular, in its habits. In pro- curing specimens we were only successful when the traps had been set over mght. Those we had in captivity scarcely ever left their dark chambers till after sunset, when they came forth from their dormitories and continued playful and active during a great part of the night. They were mild in their dispositions, and much less disposed to bite when pur- sued than tlie common and more mischievous Norway rat. Whilst the young are small they cling to the teats of the mother, who runs about with them occasionally without much apparent inconvenience; and even when older, they still, when she is about to travel quickly, cling to her sides or her back. Thus on a visit from home, she may be said to carry her little family with her, and is always ready to defend them even at the risk of her life. We once heard a gratifying and affecting anecdote ol the attachment to its young, manifested by one of this species which we will here relate as an evidenc- that in some oases we may learn a valuable lesson ft-om the instincts of the brute creation. Our friend Ga.l,.ard Stoxkv Esq., sent us an old and a young Florida rat, obta.ned under the fbllowing circumstances. A terrier was seen in pur- suit of a rat of this species, followed by two young about a third grown. He had already killed one of these, when the mother sprang forward and sc.zed the other in her mouth, although only a few feet from her relent- less enemy-hastened through a fence which for a moment protected her and retre.-tted into her burrow. They were dug out of the ground and sont to us alive. We ob.s.n-ved that for many months the resting place of the young during the day was on the back of its mother. From thr,-e to six are produced at a litter, by this species, which breeds generally twice a year; we have seen the young so frequently in March ami August, that we are inclined to the belief that these are the periods of their reproduction. We have never heard them making any otlier noise than a D.int squeak, somewhat resembling that of the brown rat. Tf.e very playful character of this species, its cleanly habits, its mild, Hi ;. 36 FLORIDA RAT. promiiKMjt, and hriglit eyes, together with its fine form and easy susoep. tibility of domestication, would render it a lar more interesting pet than many others that the caprice of man has from time to time induced him to 'select. GEOGRAPHIC VL DISTRIBUTION. This species is very widely scattered through the country. It was brought from East Florida by Mr. Ord, in 1818, but not published until 1825. It was tlien supposed by him to be peculiar to Florida, and re- ceived its specific name from that circumstance. Wc had, however, ob- tained a number of specimens, both of this species and the cotton rat, {Sig7nodon hispidum,) in 181(5, in South Carolina, where they are very abundant. In Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and the former States, it is a common species. Its numbers diminish greatly as we travel eastward. In North Carolina some specimens of it have been obtained. We observed a few nests among the valleys of the Vir- ginia mountains ; farther north we have not personally traced it, although we have somewhere heard it stated that one or two had been captured as far to the north as Maryland. GENERAL REMARKS. On a farther examination of Bartram's work, which is also referred to by GoDMAN (Nat. Hist., vol. ii., ]>. 21), wc find his descriptions of the habits of this species very accurate ; the first part of that article, how- ever, quoted by Dr. Godman, is evidently incorrect. " The wood rat," says Bartram, " is a very curious animal ; they are noi half the size of fhe domestic rat, of a dark brown or black colour; thin tail, slender and shorter in proportion, and covered thinly with short hair." The error of Bartram, in describing one species, and applying to it the habits of an- other, seems to have escaped the observation of Dr. Godman. The cotton rat, or as it is generally called, wood rat {Sig-tmdon hisjndum), answers this description of Bartram, in its size, colour, and tail ; but it does not build "conical pyramids ;" this is the work of a much larger and very dif- ferent species— the Florida rat of this article. The adoption of the genus Neotoma, when proposed by Say and Ord, was met with considerable opposition by naturalists of that day, and some severe strictures were passed upon it i)y Drs. Harlan and Godman. (See Harlan, p. 1 1.*}, Godman, vol. ii., p. 72.) They contended that the variations in the teeth that separated tl'is species from Mus and Arvicola, were not sufllcient to establish genuine distinctions. INIore recently naturalists have, ho'-vevcr, examined the subject calmly FLORIDA HAT. 37 and considerately. It is . rtain that this genus cannot be arranged either under Arvicola or Mas, without enlarging (he characters of one or the other of these g, iiera. Another species, Irom the Rocky Mountains, has been rliscovered by Dr. Richardson, {Neotoma Drummondu,) and wo' feel pretty coniident tliat the genus will be generally adopted. 38 GENUS SClUllUS. — Linn., Erxleb., Cuv., Geoff., Iluozb- Dental Formula. ,..8 „. 0-0 ,r 1 *-* *-* c^ «„ Incisive - : Canine — ; Molar — or — - = 20 or 22. }»' 0-0 ♦-4 4-4 Body elongated ; tail long and furnished with hairs ; head large ; ears erect ; eyes projecting and l)rilliant ; upper lip divided. Four toes before, with a tubercle covered by a blunt nail ; five toes behind. The four grinders, on each side the mouth above and beneath, are variously tubcr- culated ; a very small additional one in front, above, is in some species permanent, but in most cases uiops out when the young have attained the age of from six to twelve wee)cs. Mammae, eight ; two pectoral, the others abdominal. The squirrel is admirably adapted to a residence on trees, for which nature has designed it. Its fingers are long slender and deeply cleft, and its nails very acute and greatly compressed ; it is enabled to leap from branch to branch and from tree to tree, clinging to the smallest twigs, and seldom missing its hold. When this happens to be the case, it has an instinctive habit of grasping in itjfs descent at the first object ■\\ liich may present itself ; or if about to fall to the earth, it spreads itself out in the manner of the flying squir'-ei, and thus by ; !osenting a greater resist- ance to the air is enabied to reach the ground without injury and recover itself so instantaneously, that it often escapes the teeth of the dog that watches its descent and stands ready to seize upon it at the moment of its fall. It immediately ascends a neighbouring tree, emitting very frequently a querulous bark, wh' ' is either a note of fear or of triumph. Although the squirrel moves with considerable activity on the ground, it rather runs than leaps; on trees, however, its activity and agility are surprising, and it is generally able to escape from its enemies and conceal itself in a few moments, either among the thick foliage, in its nest, or in a hollow tree. The squirrel usually conveys its food to the mouth by the fore-paws. Nuts, and seeds of all kinds, are hekl by it between the rudi- montal thumbs and the inner portions of the palms. When disturbed or alarnnd, it either drops the nut and makes a rapid retreat, or seizes it with the incisors, and carries it to its hole or nest. All American >; tcies of this genus, as far as we have been able to GENUi SClURrJS. 39 become acquainted with their habits, build their nests either in the fork of a tree, or on some secure portion of its branches. The nest is hemi- spherical m shape, and is composed of sticks, leaves, the bark of trees and vanous kinds of mosses and lichens. In the vicinity of these nests' however they have a still more secure retreat in some hollow tree to' which they retire in cold or in very wet weather, and where their first litter of young is generally produced. Several species of squirrels collect and hide away food during the abun- Jant season of autunm, to serve as a winter store. This hoard is com- posed of vanous kinds of walnuts and hickory nuts, chesnuts, chinque- pins, acorns, corn, &c., which may be found in their vicinity. The spe cies, however, that inhabit the Southern portions of the United States where he ground IS seldom covered with snow, and where they can al' ways derive a precarious support from the seeds, insects, and worms which they scratch up among the leaves, &c., are less provident in this respect; and of all our species, the chickaree, or Hudson's Bay squirrel t^7Zl. '' '' ''' ''' -' ^-'-^^^- -' '^>-« "P ^^« -ates; In the spring the squirrels shed their hair, which is replaced by a thin- ner and less furry coat; during smnmer their tails are narrower and less feathery than in autumn, when they either receive an entirely new coat or a very great accession of fur; at this season also, the outer surfaces' of f he ears are more thicldy and prominently clothed with fur than in the .s|)riiig and summer. Squirrels are notorious depredators on the Indian-corn fields of the far- mer, m some portions of our country, consuming great quantities of this gram, and by tearing off the husks exposing an immense number of the unnpe ears to the mouldering influence of the dew and rain The usual note emitted by this genus is a kind of tremulous, querulous bark, not very unlike the quacking of a duck. Although all our larger squirrels have shades of difference in their notes which will enable The pmetised ear to designate the species even before they are seen, yet this dillerence cannot easily be described by words. Their bark seems to be the repetition of a syllable five or six times, quack-quack-quaek-quack- qua-eoinmencmg low, gradually raising to a higher pitch, and endin^ with a draw on the last letter in the syllable. The notes, however, ^f he smaUer Hudson's Bay squirrel nnd i.s kindred species existing on the Kooky M„untnu,s, ,li,|er eo.isiderably fVom those of the larger s.purrels ; •hey are sharper, more rapidly uttered, and of longer continuance; seem- .... ...ermediate between ,he bark of the latter and the chipping calls of the .,ek Txtcvpot {xlciouros), from inna (sjda), a shade, and ot-^n (oitrti), a tail. There are between sixty and seventy species of this genus known to authors; about twenty well determined species exist in North America 41 bCIlRUS RICHARDSONII._Rach. RiuHARDt'ON's Columbian SutTiRHRi.. PIATE —Male and Female. S. c.udacorporebreviorc, apice nigro; supra griseu8, subtus sub-albi- nus, cs. Hudsoiuco minor. CHARACTERS. I^mallcr than Sciurus Hudsonius ; tail shorter than the body; rusty gray aho"\ whitish beneath: extrptniti, nf fhr tnil hlr.^1. beneath ; extremity of the tail black. SYNON 'MES. BuowN Squirrul, Lewis ana ( larke, vol. iii., p. 37. SciuHus llvmomm, var. B. Riclumlson, Fauna Boreuli Americana, n 190 ScrRfB liici.AnnsoNi,. Baclunan. Proceedings Zool. Soc, LondcH,, 1838, (read Aug. 1 1. 1838.) ^ Sfiuiius RicHAKDSONii, Bucli., Mag. Nat. Hist., London, new series, 1839, p 113 " " Bach., Silliman's Journal. DESCRIPTION. The upper incisors are small and of a light yellow .lour ; the lower are very thin and slender, iid nearly white. The firsi • deciduous mo- lar, jis in all the smaller sp.>cieb of pine squirrel that we have examined, is \\anting. The body of this diminutive species is short, and does not presei that appearance of lightness and agility which distin uishes the Sciuru iind- mnius. Head less elongated, fordicad more ar<>hed, and nose a Imle more blunt, than in th ,t .species. Ears short; feet of noderate size; the third t(.e ou the fore-feet but slightly l,„ger than the second .laws, compressed, arched, an-i acute; tail shorter th. the bod) rhumb nail broad, flat, and blui... coLotm. Fur on the back, dark plumbeous from the roots, tipp. T with ru-'tv hro^v„ and black, riving it a rusty gray a, pearance. It is loss rufou fhan Si^mrus Hudsonius, and lighter coloured than Sciurus Douglasxn 4'2 ItKUrVllDSON'S COLUMBIAN SQUIUUKL. Feet, on tlioir upper surface rulbus; on tlie shoulders, lorehead, ears, aiio aloug the thighs, there is a sli<,'lit tiii^je of the aatiie colour. Whiskers (wliich are a little lou<,'('r than the, lie id,) black. The whole of the under surfiice, as well as a line aroutid the eyes and a small patch ahove ihc nostrils, hluish-gray. The tail for al)(>ut one-half its len^'th presents oii the upptu- surface a dark rufous appearance, many of the hairs bemt; nearly black, pointed with light rufous. At the extremity of the tail and along it for about an inch and three-quarters, the hjiirs are black, a few of them sii^'htly tipped with rufous. Ilind-fcet, from the heel to the palms thickly clothed with short adpressed light-coloured hairs; palms naked. The sides are marked by a line of black, eonnuencing at the shoulder and terminating abruptly on the flanks; this line is about two inches in length, and four lines wide. DIMENSIONS. Length of head and body • Tail (vertebra') Do., including fur Height of ear posteriorly • Do., including fur Palm and middle fore-claw Sole and middle hind-claw c>\ inches, «l do. 5 do. H do. do. la do. ii UU. HABITS. The only knowledge we have obtained of the habits of this species, is contained in a note from Mr. Townsend, who obtained the specimen from which the aliove description was taken. He remarks: "It is evidently a distinct species. Its habits are very dilferent irom the Scliirus lliul- soniu.i. It frequents the pine trees in the high ranges of the Rocky Mountains weft of the Great Chain, feeding upon the seeds contained in the cones. These seeds arc large and white, and contain a good deal of nutriment. The Indians eat a great quantity of them, and esteem them. good. "The note of this squirrel is a loud jarring chatter, I'ery different from the noise of Sciurus Hudxonius. It is not at all shy, frequently coming down to the foot of the tree to reconnoitre the passenger, and scolding at him vociferously. It is, I think, a scarce species." GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIllUTION. Lewis and Clark speak of the "Brown Squirrel" as inhabiting the banks of the Columbia river. Our specimen is labelled, lioeky Moun RICHARDSON S COLl'Mh AN SQUIRREL. 43 tains, Aug. Vi, lH3i. Fr,„n Mr. Tovvnhf.m.'h nvcmnt, it exists on the 11)^. iiitm.is ii little west of the i.ifrh,,st rj.lge. h will be Ibuiui no doubt to havci a i extensive mnge along tiiosc elevated regions. 'n tijc 'u-ssirui j)ossessions to the Northward, it is replaced by the. .V v?,v '^'^ irrel, {Sc. humginums,) and in the South, near the Calilbrnian ?roun|. -IS, within the Territories of the United States, by another small species. GENERAL REMARKS. The first account we have of this species is from Lewis and Clark, who deposited a specimen in the Philadelphia Museum, where it still exists. We have compared this spcci.neii wilh thr.t brought by Mr TovvNSEND, an,] (i,„! ,!,..„, identical. Tl.e description by Lews and Clark (vol. UL, p. HI) IS v.My creditable to the clo.sc observation and accuracy of lh..s.. early explorers of the untrodden snows of the Rocky Mountains and the valleys beyond, to Oregon. "The small brown S.purrel," they say, "is a beautiful little animal about the size and ll.rm of the red squirrel (.Sc. Iludsonius) of the Atlantic' 8lnt,.s and W.-stern lakes. The tail is as long as the body and neck, and formed like that of the red s.purrel; the eves an, black; the whiskers long and black, but not abundant ; the back, sides, head, neck, and outer parts of the legs, are of a reddish brown; the throat, breast, belly and inner parts of the legs, are of a pale red; the tail is a mixture of black and tox-coloured red, in which the black j.redominates i.i the middle and the red <..i the edges a.ul extremity. The hair of the body is almost' half ■"' in.li long, and so fine and soft that it has the appearance of fur. The I'MH- ol the tail is coarser and double in length. This animal subsists chiedy on the seeds of various species of „ine and is always found in the pine country." Dr. RicMAui.soN, who had not seen a specimen, copied in his excellent ^york, {F<„u,u liorroli Americana, p. 10,) the description of Lewis and Clark Irom which he supposed this species to be a mere variety of the S<: H,uls,.„u.s: We had subse,,u,.ntly an opportunity of submitting a s|.ecuneu to his inspection, when he immediately became convinced it was a diilerent species. The diin-rence between these two species can indeed be detected at a glanc,, by comparing specimens of each together. The present .species HI addition to its being a fourth smaller,-about the si.e of our little' clupp.r.g s,iuirrel {Tamias Ay,sVo-/)-has less of the reddish brown on the upp.|r surl.ace, and may always be distinguished from the other by the blackness ot its tail at the extremity. 44 GENUS VULPES. — Cuv. DENTAL FORMULA, Incisive - ; Canine — ; Molar — = 42. 8 1— I 7—7 Muzzle pointed ; pupils of the eyes forming a vertical fissure ; uppei incisors less curved than in the Genus Canis. Tail long, bushy, and cy. lindrical. Animals of this genus generally are smaller, and the number of spe. cies known greater, than among the wolves ; they diffuse a foetid odour dig burrows, and attack none but the weaker quadrupeds or birds, &c. The characters of this genus differ so slightly from those of the genuf- Cams, that we were induced to pause before removing it from the sub- genus in which it had so long remained. As a general rule, we are obliged to admit that a large fox is a wolf, and a small wolf may be termed a fox. So inconveniently large, however, is the list of species in the old genus Canis, that it is, we think, advisable to separate into dis tinct groups, such species as possess any characters different from the true Wolves. Foxes, althcugh occasionally seen abroad during the day, are nocturnal in their habits, and their character is marked by timidity, suspicion and cunning. Nearly the whole day is passed by the Fox in concealment, either in his burrow under ground, in the fissures of the rocks, or in the middle of some large fallen-tree-top, or thick pile of brush- wood, where ho is well hidden from any passing enemy. During the obscurity of late twilight, or in the darkness cA' night, he .sallies forth in search of food ; the acutcness of his organs of sight, of smell, and of hearing, enabling him in the most murky atmosphere to trace and follow the footsteps of small quadrupeds or birds, and pounce upon the hare seated in her form, or the partridge, grouse, or turkey on their nests. Various .species of squirrels, field-rats, and moles, afford him a rich re- past. He often causes great devastation in the poultry yard ; seizes on the goose whilst grazing along the banks of the stream, or carries off the Iamb from the side of its motlier. The cautious and wary character of the Fox, renders it exceers and extendiiig over the fore-legs, Ibrming a cross. There is another cross, yet more distinctly marked, upon the chest ; a black stripe, extending downward from the throat towards the belly, being intersected by another black line, which reaches over the chest from the inside of one ibrc-leg to tlie other. Hence, tlu^ name of this animal does not originate in its ill-nature, or by reason of its hiiving any peculiarly savage propensity, as might be presumed, but from the singular markings we have just described. DIMENSIONS. Adult Male. From nose to root of tail Tail, (vcrtebne) Tail, lo end of h' .r From nose to end of ear " to eyes - Weight, 14 pounds. 2ii inches v.ii do. 1(5 do. 8 do. Si do. AMERICAN CROSS FOX. 47 HABITS. o the .Sta e of New YorK, of acquiriu,. some knowledge of the habits o the f^ and many other animals, which then we.e al^ndant aro^ u Wuhm a few zmles dwelt several neighbours who vied with each othe; ni dest 03.ng foxes and other predacious animals, and who kept a sW account of the number they captured or killed each season. Wpp rt most of our neighbours were rather unsuccessful-the wary foxre'pe ' eiully seemed very soon, as our western hunters would say^to be " up'o" trap. Shooting them by star-light from behin.l a hav-stad IL HoWs when they had , or some time been baited and the^now c \ted Jl' u ell at first, but after a few had been shot at, the whole tribe of fox I --red, gray, cross, and black-appeared to be aware that safety wlsno !:;r :. -rs:' ^" ''- -'-'^'^ - '-^--«' -^ ^'^ey .lU r With the assistance of dogs, pick-axes, and spades, our frien.ls were An- more succe.lul, and we think might have bee^ co.isiderc : p^" ' w e e mvi ed to ,oni them, which we did on a ibw occasions, b h.lT^ "»'" <'»r Kleas of sport did not accord precisely with theirs J. r wi.lulrew fro,n ,his club of pri.nitive fox-hu.fte s Each If t^. " ' ' men was guided by his own " rules and regu;:io.^^!; .^f ^^^^ 'l.c horse was not brought into the llel.l, nor do we remember anv sc'd'et coats. I,ach hunter proceeded in the direction that to him > T .*>, h„ .„e. he ,„,,_.„ ,.„ „„,,, .-i:c:'; rz ::;- ".;•' .■.".■.-.i .v„, „ »,„,.„^, pi::;: ;;,,: ;;:;;';;;';;;;:7;' "- i'--« "- », »». ... ^ i,, „,„„i^ i I, j ,x ;;;•:"'"'■:'"■ ""'• I... lU • ... ' """"•I" alh-struggle. he hurries toward the place where the last ery was lit aril, and pushes forward in a half run AMERICAN CROSS FOX 49 unt.i he meets his do., which o.. hearing his master approach generolly :o^r;::h:::- :!:;'"^ ^" '-'- '- -^^ ^« ^^- p^- -- ^rs We will now have another hunt, and pursue a Fox that is within reach s-un dtothe utmost is shortening the distance between himscH' aTd hi stronghold; mcreasing his speed with his renewed hopes rsafetv he On arrivmg at the spot where the Fox hn« K /• '•'.oled." the sportsman surveys the nlL' A . "•^^" ""'""' ^^'""'^^ wU„, direction he ,h„ll .li, ,he flr.« pi,. tZ'I: Itl, ^f TT" is c.'iierally rievateil n liffl„ ,),„; .i ^^ '^° "' """"'• "f 'he burrow i.y ..,.< eJh „h^ .he p': htrbrouir^r"* t-"™ °' "-^ '"■"""■' c,„l,a„l™e„t series ,„ keroM.h " ' ""■* "'" ""*''« of al,,,nul,rce or limnle, vl r ^ ■ ""'"""""e'l »" a depth I'he excavari,,; i- 7 ""= ™«'»"oo of the burrow. ■" •.■.cer.ti," „ ' , " :"'" "'"' '•■''""'"■"' -"d his „i,| 1, ,oUBh, •n...ru"; ,. "" ' '"" " ,"" >■'■"'"" 'I- Pox ha, retreated. '" ' "^ - "" ■ "" '>•!'- '>'■■" i" "-it. inserlod, ,u,.l 50 AMERICAN CROSS FOX. either reaches him, and th*- huntei' is made aware of his whereabouts by his snapping at it and growling, which calls fortli a yelp of fierce anxiety irom the dog ; or, as frequently happens, the Fox is heard digging for life, and making no contemptible progress through the earth. Should no rock« or large roots interfere, he is easily unearthed, and caught by the dog. It however very frequently occurs, that the den of the Fox is situ- ated on the mountain side ; and that its winding galleries run beneath the enormous rootii of some stately pine or oak ; or it may be amongsf huge masses of broken rock, in some fissure of too great depth to be sounded, and too contracted to be entered by man or dog. What is then to be done ? Should a " dead- fall " be set at the mouth of the hole, the Fox will (unless the ground be frozen too hard) dig another opening, and not go out by the old place of egress ; place a steel-trap before it, and he will spring it without being caught. lie will remain for days in his re- treat, without once exposing himself to the danger of having a dog snap- ping at his nose, or a load of duck-shot whistling round his ears. Our hunter, however, is not much worried with such reflections as we have just made ; he has already gathered an armful or two of dry wood, and perhaps some resinous knots, or bits of the bark of the pine-tree ; he cuts up a portion into small pieces, pulls out his tinder-box, flint, and steel, and in a few moments a smart fire is lighted within the burrow ; more wood is th-rown on, the mass pushed further down the hole, and as soon as it be- gins to roar and blaze freely, the mouth is stopped with brush-wood covered with a few spadefuls of earth, nnd the den is speedily exhausted of pure air, and filled with smoke and noxious gases. There is no escape for the Fox — an enemy worse than the dog or the gun is destroying him ; ht. dies a protracted, ptiinful death by suffoca- tion ! In about an hour the entrance is uncovered, large vommes of smoke issue into the pure air, and when the hunter's eye ca i pierce through the dense smoky darkness of the interior, he mny perhaps discern the poor Fox extended lifeless in the burrow, and may reach him with a stick. If not quite dead, the Fox is at least exhausted and insensible ; this is sometimes the case, and the animal is then knocked on the head. The number of Foxes taken by our neighbours, in the primitive mode of hunting them we have attempted to describe, was, as nearly as we can now recollect, about sixty every winter, or an avei ge of nearly twenty killed by each hunter. After one or two seasons, the nund)or of Foxes in that piirt of the country was sensibly dinn'nislied, allliough the settle- ments hnd not increased marerinlly ;uul the neighbourhood w.-is at that time very wild. At this time Pennant's Marten {Mustcla Camidcnsis) was not vprv AMERICAN CROSS FOX. 51 bcarce in Rensselaer county, and we had three different specimens brought to us to examine. These, the people called Black Foxes. They were obtained by cuttin- down hollow trees in which they were concealed, and to which their tracks on the snow directed the hunters. We cannot now find any note in regard to the number of Cross Foxes taken, as compared to the Red, Gray, and Black Foxes; about one-fourth of the whole number captured, however, were Gray Foxes, and we recol- lect but a smgle one that was perfectly black with the exception of a white tip at the end of its tail, like the specimen figured in our work. On examining several packages of Fox skins at Montreal, we saw about four specimens only of the Cross Fox, and three of the Black Fox, m some three lumdred skins. We were inform.- worth more than about three times the price of that of the Red Fox. Ill GEOGRAPllICAI. DISTRIBUTION. This variety soems to originate only i>i cold climates; hence we have not hcjinl ol ,t in the southern parts of the States of New- York and IVnn- sylvania, nor farth,>r to the South. In the northern portions or the State ot New- York, in New Hampshire. Maine, and in Canada, it is occa- sionally met with, in locations where the Red Fox is common It also exists in Nova Scotia and Labrador. There is a Cross Fox on tlu Rocky Mountains, but we are not satisfied that it will eventually prove lo be this variety. ' r.ENERAI, REMARKS. The animal referred toby Saoaro Tur.oo.vr in his History of Canada, under the na.ne of Reuanl Harr^. Tsinanto.itongue. was evidently this va- 54 AMERICAN CROSS FOX. riety. Pennant probably also referred to it, (vol. .., j- 4fi,) nltliough he blended it with the European T'. Crucigera of Gesner, and the KorsracJ of the Swedes. Geoff (Collect, du Mus.) described and named it as a true species. Desmarest (Mamm., p. 20.3, 308) and Cuvier (Diet, des Sc. Nat., vol. viii., p. 500) adopted his views. It is given under this na'ne by Sabine (Franklin's Journ., p. 650.) Harlan (Fauna, p. 88) publishc it as a distinct species, on the authority and in the words of Desmarest. GoDMAN, who gave the Black or Silver Fox {A. argmtotus) as a true spe- cies, seemed doubtful whether the Cross Fox might not prove a "mule between the Black and Red Fox." Richardson, under the name of the American Cross Fox, finally described it as a mere variety of the Red Fox. We possess a hunter's skin, which we obtained whilst on the Upper Missouri, that differs greatly from the one we have described, in its size, markings, and the texture of its fur. The body, from point of nose to root of tail, is 3.3 inches long; tail to end of fur 18^; the skin is pro- bably stri tched beyond the natural size of the animal ; but the tail, which is very large in circumference, is, we think, of its proper dimensions. The hair is long, being on the neck, sides, and tail, five inches in length ; the under fur, which is peculiarly soft, is three inches long. There is scarcely a vestige of the yellowish-brown of our other specimen on the whole body ; but the corresponding parts are gray. The tail is irregu- larly clouded and banded, the tip for three inches white. The colour of the remaining portions of the body does not differ very widely from the specimen we have described. The ears, nose, and paws of this specimen (as in most hunters' skins) are wanting. It is not impossible thai this may be a variety of a Iiirgtr species of Red Fox, referred to by Lewis and Clark, as existing on both sides of the Rockj Mountains. 05 «CIUR18 CaROLINENSIS.-Gmel. Carolfna Grav Suuirrel. PLATE VIL-Male and Fem^l.. charactebs. synonymes. EcrRKri,. Oris de .a Caroline, Bosc, vol. ii.. p »o nl 20 SuiuRus Cauolinensis RfiPl, \r t^ ^" ' P'* ^'^^ description. liDwever, so many mnrlfpH ,i;fF„,. • . ""fe"""'*"*;. 1 here arc, ..>*„, rf nature' r„etr2 "T\ '"'"" """ """"■ '""'""y nm,..l specie,. ^ ""•=''"■<' "■" '""'"'"l™ l'«,vee„ ,hc« ,„„ w."::l-'zi:;r;LT::,hrr "■: --^ -"--"io-eiy br„.der .ha„ anima,. S„„u „„ er „^I h °;? ''•"'"^' ' "»" *-I- 'l"." i" .ha. -variably r„„„d it ,0 eS „ , h '"" '"'""""'•"' <"""= "-= N. c„„.„e,,b„ ,„,,er ,ha„t I lit rr'^r '"^ ^^°"""''"> " Bive i,„liratio„s of ,h„ in,livi,l„.l ' ""■ ""'' "" <"" ''Pccimeas which ^i"".l. i"s,ea,l of l,avL *,;'?, '■™ .""•«■ '■■»" " y" °M "hen ■Tooi,.., have a .nsUn^ t^.^^rl i;'' -*'»»''-. "» i" H,c latter ■""l-s arc not mmj. ualike ,l,„». of f ■•'. ''""''le crown. The other '"•■«"f and smaller -tl„. ,„ rr ""i"'""'"" i" far.n, but ,-,„, • '" " ' ""■'■""■» '-'"B ..early a lUrd shorter IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // V. V . 4*^ / i/x Ic ^ 1.0 M 11.25 2.2 1^ IM 2.0 1.8 M. mil 1.6 Fhotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ ^9> .V ■1>' <^ 4IS » ^U*. ^'K ^ Se ^o^ WJ! i/i > ^ Km bG CAHOLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. Body, shorter and leas elegunt in shape, and not indicating the quickness and vi\ai-ity by which .V. migro/oritts is eminently distinguished. The ears, which are nearly triangtdar, are so slightly clothed with hair on their interior surfaces, that they may be said to be nearly naked ; ex- ternally they are sjmrsely clothed with short woolly hair, whieli how- ever does not extend as far beyond the margins as in other species. Nails shorter and less crooked; tail .shorter, and without the broad distichous appearance of that of the Northern Gray Squirrel. OOLOUR. Teeth, light orange; nails, brown, lightest at the extremities; whis- kers, l)lack ; on the nose and cheeks, and around the eyes, a slight tinge of rufous gray. Fur on the back, for thrcc-foui ths of its length, dark plumbeous, suc- ceeded by a sliglit indication of black, edged with yellowish-brown in some of the hairs, giving it on the suriace a dark grayish-yellow tint. In a lew specimens there is an obscure shade of light brown along the sides, where the yellowish tint predominates, and a tinge of this colour is observable on the upper surface of tli(! fore-legs, above the knees. Feet, light gray; tail, for three-fourths of its length from the root yellowish- brown ; the remainder black, edged with white ; throat inner surface of the legs and bcily. white. This spec"..-! does not run into varieties, as do the Northern Gray Squirrel and the Black Sijuirrel ; tlie specimens received from Alabamn, Florida and Louisiana, scarcely present a shade of difference from those existing in South Carolina, which we have just described. DIMENSIONS. Length of head and body tail (vertel)ra') " to end of hair - - . . Height of oar ---.... Palm to end of middh; claws - - - . Heel to end of middle nail Lenirth of fur on the back Breadth of tail (with hair extended) « 9i inches, n do. 9i do. 1 a do. u do. 2i do. i do. 3 do. ItAniTS. This species difH-rs as mucli in ils habits from ilie Northern Gray Sqiijp rfi as it doo in funn and ruUmv. From an inliinale acquainlan.e with CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. 5- he habits of the latter, we are particularly impressed with the pec.i lanties of the present species. Its bark has not the depth of tone of that of the Northern species, and is more shrill and querulous. Ins -ad of mounting high on the tree when alarmed, which the latter always does, the Sc. Carolincmis generally plr.ys round the trunk, and on the sxde opposite to the observer, at a height of some twenty or thirty feet often concealing its. If beneath the Spanish .noss ^Tillandsia Usneoides) which hangs about the tree. When a person who has alarmed one of these Squirrels remains quiet for a few moments, it descends a few feet and seats itself on the first convenient branch, in order the better to ob- serve his movements. It is, however, capable of climbing to the extremity of the branches and leaping from tree to tree with great agility, but is less wild than the Northern species, .o-id is almost as easily ap,:roached as the chickaree, {Sc Hu,lso,uus.) One who is desirous of obtaining a specimen, has only to ^ke a seat for half an hour in any of the swamps of Carolina and ho ^ull be surprised at the immense number of these squirrels that may be seen running along the log. or leaping among the surrounding trees, ^^''-^t "lany are killed, and their flesh is both juicv and tender, llie Carolina Gray Squirrel is sometimes seen on high .^rounds among the oak and hickory trees, although its usual haunts Ire low TT' m"" " *7^^^'«'-''-»-"- streams or growing near the mar- gin of some river. In deep cypress .wamps covered in many places with .several feet of water during the whole year, it takes up its conl •0 ulence, moving among the entwined branches of the dense fore ..h great faci hty. Its hole in such situations may sometimes be found m the trunk o a decayed cypress. On the large tupelo trees, (Nyssa as: they are capable of cxpcricncinf,' many of the feelings that ajjpcrtain to mankind ; they nre suscei)tible of passion, are sometimes spiteful and r(!vengeful, an»l are wise enough to know their "natural enemies" without a formal introduc- tion. The blue jay, brown thrush, white-eyed fly-catcher, and other little birds, arc often to be heard scolding and fluttering about a thicket in which some animni is conccilcd ; and on going to examine into the cause ol' their unwonted excitement, you will probably see a wild cat or fox spring forth from the covert. Every one familiar with the habits of our feathered tribes must have seen at times the owl or buzzard chased by the smallest birds, which unite on such occasions for the purpose of driv- ing off a common enemy ; in these cases the birds sometimes approach too near, and are seized by the owl. We once observed some night-hawks (Chordcilcs Vir^^inianiis) darting round a tree upon which an owl was perched. Whilst looking on, we perceived the owl make a sudden move- ment and foimd that he had caught one of them in his sharp claws, and notwithstanding the cries and menaces of the others he instantly de- voui'ed it. Birds dart in the same maimer at snakes, and no doii1)t are often caught by passiugtoo near — shall we tlu refore coiiclude (hat liiey are fascinated? ();ie of the most powerful "attractions" which remain to i)e consider- ed, is the love of olispring. This leeliiig, which is so deeply rooted in ihe system of nature as to be a ruh; almost without an exception, is manifested strongly by birds and quadrupeds; and snakes are among the most to be dreaded destroyers of eggs and young birds and of the young of small species of viviparous animais ; is it not iik"Iy ♦' -jre- fore that many of, the (supposed) cases of fascination that are i\ Jed, may be referred to the intrepidity of the animals or birds, manifested in trying to defend their young or drive awjiy their enemy from their vi- cinity? In our work, the "Birds of America," we represented a mock- ing-bird's nest attacked by a rattle-snake, and the nest of a red thrush invaded by a black snak(> ; these two plates each exhibit several birds assisting the pair wliose nest lias been robbed by the snake, and also show the mocking-bird and thrush courageously advancing to the jaws even of their enemy. Thes(> ])iclures were drawn after the actual oc- currence before cnu' ey(>s of the scenes which we endeavoured to repre- .«ent in them; and siip])osiiiu- a person but little acquainted with natunil history to have seen the birds, as we did, he might readily have fancied (hat some of them at least were fa> inated, as he could not probably have CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. 61 i.oon near enough to „,ark the angry expression of their eyes, and see llicir well concealed nest, auu see Our readers will, we trust, excuse us for detaining them yet a little onger on ,h,s su,,ect, as .. have ,nore to say of the habits of'the rat ! snake in connexion with the subject we are upon Tins snake the most venomous known in North America, subsists holly on ammal food; it digests its food slowly, and is able to e lus nne it ol en increases n. size, and the number of its rattles is au.^^ nited. In its natural state it feeds on rabbits, squirrels, rats, birdfor any other small animals that may come in its way. It captures i,s pVey V vmg in wait lor U, and we have heard of an instance in which one -t these snakes remained coiled up for two days before the mouth of the nirrow of the Florida rat, (AW.o.. /«,.,) ,„a ,„ ,, ^eing kil ed It was found to have swallowed one of these quadrupeds. P oj ^^l,h Its fangs, and thus kills it before swallowing it. The bite is udoen. and aUhough the victim may run a fow yards after it is struck he serpent easily finds it when dead. Generally the common species of atle-snake refuses all lbo,l when in a cage, but occasionallv one is found hat does not refuse to eat whilst in captivity. When aVat is turned 1.-S0 .n a cage with one of these snakes, it does not innnediately kil. •t, but often leaves it unmolested for days and weeks together. When however, the reptile, prompted eitl.r by in-itation or hunger, designs to lui the animal, it lies in wait for it, eat-like, or gently crawls up to it -.nd suddenly gives tlu- mortal blow, after which, it very slowly and delib,M-at..ly turns it over into a proper position and finally swallows it Ve have seen a ratfh-snake in a very large cage using every means ^^ .thin Its power and exerting its cunning for a whole month, before it <-ould succeed in capturing a brown thrush that was imprisoned with i^ At night the bird roosted beyond the reach of tln> snake, and during the dMy-t.me it was too cautious in its movements, and too agile, snatching up . s food at intervals, and flying instantly back to its perch, to be struck by the unwieldy serpent. We now added a mouse to the number of the inmates of tlu- cage ; the affrighted animal retreated to a corner, where .Iu> snake slowly crawling up to it, with a sudd,-n blow darted his fangs >•'"' ••'-"1 l^'ll'"l it; soon after which he swallowed it. About a week 'tfter fhis adventure, (h,. snake again resumed his attempts to capture the llMMisli. and pursued it all round the cage. This experiment offered a fair opportunity for the rattle-snake to exert •Is powers of fascination, had it possessed any; but as it did not exhibit 63 CAIIOLINA GRAY SQUmUEL. them, we do not hesitate to say that it was entirely destitute of any (iiculty of the kind. At'lrr .some hours' Iruitloss manoBUvring, the snake coiled itself up near the cup of water from which the bird drank. For two days the thrusli avoided the water; on the third, liaving become very thirsty, it showed a (H)nstant desire to approach the cup; the snake waited for it to come witiiin reach, and in tlie course of the day struck at it two or three tirnes ; the bird darted out of its way, however, and was not killed until the next day. If, notwithstanding these facts, it is arpjued, that the mysterious and inexj)licable power ol' fnxciiuil ion is possessed l)y the snake, because birds have been seiMi to approach it, and with open wings and ))hiinliv(! voict; seemed to wait upon its appetite, we must be prepared to admit that the same faculty is possessed by other animals. On a certain day, we saw a mocking-bird <>xliibiting every appearance, usu.ally, according to de- scriptions, witnessed wiien birds arc under the influence of iascination. It approaclied a hog which was occupied in munching something at the foot of a small cedar. The bird fluttered before the grunter with open wings, uttered a low and plaintive note, alighted on his back, and tinally i)cgan to peck at his snout. On examining into the cause of these strange jiroccu'dings, we ascertained that the mocking-bird had a nest in the tre(>, from whicli .jevera! of her younglings had fallen, which th*; hog was eating! (^ur friend, the late Dr. Wnitiirr, of Troy, informed us liiat he witnessed a ne.irly similar scene betwjui a cat-bird and a dog which had disturbed her brood, on which occasion the cat-bird went through many of the movements generally ascribed to the efTect of fascination. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. We have received a specimen of this Squirrel which was procured in the market at New Orleans, where it is said to be exceedingly rare. We have not traced it fiirther to the Soutli. It is the most abundant spe- cies in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. We have seen it in the swamps of North Carolina, but have no positive evidence that it extends farther to the northward tlinn that State. We have obtained it in Ala- jama, and in Mississippi vvc are told it is found in the swamps. Nothing las been heard of it west ol' the Mississippi river. GKNERAI. REMARKS. This species was first described by Omemn, and afterwards noticed and CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRRKL 63 figured by Bosc. The doscriptions in ILvk.,,, Goom.., and all other au- hors who have deseribed this species under ,he n.n^e of SeiurJcZ ^.n.. refer to the Nortkrrn Gray Squirrel. W , believe we were the h.-.^ to observe and point out the distinctive characters which s" p^.m^e the present species from S. migratonus, the Gray Squirrel of the 64 GENUS TAMIAS. — Ilugkb. T • • ' ^ __ , 5-5 incisive - : Canine - ; Molar — = 22. 8 ♦-* Upper incisors, smooth ; lower ones, compressed and sharp ; molars, vvith short, tuberculous crowns. Nose, pointed ; lip, cloven ; ears, round, short, not tufted or fringed ; cheek-pouches, ample. Tail, shorter than the body, hairy, sub-distichous, somewhat .apering. Mamma;, exposed ; feet, distinct, ambulatory ; fore-feet, four toed, with a minute blunt nail in place of a thumb; hind-feet five toed; claws, hooked. This genus differs from Sciurus in several important particulars. The various species that have been discovered have all the same characteris- tics, and strongly resemble each other in form, in their peculiar markings and in their habits. In shape they differ from the true squirrels and a])- proach to the spermojihiles ; they have a sliarp convex nose adapted to digging in the earth ; they have longer heads, and their ears are placed farther back than those of squirrels ; they have a more slender body and shorter extremities. Their ears are rounded, without any tufts on the borders or behind them. They have cheek-pouches, of which all squirrels are destitute ; their tails are ronndish, narrow, seldom turned up, and only sub-distichous. The species belonging to this genus are of small size, and are all lon- gitudinally striped on the back and sides. Their notes are very peculiar; they emit a chipping clucking sound differing very widely from the quacking chattering cry of the squirrels. They do not mount trees unless driven to them from necessity, but dig burrows, and spend their nights and the season of wintei under ground. They are, however, more closely related to the squirrels than to the sper niophiles. The third toe from the inner side is slightly the longest, as in the former ; whilst in the latter, the second is longest, as in the mar- mots. The genus Tamias is therefore nearly allied to the squirrels, whilst the spermophiles approach the marmots. Authentic species of the genus Sciurus are already very numerous, and as we have now a number of species, to whi\;h constant additions are jnaking by the explorers of our Western regions, which by their cheek- noucLss, their markings, and habits, can be advantageously separated molars, Tinged 5 ipering. with a hooked. s. The •acteris- larkings and a])- adapted ars are slender ly tufts hich all •ned up, all lon- j sound ■rels. but dig )und. he sper t, as in le mar- , whilst us, and ons are cheek- parated I VHP Nv: i'lai.' VIII Ih-awrioii Su»fie by H Iretnbiv -/ ' - >^f t/f'^^f r >rawn From llat.ur** i-y J.'nu Jui-on FHS 1- I 5 Prirt.O'H joy Na^p; EV Weir^ ar t,nor NY nil ( iV_**^ NY CHIPPING SQUIRREL. 65 from that genus, no doubt naturalists will arrange them in the genus Tamias. When this genus was first established by Illiger, but a single species was satisfactorily known, and naturalists were unwilling to separate it from the squirrels, to which it bears so strong an affinity ; but we are now, ho>vever, acquainted with six species, and doubt not that a few more years of investigation will add considerably to this number. We have couseiiucntly adopted the genus Tamias of that author. The word Tamias is derived from the Greek r«^«,, (tamias,) a keeper ot ston-s— in reference to its cheek-pouches. One species of this genus exists in the Northern portions of the Eastern contment; four in North, and one in South, America. We also possess an undcscribcd species, the habitat of which is at present unknown to us. TAMIAS LISTERI.—Ray. Chipping Squirrel, Hackee. &c. PLA'l'K \(ll — Malk, Fbmalb, and Youno (First Auiuiun). T. dorso fusco-cinereo, striis quin.iue nigris, et duobus luteo-albis longi- tudinaiibus ornato ; fronte et natibus fusco-luteis ; ventre albo. characters. lirownish gray on the back; forehead and buttocks brownish orange ; jive longitudinal black stripes and two yellowish white ones on the back; undor surface white. SYNONYM ns. EcJUEiiii. Suisse, Sagard Tlieodat. Canada, p. 740, A.. D. 1036. Gkoond Squirrel, LawsonV Carolina, p. 124. Catesby, Carol, vol. ii., p. Ts. EuwAuns. vol. iv., p. 181. Kalm, vol. i., p. 322. 8CIU11US I.V8TE.U, Ray, Synops. Quad., p. 216, A. D. 1693. In ijv\»m, Clii'.iiovoix h'ouv. Fr., vol. v., p. 100. Sriui-KD Do..Mot:HK, Pennant. Arc. ZooL, 4 vols., "vol. i., p. 12«. SciUKiis Cauomnensis, ]3risson, licg. Anim., p. 155, A. D. 1760. tvi^KKLMr Si/iMH.'. rF>,,s,ii K,i.' Nfamm. ) N.^U, p. 330, Esp„ 547. U i 86 CHIPPING SQUIRREL SciURUS SiiUAius, Hiulan, Fauna, p, 183. " " Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii., p. 142. SciuRus (Tamias) Lysteiu, Rich., F. 15. A., p. 181, plate l.'j. " " " Doughty's Cabinet Nat. Hist., vol. ., p. 169, pi, lb SciuuL's Striatls, DcKay, Nut. Hist, of N. Y., part 1, p. 62, pi. 16, %. 1. DESCRIPTION. Body, rather slender; forehead, arched; head, tapering from th^^ ears to the nose, Avhich is covered with short hairs ; nostrils, opening downwards, margins and septum naked ; whiskers, shorter tlian the bead. A few bristles on the cheeks and above the eye-brows ; eyes, of moderate si/e ; ears, ovate, rounded, erect, covered with short hiiir on both sur- faces, hot tuited, the hair on those parts simply covering the margins, ('licek-pouches, of tolerable size, extending on the sides of the neck to a little below the ear, opening into the mouth between the incisors and mo- hirs. Fore-feet, with four slender, compressed, slightly-curved claws, and the rudiment of a thumb, covered with a short blunt n- 11 ; hind-leet, long and slender, with five toes, the middle toe being a little the longest. Tail, rather short and slender, nearly cylindrical above, dilated on the sides, not bushy, sub-distichous. Hair on the whole body short and smooth, but not very fine. COLOUR. A small black spot aliove the nose ; forehead, yellowish brown ; above and beneath the eyelids, white ; whiskers and eyelashes, black ; a dark l)rown streak running from the sides of the iiice through the eye and reaching tne ear ; a yellowish brown stripe extending from near the nose, running under the eye to behind the ear, deepening into ehesnut-brown immediately below the eye, where the stripe is considerably dilated. .\nterior portion of the back, hoary gray, tlus colour being ibrmed by a mixture of gray and black hairs. Colour of the rump, extending to a little l)eyond the root of the tail, hips, and exterior surface of the thighs, red- dish fawn, a few Ijiack hairs sprinkled among the rest, not sufficiently nunu'rous to give a darker shade to those parts. A dark dorsal line com- mencing back of the head is dilated on the middle of the back, and runs to a point within an inch of the root of the tail ; this line is brownish on the shoulder, but deepens into black in its prosrress downwards. On each flank there is a broad yellowish-while line, miming from llu shoulder to tlie thighs, bordered on rach side with black. The species may be characterized by its having live black and two v.'hi(e stripes on a gray ground. The Hanks, sides, and upf)er surface of feet and oars, •\rr CHIPPING SQUIRREL. 67 redd,sh-gray; whole under surface white, with no line of demarcation bet^. een the co ours of the back and belly. Tail, brown at its root, after- wards gray.sh-back, the hair being clouded and in some places Landed with black ; underneath, reddish-brown, with a border of black, edged with light gray. ° There are some varieties observable among specimens procured in dif- ferent States of the Umon. We have noted it, like the Virginian deer, becommg smaller m size at it was found farther to the South. In Maine and New Hampshire it.is larger than in the mountains of Carolina and Louisiana, arul the tints of those seen at the North were lighter than the colouring of the Southern specimens we have examined. We possess an albino, sent to us aliv-e, snow-white, with red eyes ; and also another spe- oimen jet-l,laek.' We have, however, found no intermediate varieties, and in general we may remark that the species of this genus are not ^ prone to variations m colour as those of the true Squirrels. DIMENSIONS. Length of head and body head - '. tail (vertebrae) tail, including fur Height of ear Breadth of ear Inches. Liiiea. 6 3 1 6 3 7 4 7 4 31 III HABITS. The Chipping Squirrel, as this little animal i. usually called, or Ground ^quirre as it is named almost as f^eqiienHy, is probably, with the excJ^ tion of the common flymg squirrel, (Pfcromj,s rolucrlh,,) one of the mos^ interesting of our small quadrupeds. It is found in most part of the Unrnxl States, nnd boin. beautifnlly mnrked in its colouring, is known to every body. From its lively and busy habits, one might co^Z nong the quadrupeds as occupying the place of ,he u-ren Long th ea -th the utmost grace nnd agility among the broken rocks or imroote' ...nps of rees abo,.t th. farm or wood pasture; its clnckin. res'ele '-I..P, .-hip. eh.p. of ayo,m. cl.ickon, nnd al.l.ou.h no< .aisicarn" ^ s.ig o, tlK^., .. winter wren, excites agreeable thoughts as it Lm!: u the an We fancy we see one of these sprightiv Chipping Squirrell as he runs be(<,re us with the speed of a bird, skiaimin^ L^l ~ "-^ L l!'. 68 CHIPPING SQUIRREL fence, his chops distended by the nuts he has gathered in the woods; he makes no pause till he reaches the entrance of his subterranean retreat and store-house. Now he stands upright, and his chattering cry is heard, but at the first step we make towards him, he disappears. Stone after stone we remove from the aperture leading to his deep and circuitous burrow; but in vain is all our labour — with our hatchets we cut the tangled roots, and as we follow the animal, patiently digging into his in- nermost retreat, we hear his angry, querulous tones. We get within a few inches of him now, and can already see his large dark eyes ; but at this moment out he rushes, and ere we can "grab'" him, has passed us, and finds security in some other hiding place, of which there are always plenty at hand that he is well accustomed to fly to ; and we willingly leave him unmolested, to congratulate himself on his escape. The Chipping Squirrel makes his burrow generally near the roots of trees, in the centre of a decayed stump, along fences or old walls, or in some bank, near the woods whence he obtains the greater portion of his food. Some of these retreats h.ave two or three openings at a little distance from each other. It rarely happens that this animal is cauglit by digging out its burrow. When hard pressed and closely pursued it will betake itself to a tree, the trunk *>{' which it ascends for a little distance with considerable rapidity, occasionally concealing itself behind a large branch, but generally stopping within twelve or fifteen feet of the ground where it often clings with its body so closely pressed to the trunk that it is difficult to detect it ; and it remains so immovable that it appears like a piece of bark or some excrescence, till the enemy has retired from the vicinity, when it once more descends, and by its renewed clucking seems to chuckle over its escttpe. We are do»i1>"'ul whether this species can at any time be perfectly tamed. We have preserved it in cages from time to time, and generally found it wild and sullen. Those we had, however, were not young when captured. At a subsequent period we obtained in the State of New- York five or six young ones almost half grown. We removed them to Carolina, where they were kept during winter and spring. They were somewhat more gentle than those we had formerly possessed, occasionally took a filbert or a ground-nut from the fingers, but never became tame enough to be handled with safety, as they on more than one occasion were dis- posed to test the sharpness of tlicir teeth on our hand. The skin which covered the vertebrae of their tails was so brittle tliat nearly all of them soon had mutilated them. They appeared to have some CHTPPTNO SQriTRREL. 69 aversion to playing in a wheel, which is so favourite an amusement of the true sijuirrels. During the whole winter they only left their nest to carry into it the rice, nuts, Indian corn, &c., placed in their cage as food. Late in the following spring, having carried on our experiments as far as we cared to pursi j them, we released our pets, which were occasionally seen in the vicinity for several months afterward, when they disappeared. We were once informed of a strange carnivorous propensity in this species. A lady in the vicinity of Boston said to us, " We had in our garden a nest of young robins, {Tardus migratorius) and one afternoon as I was walking in the garden, I happened to pass very close to the tree on which this nest was placed ; my attention was attracted by a noise which I thought proceeded from it, and on looking up I saw a Ground Squirrel tearing at the nest, and actually devouring one of the young ones. I called to the gardener, who came accompanied by a dog, and shook the tree violer.tly, when the animal fell to the earth, and was in an instant secured by the dog." We do not conceive that the unnatural propensity in the individi.al hero referred to, is indicative of the genuin*^ habit of this species, but think that it may be regarded as an exception o a general rule, and referred to a morbid depravity of taste some- times to bo observed in other genera, leading an individual to feed upon that which the rest of the species would loathe and reject. Thus we have known a horse which preferred a string of fish to a mess of oats ; and mocking-birds, in confinement, kill and devour jays, bluck-birds, or sparrows. We saw and caught a specimen of this beautiful Tamias in Louisiana, that had no less than sixteen chinquapin nuts {Castanca pnmila) stowed away in its cheek-pouches. We have a specimen now lying be- fore us, sent from Pennsylvania in alcohol, which contains at least one !ind a half lable-spoonfuls of Bush trefoil {Hcdijsnnim cannahinum) in its widely-distended sacks. We have represented one of our figures in the plate with its pouches thus tilled out. This species is to a certain extent gregarious in its habits. We had marked one of its burrows in autumn which we conceived well adapted •o our purpose, which was to dig it out. It was in the woods on a sandj oiece of ground antl the earth was stroW(>d with leaves to the depth o eight inches, which we believi-d would prevent the frost from penetrat- ing to any considerable depth. We had tlic place opened in January, when the ground was eoverrd with snow about five inches deep. The entranf';' of llie burrow liad ■, m dosed from within. We followed the course of the. small winding gallery with considerable dilHculty. The hole Jescended at first iUmost piu-pendicularly Ibr about three feet. It then ', ro CHIPPING SQUIRREL i Ji continuod with one or two wiiuliiiKP, rising a litlle nearer the surlace un- til it had advanced about eiglit feet, wlien we came to a hirge nest made of onk leaves and dried grasses. Here lay, snugly covered, three Chip- ping Squirrels. Another was subsequently dug from one of the small la- leral gallei'ies, to which it had evidently retreated to avoid us. They were not dormant, and seemed ready to bite when taken in the hand ; but they were not very active, and appeared somewhat sluggish and benumbed, which we conjectured was owing to their being exposed to sudden cold from our having opened their burrow. There was about a gill of wheat and buckwheat in the nest ; but in the galleries we afterwards dug out, we obtained about a quart of the beaked hazel nuts, {Coryliis rostrata,) nearly a peck of acorns, some grains of In- dian corn, about two quarts of buckwheat, and a very small quantity ol grass seeds. The late Dr. .Ioii\ Wright, o.f Troy, in an interesting com- munication ^n the habits of several of our quadrupeds, informs us, in re- ference to this species, that "It is a most provident little creature, con- tinuing to add to its winter store, if food is abundant, until driven in by the severity of the frost. Indeed, it seems not to know when it has enough, if we may judge by the surplus left in the spring, being some- times a peck of corn or nuts for a single S(iuirrel. Some years ago I watched one of these animals whilst laying up its winter store. As there were no nuts to be found near, I furnished a supply. AfT-er scattering some hickory nuts on the ground near the burrow, the work of carrying in was immediately commenced. It soon became aware that I was a friend, and approached almost to my feet for my gifts. It would take a nut from its paws, and dexterously bite off the sharp point from each end, and then pass it to its cheek-pouch, using its paws to shove it in, then one would ])e placed on the opposite side, then again one along with the first, and finally, having taken one between its front teeth, it would go into the burrow. After remaining there for five or ten minutes it would re- app(\ar for another load. This was repeated in my presence a great number of times, the animal alwajs carrying four nuts at a time, and fvl'vays biting off the asperities.'* We perceive from hence that the Chipping Squirrels retire to winter jarters in small families in the early part of November, sooner or later ecording to the coldness or mildness of the season, after providing a store of food in their subterranean winter residence. When the snows are melted from the earlh.in early spring, they l(>ave the retreat to which tliey had resorted during the first severe irosts in autumn. \Yv have seen them sunning themselves on a stump during warm days about tlie iarft of February, when the snows were still on the eartli here and there CHIPPING SQUIRREL. 71 In patches a foot deep; we remarked, however, that they remained only tor half an hour, when they a-ain retreated to their harrows The young are produced in May, to the numher of four' or five at a birth, and we have sometimes supposed li-om the eii-cumstance of seeing a young hrood in August, that they breed twice a year. The Chipping Squirrel does but little injury to the farmer. It seldom djs urbs the grain before it is ripe, and i« scarcely more than a gleaner ol .he helds commg in for a small pittance when the harvest is nearly gathered. It prefers wheat to rye, seems fond of buckwheat, but o-ives the preference to mus, cherry-stones, the seeds of the red gum, or penper- ulg^ iN,ssa MnlUflora,) and those of several annual plants and grasses. 1 lus species ,s easily captured. It enters almost any kind of trap with- out suspicion We have seen a beautilul muff and tippet made of a host ot little skins of this Tamias ingeniously joined together so as to .nve the appearruico of a regular series of stripes around the muff, and lo^ntudi- nally along the sides of the tippet. The animals had in most cases been captured in rat-traps. There is, besides, a simple, rustic, but effectual mode of huntin- the Ground Squirrel, to which we are tempted to devote a paragraph " Man has his hours of recreation, and so has the school-boy; while the former ,s fond of the chase, and keeps his horses, .logs and guns the lat- ter when released from school gets up a little hunt agreeable to his own taste and limited resource... The boys have not yet been allowed to carry hre-arms, and have been obliged to adhere to the command of a careful mother-" do.i't meddle with that gun, IJilly, it may go off and kill you " But the Chip Muck can be hunted without a gun, and Saturday the glorious weekly return of their Ireedom and indej)endence from' the crabbed schoolmaster and the puzzli.ig spelling-book, is selected for the important event. There are some very pleasing reminiscences associated with these little sports of boyhood. • The lads, hurried by delightful anticipations usually meet half an hour before the time appointed. They come with theii "shining morning faces" full of glee and talking of their expected sue- cess. In lieu of fire-arms they each carry a stick about eight feet Ion- They go along the old-fashioned worm-fences that skirt the woo(N— a crop of wheat or of buckwheat has just been gathered, and the little Ilacket! is busily engaged in collecting its winter store. In every direction its lively chirrup is heard, with answering calls igger "boys" are often engaged in amusements not more rational, and not half so innocent. Several species of hawks are successful in capturing the Chipping Stpiirrel. It furnishes also many a meal for the hungry fox, the wild cat, and the mink -, but it possesses an enemy in the common weasel or ermine, {mnsli'hi ( rmiiiru) more formidable 'lan all the rest combined. This blood- thirsty little animal pursues it into its dwelling, and following it to the farthest extremity, strikes his teeth into its skull, and like a cruel savage of the wilderness, does not satiate his thirst for blood until he has destroyed every inhabitant of the burrow, old and young, although he seldom devours one tifth of th(! animals so wantonly killed. We once observed one pur- sue a Chipping Squirrel into its burrow. After an interval of ten mi- nutes it renppcared, licking its mouth, and stroking its fur with its head by the aid of its long neck. We watched it as it pursued its way through a buckwheat field, in which many roots and stumps were yet remaining, evidently in (]uest of additional victims. On the following day we were impelled by curiosity to open the burrow we had seen it enter. There we found an old female ground squirrel and five young, half-grown, lying dead, with the marks of the wfeasel's teeth in their skulls. GEOGRArniCAI, DISTRIBUTION. The Chipping Squirrel has a pretty wide geographical range. It is somnioii on (lie iiordifrii shuns mT Lakes Huron and Superior ; and hiis CHIPPIN(J SQUIRREL. n been traced as far as the fiftieth degree of north latitude. In the Easfeni, Northern, and Middle States, it is quite abu.dant ; it exists alon- the whole of the Alleghany range, and is found in the mountainou.- portions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. In the alluvial dis- triets of Carolina and Georgia it disappears. We have never found it nearer the seaboard of South Carolina than at Columbia, one hundred and ten miles from Charleston, where it is very rare. It is found in Ten- nessee and throughout Louisiana. GENERAL REMARKS. We have at the head of this article endeavoured to preserve Tamias as a valuable genus distinct from Sciurus. We hope we have offered such reasons as will induce naturalists to separate this interesting and mcreasing little group, mostly of American species, from the squirrels, to which they bear about the same affinity as do the marmot squirrels (Spehmopiiilus) to the true marmots (Arctomys). We will now inquire whether the present species {Tamias Lysteri) is a foreigner from Sibe- ria, naturalized in our Western world ; or whether it is one of the abori- gines of our country, as much entitled to a name as the grisly bear or the cougar. Two of our American naturalists, Harlan and Godman, supposed that it was the Asiatic species, the «f. striatus of Klein, Pallas, Schreber, and other authors ; Dr. Richardson (1829) believed that the descriptions given of Sciurus striatus did not exactly correspond with American specimens, and as he had no opportunity of instituting a comparison, he adopt- ed the specific name of Ray, Sciurus (Tamias) Lysteri, for our species ; and quoted what Pallas had written in regard to the habits of the Asia- tic animal, as applying to those of our little Chipping Squirrel. Very re- cently (1842) Dr. Dekay, in the work on American quadrupeds, published by order of the State of .New- York, has again referred it to S. striatus of LiNN.Kus, and endeavoured to prove the identity of the two species from European writers. We suspect he had no opportunity of making a com- parison from actual specimens. Reasoning from analogy in regard to the species of birds or quadru- peds found to be identical on both continents, we should be compelled to admit that if our species is the S. striatus of Asia, it presents a solitary exception to a long-established general rule. That many species of wa- ter-birds, such as geese, ducks, gulls, auks, and guillemots, which during the long days of summer crowd toward the polar regions to engage in the duties and pleasures of reproduction, should be found on both con- tinents, cannot be a nxatter of surprise ; and that the ptarmigan, the white 10 ^ 74 CHIPPING SQUiKREL. snow-bird, Lapland lonjor-spur, &c., which resort annually to theni, 8hould at that season take wkig and stray to either continent, is so proba- ble a case, that we might think it strange if it were otherwise. Neither need we regard it as singular if a few quadrupeds, with peculiar con- stitutions and habits suited to the polar regions, siiould be inhabitants of the northern portions of both continents. Thus the polar bear, which delights in snow and ice, and which is indiHtirent as to whether it is on the land or on an iceberg at sea ; the reindeer, which exists only in cold regions, and which by alternately swimming and walking can make its way over the icy waters in winter, and over rivers and arms of the sea m summer, and which migrates lor thousands of miles ; the beaver, which is found all over our continent, on the banks of the Mackenzie river leading into the polar sea in latitude 08", and in the Russian settle- ments near Behring's JSf raits ; the ermine, which riots in the snow-drifts, and has been found as far to the north as man has ever travelled ; and the common wolf, which is a cosmopolite, exhibits itself in all colours, and strays from the tropics to the north pole ; may be found on both con- tinents without surprising us : but if this little land-animal, the Chipping Squirrel, which is unable to swim, and retires to the earth in cold wea- ther, should be found both in Asia and America, it would oppose all our past experience in regard to American quadrupeds, and be the only ex- ception to a long and universally admitted theory. The highest northern range in which this species has ever been seen is above Lake Huron, as far as latitude T)!)" ; from thence there is a distance of more than 90° of longitude and 18° of latitude bcifore we reach its Asiatic range, and in its migrations either way it would have to cross Behring's Straits, and traverse regions which even in summer are covered with snow and ice. From the above facts and from our knowledg of the adaptation of various animals for extensive migrations, we must conclude that this spe- '^ies cannot possibly exist on both continents, even admitting the correct- ness of the supposition that these continents had in some former age been united. Dr. RiciiARusoN says, (p. 181,) "I am not aware that the identity of the species on the two continents has been established by actual comparison." In this he was quite correct. At the period when his valuable work on American quadrupeds was published, nearly all the figures and many of the descriptions of Tarnias striatus of the Eastern continent were taken from American specimens of Tdmids Lijstcri ; and the authors supposing them to be identical, were not sufficiently cautious to note this hnportant fact. In 1838 we carded to Europe, American si)ecimens of nearly all thos*^ CHIPPING SQUIRREL, 75 Fpecies wliich had thoir oonKeners on the Eastern continent. We were fiurpris.'d at liiidint,' no spcciriicn of the T. strialus in the museums of either i:n-land or France. At IJcrliii, however, an excellent opportunity was afforded us for iiistitutinf!; a comparison. Througli the kindness of Dr. LiciiTENSTEiN, Superintendent of the museum, we were permitted to open Ihe cases, (>xaminc several specimens in a fine state of 'preservation, and comp:ire them with our American species, which we placed heside them. The differences, at Hrst sight were so striking that we could only account for their ever having been considered identi- cal, from the fact that the descriptions of the old authors were so loose and unsatisfactory that many minute but important ehaiacteristics had not been noted. The following memorandum was made by us on the occasion:— "The Tamias striaf-is differs so widely from our American Cliipping Stjuirrtd or Hackee, that it is unnecessary to be venj minute in making the comparison. The two species can always be distinguished from each other by one remarkable characteristic, which I have observed running through all the specimens. The stripes on thj Asiatic {'/'. stria- tus) running over the back extend to the root of the tail ; whilst those on the American (T. Lystcri) do not reacli so far by a full inch. There are many other differences which may as well be noticed. T. stria- tus is a little the largest, the strii)es on the back are situated nearer each other, and are broader than in the other species ; the stripes on each side of the back are nearly black instead of yellowish-brown ; on each side of the black stripe on the centre of the back of Tamias Lysteri, there is a broad space of reddish-gray. In T. striatus this part of the ani- mal is yellowish ; being an alternate stripe of blacl and yellowish-wfiite. The tail of the latter is black towards the extremity, and tipped with white; its tail and ears also are larger than those of T. I.tjsten: in short, these two species differ as widely from each other as Tamias Lysten diffei-s from the four-lined ground squirrel of Say, (T. quadrivittatus.) 76 GENUS SPERMOPH.LUS. F. CtrviEU DENIAL FORMULA. fncmve - ; Canine — ; Molar — = 22 9 0-0 4-4 Tie rf«ntition of tho Spcrmopliilrs did'cw from that of the i.ut mar moli in the follovvinj? j)arliculars. Tlic Hrst h)nf;ifu(liiial eminence (col- line) is nearly obliterated, and tho curve (talon) which unites the second tc the third is prolonyjed much more internally, which makes the mohirs Qi tho SiXTmo})Iiilps more n.irrow transversely than lon<,'ifudinaliy, as ;ompared witli those of the marmots. Tlie fieth of tlic souslik (Sprnno. philus citillus) were examined by F. Cuvier, and considered as typical of this f^enus. Nose, convex ; ears, generally short ; cheek-pouches. Body, rather short ; mammne, pectoral and abdominal, from eight to t ivelve. Feet, of moderate length, adapted for walking on the ground ; nails, less in size than those of the marmots, less hooked than those of the squirrels ; on the fore-feet, four ,;oes, with the rudiment of a thumb, pro- tected by a blunt nail ; second toe from the thumb longest, as in the marmots, and not the third, as in the squirrels ; liiiid-fcet, with five toes. Tail, generally rather short, aiul always shorter than the body; in several of the species capable of a slightly distichous arrangement. The species belonging to this genus differ from flic true marmots, not only in their teeth, as shown above, but al.so in several other striking particulars. They have cheek-pouches, of which the marmots are desti- tute. They are by no means clumsy, and in form are rather slender, and possess a degree of lightness and agility approaching the activifj- of the squirrels. With the genus Tamias they assimilate so closely, that some of the species present intermediate characters, and authors may well differ as to which genus they ought to be referred to. Thus Tamias qnadrimUa- tus, and Spermoplnlits lateralis, seem to form a connecting T.nk between these two gen ;-a. -.; is to l)c recollected, however, t'nat analogous cases exist, not on!\ Vi.. p.g ihe mammalia, but in every class of animals and more especlahy ia i;irds. U^ PARRY'S MARMOT-SQIMRRRI,. 77 In referring again to the il.iilUion of thi;sr allied genera, we may n- marit that the anterior molar of the upper Jav. which is deciduous and falls out at an early p. -ukJ j,, most speeies of true srpiirrels, remains per- manently in all species of the genus Tamiah and is smaihT than in the Spemiophiles. These genera differ also in the lorm and l(>ngth of th»!ir claws. The long nails of the latter, the second claw, moreover, being longest, places ...em near the marmots; while the .shorter, weaker, and more arched nails of the ground Mjuirrels, in which the third claw,' besides, is the longest, approxi:natcs them more nearly to the true squirrels. The clucking notes of the chipping squirrels are replaced in the mar- mot-squirreis by the shrill whistling or chattering sounds emitted by the marmots. The generic appellation 8f ermophiius, is derived from the Greek words ■ ~ft' glossy, and of a silky appearance. COLOUR. Hairs of the back, black at the roots, annulated above with black, nearer the tips yellowish-white or white ; extreme tips black. The longest hairs black ; the under, black at the base, then whitish, and shaded into brown at the points. The whole upper surface is irre- gularly and thickly spotted with white ; the spots confluent, especially over the shoulders ; on the belly the under-fur is abundant, very soft and silky ; grayish-black at the base, and yellowish-white at the tips ; the visible portion of the longer hairs, deep yellow on the sides of the body, and paler yellow on the belly. Feet, yellow ; hairs on the toes a pale yellow; claws blackish-brown; the hinder half of the tarsus covered be- neath with brownish hairs ; ujiper surface of the head, as far back as the eyes, of a deep rich yellow ; around the eyes whitish ; cheeks yellow ; chin, throat, and sides of the muzzle, yellowish-white ; tail, at base, co- laured like the body; in the middle, the hairs are yellowish, with twc PARRY'S MARMUT-SQUIKREL. 79 rings or bars of black at the tips. The hairs on the under surface of the tail are chiefly of a rusty or brownish-red colour; moustaches black. DIMENSIONS. From nose to root of tail Tail ^vertebra3) Tail, to end of hair From heel to end of claw From ear to point of nose Height of ear ichea. Lines 11 4 6 6 2 3 2 21 HABITS. The only account we have of this handsom . spermophile is that given &y its talenfed discoverer, who says of it, " It is found generally in stony districts, but seems to delight chiefly in sandy hillocks amongst rocks, where burrows, inhabited by different in- dividuals, may be often observed crowded together. One of the society IS generally observed sitting erect on the summit of the hillocks, whilst rho others are feeding in the neigbourhood. Upon the approach 'of dan- gor, he gives the alarm, and they instantly betake themselves to their holes, remaining chattering, however, at the entrance until the advance of the enemy obliges them to retire to the bottom When their retreat is cut off they become much terrified, and seeking shelter in the first ere- vice that offers, they not unfrequently succeed only in hiding the head .md fore-part of the body, whilst the projecting tail is, as usuarwith them when under the influence of terror, spread out flat on the rook. Their c;ry in this season of distress strongly resembles the loud alarm of the Hudson's Bay squirrel, and is not very unlike the sound of a watchman's rattle. The Es<,uimaux name of this animal, Scck-Seek, is an attempt to express this sound. According to IIkarne, they are easily tamed, and are very cleanly and playful in a domestic state. They never come abroad during the winter. Their food appears to be entirely vegetable ; ilieir pouches being generally observed to be filled, according to the season, with tender shoots of herbaceous plants, berries of the Alpine •irbutus and of other trailing sl.nibs, or the seeds of bents, grasses, and legumi loiis plants. They produce about seven young at a time." Captain Ross iTienlioiis tliat soni(> of the dresses of the Esquimaax at iiepulse Bay, were made of the skins of this species; these people alsc it'.fornied him that it was vtiy abundant in thai ihhospilable region. ! I 80 PAiUlY'S MARMOT-SQUlllREL. OEOGRAPinCAI, DISTRIBUTION. According to Dr. Richaudson, "tliis spermophile inhabits the barrc.ii grounds skirting t!i(^ sfii-coi>st, iVoni Cliuirhill, in Hudson's Bay, round by Melville's Peninsula, and the -whole northern extremity of the Conti- nent to Behring's Straits, where specimens precisely similar vvert; pro- cured by Captnin BEr.riiF.Y. It abounds in the neighbourhood of Fort Enterprise, near the southern verge of the barren grounds in latitude 05'', and is also plentiful on Cape Parry, one of the most northern parts of the continent." GENERAL REMARKS. Our description of this rare animal was drawn up from a specimen de- j.osited by Dr. KiciiARnsoN in the museum of the Zoological Society of London, which was said to have been the identical skin from which h\^ description was taken. We possess another specimen, presented to us by Dr. Richardson. which is a little longer in the body and shorter in I'he tail than the on« we have Just spoken of; the Ixdy being 12| inches in length, and the tail (vertebra^) 3^ inches, including fur 5 inches. The forehead and but- tocks of this specimen are reddish-brown. SI GENUS SCALOPS._Cuvrmu DtiNTAL FORMULA. Incisv'c |; MUur ~; False-Molars — = 3a 3-3 or Incisive -; Molar ^; False-Molars *^ = 44. 3-3 riead, long terminated by an extended, cartilaginous, flexible, and vanned ,„uzzlc ; eyes and ears, concealed by the hair, and very minute. H.nd-feet short and slender, with five toes and delicate hooked nails; fore-feet (or hands) broad; claws, long and flat, fitted for excavating the The name Scalops is derived from the Greek ^.aa., (skallo,) and from tlic Latin scalpo, I scrape. The various species included in this genus, which approaches verv I'f H/M'rr""'''^""P^'(''"^«P-"'"°»«') -' -^e believe', onfined to North America. There are, so far as we havc been informed only five species known at the present time SCALOPS AQUATICUS.-LiNN. Common American Shrew Mole. PLATE X—Mals and Fimal.. S magnitudine Talpa, Europea, sinrilis, corpore cylindrato. lanugine sricea, arirenteo-cinnrnn Jn,l,.f« ' '"S"" ^ericea, argenteo-cinereo induto CIIARAOTB IB. Sizr of the European mole, (Talpa ,) ho,ly, cylindrical; fur, velv^. , colour, sihrnf.irraiiish.hrnwn. ' J '* w^w^V , 82 COMMON AMEKICAN SHREW MOLE. 8YNONYMES. SoREX Aquaticus, Linn. Syst. Nat., I'Jtli ed. coi-rceted, vol. i., p. 74. Tali'a FrscA, IVniiant, Brit. Zool.. (^iiadrupi'ds, 314. ScALoi'8 Canadknsis, Desm., Mam., p. 115. ScAi.oi'K VE Canada, Cuv., lli'gne Aiiin;al, p. 134. SiiKfcw MoLK, Godnian, Nat. Hist. vol. i., jj. 84, p!. 5, tijj. 3. ScALOPS Canadensis, Harlan, Fauna, p. 32 Young. " Pennsylvanica, Hailan, Fauna, p., 33. Adull. " Canauenbis, Emmons, Kcpoit on (iuads. of Mass., p. 13. " AiiUATicrs, Bachman, Observations on tlio Genus Scalops, Boston Joui Nat. Hist., vol. iv.. No. 1., p. 28, 1842. '• Aquaticus, Dekay, Nat. Hist, of the State of New- York, p. 15. DElJCRIl'TION. Adult : — Teeth 30, corrcspoiuling with the first dental formula of this genus, given on the preceding pnge ; incisors of moderate size, rounded on their front surface and flattened posteriorly. Immediately behind the incisors, two minute teeth on each side, crowded together — succeed- ed by four large false-molnrs, of a cylindrical .shape, and pointed ; the fourth smallest, the fiilh a little larger and slightly lobed, and the sixth, which is the largest, more conspicuously lobed ; followed by three true molars, each furnished with three sharp tubercles. In the lower or inferior jaw, sixteen teeth ; the two posterior incisors very small, succeeded on each side by anolher much larger, pointed, and extending forward; three false-molnrs whi(>h succeed these are pointed, and the third and largest slightly lobed; three true molars composed of two parallel p-isms, terminated each by three })();uts, and "presenting one of their angles on the outer side, and one of their faces on the internal sur- face; the two first of equal size, the other somewhat smaller." Part of the above description is in the words of Dr. Godman, Irom his very cor- rect and interesting article on the Shrew Mole, (vol. i., p. 82.) which corn^sponds exactly with the results of our own investigations of the teeth of this pnimal, made at various times, during a period of several years. Young. — We have found in specimens less than a year old, that the two srnjill thread-like teeth inserted behind the incisors in the upper jnw were Entirely wanting, as also the fourth lateral incisor on each side, leaving vacant spaces between them, and presenting the appearance ascribed to them by Baron Civu-r and by DnsMARES-r : the last mentioned teeth arc first leveloped, the former appearinir when the animal is full grown and all the edentate spaces between the molars are filled up. Body, thick and cvliiidrical • neck, shoit, so that the head appears almost :;OMMON AMEHICAN SHREW MOLE. g.^ as if attached directly to the shoulders ; snout, naked, cartilaginous, and very flexible, extending five lines beyond the incisors ; the under surface prqj..cts a little l)ey()nd the nostrils, which are oblong and open on the upper surface ner.r each other; mouth, large, and when open resembling sonicwhat (allhough in miniature) that of the hog; eyes, concealed by the fur, apparently covered by an integument, and so minute that they can with great difficulty be found. The orifice in the skin in which the eye is placed is not of larger diameter than would admit a bristle. No external ear; there is, however, a very small circular aperture leading to the ear, about ihree qnartcrs of an inch behind the eye. The fore-arms are concealed by the skin and the palms only are visible, they are broad, and might be thought not unlike hands; they are thinly clolhed with hair, and bordered with stiff hnirs; the fingers are united at the base of the claws; nails, large, sligiifly curved, nearly convex above, and flattened on the inner surface ; hind-feet, small and slender, naked on the under surface, and apparently above, although a close inspec tion shows the upper surface to be covered with fine short hairs; nails, small, a little arched, and compressed ; tail, short, round, appears naked^ but is very sparingly clolhed wilh short adpressed hairs. On the inside' of the thighs, near the tail, is a gland about half an inch long, from which a disagreeable musky odour issues, which makes the animal of- fensive to delicate olfactories. All our other shrew moles possess simi- lar ghmds, and we have perceived the musky smell still remaining strong ui skins that had been prepared and stuffed several weeks. Pi COLOUR Snout and palms, in the living animal, pinkish flesh-colour; chin, feet, rnd tail, dull white ; bnir on the body, about five lines in length, very soft, smooth, and lustrous; for three-fourths of its length, plumbeous; tips light- brown, giving th.> surface of the hair, above, a dark-brown colour, which varies in difi'erent lights, sometimes exhibiting black, silver-gray, or pur- ple, reflections. There are many variations in the colouring of different individuals of this species, but none of them permanent: we possess some specimens which are ne;irly black, and others of a light cream-colour; we also have a specimen, the; tail of which is clothed wilh short hnirs, with a consider- able luft at the extremity. From these and similar dill'erences in various other animnls, it is not surprising that authors have described in their works many as new, which, on being closely examined afterwards prove to be mere accidental variulies of some vvrcll-knowu species. 84 COMMON AMERICAN SHREW MOLE. DIMENSION3. Adult male. From nose to root of tail Tail - - - - Breadth of palm A specimen from Carolina.- From nose to root of tail Tail .... Breadth of palm - het Lines 5 8 8 5 4 7 9 6 HABITS. Whilst almost every farmer or gardener throughout the Northern and Eastern States is well acquainted with this curious animal, as far as the mere observation of its meandering course through his fields and mea- dows, his beds of green peas or other vegetables, is concerned, but few have arrived at proper conclusions in regard to the habits of the Shrew Mole ; and it is generally caught and liilled whenever practicable ; the common idea being, that the Mole feeds on the roots of tender plants, grasses, &c. ; while the fact that the animal devours great quantities of earth-worms, slugs, and grubs, all hurtful to the fruit trees, to the grasses, and the peas and other vegetables, seems to be unknown, or overlooked. In justice to the farmer and gardener, however, we must say, that the course taken occasionally by this species, directly along a row of tender plants, throwine: them out of the earth, as it docs, or zig-zag across a valuable bed c^ beautiful lawn, is rather provoking, and we have our- selves caused traps to be set for moles, being greatly annoyed by fheir digging long galleries under the grass on our sloping banks, which during a heavy shower soon filled with water, and presently increased to large gutters, or deep holes, requiring repairs forthwith. At such times also, a Mole-track through loose soil where there is any descent, will be found by the gardener, perchance, to have become a miniature ravine some twenty or thirty yards in length, and a few (anticipated) bushels of carrots are destroyed. In neglected or sandy soils, one of these gutters becomes deep and wide in a short time, and we may perhaps not err in hazarding the opinion that some of the unsightly ravines which run al- most through large estates, occasionally might be traced to no higher origin than the wandering of an unlucky mole ! We kept one of this species alive for some days, feeding it altoge- ther upon earth-worms, but we soon found it difficult to procure a sufli' COMMON AMERICAN SHREW MOLE. 85 cient supply ; forty or fifty worms of moderate size did not appear too much for its seemingly insatiable appetite. At the expiration of four days, another of this species which we had in confinement would not touch any vegetable substances, although the cage was filled with clods covered with fine clover, pieces of sweet apples, bread, &c. We were much interested in observing, that no matter how soiled its coat might have become in the cage, it would resume its beauty and glossiness after the mole had passed and re-passed through the earth eight or ten times, which it always accomplished in a few minutes. We fre- quently remarked with surprise the great strength of this animal, which enabled it to lift the lid or top of a box in which it was kept, although it was large and heavy ; the box-top was not however fastened down. Seating ourselves quietly in the room, after putting hack the mole into the box, the animal supposing itself no longer watched, very soon raised its body against the side of the box, which was partly filled with earth, and presently its snout was protruded through the small space between the box and the cover ; and after a few efl^orts the creature got his fore- feet on to the edge of the box, raised itself over the latter, and fell upon a table on which we had placed the box. It immediately ran to the edge of the table, and thence tumbled on to the floor ; tlas, however, did not at all in- connnode it, for it made ofi" to a dark corner of the room at once, and re- mained there until again replaced in its prison. When this Mole was fed on earth-worms, {Lumbricus terrenus,) as we have just related, we heard the worms crushed in the strong jaws of the animal, with a noise somewhat like the grating of broken glass, which was probably caused by its strong teeth gnashing on the sand or grit con- tained in the bodies of the worms. These were placed singly on the ground near the animal, which after smelling around for a moment turned about in every direction with the greatest activity, until he felt a worm, when he seized it between the outer surface of his hands or fore paws, and pushed it into his mouth with a contiimally repeated forward movement of the paws, cramming it downward until all was in his jaws. Small-sized earth-worms were despatched in a very short time ; the animal never failing to begin with the anterior end of the worm, and apparently cutting it as he eat, into small pieces, until the whole wns devoured. On the contrary, when the earth-worm was of a large size, the Mole seemed to find some difficulty in managing it, and munched the worm sideways, moving it from one side of its mouth to the other. On these occasions the gritting of its teeth, which wo have already spoken of, can be heard at the distance of several feet. We afterwards put the Mole into a large wire rat-trap, and to our sur- 86 COMMON AMERICAN SHJIEVV MOLE. prise saw him insert his fore-paws or hands between the wires, and force them apart .suflieicntly lo ^ivc him room to pass out tliroiiirh them at once, and this without any great api)arcnt elfort. It is this extraordinary muscular power in the fore-paws and arms, that enables the Shrew Moles to traverse the galleries tliey excavate with so much rapidity, in doing- which they turn the backs of their palms or hands toward each other push them tbrward as far as tiie end of tlieir snout, and then open and bring them round backward, in the maimer of a person moving his hands and arms when s\ imming. When running along on the surface of the ground, they extend the tore-legs as fitr forward as they will reach, turn- ing the backs of the hands or paws (as just mentioned) towards each other, and placing them edge-wise, inst<\id of flat on the earth as might be supposed, and in this manner they run briskly and without any awkward movement, crossing beaten-roads or paved walks, and sometimes running swiftly twenty or thirty feet before they can get into the ground. The .Shrew Mole varies somewhat in its habits, according to our obser- ■ vations : for while a solitary individual will occasionally for some weeks occupy and root up a large plot of grass or a considerable portion of a garden, and on his being caught in a trap, the place will remain free from fresh Mole-tracks for a long period, proving that all the mischief was the work of a single Mole, at other times we have caught several out of one galleiy on the same day ; and while excavating a root-house, the lower part of which was rock, four of those animals came during the night through one gallery and tumbled down into the pit, where, the rock pre- venting their digging a way out, they M-ere found in the morning. No others ever came through that gallery while the cllar was in progress, and those thus caught may probably have been one family. Althou^'h gonerally known to run through the sr.me galleries often, so much so that the most common method of capturing them is to set a trap anywhere in one of these tracks to intercept tliem when again passing through it, we have known a trap to remain set in a fresh track for eleven days b(!fore the animal passed that way, when it was caught ; and we are of opinion that many of their tracks are only passed through once, as this aiu'mal is known to travel from one field or wood to aiioth(T, and pro- bably the only galleries they regularly traverse are those ad.jacent to the spot they have selected for rearing their young. In relation to this .sub- ject. Dr. GoDMAN sjiys — "It is remarkable how unwilling they are to relinquish a long frequent- ed burrow: I have frequently broken down or torn off the snri'aee of the sanu! burrow for several days in succession, but would always find it re- paired at the next visit. This was especially the case with one individual COMMON AMEUICA'N SHREW MOLE. 87 whose nest T discovered, which was always repaired within a short time, as olh'ii as destroyed. It was an oval cavity, about five or seven inches in lenjrlh by three in breadth, and was placed at about eight inches from the surface in a stiff clay. The entrance to it sloped obli(iucly downwards from the gallery alout two iuche? from the surface ; three times I entire- ly exposed this cell, by cutting out the whole superincumbent clay with a knife, and three times a similar one was made a little beyond the situa- tion of ihc Ibrmcr, the excavation having been continued from its back part. 1 paid a visit to the same spot two months after capturing its occu- pant, and breaking up the cell, all the injuries were found to be repaired, and another excavated within a few inches of the old one. Most probabl^i numerous individuals, composing a whole family, reside together in these extensive galleries. In the winter they burrow closer to the streams where the ground is not so deeply frozen." This species whilst beneath the earth's surface seems to search for food with the same activity and untiring perseverance that are observable in animals that seek for their provender above ground. It works through the earth not only in a straight-forward direction, but loosens it to the right and left, beneath and above, so that no worm or insect can escape it. When in contact with any one of the objects of which it has been in search, it seizes it with remarkable quickness both with its fore-feet and its sharp teeth, drawing itself immediately backward with its prize, upon which it begins to prey at once. The Shrew^ Mole passes through loose soil with nearly the same ease and speed that it displays in running, or " scnibbling" along above ground. It moves backward almost as rapidly as it goes forward. The nose is often seen protruded above the surface of the ground. The snout of this species, although apparently delicate, is most power- fully muscular, as well as flexible ; the animal can turn it to the right or left, upward or downward, and at times inserts it in its mouth, as if for the pur])ose of cleansing it, and then suddenly withdraws it with a kind of smack of its lips; this habit we observed three times in the course of a few minutes. The Shrew Mole is exceedingly tenacious of life ; it cannot easily be put to death, either by heavy pressure or strangling, and a severe blow on the head seems to be the quickest mode of despatching it. AllhoLigh this species, as we have seen, feeds principally on worms, grubs, (kc, Ave have the authority of our friend Ot.OEx IIammon-d, Esq., for the following example either of a most singular perversity of taste, or of habits hitherto totally unknown as appertaining to animals of this genus, a,nd nii^riting a farther incjuiry. Whih^ at his testate near Throg's Neck, on Long Island Sound, his son, who is an intelligent young lad. and fo'id 88 COMMON AMi:KirAN .SIIItKVV MOLE. of Natnr.il History, ohsorvcd in c()ini)any vvith an old servant, of fhr family, nSlircw Mole in llic net of swallow iii^', or dcvourinir, a conimoii toad — this was accornplislifd hy the Mole, and he was then killed, Ixin;,' unable tc escape after siicli a meal, and was taken to the house, wlien Mr. Hammonh saw and examined tlie animal, with the toad partially protrudinir from its throat. This gentleman also related to us some time a^o, tli, i la? once witnessed an en;ra;iemeiit between two Moles, that happened to encounter eaeh other in one of the noon-ilat/ excursions this species is so much in the habit of making. The eond)atants sidled up to one another lik(> two little pij^s, and each tried to root the other over, in attempt- in;.' which their ell'orts so nuieh resembled the manner of two boars ti}j;htin^', that the whole affair was supremely ridiculous to the beholder, although no doubt, to either of the bold warriors t\m consequences of an overthrow would have been very serious ; for the conqueror would vent his rajre upon the fallen hero, and punish him severely with his sharp teeth. We have no doubt these conllicts ^'enerally take place in tiie love season, and ere caused by rivalry, and that some "fair Mole" probably rewards the victor. When approached, the Moles attempted to escape, but were both shot on the spot, thus tailing victims to their own ])assions ; and if we would read aright, :Jfordin« us an instructive lesson, either :is individuals, or in a national j)oint of view. The Shrew Moles are able to work their way so rapidly, that in soil or loamy soil it is almost impossible for the most active man to overtake and turn them out with a spade, unless he can sec tlie spot where they arc w«)rkiny; by the movement of the earth, in which case they can be thrown out easily by sticking the sj)ade in iVont of them or at one sid,* of their gallery, and with a (piick movement tossing them on to the surface. They have been known to make a fresh track after rain, during one night, several himdred yards in length ; oftentimes they proceed for a considerable distance in nearly a straight or direct line, then suddenly be- gin lo excavate around and across a small space of not more than a few teet in diameter, until you could hardly place your foot on a spot within this suliterranean hibyrinth without sinking through into their track ; at this time they are most probably in pursuit of worms, or other food, which may be there imbedded. Altlion<:h cold weather a])pears to us to put a stop to the movements of the Mole, wc do not led by any means certain that such is the case; and virv i)robal)ly th(> hardness of the ground when frozen, and the depth at which the IMolc is ihcii ol)ligcd to seek his food, may be a sufficient reason for our seeing no traces of this busy creature's movements during cold V inter wealhcr. We have, however, often ))erceived their tracks after o COMMON AMKIIICAN SHHIIVV MOI.K. 89 dayoruv,,.,! w.mm. w.-aflu-r in Ja.umry, a.i.l have repeatedly ob^rrv,,) .hnnahom .Inrinj, a thaw, after ti.e first autumnal frosts had occurred, /n Carolina there are not many we.-ks in a winter in wlm-h wo are not able to (ind here a.,d then, trae.-s of the aetivitv of the .Mole. We admit hovvever, that even in this comparatively mil.l climate, they appear to l)e lar less active in winter thmi at other seasons. From fl.. forejToin,' facts we are incli.u-d to think the Mole docs not h.-come torpul at any lim.-; and in corrol.oration of this idea, we find Ihi.t the amn.a! is not at any season found in hi^h Northern latitudes. Dr. KrcARDHON thinks "the absence of the Shrew Mole from these ••'>""rt. that it |)asses over the surface making only a faint impression, whilst the lioimds ])limge dee]) into the snow at every bound, and soon give up the liopolcss i)iirsuit. It avoids not only open grounds, hi.t even open woods, and conlines itscll' to the densest and most impi.i',etial)le loresls. Although it wandns by nighl in many direc- NORTHERN IIAUE. 97 -n.s m search of its appropriate food, we have scarcely ever seen its tntcks .„ the open fields; it seems cautiously to avoid the cabbie a !^ -n,. nelds or the fanner, and seldom eve.f in the most r, el p^ makes an encroaclunent on his cultivated grounds The food of this species in summer consists of various kinds of juicy . 1)^. , and t ese Hares seem to be particularly fond of the young twi^s ol the wdd allspice (/...-„., ten.oin), but in winter, when the earth 1 covered wU snow, they gain a precarious subsistenc; from the buds and ba.k of such trees as are suited to their taste. Sometimes they scratch up to snow to feed on the leaves and berries of the various spec 11 ' / ,rolu, lound m the Northern States. The bark of the willow b r h .n 1 poplar^an t e buds of young pines, are sought after by them wi^ avt York who T" '"'T^'" ^'-^^^-^'-- P-t of the State of New- Yo.k, who were desirous of shooting these animals by moonlight watch m. near Amencan black-poplar trees iPopula. HuLnica), w IcHhe; nad cu down or the purpose of attracting then, to feed on thO buds and tender tw,gs, „. which they were o'-ten successful. Some of hes. iCs winch we had „. a don.esticated sta.e, were fed on cabbage leaveTtm •" parsnips, potatoes and sweet appl... During one very cold wi. ^4 Z i th e could not be conveniently obtained, they were frequently ^ppj -th cover- ay, to which, when more agreeable food las Ltge. -lu-m, they d.d not evince any aversion; from time to time a"so outJ branches ot willow, poplar or apple trees, were thrown il hLi t closure, the bark of which seemed to he greatly relished by them. I lie Northern Hare, like most others of the genus se-i« ;t« f ^ , .y night or in the early part of the evening. T^Zl2t:j^:Z c usjvelj. confined during autumn and winter, than in spring and 7ZZ In the lat er seasons, especially in spring, these animals are frlentlv observed in (ho norning, and as the sun is declining in th! '" ^ c^.^.y l.oceeding along some solitary by-patiroriS l^. '"^Z three may ofien be seen associa((>d together anne^,rin.r fnli r .- .".•.km, „ ,.,..e «> loud ,..,., i. ca„ be heard at »mel.„,4 h S H.nv .v,,„l, .,,,„ ,1,0 , ick,.,, ,l„,v si, „,„, ears erec,, seemi ^ h- ' M,c n,„.,l, ,, cmmon ,„ ,m,s, hara, a„d rabl.i,,. W,. have „ M , I ■f 98 NORTHERN HARE. this Hare retires to its form at early dawn, or shelter:; itself under tht thick foliage of fallen tree tops, particularly those of the pine and hemlock. It occasionally retires to the same cover for a number of nights in succession, but this habit is by no means common; and the sportsman who expects on some succeeding day to find this animal in the place from which it was once started, is likely to be disappointed ; although we are not aware, that any other of our species of hare are so attached to particular and beaten paths tb" .!■ the «oous, as the one now under consideration. It nightly pursue -I i aths, not only during the deep snows of winter, but ibr a period ot • jral years, if not killed or taken, wandering through them even during sunnner. We have seen a dozen caught at one spot in snares composed of horse-hair or brass wire, in the course of a winter, and when the snow had disappeared and the spring was advanced, others were still captured in the same way, and in the same paths. The period of gestation in this species is believed to be, (al- though we cannot .speak with positive certainty,) about six weeks. Two females which we domesticated, and kept in a warren, prodiiced yoinig, one on the tenth and the other on the fifteenth of May; one had four, and the other six leverets, which were deposited on a nest of straw the inside of which was lined with a considerable quantity of hair plucked iVom their bot' They succeeded in rearing all their young but one, which Avas killed by the male of a common Europeiui ral>l)it. They were not again gravid during that season. Ill health, arid more important studies, reciuired us male of the previous year. The young, at birth, were able to see. They were covered with short hair, and appeared somewhat darker in colour than the adults, at that season. 'I'hey left their nest in ten or twelve days, and from that time seemed to provide for themselves, and to dtM-ivc little sustenance or protection from their mo- thers. The old males at this period seemed to be animated with renewed ~T? NORTHERN HARE. 99 ! 9 cou age they had previously suffered themselves to be chased and wor n. by the co.nn.ou English rabbit, and even retreated from the at- .acKs of the gray rabbit; but they now stood their ground, and engaged me.-co CO. ats wi.h ,he other prisoners eonlined with them, andl^ne- ..U V a,ne od victonous. They stamped wi,h their feet, used their teeth and claws to a fearful purpose, and in the light tore o.F patches of In and mutilated the ears of their former persecutors, till tl e! were L tn undisturbed possession of the premises ! " The males did not evince the vicious propensity to destroy their young vhich IS observed in the domesticated English rabbit ; on the con'ra"v t'oZo ,!r""''^' ''' '-'''^ ''^'' '''^ ^•^■"^•>'' -h- ^hey were b^a' sit^InslnnT !'"" "7%''" '•'"-" ™- ^° P-^er dry and elevated 0.1 thu, feet, and after having been compelled to pass through them y are tor hours employed in rubbing and drying their paws. In X , however when such places are liardened by the frost, th.y not n ly have paths through them in every direction, but occasio.ially s e! al en tree-top as a uhng or resting place, in the centre of a' wamp ttns of wb ;' '•'■ '"■''''^'""^■■^'•'^' (^-'•- /--/«/",) considerable por- the « bin "'": "■;"'' """""' ■•' f'""'^'^^ — -^^ I'^ -hat are c.^led procuu tan bark, tins speces ,s sometimes so abundant that twenty or thu-ty ot then may be started in a day's walk ^ r.u.s, Its (lesi. ,s hard, dry, almost juiceless, possessing none of the ^n-our of the English hare, and much inferior to that of our grav n bb^ Lpjcures, however, who often regard as dainties dishes that a^; ^^^ ' and who, by the skilful application of the culinary art possess mean ot' ::;:' ■;:; .v:::r^^""'^ ''-' -- " ^--^-^ ^-^-^ -- ^^i^ The Northern Hare, as is proverbially the case with all the species ■ o Hu, lo,est, by eagles, by hawks, and by owls. In the northern parts ^ Mame. m Canada, and i„ the countries lar.her north, their most thrm eaenues are the Canada L nx, (I,,,.,. Can.nlrnsis, the ier f).,," hnjand .Mates, however, and m New- York, the red-tailed hawlc. {Butco I 1 1" 100 NORTHKIIN lARE l{(in(/lis,) is occnsionally .seen with mw oftliosd species in its talons. F{ut ils most roniii();il)l(' cntMuy is {he i:;rcat lioriu-d owl, {lUiht yir^iniiniiis.) \Vi> iiavc also, on omi occasion, observed a eonnnon liouse-cat (lrajj;i^ia>;; a full f,n-o\vn Northern ilare from tiic woods, to feed lier yinuig. Lads on their way to school, entrap thcni with snares attached to a l)ent twi;?, l)laced alonf" the j)aths they nightly resort to. The hunter linds r-.'crea- tion ill {lursuiiig thein with hounds, whilst he j)laces himself in some, wood-path where they were last, seen to pass. The Hare runs from fifty to a hundred yards ahead of the dogs, and in its windings and turnings to escape from t'lcm freciuently returns to the sjiot where the hunter is stationed, and falls by a she!, from his gun, 'I'he Northern Ilare, when rapidly pursued, makes such great ellbrts to escajjc, that the poor creature (as we have said already) is occasionally successful, and fairly outruns the hounds, whilst the hunter is cunningly aAoided by it when doubling. After one of these hard chases, howcner, we have known the animal die from the fatigue it had undergone, or from having been overheated. We once saw one, which had been closely pressed by the dogs nearly all the afternoon, return to a thicket alter tlm hounds had been called olf and the sportHlinen had given up the vain ])ursuit. Next morning we ex;. mined the place to which it had retired, and to our surprise, discovered the hare sitting in its form, under a dwarlish, crooked, pine-bush; it was covered with snow and (piite dead. In this instance tie hare had no doubt been greatly overheat d by the race of the preceding day, as well as exhausted and terrilied; and the poor thing being in that eoiulition very suscei)tible of cold was probably chilled by tli(> night air and the falling snow, until its palpitating heart, gradually impelling the \ ital tluid with fainter and slower pulsufions, at length ceased its throb- biiigs liirever. Sometimes we have tound these Hares dead in the woods after tlie melt- ing of the sno\v in the Spring, and on examination we lt)uii(l they were entangled in portions of wire snares, frecpuMitly entwined round their necks, from which they had becMi unable to extricate themselves. This species when caughl alive cannot be taken into the hand like the gray rabbit, with impimiiy; the latter, when seized by the ears or hind- legs soon becomes (piiet and is harmless; but the Northern Hare strug- gles to escapt% and makes a formidable resistance with its teeth and nails. On one occasion a servant wiio was expert at catching tla^ gray rabbit in traps, came to us with a rueful countenance holding a hare in his hands, fxhibili;ig at the same time siiiidry severe scratcla^s he had received, showing us his torn clothes, and a jjlace on his leg which the animal had bitten, and decUnng that he had caught "a rabbit as cross as a "l NORTIIKliX IFAIUO. JOl .... W. asocruin,.,! it to 1... h Nortl.n-n 'I.n- i,. i,s suuunn- .l-ss. u.ul al.l>U l.y .s ....lour, I... .......inly ......iv..,! . ,.,..,,i,.:.l |,.ss..n i,. ,..uj history wlii.rl, |„. ,li,| „„,, ,,„„„ i;„.j,,,f. "'" A HviM, i„,livi.lual of tl.is sp^i.-s, wl.i.l. uv h:uv i„ Cl..,-I,.s.,,m in H u mully .l..,M..Hl..,.U..d stal.., C,,- ,1... ,„„•,„.., ..f tryi... to us...,.,.i,. th., ef ...M ol ,. u-,.m. .•Ii.nato on its oh.an^r.s ol' coicm-, is particularly cross wl..n app.....|.,.„ I., , ,„,,„„, ,, ,,,,,.^ ,^ ,, ^^,^; y -- .n....r wul. ahnost a .rowl. an.l is r..a.ly witl. its da.s an,| l,U U^L ^.,. tl.o person who has arons... itslro. When thus ..x..,,,.,l it n-M.i„,|..,| us hy i,s attitu.h,s ..C .n an^ry raco..n. 11- .sl<... o. ,h,. ,N.,r,h..n. ir.n... is so tcn.lnr an.I easily torn, an.l the fur >s so apt I., he spoiled and drop olF on l.ein^r |,,„,,|,.,,, „,„ j, j^ ,,i^,.^^,,,^ ^^ prepnr,. p..rleet specimens Cor ihe naturalist's ..ahinet, The p.dt is not in .m.d. r...,u..st au..,n^ ,1,.. nu-ri..rs. an.l is n..ar,l..,l l.y the hat.er as' of •"'' ^'"'•"■- ".e lun,I-i;...t, however, are used l.y the latfr in a part of the process 1^ whi..h the soli, ^h.ssy, surlaee is i„.parte...Hh,.rn por.,..ns ..f X.,w.Vorlc, h.nnsylvania, and Old... M... ,,.,„,,,,, » the Northern par ol Vn.,ini,.. I..,. ...^ ,.', wh,.re it i.a.l never before -"'>'-.•-.. ,y t ,. inh.l.itants. ().. seeKin. ,or it aHerwanls in the N.calMy irotn wluch h.- ohtain,..! it, we w..re unsuceesslul, an.l w,. at-e in- ^^clU.hehevethatitiso.dy oceasionnlly that some strn..l..r wnn.l..rs 80 f. u South a,n.,n,. these mountains, and that its South,.rn liuwl .nav I.,, set down at about .10°. • I • "l« r.ENERAr, RKMAkKS. The history of this Hare has been att..,r,,t..d from time to time by .. i.Iv und recent travellers and naturalists, an.l m.,st of ,h,.i,. accounts of W2 NORTHERN HARE. it lire only sou ccs (f iicri'lexity, and .-ulditional (liinciilti«!S in the way of the naturalist of the present day. Stran<,'e mistakes were connnitted by some of those who wrote on the subjeet, from I'bnnant down to IIari.an, GoD.MA.v, and others still later; and one error appears to have led to anolher. until even the ideality of the species meant to be described by diti'erent authors, was finally involved in an almost inextricable web of em- barrassment. Ag iar as we liavc been able to ascertain, the Northern Hare was first noticed l)y Sagard Tiikodat, (Hist, de Canada,) in lOaO, Kalm, (who tra\. lied in America from 1718 to 17.-)I, and whose work was published in the Swedish languaf,'e, and soon after translated into German and Enj;lish,) speaks of this species as follows :—" Hares are likewise said to be plen- tifid even in Hudson's Bay, and they are abundant in Canada, where I have often seen, and found them perfectly corresponding,' witfi our Swedish hares. In sununer they have a brownish-^^ray, and ir. wititer a snowy-white colour, as with us." (Kalm's Travels, &c., vol. ii., p. 45. English translation.) 'J'his judicious and intellifrent traveller, undoubtedly here referred to the Northern Hare. He supposed it to be idei- ical with the Al|)ine or vari- able Hare, {fjrjJiis variabilis,) which is found in Sweden and other North- ern countries of Europe. That species is a little larj^'er than the North- ern Hare, and the tips of its ears are black; but allh()U',di it i^: a distinct sj.ecies, it so nearly resend)les the latter, that several authors, Gouman not excepted, were induced to reifard these two species as identical. Kalm, (see vol. i., p. lOa, Eng. trans.,) whilst he was in the vicinity of Philadel- phia, where the Northern Hare never existed, gave a correct account of another species, the American gray rabbit, which we v/ill notice more in detail when we describe that animiil. It is very evident that in these two notices of American hares, Kai.m had reference to two distinct spe- cies, and that he pointed out those distinctive^ marks by which they are .sejjarated. If subsequent authors confounded the two species, and created confusion, their errors evidently cannot be owing to any fault of the emi- nent Swedish traveller. The first sjiecimcMis of the Northern Hare that appeared in Europe, .were sent by the servants of thi' Hudson's IJay Company to England in 1771, (se(^ IMiil. Trans., vol. Ixii., p. i;j.) There were four specimens in the collgclion, exliihiting the various gradations of colo-v. \v addition to these, a living animal of the same sju'cies was received nl out the same time. pro])ably by the ssme ship. It was brou-ht to the notice of the Philosoi)hical Society, in a letter from the Hon. Daises Barrinc.ton, read lOth .lanuary, 1772. This letter is interesting, since it gives us some idea NORTHERN HARE. 103 01 he state of natural science in England, at that early .lay. The ani- "-1 -.1 lor .so,„e ti„,e remained alive, but had died in the previous n1 vend,..,.. I, ha.l at that time already changed its sun.rher'colou an^ become nearly whUe. It was i.Un,, in order to ascertain whether il was a hare or a rabbit, as according to U.v. i," the llesh was brown it was a .re d , ... ,„, ,, ^^,^^,^, ^^ „^ ^^^^^.^_^ ^^__^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ w.. d ti.ire. 1 tie test was stran'^e enmitrl, K„f » i,„ ■ • , ,, ,, , 'Mi.uipc (nougii, but the conclusion was correct fn May 01 .he same yea, J. R. Fo.srKi, Es.,, F. U. S., describ d h " among twenty qua.lrupeds, th.t had been sent Irom Hudson's U.y j^l «.vmg an account of. he manner in which it was captured bv s,uu.s hkI ". H-ass wire an.l pack thread, he designates its size as " bigger tha the -bi^it. but less than the Alpine hare." In this he was :;nte c J^ e hen goes on to show that its hind-feet are longer in n-opor.ion t o 'he body than those of the rabbit an.I common hare. Sec L iinal speaks of its habits, and here his first error occurs Ka m's ! of /.,,„ ,i:fn„.„„f • occurs. IVALM 8 accounts ol .« di I,.,, nt s^ ec.es were supposed by him u, refer to one species only aid whdst .he No,.,hern Hare was ./e.vo.W-some o the /l/^ol n! American gray rabbit were incorrectly referred to it. As. however, FoHsTER gave it no specific name and his description on the whole was but a loose one, it was lelt, to another naturalist to give It a .scientidc appellation. ^ 1.1 1777, EUX1.KBK.V gave the first scientific description of it. and named it Lr,us A..nconus. ScuKKn.u, (as we are prepared .o show in our article on /.,>«.v s,I,-ancus;) published an account of it immediately afterwards "lider the name of Le/;«.v n«„«,v. ^ iti warns, This deseriplion, as may easily be seen, was principally taken from F-asi... Sai^rK. about the same period, and P....s in 1778, under th" name o L. m,lson>c,., r.nd Pk..... in 1780, under that of .l.J.W^W followed each other in quick succession. In GMnu.'s L,xx.K,., (1788,) it is very impern-ctly described in one N t u u "" "'^'"" ^"^'"' "" "-''"' "•■ ^— i» ^ivino. to the Northern Hare the habits of ,l.e American gray rabbit In .he work of De^,.hkst, (Mammalogie, ou description des especes de Mammi.eres p. ...., Pari, 18.0,) a description is given of "Esp'l.ievr J Am^nque, .pus Ameneanus." This, howc-ver, instead of beL a de! senp,„.n ol ,he .rue L. AnrrHcanu. of all previous authors, i. n most nnr |-lars a pn.„y good description of our .my rabbit. IT.k,...v. who ^d.- ''^'■■••''ly. ••-,. ,o us (aults, (see Fauna Americana, p. 100.) Havin. thu^. erroneously disposed of the gray rabbit under the name of L. A:eriZ nus. .he .rue Upas Amrrirnaus was named bv him /. Vh.^i,„„nu.. ' The I ' 104 NOUTIIEUN HARE. fdllowiiii? yc.'ir, Dr. Gouman «:avr a dcsciiplio of the Northern Hare, rp* ftri'iiijjf it to tin- livpus laiitibilis of Eiiropr! AfliM' Dr. liit'iiAKi»s()N'.s return from his pcrihnis journey through the Polar regions, he jjrepared in Eiiy;hin(l his vahiahii- Fauna Boreali Ameri- cana, whicii was puljlished in IS-JJ). Spoeinieiis hiixlled L. AiiKiieonun of Ei(xi.i'.i!i;s, wert! still in the IJrilish Museum, and he puhlisln.'d (h'scrip- tions of iiis own speeimeiis under that name. The gray rahhit did not ct»me w'thin tlie range of liis iiivestigaticms, hut liaving received a hun- ter's skill from tin; vieiiiity of i'le Columhia river, he supposed i*^ to he the L \ ir^inioniis iA' Uari.an, and (h-scrihed it under that name. This skill, however, lias since proved to i)elong to a dill'erenl species; thr Northern liare not heiiig lound in the regions hordering that river. In 1887, liaving several new sjieeies of llarc to descrihe, we began lo look into this suhject, and ench'avoured to correct tlie errors in regard tc the speeu's, that had crept into the works of various authors. We had not seen J'wixi.r.nKN's work, and supposing that the species were correctly designated, we puiilished our views of the hahhs, &c., of the two species, (whose identity and proj)er cognomen we hrve, we hope, just estalilished.) under the old names of L. Virgiiihniiis and //. Amrri- cdHiis, (see .lour, ol' Acad, of Nat. Sciences of Phila., vol. vii., pi. -J. p. 28-2.) 'I'he article had scarcely heen printed, before we obtained a copy of Eiixi.K.HEN, and we immediately perceived and corrected the errors that, had \H'vn committed, giving the Northern Hare its correct name, L. Amcri- riitius, and ])estowiiig on the gray rahhit, which, through the mistakes we have already dc^scrihed had been left without any name, that ot Lcpiis si/lcalicns, (.Tour. Acad. Nat. Sciences of Phil., vol. vii., p. 103.) 'file reasons for this arrangement were given in our remarks on the genus Lra-L-s, in a subscciueiit i)aper, (.Tour. Acad. Sc, vol. viii.. pi. 1, p. Tf).) ^vllere we characterized a number of additional new spec , In 181-,>, Dr. Di:kav, (sec Nat. Hist, of New- York, p. yr>,) acceding to this ar- rangenu>nt of the Northern Hare under the specific name of Z. Amcricanits, remarks, "This Hare was first vaguely indicated T)y Ekxleden in 1777." in a spirit of great fairness, however, that author's original description was nulilished at the foot of the article. In Older to set this matter at rest, remove this speqies from the false position ill which it has so long stood, and give its first describer the credit to which he is entitled, we will here insert the description above alluded to. " Le])us Ainericamis, L. caiida abbreviata; pedibus posticis corpore limidio longioribus ; aiii'lcidarinn caudoque apieibus :;riseis. "Die Haseii— Kai,'.!. IIikUoii's Ha> 'iuidiuii.. I'. akiuncjion, Phil. Tran'v NORTIIKRN HARK. 105 vol. Ixu., p. 370. Maxnitudine mcdius inter L. cuniculum et timidum AI- pmmn, (sc. L. timuhis, Forstsr. Phil. Trans, vol. Ixii., p. 37r,.) Auricu- lanmn et ca.i.lu; apices pcrpetuo prisei _ I'e.les p„,stici lon^iores qi,„rn ..1 L. t.m.,1., et cuniculo, color j^riseo-fuscus ; Hieme in IriKidioribu. albus. "Habitat in America boreali ad fretuin Iludsoni copiosissimus noctur- nus Non f.Bdit, de-it sub arborum ra.licibus, inque cavis arboribus Pant bis vel seinel in a.mo; piillos .,uin(,ue ad septeni; caro bona, colore L. tiniidi." In great deference, we would submit whether tlie above is not moro than a " ougue mdiction " of a species. To us it appears a tolerably full descnpion for the era in which the author lived and considering the few spi'cies of Hare then known. There were at that early period but three Hares with which natural- ists were familiar:— A. Ihnidas, the com-^ion European Hare; /^. varinhilis the variable Hare ; and L cuniculus, the European burrowing rabbit. With these Erxlkiikv compares this species in size and colour. With the excep- tion of one of the habits he mentions, this description appears to us ere- ditable to him. There have been many occasions, when, perplexed in -uess- ing at the species intended to be described by old authors, (the Father'of na- tural history, LiNN.Eus himself, not excepted,) we would havi hailed a de- scription like this, as a light in darkness. The species Erxlebev h.;d in view cannot \w. mistaken ; he dc^scribes it very correctly as " magnkudhir '..cdins inter L. cuniculum rt limidum Alpinum." Our American gray ra))bit, in- stead of being intermediate between L. cuniculus and the Alpine hare is smaller than either. " Pedes postici longiores qwun in L. timido et ami. culo." Tile long hind-feet are distinctive marks of the Northern Fare ; but those of our gray rabbit are much shorter than those of /.. timidus or common hare of Europe. " Hione in frigidioritms alhus." Or, gray rab- bit, contrary to the assertion of most authors, does not become white in winter in any latitude. '^Habitat in America boreali ad /return Hudsoni copiosissimus." Dr. llioiiARnsov, and every Northern traveller with whom we have conversed, have assured us that our gray rabbit does not exist at Hudson's Bay, where the Northern Hare is quite abundant, and where that and the Polar hare, (the last named species existing still further North,) are the only species to be found. We havo examined and com- pared the original specimen described by Dr. Richardson, and also those in the British Museum that have successively replaced the specimens first sent to England, and find that they all belong to this species. In fact our gray rabbit is very little known in England or Scotland; since after an examination of all the principal Museums in those countries we met 106 NORTHERN HARE. with but. two specimens, one of which was not named, and the other war* not improperly labelled, "Lepus Americanus Harlan, non Erxleben." The rigid rule of priority will always preserve for the Northern Hare the name of L. Americanus, whilst L. nanus, L. Hudsonicus, and L. Vir- ginianus, must be set down merely as synonj mes 107 GENUS FIBER.— lLL,f;EH, DENTAL FORMULA. fnctsive -; .]folar — =10 Lower incisors, sharp-pointed, and convex in front; molars, with flat crowns, furnished with scaly transverse zig-zag lamina. Fore-feet with lour toes and the rudiment of a thumb; hind-feet, with five toes the edges furnished with stiff hairs, which assist the animal in swimming in- stead of the feet being palmated or webbed; hind-toes, slightly palmated. J ail, long, compressed, granular, nearly naked, having but a few scattered hairs. Glands, near the origin of the tail, which secrete a white, musky and somewhat offensive fluid. Mamma3 six, abdominal. This genus differs from the Arvicol^ in its dentition; the first inferior molar has one point more than the corresponding tooth in the latter, and all the molars acquire roots immediately after the animal becomes an adult. We have fre.juently heard complaints made by students of natu- ral history, of the difficulties they had to encounter at the very outset from the want of accuracy and uniformity in the works of authors when seating the characters by which thoy defined the genera they established. J lie justness of these complaints may be well illustrated by examining the accounts of the present genus as given by several well-known writers Iluher says it has four molars on each side, (UtHnqui quaterni,) see Prodromus systematis mammaliarum et avum, making in all twenty teeth W.r..=MAN and Rutme have given the same dental arrangement, see ILuulbu,.]. der Zoologic, Berlin, 1832. F. CirvrEH, who has been fol- lowed by most authors, has given it-Incisive |; Canine J~f, = sixteen teelh. Giuvvvm, Animal Kingdom, vol. iii., p. 10(5, describes it as having- rnois.ve f ; Cnnin,^ ^-i zz twenty teeth; and in his synopsis of the spe- c.-s of mammalia, (sp. 53- ) its dental arrang.Mnent is thus characferized- n.cs.ve f, Cani.ie f-f, Cheek-teeth, ^-.}. giving to it the extravagant number of twenty-eight teeth. This last statement is most probal)Iv only a typogrnphical error. A correct examination and description of »I.e teeth „f this genus re.,uires a eonsidernble degree of labour, besides great attention an, f-i *• iC » > 3