AKCTOMYS MONAX. 249 



of his journeying there to drink. Hence it seems probable that the 

 moisture which his system requires is derived from the juices of 

 the plants on which he feeds, together with the clew or rain that 

 may have lodged upon them. 



Having searched in vain for the record of an instance where a 



O 



\Voodchuck has been known to swim, voluntarily, I take great 

 pleasure in being able to contribute an account of a case that 

 recently fell under my personal observation. On the i2th of June, 

 1883, while rowing up the Fulton Chain of Lakes, in company with 

 Dr. A. K. Fisher and Walter H. Merriam, a Woodchuck was 

 observed in the water directly ahead of the boat swimming across 

 the channel between Second and Third Lakes. He swam deep, 

 at times the top of his head and the tip of his tail alone appearing 

 above the surface. He crossed from the north to the south shore 

 and was evidently very much fatigued and somewhat confused, for, 

 although I pushed the boat close after him as he was about to 

 emerge, he only partly climbed out upon a small log that extend- 

 ed into the water, and showed no inclination to move off, or even 

 to change his position. He was poked several times with a stick, 

 and finally Dr. Fisher actually stroked him with his hand before he 

 became sufficiently aroused to show that he was aware of our 

 presence. We left him standing partly upon the log, with one leg- 

 still in the water, shivering, and apparently in a very unhappy state 

 of mind. This animal was young, and was evidently travelling 

 about in search of a suitable place in which to establish his home. 



The Woodchuck can always be taken in a steel trap set with 

 proper care, and concealed from view. By this means it is gen- 

 erally easy to rid our fields of his presence. Dr. C. L. Bagg and 

 1 once caught thirty-three Woodchucks in a large meadow during 

 a single season. 



In a recent number of the American Field (Vol. XX, No. 10, 

 Sept. 8, 1883, p. 225) I recorded the following very unusual occur- 

 rence : On the 28th of July last, hearing a commotion among some 



