536 Natural History of the N.E. Extremity 



than the shaking of the young trees, or occasionally cutting 

 down those of greater size. This year the pigeons established 

 themselves in a new spot, in the beech woods ten miles to the 

 west. By daybreak in the morning, they would fly past us, 

 almost with the rapidity of lightning, in flocks of hundreds, 

 in constant succession, in search of food, and would be seen 

 returning during the day. The hunters say, with what ac- 

 curacy I know not, that these flocks would travel sometimes 

 a hundred miles for a breakfast. 



I proceed with a list of the birds, animals, &c, which were 

 taken by our party, or by hunters, during this expedition, 

 adding from time to time a few characteristic notes as they 

 became known to me. It is to be observed, that several of the 

 birds which were killed early in the season were probably 

 birds of passage. Their names are corrected from the 

 splendid work of Mr. Audubon ; and many details have been 

 furnished by Dr. Saynisch. The classification of the animals 

 is that of Dr. Harlan in the Fauna Americana ; and of the 

 Reptilia, from the North American lieptilia, of the same 

 naturalist, in the Journal of the Academy qf Natural Sciences. 



MAMMALIA. 



Order Insectivora. 



Fespertilio noveboracensis ? New York bat ? — A constant visiter in and 

 about our cabins, and entering the houses, in the autumn, in search of 

 flies. It made its first appearance on the Alleghanies on May 15. 



iSorex brevicaudus, Short-tailed shrew, sometimes called polecat shrew. 

 — Very abundant. In the spring, we repeatedly saw them lying dead in 

 the paths, having been destroyed and partly eaten by owls or other 

 enemies, which had been compelled to abandon their prey, on account 

 of its strong smell of musk. They continue in full activity during the 

 winter, not hibernating. In the deep snow, on the summits of the 

 mountains, at near 2000 ft. elevation, I continually observed their long 

 galleries, through which they traversed with great rapidity. They 

 appear to be singularly fierce, restless, and impatient under con- 

 finement. 



Scalops canadensis, American mole. — Taken at 1500 ft. elevation. 



Condylura ?cristata, Radiated mole. — In the bottom meadow lands, 

 around the settlements. 



Talpa ? americana, American or black mole. 



Order Carnivora. 

 £7'rsus americtmus, Black bear. — Numerous. Many shot or trapped 

 during my stay m the mountains. They resort to muddy springs, to 

 wallow. like hogs; these places being called " bear wallows." They 

 turn up the flat stones on the ridges, in search of worms and roots. 

 One frequently sees the topmost boughs of lofty beech trees broken 

 down by them, to get at the mast. They are very fond of huckle 

 berries [the fruit of different species of Faccfnium], and come down 

 to the settlements, in the fall, to feed on elder berries. When such 

 food is scarce, as was the case last year, they prowl round the farm- 

 house [VI. 98, 103.], and take off the pigs, even out of their sties. 



