of the Alleghany Mountain Range. 537 



In the heat of summer they retire into the cool laurel swamps (Kahm'a 

 and .Rhododendron) of the mountains. They resort much to hemlock 

 trees to gnaw the wood, apparently using it for medicinal purposes ; 

 and are accustomed to scratch the bark and whet their claws in the 

 manner of cats. 



Lutra canadensis, American otter. — They abound in most of the trout 

 streams of these mountains. I have often observed their favourite 

 resorts, and the " otter slides " have been shown me by the hunters. 

 To these spots the otters resort for their favourite recreation, of 

 sliding and tumbling down a bank into the water. A hunter told me 

 that he has watched them for many minutes, intently occupied with 

 this amusement, while within reach of his rifle. 



tarsus lotor, American raccoon. — These swarm about the newly cleared 

 lands of Lycoming valley, eating and destroying much corn in the fall. 

 Not less than a hundred of these animals were taken, in October and 

 November last, by traps and dogs during the autumn evenings, in a 

 few fields near me. 



.Mustela erminea, Ermine. — One of these animals caught during the last 

 winter. 



-Mustela vulgaris, Common weasel. 



ikfustela 2?ison, Mink. — There are probably more than one species of 

 .Mustela here. 



.Mustela ikTartes, Pine martin. — Two specimens taken during the present 

 spring by Dr. Saynisch, 



Mephitis americana, Skunk or American polecat. 



Canis .Lupus, Common wolf. — This animal is becoming scarce as set- 

 tlements increase, and hunters are stimulated by the bounty given by 

 the state for each scalp. Some of the deep ravines bordering the Tioga 

 afford undisturbed lurking places for wolves* They do not attack men ; 

 but I have been followed by one, after dark, for two hours, when be- 

 nighted in the woods ; and they were commonly heard round our camp, 

 but at a respectful distance. Two were shot here in the summer in 

 one day. 



Canis Fulpes, Common red fox. — Several shot, and a litter of young cubs 

 were taken. 



Canis virginianus, Grey fox. 



Felis concolor, Cougar de Pennsylvanie, pouma, panther. — Now rare on the 

 Alleghany Mountains ; but some are still annually destroyed, and a 

 bounty of twelve dollars obtained for each scalp. By the county 

 treasurer's annual report for Lycoming county, I perceive he paid, 

 last year, for panther and wolf scalps, three hundred dollars; and for 

 fox and wild cat scalps one hundred and ninety dollars. 



Felis montana, Lynx du Mississippi, catamount, mountain cat. — Three or 

 four shot here in the fall : length, 3 ft. or 4 ft. 



Felis ? , Wild cat. — Somewhat smaller than the above ; spotted, black 



and grey, 3 ft. 



Order f}Rres y Gnawers. 



Castor .Fiber, Common beaver. — Traces of these animals occurred only 

 at one or two spots, in the freshly-cut and barked limbs of young 

 trees, floating on the water. They are nearly extinct in the Alleghany 

 Mountains [VI. 511.]. 



.Fiber zibe'thicus, Musk rat, ondatra. — They swarm in many situations ; 

 and are destructive to the embankments of canals and mill-dams. At 

 Blossburg, we used to take one or two nightly in the nets set to catch 

 trout : we always found them drowned. In the form of the skull they 

 have a remarkable resemblance to the beaver [VI. 511.]. 



