JUNE, 1901. MAMMALS FROM N. C., S. C., GA. AND FLA. ELLIOT. 47 



conclude they are early breeders. The two colonies frequenting 

 this small lake were all I could find, though I searched far and 

 wide for others, and there are suitable ponds everywhere about 

 Enterprise. It is no use trying to get any information about 

 this species from the natives in the region it frequents, for not 

 one out of a hundred know of their existence, and the animals 

 are quite a curiosity to the vast majority of even the oldest 

 inhabitants ; men who hunt for curios all the season through 

 knowing nothing whatever about them. The series of ten speci- 

 mens secured were all taken at Enterprise, as I was unable to 

 find them elsewhere in the State. 



While at Micco in February 1 trapped the savannah for this 

 species as far north nearly as Grant, and south quite to the 

 Sebastian River without any success. While trapping near Oak 

 Lodge in April I fully expected to secure them, but was again 

 disappointed, though there must be a few at least remaining in 

 the extensive savannah just west of Mr. Latham's house. -Taken 

 as a whole I believe it a rare animal now, likely soon to become 

 rarer, for it is very easily trapped when once its nest is found. 



Shortly after my arrival at Gainesville I secured one water rat 

 from a nest in the western end of Biven's Arm, and it was a week 

 before I found. another nest. Taking a boat at last, and getting 

 a negro to help me, we cut our way through the dense mass of 

 floating vegetation and entered into the center of the mass of 

 floating islands in Biven's Arm, where I found quite a colony of 

 the rats, but securing only 12 specimens out of some 30 nests, 

 among the lot being one young one not over a day old. These 

 nests were built of the same material and in exactly the same 

 manner as those found last year near Enterprise, being composed 

 mainly of a sort of wire grass. With much trouble I at last 

 secured a photo of a nest which may be regarded as typical, and 

 it was built among the dead weeds and grass near the edge of 

 one of the floating islands, where the water was about 20 

 inches deep. The water within 6 feet of the nest was fully 10 

 feet deep, as the island sloped off rather abruptly there. Under- 

 neath the nest the water was perfectly clear, and the whole 

 bottom was covered with a sort of short wire grass, with here 

 and there a small water lily. That part of the nest visible 

 above the water was g inches high and -solidly arched over, but 

 the whole mass under the surface was rather loose and spread 

 over a surface of nearly 2 feet, the whole being firmly anchored 

 to the dead weed stalks. A few of the nests, however, were 



