124 Copeland and Church — Mammals of Grand Manan. 



Thirty-six specimens, botli old and young, were preserved and examined. 

 The adults measured considerablj'^ larger than typical ])einisylv<tnicus, l)ut 

 showed no appreciable differences in coat color or cranial characters. 



Lepus americanus virginianus (Harlan). 



EASTERN VARYING HARE. 



The varying hare, formerly abundant on the island, ajjpears to be extinct 

 and evidently has been so for a number of years. H. Herrick* in liis cat- 

 alogue of the birds of Grand Manan, compiled from visits to the island in 

 1871-72, refers to " thousands of Leptis Americanus." The natives of the 

 island attribute the disappearance of the hare to the introduction of foxes 

 which, according to some, killed them off in the seconder third year. Air. 

 Foster, who is an accurate observer, remembered when they were extremely 

 abundant, and believed that in less than ten years they were all extermi- 

 nated by the foxes. He had seen none for about twenty years. 



A similar instance of destruction wrought by foxes is recorded for Sable 

 Island by J. Dwight, Jr.f Cats and rabbits overran the island, and seven 

 red foxes w^ere introduced from the mainland. " In a single season" the 

 foxes made an end of them all, and continuing to multiply greatl)^ began 

 to exterminate the sea birds. 



The hare is an animal which would fall easy prey to the fox, and this 

 seems a sufficient explanation of its disappearance from Grand Manan. 



Phoca vitulina Linn. 



HARBOR SEAL. 

 Eight individuals of this species were seen swimming together, and 

 several others noted along the shore at Grand Harbor. Tliey were reported 

 as common and breeding on the island. 



'f? 



Halichoerus grypus (Fabr.). 



GRAY SEAL. 



A large white " winter seal," as it was termed, was described to us as 

 occurring on the Yellow Ledges during December, January and February, 

 and breeding there. As this is a large seal and does not conform in breed- 

 ing habits with the harp seal we feel reasonabh' certain that it is referable 

 to H. grijpus. Moreover, John Moses, a local taxidermist, is in possession 

 of an example of this species which was taken off Grand Manan. 



The " winter seals " are sometimes killed on the ledges by the fishermen 

 but in general they keep well off the coast, and only occasionally work 

 along the Grand Manan shore. 



*o 



Cystophora cristata (Erxl.). 



HOODED SEAL. 



Mr. Foster described perfectly this seal which had been seen for the last 

 three years in the fall and winter at Grand Harbor. We were able to find 

 no further evidence of its occurrence. 



* Hcrrick, H., BuIL Essex lust., V, No. 2 and 3, March, 1S73. 



t Dwight, J., Jr., Mem. Nutt. Ornith. Club, No. 2, p. 15, Aug., 1895. 



