180 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



One of the rare ties of the year is a specimen of the Alleghenian 

 least weasel {Piitoriiis allegheniensis) sent to us for the collection 

 of Pennsylvania mammals for the 8t. Louis Exposition by a friend 

 of West tSpi'inglield, Erie county, Pa. Another unusual occurrence 

 is the common weasel {Putorius noveboracensis) killed and sent to 

 us in February, which had not changed in color from the brown of 

 summer to white of winter, as is common with this species. This 

 is also preserved in our collection. 



It should be recorded that a Canadian beaver dam, with live 

 Canadian beavers ( Castor cwnadensis) is at present to be found 

 in its natural condition and in a site selected by these valuable 

 rodents, which are supopsed to be extinct in our State, near Strouds- 

 burg, Monroe county, Pa. These are upon land owned by Judge Et- 

 tinger, of Stroudsburg, who has fortunately succeeded in having a 

 special law passed by our Legislature for the purpose of protecting 

 this colony. 



There has been unusual destruction in the forest preservations, 

 particularly to game birds and game mammals, by foxes, weasels, 

 minks and wild cats. Sunks have also been reported as devouring 

 the eggs and young of ground-nesting species of birds, although 

 upon cultivated ground they are valuable insect-eaters. 



The destruction to forest trees by porcupines has been unusual, 

 and there is evidence that in certain portions of our State from 

 Wyoming to ^^■arren counties, the Canadian porcupine {Erethizon 

 dorsatus) is increasing. It is interesting to know that we have 

 actual evidence that their natural enemies are the wild cats and 

 foxes. In preparing specimens of the two species last named, the 

 spines of porcupines were found embedded in the skin and flesh of 

 their heads. The porcupine has been unusually destructive to 

 forest trees, and there has also been an unusual abundance of red 

 foxes ( Vidpes pennsylvanicus^ gi'ay foxes ( TJrocyon cinereoargen. 

 teus) and wild cats [Lynx rufus) in our State during the past 

 year. We also received from Wayne county a specimen of "Cross 

 Fox," which is preserved in our St. Louis Exhibition Collection. 



