92 SIXTEENTH REPORT. 



RESULTS OF THE SHIRAS EXPEDITIONS TO WHITEFISH POINT, 



MICHIGAN.— MAMMALS. 



BY NORMAN A. WOOD. 



As elsewhere stated/ the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 

 and the Michigan Geological and Biological Survey cooperated in an investi- 

 gation of the biota of Whitefish Point, Chippewa County, Michigan, in 1912, 

 1913, and 1914. In 1912 and 1913 the work was carried on by the Museum 

 with the assistance of Hon. George Shiras, 3d, and in 1914 it was supported 

 by the Survey. During the first and last years the field work included a 

 study of the mammals, and was entrusted to the writer, who spent five 

 weeks in the field in 1912 (July 6 to August 11) and fourteen weeks in 1914 

 (May 11 to August 19). In 1912 the writer was alone in the field and most 

 of the time was given to the study of the birds, but in 1914 Mr. Frank 

 Novy, of the University of Michigan, assisted in the collecting of mammals, 

 and assistance was also had in the bird work, so that the mammals received 

 considerable attention. 



A description of the region has been given in the report on the birds, and 

 as the data obtained on the habitats of the mammals is inadequate for 

 generalizations a very brief description will be sufficient for this report. 

 The point is considered to extend from a line drawn from the Luce-Chip- 

 pewa County line at Lake Superior to the Shelldrake River and down this 

 river to its mouth. The topography consists of sand ridges with interven- 

 ing swales containing ponds or marshes, and there are numerous small streams. 

 The vegetation consists, toward the end of the point, of a jack pine forest 

 on the ridges and grassy or timbered swamps in the swales, toward the base 

 of the point, of dense deciduous woods and balsam-spruce forests, and on 

 the moraine on the Luce-Chippewa County line, of dense deciduous woods. 



The localities on the point mentioned in the list of species are as follows: 



Vermilion, a small town on the north shore and near the base of the point. 



Whitefish Point postofiice, a settlement of a few houses on the north 

 shore of the point and about three miles from the end. Camp was estab- 

 lished at this place. 



Light House, the Whitefish Point Light House is situated at the end of 

 the point. 



Beech-maple forest, a dense deciduous forest on the moraine on the Luce- 

 Chippewa County Line: only explored near the end. 



Little Lake, a long shallow lake near the Whitefish Point postoffice. 



East Vermilion Lake, a series of long narrow ponds near Vermilion. 



The princi]ial results of the work on the mammals of Whitefish Point are 

 the addition of one species to the state fauna, a fairly complete list of the 

 mammals of the region, new localities for several species of doubtful range 

 in Michigan, and a series of skins and skeletons of the mammals of the 

 region, which include a number of vanisliing forms. The specimens are in 

 the Museum of Zoology. It should be stated here that Mr. John Clarke, 

 who has resided on the point for thirty years, has collected and preserved 



'See the report on the birds of the expedition in this volume. 



