MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 97 



tail 265 mm., foot 115 mm. This is not a very favorable region for the rac- 

 coon as there are few frogs, clams and crayfish. They no doubt eat acorns 

 and perhaps berries, but the winters are so long and severe as probably to 

 be unfavorable. 



25. Taxidea taxus (Schreber). American Badger. — The badger is ap- 

 parently rare on the point as no tracks or burrows were noted and the hunters 

 stated that it is only occasionally seen. On March 22, 1914, a large badger 

 was found dead in the Shelldrake River just south of Vermilion by a resi- 

 dent. One was also killed about ten miles west of Vermilion on July 13, 



1912, by Truman Trowbridge, but this was outside of the territory cov- 

 ered by this work. 



26. Mephitis hudsonica (Rich.). Northern Plains Skunk. — This species is 

 still common, notwithstanding the fact that for the past few years it has 

 been extensively trapped on account of the high price of its fur. One was 

 shot near the postoffice just before the writer's arrival in 1912. One was seen 

 by the writer near the same place, and a half-grown one was also seen 

 near Vermilion, one evening in August. In the early winter the trappers 

 capture and keep these animals in pens, feeding them until the fur is prime. 



27. Martes americana (Turton). Eastern Marten. — ^No signs of the mar- 

 ten were seen by the writer, and it is only placed in this list because the old 

 hunters and trappers stated that it was formerly common and still persists 

 in the beech-maple forests south and west of Vermilion, where some are 

 trapped each year. 



28. Martes pennanti (Erx.) Fisher. — Like the marten, the fisher is also said 

 to have been common formerly. It is certainly rare on the point at the 

 present time. No signs were seen, but a skelton of a specimen trapped by 

 William McGraw, on the Shelldrake River south of Vermilion, in March, 



1913, was secured from John Clarke. 



29. Mustela vison (Schreber). Northeastern Mink.— According to the resi- 

 dents this species was also formerly common on the point. It is now rare 

 but is occasionally seen and taken, especially on the ponds and trout streams 

 near Vermilion. In the winter of 1913-14, two were taken at Vermilion 

 Lake, the skulls of which are in the Museum. 



30. Mustela cicognanii (Bonap.). Small Brown Weasel. — This weasel 

 seems to be more plentiful than the following species. Several are in the 

 Clarke collection. It is easily identified by the relatively shorter tail, but 

 the trappers consider their specimens to be the young of the northern weasel. 

 The only other Michigan records for the species are those of the Porcupine 

 Mountains and Isle Royale expeditions. The writer secured from trappers 

 two skins taken in 1912, and the skull of a specimen secured in the winter 

 of 1913-1914, and saw a skin taken at the hght house in 1914. 



31. Mustela noveboracensis Emmons. Northern Weasel. — No live speci- 

 mens of the northern weasel were seen by the writer, although the hunters 

 stated that it is not rare and is often caught in the traps set in the fall and 

 winter. There are several mounted ones in the Clarke collection, and the 

 writer examined the skin of a specimen caught at the light house, in April, 

 1914. 



32. Lutra canadensis (Schreber). Canada Otter. — There are a few otters 

 still in the region, according to the hunters and trappers. No specimens 

 were seen on the point, but the tracks were observed b}^ the writer on the 

 bank of the Shelldrake River about two miles south of Vermilion. 



33. Sorex personatus Geoffroy. Masked Shrew.— This appears to be the 



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