MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 1G1 



No. 3. — On the Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, 

 with an Examination of certain assumed Specific Characters 

 in Birds, and a Sketch of the Bird-Fauna; of Eastern North 

 America. By J. A. Allen. 



Introduction. 



The present paper embraces five more or less distinct parts. The 

 first consists of introductory remarks respecting the topographical, 

 climatic, and faunal features of that part of the peninsula of Florida 

 usually known as East Florida. The second is an annotated li.~t of 

 the mammals of this region. The third is devoted to a consideration 

 of individual, seasonal, age and geographical variation among birds, 

 with reference to certain characters commonly assumed to be specific. 

 The fourth contains a list of the winter birds of East Florida, with 

 field and revisionary notes. The fifth is given to an examination of 

 the geographical distribution of the birds and mammals (more particu- 

 larly of the birds) of Eastern North America, in which is considered 

 the number of the natural faunae of this region, their distinctive fea- 

 tures and their boundaries. 



The enumeration of the mammals and birds, forming Parts II and 

 IV, is based partly on my own observations and' partly on notes 

 kindly furnished me by Messrs. C. J. Maynard and G. A. Boardman. 

 These observations may be considered as equivalent collectively to the 

 labors of a single observer constantly in the field for at least four or 

 five winters. 



My own observations were made during a three months' exploration 

 of the country bordering the St. John's River, between Jacksonville 

 and Enterprise, in the winter of 1868 and I860, under the auspices of 

 the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The greater part of January 

 was passed at Jacksonville, where I also spent the last week of March. 

 Five weeks were also passed in the vicinity of Enterprise, and the bal- 

 ance of the time at various intermediate points. 



Mr. Maynard's explorations were made during the same winter, 

 mainly in portions of the country unvisitcd by myself, a large part 

 of his collection coming from the Upper St. John's and Indian Rivers. 

 lie also spent several weeks at Dummitt's, twenty miles south of 

 New Smyrna. During most of December and January he collected 



VOL. II. 11 



