148 



THE MUSEUM. 



always hibernate for an individual is 

 occasionally seen about tlie barns, 

 sheds and stacks in January and Feb- 

 ruary. 



A peculiarity of this species, appar- 

 ently not observed in any other species 

 of mouse, is the great care it takes for 

 its young, and their corresponding at- 

 tachment for the mother. It has been 

 repeatedly seen, that frequently, when 

 the female is ousted from her nest, or 

 disturbed, that she will run, making 

 quite long jumpe, with from two to 

 four young ones hanging to her teats, 

 and with such tenacity, that they never 

 once loosened their hold. I have had 

 the pleasure of seeing this remarkable 

 performance once, but have several 

 records from my trusty, observing 

 friends. 



Prairie Mouse. 

 Calouiys michigancnsis, Aud. and Bach 

 A rare species in most sections, and 

 not generally known to collectors in 

 our state, and surely confounded with 

 the last species by some observers. 



Harvest Mouse. 

 Rcith ro do u li it m His . 

 Embraced in the observations of but 

 one authority. Certainly rare. 



Beaver. 

 Castor fiber, L. 

 From recent correspondence I have 

 learned that this valuable fur-bearing 

 mammal stih thrives in the Upper Pen- 

 insula, and is said to be increasing in 

 certain sections; which if true, is due 

 to the fact that they are not trapped 

 as persistently as formerly, from the 

 smaller prices which the pelts bring. 

 Still it is only a question of time when 

 the beaver will be ranked as an extinct 

 species in Michigan. 



One friend writes miC that he buyi? 

 some skins each year. They are still 

 found in small colonies in Lower Mich- 

 igan north of the 45th parellel. 



Ground Hog; Woodchuck. 

 Arctomys iiionax, L. 



Too abundant by half to suit the 

 farmers. A rapid burrower. Gener- 

 ally has three entrances to its subter- 

 ranean abode, often only two passages 

 and occasionally four. Feeds largely 

 on clover during summer, and its bur- 

 rows may oftener be found near clover 

 fields, or in them, than anywhere else 

 on the farms. Changes its habitation 

 oiten, as a rule. I think as often as 

 0( ce a year. Frequently wanders to 

 quite a -distance, when, if seen, may be 

 easily dispatched, as though crafty, the 

 ground hog is not a runner. So anx- 

 ious is he for iiis safety when away 

 from the entrancs to his hole, that he 

 frequently commits himself, by making 

 one aware of his presence. Instead of 

 keeping quiet or sneaking in an oppos- 

 ite direction, he is often fool enough to 

 start on a straight line for some hole, 

 often thereby passing much nearer to 

 an enemy. If attacked he will show 

 considerable fight, and fairly hisses in 

 his iierceness. I overtook one one 

 day, when he mounted a stump, and 

 apparently defied me . On drawing 

 near, he made quite a spring for so 

 lazy an animal, and came near nipping 

 mc. The}' can use their large incisor 

 teeth with great effect, and the dog 

 which attacks a woodchuck, must have 

 care unless lie understands lighting 

 them. 



The woodchuck occasionally climbs 

 a tree, and may go as high as thirty 

 feet from the ground. I have observed 

 one all of twenty feet up. They 



