DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALOGY 



IT J:f^« L Alton H. Pope, 



n-aitOr ^ WatervUle, Me. 



OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MAAIMALOGIST IN MAINE. 



In opening a department of mammalogy in this magazine, it is 

 our aim to stimulate interest in all phases of the study of our local 

 mammals. Maine has long been a favorite field for ornithology, 

 and the literature of Maine birds compares not unfavorably with that 

 of other states. In mammalogy what a contrast ! Hardly a com- 

 plete collection of local mammals exists in the state, and the only 

 literature consists of articles and reports, chiefly the work of visiting 

 naturalists. The larger mammals are well represented in the State 

 Museum at Augusta, the smaller forms in the Bowdoin College col- 

 lection at Brunswick, but such private collections as there are could 

 be counted on the fingers of one hand. 



As a basis for accurate study, at least one complete collection of 

 local mammals should be maintained which might be used for refer- 

 ence purposes in further work on distribution. Sufficient collecting 

 has already been done to show that the smaller mammals faunal 

 zones similar to those mapped by Knight in his "Birds of Maine." 

 Much more intensive work is needed to define the limits of such 

 zones, and especially to trace the incursion of one or two southern 

 forms which have recently appeared in York and Cumberland coun- 

 ties. In fact, changes in distribution due to such modifications of 

 environment as the cutting of the forests and the cultivation of the 

 land, ofifer some of the most fascinating problems for the mammalo- 

 gist of today. 



An even greater field, as yet practically untouched, is the study of 

 life histories of local mammals. Habits of the larger species are 

 tolerably well known, but one has only to attempt a complete life 

 history of a deer mouse to find how smattering is his knowledge of 

 such subjects as habitat, range, breeding habits, and economic impor- 

 tance. Inter-relationships of species are practically unknown. In 

 his "Mammalian Life-Histories," Taylor says: "Few lines of in- 

 quiry possess greater interest and attractiveness than that which 

 deals with the normal activities of the wild animal in its natural 

 environment. Such studies also have a very practical value. The 

 resulting data are often essential to the solution of problems in the 

 prevention and control of animal-borne diseases, in the conservation 

 of natural resources, in the elimination of waste, and the stimula- 

 tion of production in the several branches of agriculture, including 

 general farming, horticulture, grazing, and forestry. Not a single 



