NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE 5 



which the squirrel happened to be sitting without actually hitting 

 the squirrel. There were in every community a number of such 

 expert squirrel hunters. In southern Michigan a large propor- 

 tion of the Gray Squirrels were black! while in middle Indiana a 

 black squirrel was not often seen. In the Maxinkuckee region 

 this squirrel is now a very rare species. Mr. Chadwick says he 

 knows of only 2 or 3 having been killed near the lake in the last 6 

 or 7 years. The only one ever seen by us in that region was ob- 

 served May 9, 1901. 



5. Sciurus niger rufiventer E. Geoffroy. 

 Fox Squirrel. 



Although formerly quite common in central and northern Indiana, 

 the Fox Squirrel was never so abundant as was the Gray Squirrel 

 when the country was new. But as the forests were cleared away, 

 farms opened up, and open woodlands and pasture lots became more 

 and more common features of the country, the Gray Squirrel be- 

 came practically extinct while the Fox Squirrel was more nearly able 

 to hold its own. albeit, even this species is far from being as abun- 

 dant as formerly. In the region with which the present paper 

 deals the Fox Squirrel was very rare until recently. None was 

 seen or heard of in 1899. In 1900 one was seen in Walley's woods 

 on September 28, and one near Delong the next day. The first 

 of these was killed by some one in October. Several were killed 

 by a local hunter in the fall of 1902. In 1904, Fox Squirrels were 

 occasionally seen. Two were killed November 29; one was seen 

 in the Assembly Grounds; on December 15 a large oak on Long 

 Point was cut down and was found to contain 2 Fox Squirrels, 

 probably young of the year, but fully grown. In the fall of 1905 

 3 or 4 were seen on Long Point. In 1906 two were killed south of 

 the lake September 12, two days later one was seen in Farrar's 

 woods, and on September 17 another was noted on the east side 

 of the lake. In the autumn of 1907 one or more were observed in 

 Green's woods. Doubtless it is no less frequent in the open woods 

 east of the lake. 



The Fox Squirrel prefers the open woods and is rarely seen in 

 heavy, dense forests. Wherever there are a few large old trees with 



