22 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



spruce (P. mariana), jack pine {Pinus divaricata), tamarack 

 {Larix laricina), and canoe birch {Betula papyri f era). Among 

 the characteristic animals are: The Caribou, Porcupine, 

 Moose, Marten, and Wolverene. The Hudsonian chickadee, 

 Arctic three-toed woodpecker, Canada nuthatch, spruce grouse, 

 and Canada jay are distinctive birds. 



Riding, Duck, and Porcupine Mountains may be con- 

 sidered islands of this region lying far south of its proper limits 

 and surrounded by Alleghanian conditions, but so elevated as 

 to be Canadian in fauna and flora. 



Alleghanian Fauna. — South of this great diagonal line 

 is the Alleghanian Fauna. In this we find our prairies and 

 deciduous forests. The most abundant tree of these forests 

 is the poplar or quaking aspen {Populus tremuloides). The elm 

 {JJlmus americana) and mossy-cup oak {Quercus macrocarpa) 

 are the most characteristic. We find also the mountain ash 

 {Pyrus samhuci folia), box elder or ash-leaved maple {Acer 

 negundo), black poplar {Populus halsamifera), and canoe birch 

 {Betula papyrifera). The last two named occur likewise in 

 the Canadian. This is the region of the Province where the 

 Antelope and the Kit-fox were formerly abundant. 



Characteristic species found there to-day are Elk, White- 

 tailed Deer, Mule-deer, Badger, Pocket-gopher, Yellow Ground- 

 squirrel, and Coyote; among reptiles, the snapping turtle, 

 painted turtle, red-bellied snake, and green-snake; and among 

 birds, the wood-duck, the chestnut-sided warbler, the night 

 heron. 



The General Plan of Treatment for Each Species. 



In order to cover the ground more fully and systematically 

 I have considered each animal under some thirty different 

 heads, asking of each in turn — What do we know of it in this 

 department, or how far has it progressed along these fines? 

 When nothing is said it means that nothing is known. In the 

 light of this, then, we are struck by the number of blanks and 



