18 Journal of the Mitchell Society [^July 



do not range further northward. There seem to be no mammals 

 peculiar to it and it is chiefly distinguished from the Canadian 

 zone by what it lacks. Most of its characteristic mammals oc- 

 cur also on the isolated patches of it which lie on the sides of 

 the western mountains below timber line. The mean tempera- 

 ture of the lower edge of this zone during the six warmest 

 months in the year is said to be about 57 F. From its forested 

 area, largely consisting of spruces, it is often known as the 

 Spruce Zone. 



3. The Canadian Zone includes the forested region con- 

 sisting largely of balsams and firs which lies south of the Hud- 

 sonian, and does not differ from it greatly in character. It, 

 however, is the most northern zone in which cultivated crops, 

 such as potatoes, barley, etc., can be raised, and also is the most 

 northerly zone in which any mammals of presumably southern 

 origin occur. Thus chipmunks, white-footed mice and wood rats 

 do not extend their range northward beyond it. Practically all 

 the mammals mentioned above as belonging to the Hudsonian 

 zone belong here also and these do not range southward below it 

 (except the black bear). It possesses a few amphibians, such as 

 frogs of the genus Rana, and salamanders of the genera Desmog- 

 nathus and Amblystoma as well as a number of peculiar moun- 

 tain forms. The temperature of the six warmest months of the 

 year is estimated to be about 60 F. 



4. The Alleghanian Zone includes the white pine forests of 

 the north and the contiguous regions, and is the most northerly 

 region having any reptilian fauna. The blue-tailed and fence 

 lizards, the water, garter, chicken, ground, and green snakes as 

 well as the copperhead, banded rattlesnake and massasauga do 

 not extend north of it, nor in mammals do the cottontail rabbit, 

 common mole, and raccoon, while the starnosed and Brewer's 

 moles are confined to this zone and the Canadian. Salamanders 

 attain their highest degree of development in this zone and the 

 succeeding one. 



5. The Upper Austral Zo7ie is a tract of country in which 

 the trees are mainly deciduous, thus forming a contrast to the 

 coniferous forests of the north and south, between which it lies. 

 Among mammals the gray fox, and opossum do not occur above 



