94 Bailey — Mammals of the District of Colamhia. 



of mammals within a mile or two of the cit3^ I do not know of 

 a larger list of species taken in the District by one person. 



As m}^ own acquaintance with the 1)ats of the District has 

 been limited to early spring and late fall, most of the notes on 

 this group are borrowed. Through the kindness of Mr. F. W. 

 True I am able to include 2 species of bats from National Mu- 

 seum specimens collected in the prescribed area. 



In regard to the larger mammals known to have once inhal)- 

 ited the region, but at present locally extinct, much valuable 

 data is available ; but for the present pa})er a brief list of extinct 

 species will suffice. The following 7 si)ecies have disappeared 

 from the region since the coming of white men : Ursus ameri- 

 ' canus, Canis nuhilis, Fells concolor, Castor canadensis, Cervus can- 

 adensis, Bison bison, Mas rattus. The last-named species was 

 introduced and then disappeared before its rival, Mas decumanns. 



The following 38 species are known to occur at the present 

 time within 20 miles from the Capitol and most of them within 

 the District limits : 



Didelphis virginianus. Opossums are common in the woods around 

 Washington, where their tracks may be seen on the banks of every creek 

 and pond. The stupid animals even wander into the city. In the spring 

 of 189.4 I found one sleeping on the bi-anch of a tree near Connecticut 

 Avenue, on the hill east of Rock Creek. 



Sciuiopterus volans. Flying Squirrels have been found in the woods 

 on all sides of the city. Though strictly nocturnal and rarely seen, ex- 

 cept when driven from their nests in hollow trees or caught in traps set 

 over night on logs or stumps in the woods, they are not rare. In 1888 

 and 1889 Mr. Green found several pairs living in woodpecker holes in the 

 trees along Rock Creek and others in the woods near the Soldiers' Home 

 and along the Eastern Branch. Mr. Preble found them rather common at 

 Mt. Vernon, where he secured 8 specimens one day by pounding on hoi 

 low trees and shooting the squirrels as they ran ont of the holes. One 

 was caught in a trap I had set for wood rats near the west end of Chain 

 Bridge. But for the numerous cats that run wild in the woods, and to 

 wliich flying squirrels fall an easy prey, these soft- furred, big-eyed, gentle 

 little heauties would be much more common. 



Sciiiius hudsonicus. Red Squirrels are frequently seen among the 

 trees in the Zoological Park, Avhere they show their appreciation of the 

 protection there offered by becoming unusually tame and unsuspicious. 

 They cross Rock Creek and follow the trees to the top of the hill above 

 High Bridge. In Woodley Park they are less frequently seen ; in fact, 

 the only one I saw there during the past winter had been shot and then 

 shaken by a dog and left lying in the path with his bright winter coat 

 torn and soiled. On the west side of the Potomac red squirrels live along 

 the steep, wooded bluffs, but are so shy that lately while running a line 



