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12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



NOTES ON THE NATUEAL HISTORY OF FORT MACON, N. C, AND 

 VICINITY. (No. 1.) 



BY ELLIOTT COUES. 



During two ^-ears' residence in this locality, I paid some atten- 

 tion to tiie zoology and botany of the vicinity, and the information 

 obtained may be of some value to others besides myself The 

 present paper, in which mammals, birds, and reptiles are noticed, 

 may be followed by one or more treating of the fishes, insects, 

 marine invertebrates, and plants. 



I. MAMMALS. 



Lynx rufus, Raf. 

 Occasional. 



Vulpes virginianus, Rich. 

 Putorius vison, Gapper. 

 Lutra canadensis, Sabine. 



These three, but especially the mink, are common, and, with the 

 first-named and the following species, represent the fur-bearing 

 animals of the immediate vicinity which are of commercial conse- 

 quence. 



Procyon lotor, Storr. 

 Syn. p. lotor var. Mexicana, St. Hilaire, Voy. Venus, I, 1855, p. 25, pi. 

 6. — P. Hernandezii, Wagler, Isis, xxiv, 1831, p. 514. — P. Sernandezu 

 var. Mexicana, Baird, Mamm. N. A. 1857, p. 212. — P. nivea, Gray, 

 Mag. Nat. Hist., I, 1837, p. 580 (Albino).— P. psora, Gray, Ann. Mag. 

 N. H. X, 1842, p. 261 (mutilated). — ^'■Procyon gularis, Smith, lut. 

 Mamm. Jard. Nat. Lib., xiii, 1842, 222" (fide Baird). 



A common animal, in the wooded portions of the vicinity. 



Residing for several years in different Southern States, where 

 the Raccoon is either common or very abundant, I became familiar 

 with its variations in size, color, etc., and feel sure that these are 

 as great as those differences held to distinguish a western from 

 the eastern form. Although I do not assign the above synonymy 

 from direct comparison of specimens from the different localities 

 (as I saw none in New Mexico, Arizona, or California), I am con- 

 fident it is correct, provided P. Hernandezii^ etc., do not differ 

 from lotor in any other points than those given in descriptions of 



[May 2, 



