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Of the vertebrates of this region the following species may be noted: 
Mammals—moles, shrews and mice are common. Gray squirrel (Sciurus 
carolinensis) are rare, fox squirrels (S. niger var. cinereus) common and 
red squirrels (S. hudsonicus) and chipmunks (Tamias striatus) abundant. 
Minks (Lutreola vison), weasels (Putorius noveboracensis) and ’coons (Pro- 
cyon lotor) are common; and woodchucks (Arctomys monax) burrow in the 
hillsides in considerable numbers. Birds: Green herons (Ardea virescens) 
visit the lakes frequently, great blue herons (Ardea herodias) rarely; Vir- 
ginia rails (Rallus virginianus) and least bitterns (Botaurus exilis) have 
been occasionally observed. Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) 
are very abundant. Summer yellow-birds (Dendroica aestiva) nest in num- 
bers in the button-bushes in the marshes. In 1895 long-billed marsh wrens 
(Cistothorus palustris) nested in the vicinity of Round Lake, but during 
1898 none were seen or heard. During 1896 a loon (Urinator imber) spent 
the summer at Shriner Lake, where it might have been seen almost any 
day. Sandpipers (Actitis macularia) and killdeers (Aegialitis vocifera) are 
common. An occasional Bartramis sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is 
seen in flocks of the latter species. Reptiles: Of the turtles the western 
painted turtle (Chrysemys marginata), mud turtle (Aromochelys odorata) 
and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) were the only species observed. 
These three are common or abundant. Three species of snakes are often 
observed about the lakes: Water snake (Tropidonotus sipedon), garter 
snake (Butania sirtalis) and riband snake (Eutania saurita). The blue 
lizard (Pumeces fasciatus) is not rare) in adjoining woodland. Amphibians: 
Spotted frogs (Rana virescens) are very abundant, and bullfrogs (Rana 
catesbiana) rather rare. Fish: An abundance of game and food fish are 
found in these lakes. Of the two Round Lake is regarded as affording the 
best fishing grounds. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), large-mouthed black 
bass (Micropterus salmoides) and a number of species of sunfish (Lepomis) 
are those most usually taken. Catfish, both the yellow cat (Ameiurus 
natalis) and bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), and pike (Lucius lucius) are 
more rarely met with. Occasionally the calico bass (Pomowxis sparoides) 
and the warmouth (Chaenobrythus gulosus) are taken in considerable num- 
bers about the east end of Shriner Lake. The latter species is called 
mud bass, and the calico bass is referred to as rock bass by the local 
fishermen. This confusion of common names is odd for the reason that, 
while the warmouth (Chaenobrythus gulosus) much resembles the rock bass 
