J 22 MAMMALIA. 



gap, another, shortly after, continued the operation beside the Hfeless 

 body of its companion. 



It seems probable that these singular rodents cannot long survive 

 human settlement. Incapable of rapid motion they are easily ap- 

 proached, and their spiny armature, so potent a protection from their 

 natural enemies, fails before the merciless power of man. In the iso- 

 lation of the mountain top where we have just seen them, they ap- 

 peared to be at a loss to understand the nature of their disturbers, 

 and when met with showed little excitement, or anxiety to escape. 

 Their greatest effort in this direction appeared to be leisurely shuf- 

 fling out of the immediate way, often climbing with sluggish effort into 

 a small balsam and composing themselves among the branches just 

 out of easy reach. 



An interesting interchange of animal forms between the highlands 

 of this region and the lower country is remarked by Mr. Burroughs,* 

 who speaks of the Little Gray Rabbit [Lepiis sylvaticus) of the low- 

 lands, being replaced by the Northern Hare {Lepus Americanus) on 

 the mountains. The latter species, though long known to extend far 

 southward in the Alleghanies, is characterized by the same writer as 

 abundant in this section. f Testimony to the same effect was given 

 by residents, and both species were said to occur together in certain 

 parts of the valleys; but nothing further regarding them than the 

 presence of both was determined by personal observation. 



The most abundant animal appeared to be the Chipmunk ( Tamias 

 striahis) which was everywhere met with, e\en near the top of Slide 

 Mountain. These little rodents probably constitute a large propor- 

 tion of the prey of the rapacious birds inhabiting the region, which, 

 however, do not appear to be many either in species or, excepting 

 owls, in individuals. In a pellet of fur and bones from some bird of 

 prey were the remains of one or more of these animals, and with them 

 those of the Mole Shrew i^Blarina brcvicauda) were recognized by 



* Wake Robin, ed. 1871, 42. 

 f Winter Sunshine, 1876, 65-66. 



