346 PEOCEEDIXGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxi. 



No. 83111, U.S.N.M. collection, measured as follows: Length, 385 mm.; 

 tail vertebrfe, 65; hind foot, 92; head, 72; ear from crown, 6G; ear from 

 notch, 59. No. 83112, U.S.N. M., measured, in total length, 370; tail 

 vertebra;, 58; hind foot, 89; head, 74; ear from crown, 57; ear from 

 notch, 52. 



LEPUS AMERICANUS VIRGINIANUS (Harlan). 

 SOUTHERN VARYING HARE. 



Two immature specimens (Nos. 83109, 83110, U.S.N.M.) were taken on 

 Hunter Mountain, in spruce and balsam swamps, at altitudes, respec- 

 tively, of 3,700 and 3,800 feet, on August 31 and September 4, 1890. 

 This hare is abundant on the summits of East Kill, Plateau, and Hunter 

 mountains, descending, at times, along belts of coniferous trees nearly 

 to Schoharie Creek. In the lowest country, it is said to be almost wholly 

 replaced by the cottontail. 



ERETHIZON DORSATUS (Linnaeus). 

 CANADA rORCUPINE. 



This remarkable beast was formerly abundant throughout this region. 

 During recent years it has become comparatively scarce, except on the 

 mountains. The skeleton of a porcupine was found under the fallen 

 ruins of an observatory on the summit of Hunter Mountain; two other 

 specimens were subsequently trapped there (altitude, 4,025 feet); three 

 were taken at a spring under a shelving rock, at the altitude of 3,800 

 feet, and a seventh was overtaken and killed in the slide rock on the 

 side of Hunter Mountain, at about 3,000 feet altitude. 



Porcupines visit the creamery, on the trail at the base of Hunter 

 Mountain, and leave the marks of their shari) teeth upon the woodwork 

 of the building^ and furniture. They are attracted to this place by 

 their fondness for salt, whicb makes the best bait for trapping them, 

 though they eat apples, turnips, and in fact almost any fruit or 

 vegetable. 



Near the Hunter Mountain trail I set a number of deadfalls, baited 

 with apple, hoping to take specimens of the varying hare; but the 

 porcupines almost invariably sprung the traps, and usually escaped, 

 though one was held fast Jong enough for it to excavate a large hollow 

 beneath the trap stone, and a very young one was captured. When 

 caught in steel traps set in their well-worn trails, they make continuous 

 efibrts to escape, and are so x>owerful that they sometimes succeed by 

 twisting and breaking the chain holding the trap. When seen on the 

 ground, they are easily overtaken, and only attempt to defend them- 

 selves by striking vigorously with their powerful and si)iny tails, with- 

 out attempting to bite or scratch. When attacked by inexperienced 

 dogs, they erect their quills, which afford them such ample protection 

 that their canine enemies seldom continue the attack or forget their 



