82 History of Hint /ham. 



the beaches of our coast, including those of the islands, is enor- 

 mous, and has been estimated at upward of a thousand bushels 

 during a season. 



The Razor Fish is mentioned because of its great rarity and the 

 likelihood of its not being much longer found within the harbor. 

 A fine specimen discovered near the shore was recently presented 

 to the writer by Mr. F. W. Brewer. 



One other species will be mentioned because formerly found 

 along the shores, although now no longer so, having become ex- 

 tinct within the territory of the town. This is the Scallop Shell 

 {Pecten concentricus, Say.). The fact of the shells of this species 

 being objects of beauty has undoubtedly led to the animals being 

 taken wherever found by the clam-diggers, and as they have an- 

 nually turned over almost every foot of the muddy coast, the ex- 

 termination of the scallop shell has followed. 



CRUSTACEA. 



The Crustacea of the harbor until within a few years included 

 the Lobster, but it is now doubtful if any are to be found within 

 its limits. The Common Crab, the Fiddler Crab, the Hermit 

 Crab, and the species known to all visitors to the shores as the 

 Horse Shoe are not uncommon. That most valuable bait for 

 smelt and other fish, the Shrimp, is found in the shallow pools. 



To the above brief notes upon some of the forms of life observed 

 in the waters of the town a few will now be given upon species 

 found upon the land. 



MAMMALS. 



By the bones found in the peat-bogs of the town we know that 

 the Deer was an inhabitant in an early period. How late he 

 remained such is unknown. As where these animals exist Wolves 

 always hover about, it is fair to presume that they also found here 

 an abode. It is certain that Beaver were once numerous alone 

 the streams, and there is no reason to doubt that the Bear like- 

 wise found a congenial home in the territory. These have prob- 

 ably passed away never to return. There are, however, some 

 wild species of the mammalia, that were common in more re- 

 cent years, and which after apparently becoming extinct have 

 reappeared, sometimes in considerable numbers. Such has been 

 the case with the Raccoon. This animal, commonly called the 

 Coon, has at times suddenly manifested its presence in locali- 

 ties of the town by depredations where it had not been known for 

 many years. 



In 1882 Mr. Jacob Corthell, on Leavitt Street, lost many chick- 

 ens undoubtedly by this animal, as about the same time four 



