84 History of Hingham. 



The Musk-Rat is yet common in the town, and is found along 

 slow-running streams. Many are yearly trapped in the vicinity of 

 Weir River. 



Rabbits are yet frequently met with in the wooded parts of the 

 town, but are less numerous than formerly. 



Of the squirrel tribe the little striped one known as the Chip- 

 munk, and the Red Squirrel arc very common, the former 

 sometimes being so numerous as to become troublesome. One 

 season, when exceedingly abundant on the farm of the writer, 

 they acquired the habit of burrowing holes in ripe fruit such as 

 melons and pears, to obtain the seeds. 



The Red Squirrel is often quite mischievous. Mr. F. W. Brewer 

 mentions that one caused constant vexation during a whole sea- 

 son to a large Newfoundland dog, by descending from trees at 

 every favorable opportunity, and stealing his food. Like the gray 

 squirrel, the red will sometimes rob birds' nests of the eggs and 

 the young. 



The Gray Squirrel is often seen in the autumn months grace- 

 fully Floating, as it were, from tree to tree as he passes through 

 the forest. 



The little Flying Squirrel probably yet exists in Hingham, 

 though none have been reported as seen for several years. 



BIRDS. 



Of birds nothing will be said respecting those that are well 

 known, and usually during a part of the year find a home in the 

 town. Upon some species formerly abundant and now but occa- 

 sionally seen, and upon the visitation of others rarely found in 

 the region, a few remarks may be interesting. 



It is but a few years since there existed in the woods of the 

 low, swampy ground between Old Colony Hill and Weir River an 

 extensive heronry. When first known to the writer the nests of 

 the birds might be seen upon almost every tall tree, high in the 

 air over acres of ground. The species was the Night Heron. 



When the forest was cut through that Rockland Street mi slit 

 be laid out, the colony that had perhaps existed there for hun- 

 dreds of years was disturbed, but not broken up. Attachment to 

 the locality, notwithstanding its exposure to increasing annoyance 

 from gunners and others, kept the birds there for years after, but 

 they finally departed in a body and were seen no more. There 

 are undoubtedly some inhabiting the town, as they are heard 

 uttering the peculiar sound that has led to the common name 

 given them of Qua-birds, when flying at the approach of night 

 towards the shores to obtain their accustomed food. 



Of several species of birds now becoming more and more rare, 

 Mr. F. W. Brewer has expressed much in a communication to the 



