450 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



Gray Squirrel. Sciurus Carolinensis. 



It is but very seldom that a black squirrel is now seen in this 

 neighborhood, but formerly they were very common. Family papers 

 in my possession, dating back a century and a half ago, refer to 

 "damages to crops caused by troops of great black squirrels." 



Red Squirrel. Sciurus Hudsonius. 



The general destruction of heavy growths of timber has caused 

 this destructive squirrel to become comparatively scarce. They arc 

 often more abundant, however, than we suppose. This fact was 

 forcibly brought to my attention during the past summer, when a 

 pair of them were found nesting in a hollow locust-tree within ten 

 steps of my front door. These squirrels had evidently been several 

 weeks in this tree, yet no one had seen them. Subsequent observa- 

 tions revealed the fact that this particular pair were essentially cre- 

 puscular in their habits, and even in the gloaming, when they 

 chanced to go abroad, their movements were exceedingly stealthy 

 until they felt that they were well out of sight and hearing. Did 

 not these squirrels realize the danger of living so near an occupied 

 house, and act with unusual caution in consequence of such fear? I 

 think so. 



Chipmunk. Tamias striatus. 



This common mammal appears to be increasing in numbers. 



"Woodchuck. Arctomys monax. 



Although so common in most localities, few are found in Mercer 

 County. 



Jumping Mouse. Zapus Hudsonius. 



While probably the fact that this species is strictly nocturnal 

 makes it appear less abundant than it really is, still it is certainly 

 nowhere to be found in great numbers. I think no one will be 

 likely to find more than one or two pairs during a summer, although 

 Dr. Godman remarks that " it breeds very fast, and may occasion- 

 ally become injurious to the farmer." 



White-footed Mouse. Hesperomys leucopus. 



Albinism is quite common with this species, both partial and 

 complete. 



Meadow Mouse. Arvicola riparius. 



That there are two or three species of so-called mice, other than 



