Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 453 



interesting and should never be killed ; and the squirrels should be 

 protected at least until more abundant. 



In nomenclature and sequence of species we have followed Mil- 

 ler's "List of North American Land Mammals in the United States 

 National Museum, 1911," Bull. 79, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1912, except 

 in the name of the Wildcat, for which we have adopted Lynx rufa 

 Schreber, following Dr. Allen (Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. I, 

 No. 2, p. 91). 



LIST OF SPECIES 

 1. COMMON OPPOSSUM 



DIDELPHfS VIRGINIANA Kerr 



According to old settlers the Opossum used to be common as 

 far north as northern Indiana, but disappeared from there many 

 years ago. In recent years they have been returning northward 

 and are now tolerably common throughout the northern part of the 

 State. About 1887 an old trapper near Fort Wayne caught one 

 and reported that it was the first he had seen for 20 years. No 

 more were seen in that region until about 1900, when they began 

 to be captured occasionally. In October, 1903, three were cap- 

 tured in Walley's woods southwest of Lake Maxinkuckee and three 

 others were trapped at Norris Inlet. It was not seen by us at the 

 lake until the summer of 1906, when on August 5, an adult ex- 

 ample was found dead on the lake shore just north of the Outlet. 

 On October 30, 1906, another was seen in the possession of a boy 

 at Culver, who reported the capture of three on the previous night. 

 One is reported to have stayed under the Barr Cottage on Long 

 Point during the winter of 1906-7. About September 3, 1907, 

 boys living in Culver got an old Opossum with a number of young 

 in her pouch. They did not count the young, but let her go. 



The northward movement of the Opossum seems to have been 

 general over the State. They are occasionally taken in Marshall 

 and adjoining counties. They are frequently seen at Fort Wayne, 

 Indiana, a few being captured every winter. 



2. COMMON MOLE 



SCALOPUS AQUATICUS MACHRINUS (Rafinesque) 



The Mole is very common about this lake. Its burrows may be 

 seen in all suitable places. The loose, sandy soil is particularly 

 well adapted to their habits. They are usually abundant on Long 

 Point, also along the railroad, in the fields and open woodlands 

 about the lake, in the Academy grounds, and in fact in all situ- 



