468 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



of the State. It was not uncommon for the inquisitive cow or the 

 dog to come home with its nose full of spines of the Porcupine. It 

 was the custom to hold the afflicted animal and pull out the spines 

 with pincers, as they stuck very tightly, while the suffering crea- 

 ; ture announced to the neighborhood the discovery it had made that 

 day. Troubles like this caused the settlers to wage a war of ex- 

 termination on the Porcupine, with the result that it is now rarely 

 or never seen. We have only one record of its recent occurrence in 

 this vicinity. According to Mr. S. S. Chadwick one was killed a 

 short distance west of Culver in the fall of 1887. 



22. GROUNDHOG 



MARMOTA MONAX (Linnaeus) 



The Woodchuck, Marmot or Groundhog as it is usually called 

 in Indiana, is fairly common in most parts of the State. It most 

 delights in the more hilly districts covered with open forests or 

 grassy meadows, particularly those near fields of red clover. It is 

 not rare about Maxinkuckee. One or more pairs can usually be 

 found on the hillsides about Lost Lake, others in or at the edges 

 of the fields along the Outlet, several north and east of the lake, 

 and a few in most other suitable situations. In 1900 one had its 

 home in a burrow under one of the buildings on Long Point. In 

 the fall of 1904 some burrows were observed in the middle of a 

 level field, the holes going vertically downward several feet. This 

 is rather unusual, as the Groundhog almost invariably selects a 

 hillside or bank in which to dig its burrow. 



In May and early June, 1901, five were shot in Green's field 

 near the Gravelpit, two of which were old females, and three were 

 young. About the last of June, 1901, a half-grown young was 

 caught near Lost Lake. When pursued it ran until overtaken, 

 when it turned and showed fight. August 25, 1906, several were 

 noted in fields near the railroad south of the lake. They sat up 

 erect and watched us go by. September 13, 1906, one was killed 

 near Lost Lake. September 22, 1907, several burrows, evidently 

 of this animal, were seen along fences between the lake and the 

 tamarack swamp, and on September 25, one was seen near the 

 Gravelpit. On September 15, 1913, we saw one that had just 

 been killed near the lake, and on October 7 one was seen south of 

 the Gravelpit. It is said to occur in the high ground back from 

 the Kankakee River. 



In the early spring, soon after the first warm days have come 

 and the only remaining reminders of the passing winter are a few 

 snow banks in protected places or occasional little flurries of snow, 



