American Game 113 



lynx rufus, the latter being somewhat smaller. For 

 many years the writer has endeavored to learn of the 

 presence of the cougar or panther in Maine. Several 

 times the killing of the animal has been reported, but 

 upon investigation it has been found that a Canada 

 lynx or a red lynx was the animal shot. It is believed 

 that no cougar exist in Maine at the present time. 



In addition to the big game already mentioned are 

 the following : An occasional gray or timber-wolf, 

 although this animal is nearly, if not wholly, extinct in 

 the state. The fox is abundant, but only hunted in the 

 more settled portions of the state, where it is pursued 

 with hounds. The otter, which is generally trapped, 

 though sometimes shot with a small bore rifle, is found 

 most abundant in the northern part of the state. Of 

 the smaller furred game, there are the fisher, the sable, 

 the marten, the mink, some beaver, which are now pro- 

 tected by law at all seasons and consequently are 

 increasing, the raccoon, squirrel, woodchuck, porcu- 

 pine, skunk, muskrat, hare, and rabbit. Some of these 

 animals would not be regarded by sportsmen as game, 

 but at the present time there is the inclination to class 

 as game all animals which are hunted for sport, for 

 meat, or for fur. 



The big game of Maine is its chief attraction for 

 non-resident sportsmen. There is, however, grand 

 sport in hunting the game-birds of Maine. This sport 

 is pursued mainly in the settled portions of the state. 

 Of the feathered game to be found are the geese of 

 several varieties, chiefly the Canada goose, the Canada 

 grouse or spruce-partridge, the ruffed grouse, which is 

 often shot with a small bore rifle when found in the 



