258 Where to Hunt 



panther, catamount, cougar, and painter are very rare. 

 Occasionally one may be found on the more densely 

 wooded mountains. An occasional lynx is found in 

 the mountain towns. They are decreasing in numbers. 

 The red lynx is even more rare than Lynx canadcnsis. 

 The habits and range of the two species are the same, 

 though Lynx rufus often degrades himself by robbing 

 hen-roosts. 



Otter have become quite rare. A few, however, still 

 follow up and down the larger streams in the central and 

 northern parts. Fisher or black cat are becoming 

 scarce ; they are most plentiful among the mountains 

 and woods in the northern and northeastern parts. 

 Pine-marten sable are on nearly all of the mountains 

 in the northern part, but are nowhere plentiful. They 

 are decreasing in numbers. Weasel (stoat) are found 

 everywhere. Muskrat are generally distributed in all 

 waters, whether lake or river. Mink are found roaming 

 along the banks of every stream or lake that contains 

 fish. Hare, commonly called rabbit, are abundant, but 

 are steadily decreasing in numbers in the vicinity of the 

 largest villages. 



Gray squirrel some years are quite numerous in all 

 the localities that furnish a good crop of nuts. They 

 are often migratory in their habits, moving from one 

 locality to another as their favorite food increases or 

 diminishes. They are decreasing in numbers. W^ood- 

 chuck are common, and seem to hold their own against 

 all enemies. The feathered game consists of ruffed 

 grouse, which are found in every section, but in great- 

 est number in the towns west of the mountains, where 

 the large timber has been cut off and its place has been , 



