NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



315 



a northern hardwood or white pine and 

 spruce forest. 



In the mountain streams there occur 

 commonly spirogyra and blue green 

 algae associations together with the 

 fresh water sponge (Heteromeyemia ryd- 

 eri), cadis fly larvae (Hydropsyche sp.), 

 and in the shelter of stones and eddies 

 numerous species of Neuroptera. Of 

 the terrestrial invertebrates, the chief 

 groups, as in all localities, consist of 

 insects and spiders. Of the former the 

 only distinctive species is the White 

 Mountain butterfly (Oeneis semidea), 

 which seldom ventures below tree line 

 at 4500 ft. 



The area is not especially prolific in 

 vertebrate species. The dominant fish 

 of this region and in fact the only species 

 in many sections is the brook trout 

 (Salvelinus fontinalis). Along the mar- 

 gin of the streams and ponds are found 

 large colonies of the bullfrog (Rana 

 catesbeiana), pickerel frog (Rana palus- 

 tris), and occasionally spotted salaman- 

 ders (Ambystoma maculatum). 



In the drier localities toads (Bufo 

 americanus and (Bufo fowleri)) and 

 wood frog (Rana sylvatica), occur in 

 varying abundance. 



Reptiles are very scarce. The com- 

 mon garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis 

 sirtalis), black snake (Coluber constrictor 

 constrictor), and the red bellied snake 

 (Storeria occipito-maculata) being the 

 most common. Wood tortoises (Clem- 

 mys insculpta) are occasionally met with 

 but other species of turtles, snakes and 

 lizards are seldom found. 



Birds form the usual grouping of a 

 transitional forest area. In the mixed 

 white pine and hardwood forests are to 

 be found associations of ruffed grouse 

 (Bonasa umbellus), chickadee (Parus 

 atricapillus) , junco (Junco hy emails), 

 with numerous species of thrushes, 

 warblers, and sparrows during the spring 

 and summer. As one ascends the ridges 

 and enters into the red spruce forest at 

 2500 to 4500 ft., bird life is much less 

 abundant being represented by scattered 

 groups of Canadian spruce grouse 

 (Dendragapus canadensis), white- 



crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leuco- 

 phrys), yellow warbler (Dendroica aest- 

 iva), and various species of sparrows 

 and finches. 



During the winter months the red 

 spruce region is almost devoid of bird 

 life except the spruce grouse, chickadee 

 and junco, even the latter being rather 

 irregular in their occurrence. 



The early colonial history of New 

 Hampshire mammals was one of almost 

 complete extermination. With the set- 

 tling of the country and the clearing of 

 vast forest areas, the cougar (Felis 

 couguar), Lynx (Lynx canadensis), bob- 

 cat (Lynx rufus), black bear (Ursus 

 americanus), woodland caribou (Rangifer 

 caribou), and the moose (Alces ameri- 

 canus), were killed off or driven farther 

 north into Maine and New Brunswick. 

 Few records are available concerning 

 the smaller species although the Virginia 

 deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis), 

 and gray squirrel (iSciurus carolinensis 

 leucotis), seem to have followed the 

 settlement of the country rather than to 

 have suffered as a result of such changes. 

 Later, due to the stress of economic 

 conditions, farms and upland pastures 

 were abandoned, the country being 

 rapidly conquered by a second growth 

 which furnished excellent protection for 

 a great variety of mammals. Virginia 

 deer, snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus 

 virginianus), and gray squirrel, owing 

 to the depleted predatory animals, 

 became more numerous than ever before 

 in the history of the state. 



At the present time predatory animals 

 are returning to their former abundance. 

 The raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox 

 (Vulpes fulva), bob-cat and Canada 

 lynx are more numerous today than 

 since colonial times While the black 

 bear, mink (Mustela vison), pine marten 

 (Martes americanus), and fisher (Martes 

 pennantii), are increasing at a much 

 slower rate. 



Undoubtedly as the second growth 

 gradually approaches the climax of its 

 development there will be found through 

 the red spruce and white pine forests 

 all species which formerly occurred here 



