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NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



proportions. A very common type of 

 forest in this region was that in which 

 maple (Acer saccharum}, beech, and 

 hemlock (Tsuga canadensis} were 

 dominant. 



The common muskrat (Ondatra zibeth- 

 ica zibethica} was characteristic of this 

 region. Other mammals found here and 

 common throughout are the meadow 

 vole, common mole, star-nosed mole, 

 short-tailed shrew, eastern cotton-tail 

 rabbit, gray fox, red fox, beaver, otter, 

 raccoon, mink, bob-cat, Virginia deer, 

 and black bear. 



. The species of birds mainly restricted 

 to this area are the northern raven and 

 the mountain vireo. 



The characteristic breeding species 

 of this region found as migrants through- 

 out the state are black-billed cuckoo, 

 yellow-bellied sapsucker, alder fly- 

 catcher, prairie horned lark, bobolink, 

 cowbird, rose-breasted grosbeak, golden- 

 winged warbler, cerulean warbler, chest- 

 nut-sided warbler, Wilson's warbler, 

 Bewick's wren, black-capped chickadee, 

 Hermit thrush, and the robin. 



Present biota 



The animal and plant life of Maryland 

 has been considerably modified through 

 the clearing of the forests, the cultiva- 

 tion of the land and settlement by man. 



The Southeastern Mesophytic Ever- 

 green forest region has many areas which 

 are still in the original or semi-original 

 condition. The marshes, swamps, sandy 

 dunes and beaches have changed but 

 little, and probably has an animal fauna, 

 especially of the smaller forms, some- 

 what similar to the original. This is 

 particularly true of the insects and many 

 aquatic and semi-aquatic animals. The 

 wooded areas have probably all been cut 

 over once and some several times. While 

 most of the arable land has been cleared, 

 there are still large areas heavily tim- 

 bered, some of which are pure or nearly 

 pure stands of pines. The larger 

 mammals listed for this region are 

 extinct but most of the smaller ones are 

 still found. The birds are probably 



very nearly as given in the list for this 

 area. 



The eastern and central portion of the 

 deciduous forest area is mostly cleared 

 and tilled. There are, however, many 

 small areas with deciduous forest trees. 

 The western portion of this area is much 

 rougher and has many acres of land in a 

 semi-natural condition. It has all been 

 cut over and much allowed to reforest 

 itself. Most of the larger mammals 

 listed in the original biota for this 

 region, although scarce, are still found. 

 The smaller mammals, and birds are 

 probably all present, although their 

 numbers are not as numerous. 



The area included in the Northern 

 Mesophytic Evergreen forest still has 

 several stands of virgin timber. These 

 are listed in the list of natural areas 

 available for study. The topography is 

 rough and rocky with only small valleys 

 under cultivation. The animal and 

 plant life is abundant and offers an 

 excellent opportunity for study. 



II. NATURAL AREAS 



Forest Reserves 



*Herrington Manor State Forest. (B3. ) 

 In Garrett County, consists of 650 acres, 

 of which about 200 acres are in the 

 original condition of virgin forest, 

 principally of the white oak type. It 

 occupies a plateau of about 2500 ft. and 

 is one of the few undisturbed areas in the 

 state. The fauna consists typically of 

 that listed for the Northern Mesophytic 

 Evergreen forest. It is on a state road, 

 has good trails through it and is used as 

 a state play ground with a forest warden 

 in charge. 



Oakland, about 4 mi. southeast, B. & 

 O. R. R. The park can be reached by 

 automobile. F. W. Besley. 



* Swallow Fall Reserve. (C2.) Con- 

 sisting of 823 acres, *Skipnish Forest 

 Reserve (C2), consisting of 888 acres and 

 *Kindness Forest Reserve (C2), consist- 

 ing of 206 acres, are in Garrett County 

 situated from 3 to 7 mi. from Oakland. 

 The first two named are north of the 

 Herrington Manor Reserve while the 



