MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 135 



parallel logs. The trap is sometimes simply set in the beaten 

 track made in the snow, carefully hidden; or at the entrance 

 of the burrow; or at the base of a slanting log with one end 

 under water, the Otter being attracted by bait or odor placed 

 beyond on the other end; or a rock which projects over a 

 stream is utilized in the same way. In all these methods, the 

 utmost care is necessary to obliterate traces of the trapper's 

 presence, as the sight and smell of the Otter are acute, and his 

 wariness, caution, and sagacity at a very high rate. "In win 

 ter when the ponds and rivers are frozen over the Otters make 

 holes through the ice at which they come up to devour their 

 prey. Where the water is a foot deep beneath any of these 

 holes the trap may be set in the bottom, the chain being se- 

 cured to a heavy stone. When the Otter endeavors to emerge 

 from the hole he will press his foot on the trap and thus be 

 caught. If the water is deep enough beneath the hole the 

 trap may be baited with a small fish attached to the pan, and 

 then carefully lowered with its chain and stone to the bottom. 

 For this purpose the Newhouse, No. 3, is best adapted, as the 

 Otter is in this case caught by the head." 



FAMILY URSID^E. 



THE BEARS, RACCOONS, ETC. 



This very large and interesting family is represented within 

 our limits by two species representing the two sub-families. 

 The family is distributed over all parts of the globe where any 

 species of Garni vora occur and is represented by a large num- 

 ber of quite diverse species. The common characters are as 

 follows: Progression plantigrade, soles naked (except in 

 Ailurus), toes five on each foot, sometimes more or less webbed 

 and usually large curved and non-retractile though some spe- 

 cies have more or less retractile claws. The body is usually 

 clumsy and heavy, though there are exceptions to this. All 

 the species with a few exceptions, which live in arctic or 

 treeless regions, climb readily and some spend their lives in 

 arboreal habitats. The bears as a group are omniverous and 

 the teeth, although identical in number with those of the Cani- 

 dce, are remarkable for their adaptation to an omniverous diet. * 



There are, however, a few in this family, like the Ursus mar- 

 inns, or polar bear, which live exclusively upon flesh and 



*(Baird unaccountably says on page 206 of the Report of the Northern Pacific R. 

 R., Mammals "The teeth are the same In number with the Canidaa, although their 

 more carnivorous character is shown by the turberculated molars." Perhaps the 

 word carnivorous is a misprint for omniverous, for neither the habits of the animal 

 nor ordinary analogy substantiate the statement as it stands.) 



