818 



VALUABLE P"UR-BEAR1NG SPKCIES. 



The mammals Avhich occur with us are pennanent 

 residents, but birds, or many of them, on the other 

 hand, reside here only during certain periods of the 

 year. 



The most important and vaulable fur-bearing ani- 

 mals at ])resent found in this State are the Black Bear, 

 Minks, Skunks, Muskrats, Otter, Raccoon, Opossum, 

 Fisher and Marten. Of this list the two last men- 

 tioned are restricted to a few sparsely settled districts, 

 and even in such remote and uninhabited wilds they 

 are seldom seen. 



Some mammals, for example the Wildcat, Black 

 Bear, Fo-xes, Minks, Meadow Mice, Muskrat, Wood- 

 chuck and a few others, when present in a locality in 

 any considerable number, do much damage and should 

 be destroyed. It is not, however, wise or just to 

 wrongfully condemn certain of the common animals 

 found about the farmer's cultivated enclosures, or in 

 the forests, when it is known, at least to naturalists, 

 that the good thej do far outweighs their depredations 

 to poultry, game or vegetable crops, 



DISTURBING NATURE'S BALANCE. 



Widespread misconception of the true relation 

 which mammals, birds and insects have to man's in- 

 terests have done much in recent years in this and 

 other countries to militate against the welfare and 

 comfort of mankind. 



The truth of tliis can be shown by briefly referring 

 to some mistakes made by the introduction of species 

 with a view to naturalization or otherwise, and the 

 cruel, useless slaughter of others, thus disturbing the 



