annually. Woodchucks, about one to the square acre. Rabbits, 

 quite common, diminishing before ferrets. Wildcats, quite rare; 

 in fact, almost unknown in this part of the county. Meadow 

 mice, exceedingly thick some years, in others rare. Minks and 

 Weasels quite common. Foxes, quite common, but diminishing. 

 Squirrels: Pine, common; Gray, plenty when they migrate this 

 way; Black, nearly or quite extinct. Raccoon occasionally seen; 

 less plentiful than formerly. Opossum very rare. Black Bear 

 unknown in this part of the county; one killed near here some 

 twenty-five years ago. 



Am inclined to believe tlaaL the Skunk by his ceaseless war 

 on other vermin compensates for the damage he does to the 

 poultry. I have twice caught him at the bee hives scratching 

 the outside of the hive to bring out the inmates and devouring 

 them as fast as they appeared. This was just at daylight in 

 the morning. 



M. B. L.YMAN, Lynn: 



Skunks. Beneficial in killing mice, grasshoppers, insects and 

 other noxious insects, evidenced by upturned stones and shal- 

 low punctures in meadows where they are often seen. 



TIOGA COUNTY. 



p. W. REXFORD, Mansfield: 



I think Skunks are injurious for they rob all birds' nests that 

 are on the ground, and they are bad on poultry. 



UNION COUNTY. 



GEO. W. CHAMBERS, Mifl^inburg: 



Skunks are certainly of no benefit tu farmers or anybody else. 

 I know that I have a good deal of trouble with them and I 

 would be willing to help pay fifty cents for every scalp. I have 

 had to fight them for years. If they get under a floor in a 

 barn or house they destroy all the eggs and chickens in a short 

 time. The act paying fifty cents a scalp should never have 

 been repealed; if it had not there would not now be a Skunk 

 in this county and that would have been a benefit to the 

 whole country. 



DR. THOS. C. THORNTON, Lewisburg: 



Poultry raisers in this section suffer considerable loss yearly 

 from the depredations of hawks included in the genus Aecipi- 



