262 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Flovd also presented two specimens of the common Bat ( Vesper- 

 tllio novcboracensis), a specimen of the Hoary Bat ( Vespertilio pruino- 

 sxs), a specimen of the Star-nosed ^Nlole ( Conclyhira cristula), and a 

 specimen of the Short-tailed Sln-ew (Sorex brecicornis). 



Mr. Floyd also presented the skull of a cat and the skull of a wood- 

 chuck. 



"We would suffo-est that the value of a collection of skulls of the dif- 



DO 



ferent animals and birds of the State in a cabinet like the Agricultural 

 Museum connected with this department, is manifest, and it is hoped 

 that in the coming year those who have the opportunity to forward such 

 skulls as may be in their possession will please do so, and the donor's 

 name will be attached to the specimens, and they will be arranged and 

 named in a careful and scientific manner. 



Maj. Jamks S. Grennell presented an albino Gray Squirrel {Sciurus 

 caroUnensis), and an old "Woodchuck (Arctomys monax), with remark- 

 ably long and curved incisors. 



F. G. Sanborn presented a specimen of the Red Squirrel (Sciurus 

 hudsonius). 



Miss C. M. F. presented a specimen of the common Ral>bit (Lepus 

 sylvaticus). 



Col. Cyrus Knox, of Palmer, presented a specimen of the Otter 

 (Lutra canadensis), female. This animal is now quite rare in this 

 State, although once quite plenty. This specimen is perfect and a 

 valuable addition to the cabinet. 



Ornithology. — Man}- donations have been made in this department, 

 and some exchanges effected for specimens which wei'e desirable for 

 supplying deficiencies in the diffei'ent genera. 



W. H. Floyd presented a s])ecimen of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo 

 (Coccyyu^ americanus), female, a specimen of the Hairy Woodpecker 

 (Picus villosus), female. This bii'd is known by the popular name of 

 Sapsucker, from a belief that it sucks the sap of trees. In looking at a 

 fruit tree, tor instance, we may frequently see a series of holes com- 

 pletely and regularly encircling the trunk, and which are made by this 

 species. The popular notion is, that the bird makes these holes to suck 

 out the sap. But this bird is very seldom seen in our orchards or about 

 our dwellings in the summer months, when the sap is in the trunks and 

 branches, but seeks the solitude of the forests, where it generally rears 

 its young, and it makes its appearance in the orchards only in the latter 

 part of autumn and winter. 



The perforations in the bark are made by the bird in searching for 

 insects qnd their larvic and eggs, and its industry surpasses that of any 

 of its tribe ; it is alwjiys observed moving about the bodies of trees, or 



