MAMMALS. 309 



MAMMALS. 



BY N. A. WOOD. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The mammals were not given particular attention on this survey, 

 and the following notes mostly concern the species that were en- 

 countered in the course of the work on the other groups. The list 

 therefore purports to be neither a complete synopsis of the mam- 

 malian fauna of the region nor a discussion of the local records se- 

 cured. The specimens and notes were mosth^ secured by the writer 

 on Sand Point and by Dr. Ruthven at Rush Lake and on Stony 

 Island, but a few skins were purchased, and notes were secured from 

 various residents in the vicinity. We are particularly under obliga- 

 tion to Messrs. L. H. Fittenger and Austin Yax for records of species 

 now rare or extinct in the region. We are indebted to the U. S. 

 Biological Survey for the identification of the mice in the collection. 



LIST OF SPECIES. 



1. Cervus canadensis (Erxleben). Wapiti; American elk.— Mr. 

 Fittenger informed us that in 1856 the elk was not uncommonly 

 found on Sand Point, and that he shot a specimen on the shore of 

 Mud Lake (at the base of the Point) in September of that year. 



2. Odocoileus americanus (Erxleben). Virginia white-tailed deer. 

 — Mr. Fittenger informed us that while camping on Sand Point in 

 1857-8 he saw numbers of this species and shot -several. They have 

 long been extinct in this region, but, on July 5, a buck and two does 

 swam over from Stony Island, where they had been placed by Mr. 

 Wallace, and remained here all summer. They apparently found 

 plenty of food on the Point, and on the first of September were in 

 fine condition. This region should make a fine preserve for deer. 



3. Sciurus rufiventer E. Geoffrey. Fox squirrel. — This species 

 occurs throughout the sand region, but was seldom seen. It was 

 only observed on Sand Point. Mr. Yax informed us that ii was often 

 found on the sand ridges north of Rush Lake. 



4. Sciurus hudsonicus loquax Bangs. Xoisy chickaree; red squir- 

 rel. — The red scjuirrel was of general occurrence but not abundant 

 in the sand region and on Ston\^ Island. 



