1910J FOREST, GAME AND FISH WARDEN. 67 



American Bison or Buffalo, Bison bison Linn. 



There is little doubt that the buffalo once roamed in considerable numbers 

 over the greater part of the State. Early historians record that these ani- 

 mals were found in large herds along the valleys of the Ohio and Great 

 Kanawha rivers. f ' It is said that vast herds of buffalo summered in Kanawha 

 valley, in an early day, within reach of the Salt Springs, or 'Big Buffalo 

 Lick/ as it was then called, and in the fall went to the grass regions of Ohio 

 and Kentucky and the cane brakes of Kentucky streams. Their routes were 

 for Kentucky, down through Teay's valley, and for Ohio down Kanawha to 

 Thirteen-mile Creek, and over to Letart, where they crossed the Ohio river. 

 Colonel Crogan, who came down the Ohio in a boat in 1765, encountered a 

 vast migrating herd crossing at Letart." (John P. Hale in Trans-Allegheny 

 Pioneers, p. 62). Hale says that the last buffalo killed in that region was by 

 Archibald Price, on the waters of Little Sandy creek of Elk river, aobut twelve 

 miles from Charleston, in 1815. Maxwell tells of a buffalo cow and calf that 

 were discovered at a deer lick in Webster county about 1825. The calf was 

 killed at the lick and the cow was followed to Valley Head, Randolph county, 

 where she was shot. It is believed that no buffalo were killed in this State 

 after that date. 



Carolina Gray Squirrel, Sciurus cwolinen&is. Gimelin. 



The common gray squirrel of all parts of the State except the higher mount- 

 ain regions. This squirrel is somewhat migratory and will be excessively 

 abundant in a locality for a while and will then become very scarce and 

 remain so until the food supply, or some other condition, causes it to return. 

 Valuable as a game animal. Frequently damages grain, especially corn in the 

 roasting-ear. Black individuals of this species are occasionally found. 



Northern Gray Squurel,Sciurus carolinensis leucotis Gapp. 



Considerably larger than the Carolina gray squirrel and confined in its 

 range to the higher mountains where in some places it is common. In October, 

 1896, I was with a hunting and collecting party that killed about thirty very 

 fine specimens in a chestnut woods on the summit of Young's mountain, 

 Pocahontas county. Black individuals occur also in this form. It was former- 

 ly believed that the black squirrels belonged to a distinct species but it is now 

 known that the black is but a color phase of the gray forms. 



Northern jt-ine or Red Squirrel, Sciurus hudsonicus gymniows Bangs. 



Very abundant in the spruce forests of our mountains. Feeds on seeds of 

 spruce and hemlock. I observed them feeding extensively on buckeyes on the 

 slopes of Black mountain in 1896. 



Southeastern Red Squirrel, JScwrus hud'so7iicas laquax Bangs. 



Occasionally met with in considerable numbers in the hilly and less ele- 

 vated portions of the State -but is usually somewhat rare. Frequents open 

 decidious woods and tree-bordered lanes. A chattering, meddlesome little 

 busy-body that does not fear the passerby and never fails to fling him a 

 challenge of some sort. 



Northern Fox Squirrel, Sciurus rufivemtris neglecvus Gray. 



Was once somewhat common but is now rarely met with. Inhabits decidious 

 woods. Surber has taken a few spcimens near White Sulphur Springs. I 

 have seen it at French Creek and in a beech woods near Edray. 



