1910] FOREST, GAME AND FISH WARDEN. 71 



Meadow Jumping Mouse, Zapus lino's onius Zimm. 



I have records of this mouse, or its subspecies, americanus, from French 

 Creek and Sherrard. Unfortunately no skins have been preserved and the 

 records are indefinite. 



Woodland Jumping Mouse, Zapus insignis Mill. 



I have collected this beautiful little creature at French Creek, Cranberry 

 .Glades and at the foot of Turkeybone mountain ,in Kandolph county. It 

 is said by Surber to be fairly common, but locally distributed, in the Canadian 

 zone. I have found it very rare except in the vicinity of Cranberry Glades, 

 where, in the summer of 1909, it seemed fairly abundant. 



The jumping mice are about the size of the common house mouse but have 

 tails almost twice as long. They are reddish-brown or yellowish-brown above 

 and pure white beneath. The hind feet are very large, the head small and the 

 form and coloring throughout graceful and delicate. The woodland jumping 

 mouse may be distinguished from the meadow jumping mouse by its slightly 

 larger size, larger ears and by having a white tip to the tail. When dis- 

 turbed the mice of both species make prodigious leaps but in -spite of thii 

 are rather easily caught as they do not seek holes in which to hide as do moit 

 mice when alarmed. Their manner of jumping is responsible for the name 

 "kangaroo mouse" by which they are frequently known. In the fall^ai 

 cold weather approaches these mice find some snug nest in which they curl 

 up and sleep over winter. So far as is known at present they are entirely 

 harmless. 



Canada Porcupine or "Hedgehog," EretJiizon dorsaium Linn. 



There is little doubt that the porcupine was formerly found in considerable 

 numbers in our higher mountain regions but it has now become very rare 

 'or entirely extinct. I have several uneonferred reports of porcupines being- 

 seen or killed here in recent years. Dr. J. W. Hartingan, of Morgantown, 

 has informed me that several years ago Mr. Thule Dolton killed a porcupine 

 in a stone ledge near his home in Monongalia co-unty. Dr. Hartgian purchased 

 the specimen for fifty cents and had the skin mounted. Afterward some boys 

 stole the specimen and carried it away. Authentic records of the occurrence 

 of this species .are very much desired. 



Virginia Varying Hare; White Babbit, Lepsus aniericanus virginianus Har, 



This interesting species is our only representative of a large group of vary- 

 ing hares that inhabit practically all the northern and western parts of the 

 North American continent. In summer the coat of this rabbit is rusty brown 

 and in the winter white. In its distribution in West Virginia it is confined 

 to the laurel beds and dense spruce woods of the higher mountain districts. 

 Occasionally, during long continued cold weather, these rabbits will appear 

 about settlements, in the vicinity of high mountains, where their presence 

 create! no little interest. 



The Bureau of Biological Survey has recorded but one West Virginia 

 specimen. This was collected at Travelers Kepose, Pocahontas county. Dur- 

 ing several collecting trips made to the higher parts of this State I have kept 

 a constant lookout for white rabbits but have never seen a specimen. It 'is- 

 reported by hunters as being rather abundant in places on Shavers mountain,, 

 also on Black mountain. Mr. George Leichter has informed me that he 



