1910] FOREST, GAME AND FISH WARDEN. 73 



on deer and smaller animals. It seldom attacked man but frequently killed 

 domestic animals. 



Canadian Lynx, Lynx canadensis Kerr. 



There is little doubt that this species once frequently straggled into West 

 Virginia from the forests farther to the north but it is doubtful if it ever 

 occurred here in great abundance. It is admitted to this list on the strength of 

 statements made by old hunters of its former occurrence in our high mountains 

 and on its known range in Pennsylvania which extended to the southern border 

 of the State. 



Wild Cat or Eastern Bay Lynx, Lynx ruffus Gueld. 



Once abundant everywhere but now met with commonly only in our larger 

 and more remote forest districts. Occurs rarely and irregularly in many old 

 farming districts. 



Wild cats are a terror to the harmless wild life of the forest. They catch 

 great numbers of smaller mammals and birds that frequent the ground. They 

 have even been known to kill deer. Poultry, young pigs and lambs often 

 fall a prey to them. Their fur is of but little value and in their habits there 

 is ilttle to recommend them to the mercy of the farmer of hunter. 



Gray Fox, Urocyon cintreoarg 'enteus Schreber. 



Originally this was the only fox found by the pioneers of West Virginia. 

 It was distributed generally, though preferring the less elevated sections of 

 the State. It is still common in some places and entirely absent in others. 

 Surber pays it is increasing in abundance in the mountains. Its thievish habits 

 in the poultry yard and its lust -for game and song birds makes it deserving 

 of the bad name it bears. 



Eed Fox, Vulpes fulvus Des. 



It is probably something more than a century since the red foxes began 

 to be noticed in West Virginia by the settlers. There are still many old 

 hunters living who can remember their first appearance in certain sections. 

 It is believed to have invaded the State from the north but from just how 

 far north it originally began to spread southward is uncertain. There are 

 some naturalists who believe it has descended from red foxes imported form 

 Europe in colonial times. 



Eed foxes are now met with in some localities where no gray foxes have 

 been seen for years, in other localities the grays are present and the reds 

 absent while in still other localities both are more or less common. The 

 valuable fur of the red fox has led to its being persistently sought after by 

 hunters with hounds, traps and guns and the wonder is that any are left. 

 Domestic fowls, birds and small mammals are its food. 



Gray Wolf or Timber Wolf, Canis mexico/nus nubilus Say. 



An inhabitant, in early days, of all parts of the State, now almost cer- 

 tainly extinct within our limits. What is supposed to have been the last 

 gray wolf in West Virginia was killed in Randolph county by Stofer Hamrick 

 in January, 1900. 



Otter, Lutra canaden&is Schreber. 



This animal although once fairly common has now almost disappeared from 

 our State. It is still met with occasionally along some of the larger moun 

 tain streams. Fur very valuable. 



