Thi; Zoologist— Mauch, 1870. -2033 



Notes on the Zoology of Newfoundland. 

 By Henry Reeks, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 



(Continued fn.in S. S. 1759.) 



Mammalia. No. 1. 



SoitlCIN.E. 



Although twenty species of three genera of this family have been 

 enumerated as North American by Professor Baird, it is noteworthy 

 that after a diligent search I was unable to find a representative of 

 this or the following order, Talpidae, which contains seven species, 

 now referred to three genera, viz., Scalops, Cond}lnra (star-nosed 

 mole), and Urotrichus Gibbsii, the latter being the only species of the 

 order not confined to North America. 



Carnivora. — Felid^. 



Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis, Raf. — Not indigenous, and 

 apparently a very rare accidental visitor. I only heard of the capture 

 of two specimens, which were taken a few years since at a settlement 

 called Daniel's Harbour, and considered a great curiosity. Thev had 

 evidently crossed from the Labrador on the drift ice. Provincial 

 name " Mountain Cat." This name, as here applied, certainly does 

 not allude to Lynx rufus. 



Canid^. 



American Wolf, Canis occidentalis, Richardson; var. ^. griseo- 

 albus; y. ater). — Although this is certainly the only species of wolf 

 found in Newfoundland it would be difficult to find two skins, even in 

 the same litter of whelps, marked exactly alike ; so great is the 

 variation in the .shades or degrees of colouring — from pure black to 

 almost clear white. The wolf is yet tolerably common in Newfound- 

 land, and few winters pass without some being trapped along the 

 shores. They often prowl near the houses of the settlers, or pass 

 them in the chase. I remember upon one occasion during the month 

 of January, 1867, I shouldered my rifle and took up the trail of two 

 old wolves which had passed the house during the previous night in 

 pursuit of a mighty stag [Rangifer caribou), which I hoped to have 

 found killed within a reasonable distance from home, but after following 

 the " footing" for six or seven miles on ice T gave up all hopes of seeing 



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