350 Catalogue of the Mammalia of Connecticut. 



*34. Phoca Groenlandica ? Mull., White Seal, Stonington. 

 *35. Stetnmatopus cristatus, Dekay, Hooded Seal, Long Isl- 

 and Sound. 



Order RODENTIA. 

 Family CastoridjE. The Beaver Family. 



*36. Castor fiber, Harlan, Beaver, now extinct. 



37. Fiber zibethicus, Desm., Muskrat, common, O. L. 



Family Leporid^. Hare FamilJ^ 



38. Lepus Americanus, Sabine, American Rabbit, O. L. 



39. L. VirginianuSj Harlan, White Rabbit, O. L. 



Family MuRiDiE. The Rat Family. 



40. Arvicola xanthognata, Leach, Meadow Mouse, O. L. 

 *4L A. riparius, Ord, Marsh Campagnol, Stratford. 



*42. A. Floridanus, Ord, Florida Rat, Wood Rat, Bridgeport. 

 *43. A. albo-rufescens, Emmons, White Rat, Stonington. 



*34. The white seal, commonly called the harp seal, is very rare, and has been 

 seen only at Stonington a few times on the rocks. During ihe past winter, at- 

 tempts were made to take him, but unfortunately the hunters went to the wind- 

 ward side of him, and though they came so near as to shoot at him while sliding 

 off, he escaped. I have the information from J. H. Trumbull, Esq., of Stoning- 

 ton, who says, " his color was a dusky white throughout." I conclude, therefore, 

 it must be the Grcenlandica. Mr. T. also remarks, " I have often heard our seal- 

 ing captains from this place speak of the white seal as very rarely seen in the 

 south seas, but never heard of it on our coast before." 



*35. The hooded seal was taken at East Chester, a little west of Connecticut, 

 a few years since, and most probably passed through our state to arrive there. Dr. 

 Dekay gave a description to the New York Lyceum, which is before the public. 

 Beside this, his being thus accidentally taken, is good evidence that other speci- 

 mens exist in our waters. 



*36. The beaver was once common here, from the fact that on all our large 

 streams, nothing is more common than the names Beaver Dam, Beaver Pond, 

 Beaver Meadow, &c. 



Ml. Of the marsh campagnol I have taken three specimens in Stratford. 

 *42. The wood rat, it is said by Mr. Thompson, (merchant in B.) " was brought 

 to Bridgeport by vessel some years since, but it is believed was finally destroyed 

 by the common brown rat, its mortal enemy." Godman and others supposed it 

 once common here. 



*43. Of the white rat, two whole families have been found at Stonington, as I 

 am informed by Mr. Trumbull ; and though I have not yet had a specimen, I am 

 induced to believe it the Arvicola albo-rvfescens of Emmons. Mr. T. describes it 

 as about | the size of the common brown rat, or Mas decumanus. 



