GILPIN — ON THE MAMMALIA OP NOVA SCOTIA. 51 



nimble, beneath a thermometer of — 15 degrees. The beautiful red 

 squirrel sports with his naked palms on snow, standing at the same 

 low level, whilst the ground squirrel is fast asleep in his well lined 

 burrow. We are apt to say of the ermine and sable that their thick 

 lustrous fur, well covered pads and ears, and strong carnivorous 

 diet enables them to endure the low temperature in which they 

 delight, yet we have side by side with them our spare vegetable 

 eater, the hare with its long naked pendulous ears, (apparently 

 the very subjects for frost bite) sitting in its snowy form, whilst 

 they have sought their burrows. Thus, though it is very true the 

 furry foot of the great day owl and winter falcon, of the northern 

 lynx, and the isatis, of the ermine weasel, ptarmigan, northern 

 grouse, and polar hare, are the true livery of the north, yet we find 

 animals equally bearing it with naked limbs and thin coats. It seems 

 that something akin to what geologists say has taken place in the 

 physical world, has also influenced the animal one. As the gorge- 

 ous tropical flora of the carboniferous period, attest to the sunny 

 days once ruling at the arctic circle, so too may the fauna have 

 been equally disturbed, and have left the remnants of their races 

 behind them in times far subsequent to those stony records. 



No true boreal forms exist at the equator, and these remnants 

 of equatorial life, if they be such reinnants, seem endowed like man 

 to retain life in every degree of cold or heat. 



Since the above paper was read Mr. Welch, the asst. surgeon^ 

 22nd Regt. has sent the Institute a paper read before the Zoological 

 Society, London, April 8th, 1869, entitled ** Observations on 

 L. Araericanus, especially with reference to the change of colour, 

 &c." In this very able paper the writer concludes that the change 

 of colour is gradual, taking about seven weeks, and is caused by 

 a new growth of white hair, and also by the summer coating 

 becoming white on its tips as well as thickening as regards 

 each hair, the cause being the suspension of the secretion of the 

 Pigmentum nigrum , and that there is no shedding process going 

 on. I have thought it best not to alter any remarks I have made, 

 but to make further observations, no doubt caused by reading Mr. 

 Welches paper. He has studied a much more boreal animal than 

 ours. His changes take place in October, ours in November. He 



