16 GILPIN — ON NOVA SCOTIAN MAMMALS. 



reptilia is scarcely half that of New England, and batrachians 

 are unknown at Newfoundland. It remains to make a few 

 remarks on the adaptation of this beautiful boreal family 

 to the countrj^ in which it lives — on the harmony of its strong 

 life, fed on flesh, and wrapt in fur, with the stern winter in 

 which it rejoices. Our hills glaciated to their summits by ancient 

 ice, and our valleys cut out by the same invisible forces, have 

 long since risen from their submergence, and been clothed by 

 dense evergreen forests, our dark pines and firs. A winter, 

 the counterpart of Norway, covers the whole in its mantle of 

 snow. The bear and the marmot, each in his fat sleep, have 

 left the scene ; the mice have disappeared to their winter hoards ; 

 the ground squirrel is asleep, and the red squirrel is lying by in his 

 nest for days. Beaver and muskrat are fast in their rushy 

 mounds. Yet now this boreal group come forth, the colder the 

 clime the more lustrous their fur, the more vigorous their 

 movements. The great tree martins, with soft muifled silent 

 tread, and furred foot, are hunting the feather-legged grouse, 

 in common with the snow owl, the winter falcon, and the lynx, 

 all feathered or furred to their toes. The mink is pursuing his 

 prey along the half frozen water-courses : whilst on the snow 

 clad hills, with breast as snowy, the fur-footed ermine is 

 steadily winding the varying hare, whose foot is equally furred, 

 coat as white and thick, but whose feeble heart will soon 

 surrender to his cruel pursuer. Everywhere, the slant wintry 

 sun throws his scant rays athwart dark pine and glistening snow. 

 Everywhere, through the short silent wintry day, the furred and 

 noiseless pursuer tracks the furred and noiseless pursued. 



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