58 ©ILPIN ON NOVA 8C0TIAN MAMMALS. 



Akt. VII. On the Mammalia of Noya Scotia. By J. Bernard 

 Gilpin, A. B., M. D., M. R. C. S. 



No. IV. 



(Read April, 1868.J 



In the last papers I have had the honour to read before you, 

 you may recollect I considered the very marked and boreal 

 family of weasels. Following the classification of the Smithson- 

 ian Institute, I shall bring to your notice this evening the 

 somewhat aberrant group of the otter, the skunk and the 

 raccoon. The otter, a boreal fauna, and allied to the mink, — the 

 skunk and the raccoon, almost the sole representatives of a 

 more southern fauna, and perhaps our latest arrivals in point of 

 time.' But to give to the paper a greater completiveuess, I 

 will enumerate the whole fauna of the Province as identified by 

 myself. I think this list will include all, with the exception of a 

 shrew, or a mouse or two, yet to be added — I know of no other 

 list except my own, and in using the term identified b}^ myself, I 

 only wish to add to it the interest of personal verification. I 

 shall use the classification of Dr. Baird (Smithsonian Institute), 

 with the synonyms of Sir John Hichardson when procurable, 

 thus using the best American and Enijlish authorities, being 

 satisfied that whilst no one can be but charmed by the accu- 

 racy, exactness and minute description of the great English 

 traveller ; on the other hand they must equally acknowledge the 

 exhaustive labour of the American naturalist, though they may 

 difier from him in some of his conclusions. 



Cheiroptera, — Bats. 



Vespertilio Subulatus, (Say, Richardson), Saj^'s-bat. 

 Vespertilio Cinereus, (P. D. Beauvois), 1796) ) tt , . -r *■ 

 Vespertilio Pruinosus^ (Richardson), ) 



Dr. Allen, (Monograph American bats 1864,) puts this last species in 

 the new genus •' Lasiurus." It is very rare in the Province, whilst Say's bat is 

 very common. C apt Hardy gave me a bat whose interfemoral resembled 

 '• evotia " (Allen). I am unwilling, however, to make it this species. 



V . Insectivora, — Shrews. 



Sorex Palustris, (Richardson,) Marsh Shrew. 

 JSfori^ Fosteri, (Richardson,) Foster's Shrew, 



