GILPIN ON NOVA SCOTIAN MAIVIMALS. <?1 



Arvicola Riparia, (Orel, Baird,) Meadow Mouse. 



Fiber Zihethicus, (Baird, Richardson,) Musk Rat. 



EretJdzon Dorsatus, (Linn., Baird.) //. Pilosa, (Richardson), 



Porcupine. 



Levus Americanus, (Erxleben, Baird, Richardson), Hare. 



Of the sixteen species here enumerated we fiDd a tree squirrel, a ^jing 

 .S"iuirrel, and a ground squirrel, all northern forms, two partially hybernating, 

 and laying up winter stores, the other totally disappearing beneath the ground 

 in winter. We find also a marrnot peculiarly northern in his hybernation and 

 gross fat. I cannot but think that Pruinosus of Richardson will be found 

 only a northern variety of Monas. Specimens are found here so very 

 hoary, with the hair on the shoulders so much longer than on rump. I have 

 also seen them flattening themselves on the ground, as Audubon describes, 

 Prainosus as doing at the Zoological Gardens, London. To the historical beaver 

 succeeds the sub-family of mice. Of the three introduced species, the common 

 mouse has penetrated every where, the brown rat chiefly on the sea-board, and 

 the black rat very rare ; I suspect some, if not all, come to us from the West 

 Indies. Our indigenous species so far identified are the very beautiful 

 jumping mouse — the white-footed mouse with his closely allied congener, the 

 hamster mouse, differing only in having a longer tail, and cheek pouches, and 

 two voles. I think another vole may be added to our list. The jumping 

 mouse and the voles all hybernate, the others but partially, laying up stores 

 -of beech mast and grain in hollow trees, acd often found lively at mid winter. 

 The musk-rat, porcupine, and varying hare, all northern forms, close the list 

 of our Rodents. 



Cervus Alces, (Linn., Richardson,) } 

 ■Alces Amerkanus, (Jardine, Baird,) ?The Moose. 

 Alces Musvxi, (Richardson,) ) 



Rangifer Ocufou, (Ham,_ Sonth Baird,) > ^^^.^^ Reindeer. 

 (Jervus taranaus syivesins, (Richardson,) ) 



Our list ends with the truly noble, antlered and boreal forms of our two 

 species of deer. Of these the caribou supposed identical with the reindeer of 

 Europe though not proven, but differing from the barren ground caribou of the 

 Arctic circle, is becoming extinct the most rapidly. Though following Jaidine 

 and Richardson 1 have given the specific "Americana"' and '"iMuswa" to 

 the moose, there can no longer be a doubt of its complete identity with the 

 Elk of Sweden and Norway. Captain Hardy, R. A., a member of our 

 Institute, (than whom there can be no more competent authority,) fresh from 

 studying the moose in the Nova Scotia forest, with all his recollections, 

 drawings, and measurements, has compared him with two young elks from Nor- 

 way, the property of the Prince of AVales, and pronounces them identical. (See 

 " Land and Water," Aug. 15, 18(5^, with illustrations.) In Captain Hardy's 

 sketch the forehead appears broader than in the moose. This is the point 

 insisted upon by Richardsoc as the difference between the two skulls. 



