152 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST. 
that the eastern fox squirrel, subspecifically different from 
ours, has been nearly exterminated where the gray squirrel 
still thrives. 
hipmunks and other ground-squirrels, woodchucks, rab- 
bits, muskrats, moles and mice are all comparatively weak 
creatures and were successfully hunted by many enemies of 
the primeval forest and trackless prairie. Most of these beasts 
and birds of prey have been either exterminated or greatly 
decreased in number, and persecution of the weaker species 
from at least one source has been lessened. None of the latter 
endanger the life of man and although they destroy his grain, 
they do so, little by little, and therefore his desire to destroy 
them is usually at low ebb. They are too small to be of any 
- value dead and too insignificant to be hunted for sport. Those 
species that live preferably in grassy places have as large a 
range now as formerly, for roadsides, pastures overgrown 
with bushes and similar situations take the place of the former 
extensive woodlands. 
Therefore we may safely assume that this group of ani- 
mals, on the whole, has increased although little mention is 
made of them in accounts of the early settlement of the State 
i we have no means of comparing past and present num- 
rs. 
One species included under this head should have especial 
mention. The muskrat is trapped and hunted for its fur just 
as the beaver, mink, otter and others have been. It has di- 
minished in number as a result of this persecution, but not 
BIRDS. 
Birds occupy a peculiar place in our regard, being uni- 
versally beloved because of the beauty of plumage, grace of 
motion or melody of song. Added to these aesthetic qualities 
we have the usefulness of birds in destroying insects, al- 
though in this they are equalled by the despised frogs and 
other batrachians. 
. A Birds have therefore been protected to an unusual degree 
in spite of the greed of plume and wing hunters. Yet several 
species have nearly or wholly disappeared and many others 
are decimated. ' 
Probably the ivory-billed woodpecker was the first species 
