45 



there is sufficient depth of water to permit of complete sub- 

 mersion, the Muskrat if caught by a fore foot, will almost 

 invariably break loose, leaving only its foot remaining in the 

 trap. 



The Muskrat is frequently seen swimming about by day but 

 is essentially nocturnal in habit. 



The name " Muskrat" is obviously applied to the animal 

 because of the musky oil which the glands secrete ; and this 

 secretion so strongly permeates the entire anatomy that a 

 piece of flesh cut from any part of the body will be found to 

 savor strongly of this essential oil. The flesh is eaten by 

 some people, but unless very much disguised in the cook- 

 ing, the musky flavor is so strong as to be extremely disagree- 

 able. I am informed that a " professional " Muskrat trapper 

 who fed his fowls during the whiter largely upon the carcasses 

 of Muskrats, the following spring found that the eggs were 

 so strongly impregnated with the musk as to be unmarketable. 



Zapus hudsonius (Zimmermann). Meadow Jumping Mouse. 



The Jumping Mouse is by no means common in the lower 

 portions of the county, and I have never taken a specimen 

 farther south than White Plains. I have made repeated 

 inquiry among farmers and others in the neighborhood of 

 Hastings concerning this species, but they confound it with 

 the White-footed Mouse so that data gained in this way has 

 always proven unreliable. 



Dr. Fisher 6 reports them as ' tolerably common ' at Sing 

 Sing. 



Lepus floridanus mallurus (Thomas). Southeastern 

 Cottontail. Rabbit. 



Two races of Cottontails are said to occur in eastern New 

 York — a northeastern form, transitionalis ranging from 

 southern New York, northward and a southeastern form, 

 n.allurus from southern New York, southward (Bangs 3 ). In 



