Chapter II 



^ 



MAMMALIA 



In the following pages forty-two species of mammals are enu- 

 merated as occurring in the Adirondack region, and it is not proba- 

 ble that future investigation will greatly augment this number. With 

 the exception of one or two additional Shrews, and two or three 

 Bats, I know of no others that are likely to be found. The Harbor 

 Seal and the Vox S(}uirrel are accidental stragglers, but the remaining 

 forty are permanent residents. Among them are several of consid- 

 erable economic value. These are : the Marten, Fisher, Ermine, 

 Mink, Skunk, Otter, Bear, Deer, Beaver, and Muskrat ; and it is not 

 many years since the Moose could have been reckoned with the 

 rest, for it was formerly abundant here, and large numbers were 

 killed for their flesh and hides. 



The great majority of our mammals move both by day and night, 

 few being either strictly nocturnal or exclusively diurnal. The only 

 species that can fairly be called nocturnal are the Skunk, the Rac- 

 coon, the Bats, and the Flying Squirrels ; and even these are occa- 

 sionally seen abroad during cloudy days, and do much of their hunt- 

 ing in the twilight. Of strictly diurnal forms the number is still smaller, 

 for I know of but two, the Gray Squirrel and the Chipmunk, that 

 have not been seen after nightfall. The truth of the matter 

 seems to be that very few mammals range about much during the 

 brightest part of the day, or darkest part of the night, these being the 

 times when most of them do the greater part of their sleeping. 

 It is between the dark and the daylight, before sunrise in the morn- 

 ing and in the dusk of evening, when the faint light obscures their 



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