36 MAMMALS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 



In 1678 John Edward was allowed £3 for killing 3 wolves. 1 

 In 1687 the town of Haverhill offered 15s for every full 

 grown wolf, and 7/6 for every young one. 2 In 1698, 20s was 

 allowed for each full grown wolf at Lynn. 3 In 1695 the 

 town of Andover voted 20s for every wolf caught and 

 brought to the constable. 4 In Gloucester in 1707 Ezekiel 

 Woodward killed three wolves, and in 1713 John Lane was 

 paid £1 10s for a full grown wolf; in 1754 the town allowed 

 £4 for grown wolves and £2 for young ones. 5 



1 Stone's History of Beverly, 1843. p. 316. 



2 Chase's History of Haverhill. 1861, p. 147. 



3 Lewis' History of Lynn, 1829, p. 145. 



4 Abbott's History of Andover, 1829, p. 51. 



5 Babson's History of Gloucester, 1860, p. 201. 



Family Mustelid^e. 



Otter. Lutra canadensis (Schreber). 



Very rare in the county. Found usually along streams 

 and lakes near the seacoast. Otters are graceful swim- 

 mers; they glide swiftly through the water, and will out- 

 swim and catch fish in spite of all their rapid twisting and 

 darting. An old female will take the most solicitous care 

 of her young and defend them even with her life. They 

 live almost entirely on fish. 



Eastern skunk. Mephitis putida (G. Cuvier). 



Common in open woodlands and fields in the rural dis- 

 tricts. Seldom seen in the daytime. The young are born 

 early in the spring and by the last of May or the first of 

 June are led forth by the old ones to receive their first 

 lesson in the art of procuring a living. And it is not un- 

 common at this time to see an adult in the late afternoon 

 moving leisurely along followed by four or five young ones 

 in single file or with the young crowding so close around 

 the female as to appear at a distance like one. They are 

 rather beneficial around barns living largely on mice, rats 

 and reptiles. But they do not hesitate to make a meal off 

 of chickens or eggs if temptation is placed in their way. 

 As a weapon of defense they have the power of emitting 

 a powerful odor but seldom use it unless disturbed or badly 



