20 MAMMALS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 



ing of danger they can quickly reach their holes. About 

 the only animal that woodchucks have to fear is the fox, 

 and from them they are never safe, not even in their bur- 

 rows. They are, however, an enemy of the farmer, and in 

 1734 a premium of £1 per dozen was offered by the town of 

 Ipswich for them.* 



Canadian flying - squirrel. Sciurop terns sabrinus ma- 

 crotis Mearns. 



Uncommon. Living in the deep forests and being of noc- 

 turnal habits this interesting little mammal is seldom seen. 

 Their home is in a hole, usually in a dead tree, sometimes 

 in a deserted woodpecker's hole. They are timid animals 

 and easily frightened away. Although they sleep more or 

 less during the winter months I believe they are active 

 throughout the year and do not hibernate. They may be 

 distinguished from the southern variety by their larger 

 size, redder back, black ring around the eye, and the fur, 

 if blown into or separated, shows a dark color to the roots. 



Southern flying squirrel. Sciuropterus volans (Linne). 



This species, which is much more common than the 

 above, lives more in open woodlands, and I once knew one 

 to make its nest in a bird house in a friend's yard. They 

 are somewhat smaller, no ring around the eye, and the base 

 of the hairs are white. 



Family Castoridae. 



Beaver. Castor canadensis Kuhl. 



Extinct in the state, formerly living in Essex County. 



That the Beaver once made its home and built its dams 

 on our ponds and streams is a matter of tradition; for al- 

 though it is spoken of in some of the older histories, I am 

 unable at the present time to find any definite records of 

 their having been taken. And unfortunately no specimens 

 were preserved. 



I have heard my uncle speak of seeing them at Beaver 

 Pond, Beverly and they doubtless lived there in years past. 



*Felt's History of Ipswich, 1834, p. 44. 



