PREFACE. 



The study of Mammals in the field is one of the most in- 

 teresting pursuits to a student of Natural History and it is 

 >nly by very careful and persistent work that one can be- 

 some at all proficient in it. Many of the Mammals do not 

 pome out at all in the day time, and those that do, move 

 ibout so noiselessly that they are seldom seen except by 

 she trained eye. Their signs, however, are always present 

 iod by closely studying them one may learn much of their 

 habits and consequently be enabled to see them much more 

 frequently. . A walk in winter after a light fall of snow is 

 ioubly interesting, for then from the tiny shrew to the 

 A.ntlered Buck all are on the move and their tracks may be 

 plainly recognized and easily followed. At such a time 

 one is surprised at the great number of tracks to be found- 

 [ have walked through the woods late in the fall without 

 seeing a mammal of any kind and the next day after a snow 

 have taken the same walk and found the snow literally 

 covered with tracks. 



In this list I have made no attempt at full description. 

 Most of the species I have either described in part or com- 

 pared with others to render identification easy. I have 

 included in it several species which, although they 

 have not been actually taken within the county limits, 

 doubtless live here. It is hoped that this list may create 

 an interest in the Essex County collection, and that it may 

 be the means of adding many new specimens to the mu- 

 seum. A list of desiderata is added at the end of this list, 

 and any specimens therein named will be very gratefully 

 received and acknowledged. 



In the making of this list I am greatly indebted to Dr. 

 Glover M. Allen for his kindness in looking it over and for 

 many helpful suggestions and to Professor E. S. Morse for 

 revising manuscript. 



