74 



GEOLOGY OF LA SALLE COUNTY. 



The Gray Rabbit — Lepus sylvaticus — is very 

 common, and has greatly increased since the advent of 

 the white man. It may be well to remember that they 

 are a dang-erous article of food, being- very often 

 afflicted with tape worm, which, whatever eats them, 

 is liable to take from them. 



The Western Pox Squirrel — Sciurus nig-er 

 var, ludovicianus — one of the largest squirrels, is 

 occasionally seen in the timber. 



The Chipmunk or Ground Squirrel — Ta- 

 mias striatus — came in after the settlement of the 

 country, but is not very numerous at present. 



The Plying Squirrel — Sciuropterus volucella, 

 is frequently seen in the woods. This animal sails, 

 does not fly. It cannot rise from the g-round like a 

 bird. 



The Striped Gopher — Spermopihlus tridecem- 

 llneatus — is very common. 



The Gray Gopher — S. franklini was less com- 

 mon than the former, when the country was new, and is 

 now nearly extinct. 



The Pouched Gopher — Geomys busarius — 

 lives mostly under g-round and on roots, and is not 

 common. 



Otter. — Lutra canadensis — was in early days I 

 common along- the rivers; now extinct, or nearly so. 



The Beaver — Castor fiber — was plenty when 

 the country was first settled, and is now seldom seen. 



The Muskrat— Piber zibethicus — is found along- 

 our rivers in considerable numbers. 



The Mink — Putorius vison — a slender bodied ani- 

 mal, chestnut brown, with a black tail, valued for its 

 fur, is often met with. 



The Small Weasel — Putorius vulg-aris — a 

 small, slender animal, the body six or seven inches 



