11 



nal observations and many that are borrowed from other persons. 

 With regard to many species only the most meager information 

 seems to be obtainable. This paper is published, not with the hope 

 of adding greatly to our present knowledge on the subject, but, 

 rather, to create if possible an interest which will prompt hunters, 

 trappers and other observers, to report any unusual or interesting 

 occurrence of mammals that may be noticed in any part of the 

 state. The abnormal increase or decrease of any species, the chance 

 occurrence of rare forms, notable injuries done to farm crops or 

 live stock by wild animals are all of interest and should be recorded 

 permanently. It is hoped that the reader of these notes may be 

 sufficiently interested to report any observations along this line 

 to some one who will preserve the notes for the use of future stu- 

 dents of our tState's biology. 



Virginia Opossiun, Didelphis virginiana Kerr. 



Common in all parts of the State except in the higher mountain 

 regions. In recent years has invaded the lower part of the Cana- 

 dian zone, and, A^dth the clearing away of the forests, may ulti- 

 mately be foimd over the entire State. My most boreal records 

 are of two killed by Mr. Frank Houchin at Cranberry Glades, Poca^ 

 hontas county, in the winter of 1908-09. 



The opossum is valuable for its fur, for food and as a scavenger. 

 It is a robber of birds' nests and an unwelcome visitor of poultry 

 roosts. On the whole, it may probably be regarded as more bene- 

 ficial than injurious. 



Virginia Deer, Odocolieus americanus Exr. 



The Virginia deer and its northern subspecies, 0. a. horealis, or 

 northern Virginia deer, were once abundant in all sections of the 

 State. It is still rather plentiful in some of our forest wilds and 

 is justly esteemed as our finest game animal. Probably those that 

 remain here are mostly of the northern subspecies which is larger 

 than the true Virginia deer, with heavier horns and shows a great- 

 er contrast between the red summer coat and gray winter coat. 

 The respective ranges of the two have never been worked out care- 

 fully within our limits. 



