NORTH AMERICA. 



86 



till the warm weather commences. It is astonishing to see so small a creature jumping above 

 five or six feet at a single bound ; its movements resemble those of a bird at tliese times, so 

 high does it leap into the air, and so light and quick are its ascent and descent. The Labrador 

 Jumping Mouse resembles the preceding in its mode of living, and is common in Labrador and 

 the Hudson's Bay country. 



The Shrew Mole is found abundantly in Canada, and has the appearance of a small stuffed 

 ^dck, its head being destitute of external ears, and the eyes so extremely small and hidden by the 

 fur, that one might suppose the creature blind. Yet it is surprisingly active, and burrows with great 

 quickness with its broad fore-paws. These burrows are sometimes of great depth, and are 

 composed of numerous galleries. Their situation may be generally known by the loose hills of 

 dirt which are found over the surface of them. The favorite food of the shrew mole is earth- 

 worms, shrubs, and insects of various kinds. The Star-nose Alole is distinguished by a sort 

 of fringe which surrounds the nostrils. 



The Pine Marten (Miistela Martes) is found in the woody districts in the northern parts of 

 North America in great numbers. It burrows in the ground. Its fur is fine, and has always 



been an important article of commerce. The 

 Pekan or Fisher {Mustela Canadensis) is known 

 under many appellations. It is a larger and 

 stronger animal than the pine marten, but has 

 similar manners. It lives in the woods, in the 

 vicinity of water. Its favorite food is said to be 

 the Canada porcupine. The Jl/j'n/c, or Vison 

 Weasel (Putorius Vison), passes much of its 

 time in the water, and preys on small fish, 

 spawn, and muscles. It swims and dives well, 

 but travels slowly on land. Its fur is of little 

 value. 



The Skunk [Mephitis Americana) , with 

 which every farmer is well acquainted, is thus 

 described by Dr. Godman. " Pedestrians, called by business or pleasure to ramble through the 

 country during the morning or evening twilight, occasionally see a small and pretty animal a 

 short distance before them in the path, scampering forward without appearing much alarmed, 

 and advancing in a serpentine direction. Experienced persons generally delay long enough to 

 allow this unwelcome fellow-traveler to withdraw from the path. It would be prudent to rest 

 content with pelting this quadruped from a safe distance, or to drive it away by shouting loudly ; 

 but most inexperienced persons, the first time such an opportunity occurs, rush forward with 

 the intention of running the animal down. This appears to be an easy task ; in a few moments 

 it is almost overtaken ; a few more strides, and the victim may be grasped by its long and 

 waving tail ; but that tail is now suddenly curled over the back, the animal's pace is slackened, 

 and in one instant, the condition of things is entirely reversed ; the lately triumphant pursuer is 

 eagerly flying from his intended prize, involved in an atmosphere of stench, gasping for breath, 

 or blinded and smarting with pain, if his approach were sufliciently close to admit of his being 

 struck in the eyes by the pestilent fluid of the skunk." This is secreted in a few glands, and 

 when scattered upon the body of its enemies, or even in the air, is suflicient to disarm the vio- 

 lence of most quadrupeds, and induce man himself to avoid rather than to seek an encounter. 

 This animal inhabits the whole of North America. It is generally found in forests, making its 

 den in the hollow of an old tree. It feeds upon the young and eggs of birds, on small quadru- 

 peds, and wild fruits. 



The Weasel (Putorius vulgaris) is the smallest of the class to which it belongs, and is an 

 active and handsome little animal. It moves hy unequal leaps, and can s})ring several feet from 

 the ground, or run up a wall without difficulty. When it enters a hen-roost, it never meddles 

 vvith the cocks or old hens, but makes choice of the young chickens, which it kills with a single 

 stroke on the head, and carries away one after another. The eggs it sucks with incredible 

 avidity, making a small hole at one end, through which it licks out the yolk. It also climbs 

 into pigeon-houses, and up to the nests of sparrows, where it commits great havoc. It may be 

 tamed, and is then very good-tempered and exceedingly curious. Godman considers the com- 

 mon weasel of the country to be the identical white ermine or stoat of Europe, but Ptichardson 

 affirms, that the European weasel is indubitably an inhabitant of America. One or the other 

 of these naturalists must be mistaken, or both the European ermine and weasel are found here. 



