30 Bulletin Wisconsin Xatural History Society. [Vol. 6, Xos. 1 — 2. 
of lakes and rivers ; here they may dwell in hollow trees or logs, 
but frequently they inhabit deserted buildings. Four were taken 
at one time from the loft of a deserted log house near Johnstown, 
Rock County. Two specimens examined, from Forest County, 
are abnormally dark. 
Ursus americanus Pallas. 
Black Bear. 
Ten years ago the black bear was not uncommon in nearly all 
parts of northern Wisconsin, but it is now seldom taken except 
in the counties north and west of Oneida County ; in the latter 
county it was quite common until about eight years ago. A few 
are still found in Forest County. 
Sorex personatus T. Geoffrey. 
Masked Shrew. 
This little shrew has been taken in most parts of the state ex- 
cept in the southwestern portion, and careful collecting may pos- 
sibly prove its presence there. It is not common in the southern 
half of the state, though of regular occurrence ; in northern Wis- 
consin I found it very common, and I have taken specimens in wet 
swamps, on dry hillsides, along railroad tracks, and in fact, in 
almost every conceivable habitat except the dense pine forests. 
The species is evidently most abundant in sphagnum swamps and 
in grassy, second growth woodlands. 
Sorex richardsonii Bachman. 
Richardson's Shrew. 
The only knowledge I have of the distribution of Sorex rich- 
ardsonii in Wisconsin is based upon five specimens, two males and 
three females, taken in Oneida County ; one of these specimens 
was taken August 25, 1906; the other four were taken during the 
summer of 1907. All of these were taken in a swamp overgrown 
with small conifers (Larix, Picea and Juniperus) just southeast 
