THE VACATION SEASON. 
467 
SECTION 6. 
The Vacation Season. 
Some of 
the Many Resorts in Pennsylvania Where the Tourist 
Spend a Pleasant and Profitable Vacation. 
CAN 
In view of the fact that the author is frequently in receipt of inquiries as to locali¬ 
ties where the natural history student or sportsman can have an enjoyable vacation, 
it has been deemed advisable to make brief mention of a few of the principal resorts 
which are easy of access, and where ample accommodations may be obtained at 
reasonable rates. 
Notwithstanding the fact that various railroad companies operating in the Key¬ 
stone State disseminate much information of particular value to the pleasure seeker, 
through the aid of guide books and other means of advertising, it is noticeable that 
such meager mention is made of birds and mammals, as well as of the finny tribes, 
that but little knowledge of practical utility is to be gained by either zoological 
students or sportsmen, whether gunners or anglers. 
Limited space and lack of time unfortunately prevent the writer from giving in 
this volume a complete hunting and fishing guide (which is at the present time in 
course of preparation) of Pennsylvania and neighboring states. 
Fur, Fin and Feather. 
The birds of Pennsylvania include, in round numbers, about three hundred, 
species and sub-species which occur here either as permanent residents or temporary 
visitants. West of the Allegheny ranges, the bird life differs somewhat from that 
found east of the same mountains. 
At certain localities on the Lake Erie coast, which forms about fifty miles of our 
extreme northwestern boundary, different kinds of aquatic birds abound during 
their vernal and autumnal migrations, while in other sections of the commonwealth 
these same species—several of which are eagerly sought by the gunner—occur 
irregularly, or in such small numbers, that they cannot be hunted Avith any reason¬ 
able hope of success, i. e ., from the a\ T erage sportsman’s standpoint. The botanist, 
ornithologist or mammalogist Avho will explore the regions through which the 
Susquehanna, Allegheny, Juniata or Monongahela riv-ers flow, will be amply repaid 
for his trouble, and a visit to almost any of the highest mountain ranges will show 
an indigenous faunae, noticeably different from those in less elevated regions. 
FolloAving is the list of native mammals occurring in Pennsylvania which are 
hunted* either for food or on account of the commercial A^alue of their skins : Deer, 
black bear, squirrels (gray and black), gray rabbit, varying hare, raccoon, opossum, 
foxes (red and gray), Avildcat, muskrat, skunk, otter, pine marten and fisher. 
Of this list the pine marten and fisher are exceedingly rare, and are known to in¬ 
habit only a feAv localities in the state. 
The waters of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, at Erie city, the Avestern terminus 
of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, abound in a large A ariety of fish, which, in the 
summer season furnish delightful sport to those interested in such diversion. Many 
* County commissioners in some sections of Pennsylvania do not regard the scalp act of 1889 as uncon¬ 
stitutional, and they pay bounties as follows : AVildeat, $2.00 ; fox (red and gray), $1.00 ; mink, twenty- 
tive cents. 
