CATALOGUE OF QUADRupeds, CARNIVEROUS ANIMALS. QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. The following is a catalogue of the native quadrupeds of Vermont, arranged in the order, in which they are described in the following pages: ORDER CARNIVORA-Carniverous Animals. pruinosus, Hoary Bat. (C brevicaudus, Mustela vulgaris, (C erminea, Wolverene. Weasel. Ermine. Fisher Martin. American Otter. Red Fox. var. decussatus, Cross Fox. Lynx. BATS, GENUS VESPERTILIO.-Linnæus. Generic Characters.-Teeth from 32 to 36, : 5 % incisors, canines 1-1, grind. 4-4, 5-5 to 5-5Upper incisors in pairs, cylindrical and pointed; the anterior grinders simply conical, posterior having short points or prominences. Nose, simple, without grooves, or wrinkles; ears, with an auriculum, lateral and more or less large; tongue smooth, and not protractile; index finger with but one phalanx, the middle with three, the annular and little finger with two; tail comprised in the interfemoral membrane; sebaceous glands under the skin of the face, which vary in different species. The bats consist of a great number of species, but they agree very nearly in their general form and habits. They produce and nourish their young in the manner of other quadrupeds, but unlike them they are furnished with delicate membranous wings upon which they spend much of their time in the air, thus seeming to form the connecting link between the quadrupeds and birds. They are nocturnal in their habits, lying concealed during the day, but venturing abroad on the approach of evening, during the early part of which they may be seen flitting lightly and noiselessly through the air in quest of food, which consists chiefly of insects. At such times they often enter the open windows of our dwellings and sometimes commit depredations upon our larders, being exceedingly fond of fresh meat. Their nocturnal habits manifest themselves in the domesticated state as well as the wild, and it is with difficulty that they are made to mount upon their wings, or take food during the day, but in the evening they devour food voraciously and fly about the room without reluctance. On the approach of winter bats retire to dry caverns and hollow trees where they suspend themselves by the hooked nails of their hind feet, and thus remain in a torpid state during the winter. They void their excrement, which is found in abundance in these retreats, by reversing their position and suspending themselves by the hooks upon their thumbs till their object is accomplished, when they resume their former position. Bats produce their young in June or July, Animals. and have from one to three at a time. ORDER RODENTIA-Gnawing Animals. Beaver. ORDER RUMINANTIA-Ruminating Order Cervus alces, Moose. 66 canadensis, Elk. virginianus, Common Deer. ORDER CARNIVORA. The animals of this order have three kinds of teeth, a simple, membranaceous stomach, and short intestines. They live principally on flesh, or animal food. The teats of the female are situated on SAY'S BAT. HOARY BAT. CAROLINA BAT. and at the central part of the inside, tragus bent, club-shaped and blunt at the tip. Canine teeth large and prominent; incisors in the upper jaw conical with a tubercle near the base, very near the canines, and nearly in a line with them; snout cartilaginous and moveable; nostrils wide apart. Eyes black and prominent. Fur on the body blackish brown at its base, then pale brownish yellow, then brownish and terminated with clear, delicate white, like hoar frost; fur on the throat, on and about the ears, and on the inside of the wings towards their base, fulvous; snout, chin, margin of the ears and the posterior part of the wing membrane, blackish; the anterior part of the wings and the base of the fur on the interfemoral membrane, dark chestnut. Tail, wholly embraced in the interfemoral membrane, which is thickly covered with SAY'S BAT· Vespertilio subulatus.-SAY. DESCRIPTION.-Head short, broad and flat; nose blunt with a small, flat, naked muzzle; eyes small, situated near the ears and covered with fur; ears longer than the head, thin ovate, obtuse and hairy at the base behind; tragus thin, broadly subulate below, tapering upwards and ending in an obtuse tip, at about two thirds the height of the ear; color of the back yellowish brown, the belly yellow-fur, except at the very posterior extremiish gray; fur soft and fine, and blackish towards the roots; head covered with fur, excepting about the nostrils; color blackish about the mouth; whiskers few, short and stiff; membrane between the hind legs broad, thinly covered with fur next the body, and tapering to a point near the extremity of the tail, which it envelopes; toes of the hind feet long; hooked thumb including the nail of an inch. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 2 inches; tail 1 inches; spread of the wings, 10 inches. ty. Length of the specimen before me, from the snout to the extremity of the tail, 5 inches; spread of the wings, when fully extended, 16 inches. HISTORY.-This bat was also first described by Say in Long's expedition and has since been minutely described by Richardson,* Coopert and others. It has been found in most parts of the United States and was obtained by Dr. Richardson as far north as lat. 54°. It is not common in Vermont, but is occasionally met with. The only Vermont specimen, which I have examined, and that from which the pre HISTORY.-This Bat seems to be distrib-ceding description was drawn, was sent uted very generally through the conti- me alive by my friend, David Reed, Esq., nent. It was first described scientifically of Colchester. It was taken at his place by Mr. Say, in the notes to the account of in Colchester the latter part of October, Long's expedition, from a specimen ob- 1841, and was kept alive for some time in tained at the foot of the Rocky Moun- a large willow basket with a flat cover of tains. It was afterwards minutely descri- the same material. On opening the basbed by Dr. Richardson from specimens ob- ket, he was almost invariably found sustained on the upper branches of the Sas-pended by his hind claws from the central When the basket was katchewan and Peace rivers.* Speci- part of the cover. mens have since been obtained from Lab- open, he manifested little fear, or disposirador, Georgia, Ohio, New Hampshire tion to fly, or get away, during the day and Columbia river. It is one of the small-time, but in the evening would readily est, and, I think, the most common Bat mount on the wing and fly about the found in Vermont, especially in the cen-room, and on lighting always suspended tral mountainous parts, where it enters the houses in the evening and is easily captured. The specimen, from which my description was drawn was taken in Waterbury. himself by his hind claws with his head downward. He ate fearlessly and voraciously of fresh meat when offered to him, but could not be made to eat the common house fly. CAROLINA BAT. * Fauna Boreali Americana [. p. 1. † Annals N. Y. Lyceum of Nat. His. Vol. IV. 54. + SILVER-HAIRED BAT. head, emarginate on the outer posterior edge, tragus shorter and less pointed than in Say's Bat. Head long and narrow; canine teeth very prominent; snout, interfemoral and wing membranes black and entirely naked; a few scattering hairs on the feet. Fur on the head and back long and color uniform bright ferruginous; beneath yellowish brown; last joint of the tail not enveloped in the membrane. Bones supporting the membrane very apparent. Length of the specimen before me, from the snout to the extremity of the tail 4.7 inches, head and body 3 inches, tail 1.7, fore arm 1.8, tibia .7, spread of the wings 11.5 inches. GENUS SOREX.-Linnæus. Generic Characters.—Teeth variable from 26 to 34. The two middle upper incisors hooked and dentated at their base; the lower ones slanting and elongated; lateral incisors small, usually five on each side above, and two below; grinders, most commonly 4 on each side above, and 3 below. The body is covered with fine, nished with hooked nails not proper for digging: head and nose elongated, the latter moveable; ears short and rounded; eyes small but visible. HISTORY.-Of the history of this bat I know nothing. It is said to be quite common in the southern states particular-short fur; toes, five on each foot, separate, furly in the Carolinas and Georgia and also on Long Island near New York. The only specimen I have seen and that from which the above description was made, was taken in Burlington, and deposited in the museum of the college of Natural History of the University of Vermont by Mr. John H. Morse, a student of the University. A Vermont specimen of this species is also preserved in the museum of Nat. His. of Middlebury college. SILVER-HAIRED BAT. FORSTER'S SHREW. Sorex Forsteri.-RICHARDSON. DESCRIPTION.-Color yellowish brown Vespertilio noctivagans.-LE CONTE. or dark olive above, bluish white or cinDESCRIPTION.-Ears dusky black, rath-erous beneath; base of the fur plumbeous er large, naked on the anterior portion, somewhat ovate and obtuse, with two emarginations, on the outer posterior border, produced by two plaits; naked within, and with the tragus moderate, ovate and obtuse. Color above, a uniform dark dusky brown, approaching to black. On the back the fur is somewhat glossy and tipped with silvery white, forming an interrupted line across the shoulders, and thence irregularly mixed down the centre of the back. Interfemoral membrane thickly hairy on the upper part becoming thinner downward and naked near the border. Tip of the tail projecting about a line beyond the membrane. Feet hairy. Wing membrane entirely naked. Beneath very similar to the upper parts, though the light colored tips of the hairs are more yellowish. Total length 3.8 inches, tail 1 5, fore-arm 1.8, tibia .8, spread of the wings 11 inches. HISTORY.—This Bat I have not seen in Vermont, but I am informed by my friend Prof. Adams that there is a specimen of it, which was taken in this state, in the museum of Natural History of Middlebury College. The above is Mr. Cooper's *Annals N. Y. Lyceum Nat. His. Vol. IV. p. 9. for two thirds its length both above and below; teeth white at the base and at their points, deep chestnut brown; tail long, four sided, covered with short hair and terminated in a fine pencil of hairs; feet small, light flesh-colored and nearly naked; nails slender and white; whiskers half an inch long, light brown. Length of the head and body 2 inches, tail 1.4, head .9, from the eye to the point of the nose .3. HISTORY. This little animal is occasionally met with in our pastures and fields, having their places of retreat in stone walls and under old fences and logs. The specimen from which the above description was made was taken in Bridgewater and is now in my possession. This shrew was first described by Dr. Richardson who says that it is common throughout the fur countries, even as far north as the 67° of latitude and that its delicate footsteps are often seen imprinted on the snow when the temperature is 40 or 50° below zero. It is also found according to Dr. Bachman on Long Island in the vicinity of New York.† * *Fauna Boreali, vol. I. page 6. Journal Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phil. vol. VII. p. 386 SHORT-TAILED SHREW. SHREW MOLE. THE SHORT-TAILED SHREW. Sorex Brevicaudus.-SAY. DESCRIPTION.—Color of the head, body and tail dark plumbeous brown above, a little lighter beneath; lips naked fleshy and flesh-colored; extremity of the snout brown, notched; teeth tipped with dark chestnut brown at their points fading into white at their base; feet flesh-colored, nearly naked and slender; nails slender, white on the fore feet, and on the hind feet chestnut brown at the base and white at the tip. The inner toe on each foot is shortest, the outer a little longer and the other three nearly equal, the third being a little the longest. The tail is squarish, largest in the middle, slightly strangulated at the base and sparsely covered with short hairs; whiskers whitish, sparse, kalf an inch long, situated between the eye and the snout and turned backwards. No external ear, opening large. Total length of the specimen before me 4-8 inches, to the origin of the tail 3-8, tail 1, head 1-1, hind foot to the point of the longest nail .6. HISTORY.-This species of Shrew bears a very considerable resemblance to the Shrew mole in its general appearance, but is much inferior to it in size, and differs from it remarkably in the structure of its fore feet. As they seldom venture into cleared fields, very little is known of their habits, but in the woods they are often seen and heard rustling among the leaves and digging little holes into the ground, probably in quest of food. This and the preceding species are occasionally caught and brought in by cats; but they will seldom attempt to eat them on account, probably,of their disagreeable musky odor. In addition to the foregoing we certainly have one other species, and probably more, but they require further examination. 4) 3 3 GENUS SCALOPS.-Cuvier. Generic Characters.-Teeth 36 to 44-Incisors 2 canines 6.6 or 6.6 or 6-6, grinders 3-3, or 4-3, crowns of the grinders furnished with sharp tubercles; nose long and pointed; eyes very small; no external ears; fore feet very broad and strong, with long flattened nails fit for excavating the earth; hind feet small and thin, with slender, arched nails; tail short; body thickly covered with fine, soft fur, which is perpendicular to the skin; feet five toed. THE SHREW MOLE. Scalops canadensis.-Desmarest. DESCRIPTION.-Color, grayish brown; body, plump, cylindrical and tapering from the shoulders backward; nose long, terminated by a button shaped cartilage; eyes and ears concealed by the fur; fore feet broad and strong, with the toes united up to the roots of the nails; nails broad, flat and strong; palms naked, bordered by small stiff hairs, above slightly covered with grayishdown; hind legs and feet slender and delicate, with slender, sharp, hooked nails; tail short and covered with hair. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 5.3 in. tail 1 in. head 1.3 in. HISTORY.-The Shrew Mole inhabits fields and meadows, but seems to prefer the banks of rivers and other water courses. In its habits it resembles the other moles. Its large and powerful paws are well calculated for digging in the earth, and by their aid it is enabled to burrow with surprising quickness. They spend most of their time in the ground, where they form extensive and connected galleries, through which they can range at pleasure to considerable distances and in various directions, without coming to the surface. In excavating these galleries, they throw up, in a manner difficult to be explained, little mounds of loose earth, by which their burrows may be detected. These mounds occur at distances, from one to three feet, and are from three to six inches in height, but exhibit externally no appearance of passages into the burrows. The fur of this animal is exceedingly beautiful, being thick, fine, soft and even, with delicate glossy, or silvery reflections. 4 499 5 5 3 3 GENUS CONDYLURA.—Illiger. Generic Characters.--Teeth, 40--Incisors canines 4-4, grinders 4-4 In the upper jaw are two large, triangular incisors, two very small ones, and on each side a large, strong canine. In the lower jaw the four incisors slant forward, and the canine on each side is small and pointed. Body cylindrical, clumsy, and covered with short thick fur, which is perpendicular to the skin; nose elongated and sometimes furnished with a membranous crest disposed in the form of a star around the nostrils; feet five-toed; fore feet broad and strong, fitted for digging; hind feet slender; eyes very small; no external ear. STAR-NOSED MOLE. THE STAR-NOSED MOLE. Condylura macroura.-HARLAN. DESCRIPTION.-Color dark brown approaching to black; body cylindrical; nose long, tapering and surrounded at the extremity by a fringed membrane, having twenty points; tail nearly as long as the body, strangulated at the base and then becoming suddenly enlarged as if swollen and thence tapering to a point. The tail is scaly and sparsely covered with stiff hairs. The fore legs very short; the paws large and naked, excepting the edges, which are fringed with stiff hairs; nails long and flat with cutting edges. The hind feet are naked, long and narrow, and the nails long, slender and sharp resembling birds claws; eyes concealed and very small; no external ear, 4 pectoral mammae; length from the nose to the insertion of the tail 4.7 inches, tail 2.8 inches, hand.7 inches, longest nail .3 inches, hind foot 1. HISTORY.-This animal being rare, its habits are not well understood. They appear, however, from what is known of them, to be similar to those of the other moles. They are usually found about old buildings, fences and stone-walls, and they occasionally find their way into cellars of dwelling houses. I have two specimens of this animal, both of which were before me, while making out the foregoing description. The color of one is a little darker than the other, but they scarcely differ in any other respects. They were both caught in Burlington, one in 1830, in the cellar of the Rev. G. G. Ingersoll, and the other in 1840, on the surface of the ground in a door-yard. Their fore feet are so closely attached to their bodies, that they serve but little purpose except for digging, and their progress upon the surface of the ground, is extremely slow, labored and awkward. Like the shrew moles, they probably reside most of the time in the ground and venture abroad only in the night. On account of their clumsiness they are frequently drowned in cisterns and tubs of water and are sometimes brought in by cats; but cats are not fond of eating them on account of the musky odor which they have in common with the shrew and shrew mole. It proceeds, as in the other THE BLACK BEAR. GENUS URSUS.-Linnæus. Generic Characters -Teeth, 32 to 44,-incis-. ors &, canines 1-1, grinders 4-4 to 7-7. Three of the grinders on each side in each jaw, are large, with square tuberculous crowns; the other are small, most of which appear late and are shed early. Body thick, covered with strong hair; ears long and slightly pointed; toes, five, furnished with strong, curved claws, calculated for climbing or burrowing; tail, short. THE BLACK BEAR. Ursus americanus.-PALLAS. DESCRIPTION.-Color shining black ; hair long and not curled; nose fawn colored, projecting, brightest about the angle of the mouth, and terminated by a naked black snout; forehead slightly arched; ears oval, rounded at the tip and far apart; palms and soles of the feet short in comparison with the brown bear; claws black and strong with the hairs of the feet projecting over them; tail short. HISTORY.-The specimen from which our description is drawn was killed in Williston in 1838, and presented to the College of Natural History of the University of Vermont. It measures 6 feet from the nose to the tail; tail 2 inches; height of the ears 4 inches; height to the top of the shoulders 3 feet; rump 2 feet 4 inches. This Bear, which is found throughout all the woody parts of North America, was formerly very common in Vermont, and continues so plentiful at the present day, that our Legislature continue in force a law allowing a bounty of $5 each, for its destruction. It appears from our Treasurer's reports for several years past that the number of bears for which the bounty has been paid has varied from 40 to 50 annually. The black bear, under ordinary circumstances, is neither very carniverous nor very ferocious. Its favorite food consists of vegetables, such as Indian corn, nuts, berries and roots. But when these fail, it is compelled by necessity rather than choice to resort to animal food. In such cases, impelled by hunger, it will sometimes attack and destroy young cattle, sheep and hogs, but |