USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 6
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Ihsrony .- This little animal is oeca- sionally 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 de- scription was made was taken in Bridge- water and is now in my possession. This shrew was tirst described by Dr. Richard- son who says that it is common throughout the for countries, even as far north as the 67º of latitude and that its delicate foot- steps 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.t
*Annals N. Y. Lyceum 2vu. His. Vol. tV. p. 9
*Fauna Boreali, vol. I. page G.
¡Journal Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phil. vol. VII. p. 3d6.
27
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 2.
SHORT-TAILED SHREW.
SHREW MOLE.
THE SHORT-TAILED SHIREW. Sorex Brericaudus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the head, body and tail dark plumbeous brown above, a httle lighter beneath ; lips naked fleshy and flesh-colored ; extremity of the snout brown, notched ; teeth tipped with dark chestnut brown at their points fuding in- to white at their base ; feet flesh-colored, nearly naked and alender ; nails slender, abole on the fore feet, and on the hind fort chestnut brown at the base and white at the top. 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 strangula - Ird at the base and sparsely covered with short hairs; whiskers whitish, sparse, half an inch long, situated between the eye and the snout and turned back wards. 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 dif- fers from it remarkably in the structure of its fore feet. As they seldom venture in- to cleared fields, very little is known of their habits, but in the woods they are of- Les 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 ac- count, probably, of their disagreeable mus- ky odor. In addition to the foregoing we certainly have one other species, and pro- bably more, but they require further ex- ammation. . -
GENUS SCALOPS .- Cuvier.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 36 to 41-Incisors ₹, canines 6.6 of 3-3 or 8-G, grinders 3-3, or 4-4, crowns of the grinders furnished with sharp tu- bercles ; 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 tue, soft for, which is perpendicular to the skin ; feet five toed.
THE SHREW MOLE.
Scalops aquaticus .- LINNAUS.
Scalops canadensis .- Desmarest.
DESCRIPTION .- Color, grayish brown ; body, plump, cylindrical and tapering from the shoulders backward ; nose long, terininated by a button shaped cartilage ; eyes and ears concealed by the fur ; fore fret broad and strong, with the toes united up to the roots of the nails; nails broad, flat and strong; palins naked, bordered by small stiff hairs, above slightly cover- ed with grayish down ; hind legs and feet slender and delicate, with slender, sharp, hooked nails ; tail short and covered with hair. Length of thespecimen before me, from the nase to the insertion of the tail, 5.3 in. tail 1 in. head 1.3in.
HisTony .- The Shrew Mole inhabits fields and meadows, but seems to prefer the banks of rivers and other water cours- es. 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 gal- leries, through which they can range at pleasure to considerable distances and in various directions, without coming to the surface. In excavating these galle- ries, they throw up, in a manner difficult to be explained, little mounds of loose earth, by which their burrows may be de- tected. These mounds occur at distnu- ces, from one to three feet, and are from three to six inches in height, but exhibit externally no appearance of passages in- to the burrows. The fur of this animal is exceedingly beautiful, being thick, fine, soft and even, with delicate glossy, or sil- very reflections.
GENUS CONDYLURA .- Illiger.
Generic Characters .-- Teeth, 40 -- Incisors 4, canines 4-3, grinders 3-4- In the upper jaw are two large, triangular incisors, two very small ones, and on each side a large, strong ca- nine. 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 fin, 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, finted for digging ; hind feet slender ; eyes very small ; no external ear.
28
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
STAR-NOSED MOLE.
THE BLACK BEAR.
THE STAR-NOSED MOLE.
Condylura macroura .- HARLAN.
DESCRIPTION .- Color dark brown ap- proaching to black ; body cylindrical; nose long, tapering and surrounded at the ex- tremity 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 thenee 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 ed- ges, which are fringed with stiff hairs ; nails long and flat with cutting edges. The hind feet are naked, long and nar- row, and the nails long, slender and sharp resembling birds claws; eyes concealed and very small; no external ear, 4 pec- toral mammae ; length from the nose to the insertion of the tail 4.7 inches, tail 2.8 inches, hand .7 inches, longest nail .3 inch- es, hind foot I.
ILIsToRY .- This animal being rare, its habits are not well understood They ap- pear, 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 pur- pose except for digging, and their prog- ress upon the surface of the ground, is ex- tremely slow, labored and awkward. Like the shrew moles, they probably reside most of the time in the ground and ven- ture abroad only in the night. On ac- count of their clumsiness they are fre- queutly drowned in cisterns and tubs of water and are sometimes brought in by eats ; 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
cases, from a white viscous fluid contain- ed in a sack near the vent. -
GENUS URSUS .- Linneus.
Generic Characters -Teeth, 32 to 44,-incis- ors 6, canines 1-1, grinders 4-4 to 4-4. 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 col- ored, projecting, brightest about the an- gle of the mouth, and terminated by a naked black snout; forehead slightly arch- ed ; ears oval, rounded at the tip and far apart ; pahus and soles of the feet short in comparison with the brown bear ; elaws black and strong with the hairs of the feet projecting over them ; tail short.
IlisTORY .- The specimen from which our description is drawn was killed in Williston in 1838, and presented to the College of Natural History of the Univer- sity 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 in- ches. This Bear, which is found through- out 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 fa- vorite food consists of vegetables, such as Indian corn, nuts, berries and roots. But when these fail, it is compelled by neces- sity rather than choice to resort to ani- mal food. In such cases, impelled by hunger, it will sometimes attack and de- stroy young cattle, sheep and hogs, but
29
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 2.
THE RACCOON.
THE WOLVERENE.
will seldom, if ever, attack a person ex- cept in defence of its cubs, or when pro- voked, or wounded. The early settlers of this State suffered most from them in consequence of their ravages upon their fields of Indian corn. They entered the fields in the night when the corn was in the milk and broke down and devoured the ears with great greediness ; and it was a common business for the settlers to watch for them with guns and shoot them while committing their depredations ; and in this way large numbers were annually killed. During the fall, when their food is abundant, bears usually become very fut, and, as the winter sets in, they retire lo sorbe natural den among the rocks, or uprooted trees, or into some hollow tree, where they remain in a torpid state and without food until the return of warm weather in the spring. The female pro- duces ber young during her hibernation and has from one to five at a litter, but the more common number is two. Their pe- riod of gestation is about 15 or 16 weeks, and during this time the females conceal themselves so effectually that we have no record of any being killed while pregnant though they are often discovered while the cubs are very small. When the bears first leave their winter quarters, they are said to be about as fat as when they retir- ed in the fall, but with exercise they short- ly lose their fat so as to appear in a few days much emaciated. When the bear is in high order he is valued for his flesh, his grease, und his skin. He is, with the exception of the moose, the largest native quadruped found in Vermont, and has been frequently killed weighing from 400 to 500 pounds. Their skins are worth from $2, to $4, or $5 according to their size and quality.
GENUS PROCYON .- Storr.
Generic Characters -- Teeth 40,-Incisors 1. caninos }}; grinders 92. The three first grinders ou each side in each jaw, are pointed, the others are luberculated. Body low set ; nose pointed ; external cars small, oval ; tail long and pointed ; feet five toed ; nails sharp ; mamma six.
THE RACCOON.
Procyon lotor .- CUVIER.
DESCRIPTION .- General color blackish gray which results from the hairs being
alternately ringed with black and dirty white ; belly lighter ; tail bushy, like that of the fox, but more tapering, surrounded by alternate rings of dark and yellowish white, about six of each ; head roundish with the snout projecting beyond the up- per jaw and terminating in a smooth black membrane through which the nostrils open ; face whitish in front, with a black patch surrounding the eye and descend- ing to the lower jaw, and a black line de- scending from the forehead between the eyes ; pupils of the eyes round ; the cars oval, rounded at the tip and the edges of a dirty white color ; legs short ; whiskers strong. Usual length of the head and body 22 inches, tail 9 inches ; height 12 inches.
HisTony .-- Raccoons were very plenty in all parts of Vermont, when the coun- try was new, and they exist in the monn- tainous and woody parts in considerable numbers at the present time. In the gen- eral aspect of this animal there is some resemblance of the fox, but in its move- ments it is more like the bear. It also like the bear subsists both upon animal and vegetable food and its destructive pro- pensity is well known. It sleeps during the day in its nest in some hollow tree or among the rocks, and prowls for its prey during the night ; and is said to destroy many more animals than it consumes, merely sucking their blood or eating their brain. It sometimes makes great havoc in the farmer's poultry-yard, and being an excellent climber scarcely any roost can be placed beyond his reach. But it proba- bly does most mischief in the fields of In- dian corn, of which it is extremely fond, while the corn is soft, or " in the milk." Ilere it breaks down and destroys much more than it cats. The Raccoon is said to be fond of dipping its food in water be- fore it eats it, and hence, Linneus gave it the specific name of lotor, which signifies washer. The price of the skin is variable, from 17 to 372 cents. The largest of these animals in Vermont, weigh about 32 pounds, according to Dr. Williams, who says that its flesh is eaten and con- sidered very excellent food.
GENUS GULO .- Curier.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 36 10 38-Incis- ors 8, canines, }-{, grinders 1-4 or 5-3. The three first grinders in the upper jaw, and four first in the lower are small, succeeded by a large carniverous or cutting tooth, and small tuberculous teeth further back. Body low ; head moderately elongated ; cars short and round ; tail short; feet with five toes armed with crooked nails.
-
30
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART L
THE WOLVERENE.
THE WEASEL.
THE WOLVERENE. Gulo luscus .- SABINE.
DESCRIPTION .- Head broad and round- ed ; jaws like the dog ; ears low, rounded and much hidden by the fur : back arch- ed ; tail low and bushy ; legs thick and short. and the whole aspect of the ani- mal indicates more strength than activi- ty. Color dark brown, passing into al- most black on the back in winter with a pale reddish brown band passing from each shoulder along the tlanks and meet- ing on the rump. Fur similar to that of the bear, but not so long nor valuable. The tail is thickly covered with long black hair. Some white marking on the throat and between the fore legs ; legs brownish black ; claws strong and sharp. Length 2 feet 6 inches; tail (certebræ) 7 inches; tail with the fur 10 inches.
HISTORY-This animal was occasional- ly found when the country was new, in all parts of the state, but was never very plen- tiful. For many years past, however, it has been known only in the most woody and unsettled districts, and in such places it is now extremely rare, none having been met with to my knowledge for several years. According to Dr. Richardson, from whose work the above description is abridged, this animal is quite common in the fur countries at the north, and is a great annoyance to the hunters, robbing their traps of game, or of the bait, whichi they do so dexterously as seldom to be caught themselves." The Wolverene is represented as being very fierce and car- niverous in its disposition, and many mar- vellous stories have been told of its cun- ning and artifice and gormandizing pro- pensities, which are totally unfounded. Its food ordinarily consists of mice, moles, hares and other small animals, seldom meddling with larger ones, excepting such as have been previously killed or disabled. It produces once a year from two to four cubs which are covered with a downy fur ofa pale cream color. It is found through- out all the northern parts of North Amer- icn, even as far north as the 75th degree t of latitude.
GENUS MUSTELA .- Linnaeus.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 34 or 38-Incis- ors §, cauines 1-4, grinders 3-4, or 5-5. Second inferior incisors on each side slightly re- ceding ; canines strong ; grinders cutting; the anterior false grinders conical and compressed ; Irue grinders trilobate, the last with a blunt crown. Body long and cylindrical ; head small and oval ; cars short and round ; legs short ; loes 5, armed
with sharp, crooked claws, and glands producing a strong, fetid secretion.
THE WEASEL.
Mustela vulgaris .- LINNOUS.
Putorius vulgaris .- Cuvier.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above, in summer dull yellowish brown deepening into hair brown on the upper part of the head and nose, and yellowish white beneath, the brown extending in a rounded spot into the white behind the angle of the mouth ; tail next the body the same color as the back, but darker as it approaches the ex- tremity, where it is quite black, and the hairs terminate in a point resembling that of a camel's hair pencil. Color in winter wholly white, excepting the posterior half of the tail, which is always black, or reddish brown. Forehead flatish; ears slightly pointed ; eyes small, black and lively ; body long and cylindrical ; tail short, less than half the length of the body. Length of the head and body of the specimen before me 8 inches ; tail (vertebra) 2 inches.
HISTORY .- The Weasel, though no- where greatly multiplied, is frequently met with in all parts of Vermont. It is generally seen in stone walls, old fences and heaps of bushes. When in sight it seems to be always in motion and its mno- tions are very quick. When in a stone wall or heap of bushes he will sometimes show himself for an instant in half a doz- en places in the course of half that num- ber of minutes. The weasel feeds upon mice, young rats, young birds and birds eggs,and sometimes commits depredations upon the eggs and young of our domestic fowls. It is not uncommon for it to enter the barns and granaries and cellars of the farmers in quest of food, and particularly in pursuit of mice, of which it destroys large numbers, and on which account it might be regarded as a public benefactor, were it not for its occasional depredations upon the poultry yard. The female pro- duces her young several times in the course of the year and has from three to five at a litter. But notwithstanding their apparent fecundity, they never become very numerous.
*Fuuna Boreali, I. 11.
31
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CITAP. 2.
THE ERMINE.
THE MINK.
THIE ERMINE. Mustela erminca .- LINN. GMEL. Putorius erminea .- Cuvier.
DESCRIPTION .- Color, both in summer and winter, nearly the same as that of the Weasel, excepting that the upper parts of the Ermine are darker in summer and the under parts a clearer white than the same parts of the Weasel. The Ermine also grows to a larger size than the Wen- sel and is likewise more thick set, its forehead and nose more convex; its ears broader and more rounded, and its tail a- bont twice as long in proportion to the length of the body. Length of the head and body of the specimen before the 8 in- ches ; tail (vertebræe) 3.5. The tuft or pen- cil at the extremity extends about .7 inch- es beyond the vertebre both in this and the Weasel.
HisroRY .- It has been a matter of dis- pute whether this and the preceding ani- mal do or do not belong to the same species. Dr. Harlan describes them as two,' Dr. Godman, as one.t With these authorities before him, Dr. Richardson says that both these species are, indubita- bly, inhabitants of the American conti- nent, the Ermine extending to the most remote arctic districts and the Weasel as far north, at least, as the Saskatchewan river : Dr. Williams also describes the two as distinct species, and says that the Ermine, which he calls " one of the great- est beauties of nature" sometimes weighs 14 ounces, but that the Weasel is smaller. § The skin of the Ermine, in its winter pe- lage of pure white, was formerly held in very high estimation, and was much worn by the nobility and high functionaries of Europe upon their robes and dresses, and particularly by judges. Thence it became the emblem of judicial purity, and the judge who was any way corrupted was said to have soiled his Ermine. The value of the skins at present is hardly sufficient to pay for collecting them. The Ermine in its summer dress is, in many places, called the Stoat.
· Fauna Americana p. tl. t Nat. His. I. p. 193. [ Fauns Botoali, I. p. .. $ His. Vt. 1 p. II].
THE MINK.
Mustela vison .- LINN. GMEL.
Putorius vison .- Cuvier.
DESCRIPTION .- The head is depressed and small; eyes small and far forward ; ears low and rounded ; neck and body long and slender; tail round and thick next the body and tapering towards the tip ; legs short ; toes connected by short hairy webs; claws nearly straight, sharp, white and concealed by the fur. The fur is of two sorts, a very dense down mixed with strong hairs ; shortest on the head and increasing in length backwards ; color of the down brownish gray ; that of the hairs varying in different parts from choc- olate brown to brownish black ; occasion- al white spots about the throat; two oval glands which secrete a very fetid fluid. Length of the head and body 20 inches, tail 9 inches.
HISTORY .- The Mink is a common ani- mal in Vermont. Its favorite haunts are along the banks of streams, where it dwells in holes near the water, or in the ruins of old walls, or in heaps of flood wood, or in piers and abntments of bridges. It does not venture far from the streams and when pursued betakes himself imine- diately to the water. It does not run well on land, but swims and dives admirably, and can remain a long time under water. When irritated it ejeets a fluid, which diffuses a very unpleasant odor. Its fine short for, Otter-like tail, short legs and webbed feet, all denote its aquatic habits. Its fur though not highly prized, is more valuable than that of the Musk rat. The food of the Mink consists of frogs, fishes, muscles and fish spawn ; and also rats, mice, young birds and other small land animals. They sometimes enter the poultry yard, where they make great hav- oc among the fowls, by cutting off their heads and sucking their blood. It is not a very timid animal when in the water, but dives instantly at the flash of a gun, which makes it difficult to shoot them. It is easily tamed and in that state is very fond of being caressed, but, like the cat, is easily offended, and, on a sudden pro- vocation, will sometimes bite its kindest benefactor. This animal is found through- out the United States and British Ameri- ca, but there has been some confusion
.
F
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART 1.
PINE MARTIN.
FISHER MARTIN.
with regard to its name. The Mink pro- duces from three to six at a litter. When fully grown their weight is about four pounds. Mink skins are worth from 20 to 40 cents, according to quality.
THE FISHER MARTIN. Mustela canadensis .- LINNEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- Ilead, neck, shoulders and top of the back, mixed with gray and brown ; nose, rump, tail and extremities, brownish black ; sometimes a white spot under the throat, and also between the fore and hind legs ; lower part of the fore legs, the fore feet and the whole of the hind legs, black ; tail full, black, Instrons and tapering to a point; fur on the head short, but gradually increasing in length towards the tail; the head has a strong, roundish, compact appearance ; the ears are low semicircular and far apart, leaving a broad and slightly round- ed forchead ; fore legs short and strong ; toes on all the feet connected at the base by a short web which is covered on both sides with hair. Length from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 23 inches ; tail, including the fur, 16 inches.
HISTORY .- This animal is known in dif- ferent places under a great variety of ap- pellations, but in Vermont it is usually called the Fisher, or Fisher Martin. This name is, however, badly chosen, as it is calculated to deceive those unacquainted with the animal, with regard to its na- ture and habits. From its name the inex- perienced would conclude that it led an aquatic mode of life, and that like the ot- ter, it subsisted principally upon fishes But this is by means truc ; and they, who have had an opportunity to observe its habits, aver that it manifests as much repugnance to water as the domestic cat. It may, perhaps, sometimes devour fishes, which are thrown upon the shore, but it usually subsists by preying upon small quadrupeds, birds, eggs, frogs, &c. like the martin and other kindred species. It is said to kill the porcupine, by biting it on the belly, and then devour it. It lives in woods, preferring those which are low and damp. This animal is much valued for its fur, and considerable numbers are taken in the state, annually. The price of the skin varies from $1 to $2. It isflitter, about the last of April. A full
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