USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 9
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mont till some time after the settlement of the state was commenced, but that, when he wrote, they had become quite common. The Norway or Brown rat is how the common rat in all the older parts of the state ; and yet it is but a few years since it was said that none of these rats had ever been seen in the county of Or- leans.
THE COMMON MOUSE. Mus musculus .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Color, dusky gray above and ash gray beneath ; forehead, reddish ; whiskers, slender, numerous and black ; feet, white ; nails, reddish with white points ; tail, round, sparsely covered with very short hairs, and tapering from the insertion to the extremity ; cars large, Total length about seven inches, of which the tail constitutes one half. A variety of this mouse which is wholly white is frequently met with in the neighborhood of lake Champlain, on both sides of the lake, and another variety, less common, is white spotted with black.
HISTORY .- This mischievous little crea- ture, like the preceding, did not exist in North America at the time of the discov- ery of this continent by the Europeans, but finding its way over in ships, in bales of merchandize, &c., by its great fecun- dity it filled the country with a rapidity equal to the advancement of the new set- tlement,and is now very common through- out all the settled parts of the continent. This mouse takes up bis residence chiefly in houses, barns and granaries, where he is often exceedingly troublesome, and does mueh mischief. He is very apt to find his way into cellars and pantries, of- ten by gnawing holes through boards, and he is sure to nibble every kind of eatable that falls in his way. On this account, and on account of the peouhar odor which he communicates to the places which he frequents, the mouse, though a beautiful and sprightly creature, is every where re- garded with disgust. The mouse builds its nest very much like that of a bird, lining the inside with wool, cotton or oth- er soft materials. It brings forth young several times during the year, and has from 6 to 10 at a litter, so that its multi- plication, when unchecked, is exceeding- ly rapid. Aristotle, in his history of ans- mals, mentions that a pregnant femal: of this species was shut up in a chest of grain, and in a short time 120 individuals were counted, from which it would ap- pear that the mouse was as much distin- guished on account of its fecundity 2000 years ago as it is at present.
* Natural History Vol. 2 .- page 78.
[ History of Vermont, Vol. 1, p. 113.
41
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART 1.
THE JUMPING MOUSE.
THE WOODCHUCK
GENUS GEREILLUS .- Desmarest.
Generic Characters .- "Teeth, 16-Incis- ors 3, no canines, grinders 3.3. The grinders are tuberculous ; the first with three, the secondl with two and the third with one tubercle. Head elongated ; ears moderately long, founded at the extremity ; fore feet short with four toes and a rudimentary thumb ; hind feet long, having five tous wi h unils ; each Foot with a proper metatar- sal bone ; tail long, and more or less hairy.
THE JUMPING MOUSE. Gerbillas canadensis .- DESM.
Deseniprios .- General color, yellow- ish brown above, grayish yellow on the sides, and yellowish white on the belly ; tail tapering, longer than the body, sparse- ly covered with very short hair, and the tuft at the end very small; head small, nar- row and pointed; fore legs very short; hind legs very long; nails slender and sharp ; ears moderate and covered on both sides with short hair ; upper incisors grooved on the outside. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail 4 inches, head 1 inch, body 3 inches , tail 5 inches, hind leg 2 inches , fore leg 3 of an inch.
JLISTORY .- This timid and active lit- tle animal is frequently met with in the grain fields and meadows in all parts of the state. When not in motion it might be mistaken for a common field mouse ; but its usual method of progression is very different. It sometimes runs on all its feet, but it more commonly moves by leaps on its hind legs, particularly when pur- sued. It will often clear five or six feet at a leap, and its leaps are made in such quick succession that it is not easily caught. On examination, it is found to diller considerably in form from the mouse, particularly in the great disproportion be- tween the fore and hind legs, the latter being more than twice the length of the former. In this respect it resembles the kangaroo of Australasia, and the jerboa of the eastern continent. They pass the winter in a torpid state and are not usu- ally out m the spring before June.
GENUS ARCTOMYS .- Geoffroy.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 22-Incis- ors , no canines, grinders 5.5. The incis us are very strong with the anterior surface rounded ; grinders furnished with ridges and tubereles. Body thick and heavy ; head and eyes large ; ears short; paws strong ; fore feet with your toes and a rudi- memary thumb; hint feet with tive toes ; nails strong and compressed ; tail generally short, hairy .
THE WOODCHUCK. Arctomys monar .- GMELIN.
DESCRIPTION .- General color, grayish ferruginous brown, paler benrath and ap- proaching to red between the legs; top of the head and nose brown; feet and nails black; whiskers black and stiff, standing in three clusters on each side ; tail covered with long reddish brown hair. Length of the specimen before me from the nose to the insertion of the tail 162 inches ; head 34 inches, body 13 inches, trunk of the tail 5 inches, with the hair extending 1} inch beyond, fore legs 4 inch- es, feet 23 inches ; longest nail .6 inch ; hind legs 43 inches; feet 3 inches ; lar- gest nail .4 inch. Weight 5 lbs. This thonghan adult is not one of the largest size.
HISTORY .-- The Woodchuck is a com- mon and well known animal in all parts of the state. They are found both in the woods and open fields, where they reside in pairs or families, in holes , which they dig in the ground. These holes are usu- ally made beneath a large rock, or stump, or in the side of some dry bank, and are sometimes very extensive, consisting of several apartments with several open- ings. In these recesses they form their nests of dry leaves and grass in which they spend much of their time in sleep. Their food is entirely vegetable, of which they eat various kinds. They are par- ticularly fond of elover and beans, and are occasionally injurious to the farmers by the extent of their depredations. When feeding they frequently rise upon their haunches to reconoitre, raising their fore feet like hands. In this position, when the weather is fine, they will some- times sit for hours at the entrance of the holes, but they seldom venture far abroad in the day time. On the approach of cold weather they confine themselves to
45
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 2.
THE GRAY SQUIRREL.
THE BLACK SQUIRREL.
their holes by closing the passage be- tween themselves and the surface of the ground and spend the winter, like bears, in a torpid state.
The Woodchuck is a cleanly animal, is capable of being tamed, in which state it becomes playful and fond of attention. Itis a low-set, clumsy animal, and when the retreat to his hole is cut off, he will boldly face a dog in battle, and is fully a match for one of his own size. His bite, with his long and projecting incisors, is very severe. The female produces from four to six ata litter. The weight of a Woodchuck of the largest size in Ver- mont when fat is 10 or Il pounds. Its thesh is sometimes caten, but is not much esteemed. Sometimes called Ground Hog.
GESUS SciURUS .- Linnens.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 22-Incis- ors &, no canines, grinders 3 .- 5. The upper iu- cisors are flat in front and wedge-shape at the ev- Iremity, tho lower are pointed and compressed laterally. The grinders are tubercular. Body small and elongated : head small; ears ercet ; eyes large ; fore feet with foor toes and a tubercle instead of a thumb ; hind feet with five long toes, all furnished with long hooked nails ; tail long and frequently shaggy ; two pectoral and six ventral mamma :.
THE GRAY SQUIRREL. Sciurus cincreus .-- GMELIN.
DESCRIPTION .- General color, gray above and white beneath ; sides of the head and body, and the exterior of the legs, reddish fawn mixed with gray ; inside of the legs and thighs bluish white ; tail large and bushy, composed of hairs mark - ed with zones alternately fawn and black, and tipped with white ; ears without pen- cils, rounded and covered with very short hair ; whiskers black, 23 inches long. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 10 inches ; tail, (trunk 93, tuft 2,) 11g inch- es. Weight 1; pound.
IlISTORY .- According to Dr. Williams, the Gray Squirrel was formerly the most. common squirrel in Vermont. It is still
found in considerable numbers but less plentifully at present than some of the smaller species. This as well as some of the other species, in some years, be- comes exceedingly multiplied, and then, perhaps, for several years very few of them will be seen. This sudden increase and diminution of their numbers, seems to depend upon two causes, the supply of food and the severity of the winters. Their great multiplication generally fol- lows a mild winter, which was preceded by a productive summer. I believe it to be generally true that when one species becomes very plentiful, the others become so too. The Gray Squirrel prefers woods, which abound in oak, walnut, butternut and chestnut, because these fornish him with such food as he prefers. During the fall they collect a supply of food for the winter, which they carefully depos- it in hollow trees or obscure recesses. Their nests which are built with sticks and lined with leaves, are usually placed in the forks of large and lofty trees, or in the hollows of old trees, and in these they spend most of their time during the win- ter, leaving them only to visit their de- positories of food for the purpose of ob- taining a supply. This is one of the most active and beautiful of our squirrels. It is easily tamed, and, in captivity, is re- markably playful, but rather disposed to be mischievous, often using its teeth to the injury of the furniture. About a cen- tury ago these squirrels were so trouble- some in Pennsylvania that government granted a premium of 3d a head for their destruction, which in 1749, amounted to ES,000 sterling ; from which it would ap- pear the number killed in one year was about 1,280,000.
THE BLACK SQUIRREL.
Sciurus niger .- LAINNAUS.
DESCRIPTION .- Top of the head, back, tail and extremities of the feet, covered with hair of a deep black color ; throat, breast and belly brownish black, lighter on the flanks; cars short, black, and not pencilled ; smaller and the tail proportion- ally shorter, and the for softer than in the preceeding species. Length of the hend and body about 8 inches.
ITisToRY .- The Black Squirrel is much less common in Vermont than the gray squirrel, particularly in the western parts, and is perhaps, frequently confounded with a blackish variety of the gray squir- rel. Ilaving obtained no specimen of this squirrel, I have copied, above, the de- scription contained in Dr. Harlan's Fau- na Americana. According to Dr. Will-
4.6
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE RED SQUIRREL
THE STRIPED SQUIRREL.
iams our largest black squirrels weigh but | lastly, a reddish brown stripe ; the throat, 23 lbs., while our largest gray squirrels weigh 3} lbs.
THIE RED SQUIRREL. Sciurus Hudsonius .- GMEL.
DESCRIPTION,-Color, reddish gray a- bove, and whitish beneath, with a dark line extending along each side, separating the color above from that below ; eyes black ; whiskers long and black ; hairs of the tail cinerous at their base and then black, tipped with red on the upper side, and with yellow on the under. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 78 inches; tail, (trunk 5, hair 1,) 6 inches.
HISTORY .- This animal is every where known in Vermont by the name of Red Squirrel. They are much more common than either of the preceding species, and in some seasons they have multiplied so exceedingly as to be a great annoyance to the farmer, and do considerable dam- age by their depredations. They spend most of their time in the tops of trees, feeding upon nuts of various kinds, and upon the seeds contained in the burs of spruce and hemlock. Their nests are usually in the hollow of some old tree, and here they lay up for winter their store of provisions, often amounting to several gallons, and consisting of butter- nuts, beechnuts, acorns, and different kinds of grain. Their food in summer consists of grain, sweet apples, and differ- ent kinds of berries, as well as nuts. In the fall and early part of winter they of- ten come around our barns, and purloin their subsistence from our granaries. This squirrel is often called the Chickarce, prob- ably from its noisy chatter when alarmed. It is also called the Hudson, or Hudson Buy Squirrel.
THE STRIPED SQUIRREL. Sciurus Striatus .- KLEIN.
DESCRIPTION .- Top of the head dark reddish gray ; eye-lids whitish ; neck gray ; back striped, having a black stripe along the spine, then on each side a broad reddish gray stripe, then another black stripe, succeeded by a white stripe, and,
belly, and inuer surface of the legs, white ; head tapering from the ears to the nose ; forehead slightly convex ; nose covered with short hairs, with a black spot near the extremity ; cars short, rounded, and covered with very fine hair, which is red- dish brown within; tail less bushy than in the preceding species, blackish above, and red beneath, bordered with gray. Length of the specimen before me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 6 in- ches ; tail (trunk 3} in., tuft 3 in.) 4 in- ches.
HISTORY .- The Striped Squirrel is more common in Vermont than either of the preceding species, and differs from them in being furnished with check pouches, in which it carries the food it collects, to its store-house. It also differs from the preceding in having its chief residence in the ground, while the others inhabit hol- low trees, and hence it has received the name of Ground Squirrel. It is likewise frequently called the Chipmuck, or Chip- ping Squirrel, from its note ; and it is al- so called in many places the Hackce.
This squirrel is generally seen running along upon the lower rail of fences, or sit- ting upon stone walls or logs. When frightened they immediately retreat to their holes, which they enter with a pe- culiarly shrill chit-te-rie, indicative of sale- ty, which is as much as to say, " catch me now if you can." When their retreat to their hole is cut off, they become much alarmed, and, in such cases, will some- times ascend trees, but they betray much timidity, and will seldom go up more than 20 or 30 feet Their burrows are by the side of stone walls, fences, or the roots of trees, and in places where their food is easily obtained. These burrows are often extensive, with two openings, at consid- erable distance from each other, and what is remarkable, is that the dirt which has been removed in making the excavation, is no where to be found. This squirrel retires to its burrow on the approach of cold weather, where it spends the winter, subsisting upon its stores of nuts and seeds, which it had carefully provi- ded, and being seldom seen after the be- giuning of November, before the first of April.
GENUS PrERONYS .- Curier.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 22-Incis- ors, &, no canines, grinders, 5-5. Head round ; ears short and rounded ; eyes large ; fore feet with four elongated toes, furnished with sharp nails and a rudimentary thumb, having an obtuse nail ; hind feet with five long toes, much divided,
4.7
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 2.
THE FLYING SQUIRREL.
THE HEDGE HOG ,
and adapted for seizing ; tail long, villose ; skin of | they ascend, and proceed in like manner the sides extending from the anterior to the posle- rior extremities forming a kind of parachute,
THE FLYING SQUIRREL. Pteromys rolucella .- DESMAREST.
DESCRIPTION .- General color, reddish gray above, yellowish white beneath ; head large ; nose rounded; eyes large, black, prominent, and far apart, and sur- rounded by a blackish ash color, with a white spot over each ; ears broad, round- ed, and nearly naked; whiskers black, two inches long; tail long, thickly covered with fine long fur, brown above, lighter be- neath, and flattened ; a bony appendage, about an inch long, proceeding from the wrist, and used in stretching the flying membrane. Length of the specimen be- fore me, from the nose to the insertion of the tail, 6 inches ; tail 53 inches ; spread of the membrane, measured across the breast, 63 inches.
Ilisrony .- This interesting little ani- mal is frequently met with, living in fam- ilies, in all parts of the State, but is nev- er so greatly multiplied as some of the preceding species of squirrels. They usu- ally inhabit the hollows of trees, and feed upon nuts, grains, seeds and buds. Their wings are not calculated for rising in the air and flying in the manner of bats and birds. Consisting only ofan extension of the skin of the flanks, they form only a kind of parachute, by which they are sup- ported for a while in the air, and are thus enabled to sail from one tree to another at a distance of several rods. In proceeding through the forests, they first ascend high upon a tree, and, leaping off in the direction of another tree, and at the same time spreading their wings, they are ena- bled to sail, while descending, to a con- siderable distance and to alight on the tree designated, near the ground. This
to another tree, thus passing to a consid- erable distance without coming to the ground. Their habits are nocturnal, and, unless disturbed, they seldom leave their nests in the day time. When this animal sleeps, it rolls itself up, and so wraps its large flat tail over its head and limbs as completely to conceal them, and give it the appearance of a simple ball of fur. The flying squirrel is often tamed as a pet, but is more admired on account of its singular form, soft fur, and gentle dispo- sition, than for its sprightliness and.activ- ity.
GENUS HYSTRIX .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .- Teeth 20-Incis- ors, , nu canines, grinders 4-4. The grind- ers have flat tops, but are furnished with ridges of enamel. Head strong and convex ; muzzle thick and turned ; ears short aud rounded ; tongue furnished with spiny scales; fore feet, with four toes, und the rudiment of a thumb ; hind feet with five toes ; nails strong on all the feet ; body covered with spines, intermixed with strong hair ; tail more or less long, and sometimes prchensile.
THE HEDGE DOG. Hystrix dorsata .- GMELIN.
DESCRIPTION .- General color, brown- ish black ; hair rather long, thick, and in- terspersed with spines or quills, which vary from 1 to 4 inches in length ; quills black at the tip, below brownish, and white towards their base. Ears small, and covered by the hair ; snout short and thick. Legs and feet covered with hair, the latter armed with long curved nails. Tail thick, flattened, and not prehensile. Length 26 inches; tail 8; height of the back 14.
HISTORY .- The Hedge Hog was origin- ally very common in Vermont, but is now confined principally to the mountainous and woody parts, where it is still found in considerable numbers. This animal is remarkable, principally, on account of the quills or spines, which are intermingled with the hair, on nearly all parts of its body ; and as he runs very badly, and is moderate and awkward in all his move-
PART i.
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
THE AMERICAN RABBIT.
THE VARYING BARE.
ments, he relies mostly upon his quills | hairy ; tail short, hairy and elevated ; mammæ for defence and safety. When his en- from 6 to 10. emy approaches, if allowed sufficient time, he will generally retreat to a fissure among the rocks, or take refuge in the top of a tree, which he ascends with fa- cility ; but, if overtaken, he places his head between his fore legs, draws his bo- dy into a globular form, and ereets his barbed spines, which now project in all directions. In this condition they defy the attack of all enemies but man. The fox, the wolf and the dog attempt to seize THE AMERICAN RABBIT. Lepus americanus. him only to be severely wounded in the nose and mouth by the sharp projecting quills. These quills, being barbed at the extremity, and adhering in the wound, are detached from the owner, and by their rankling, and by penetrating deep- er and deeper, not only discourage the at- tack of the assailant, but very often occa- sion his death. The vulgar notion that this animal has the power of projecting or shooting his quills at his assailant, is with- out a shadow of foundation.
The quills of the Hedge Hog are highly prized by the aborigines on all parts of the continent, and are used by them in various ways as ornaments of their dress- es, pipes and war instruments. For this purpose they are dyed of several rich and permanent colors, ent into short pieces, strung upon threads or sinews, and then wrought into various forms and figures upon their belts, buffalo robes, moccasins, &c., and in these operations they mani- fest considerable ingenuity and a great deal of patient perseverance.
The Iledge Hog is a solitary, sluggish animal, seldom venturing to much dis- tance from his retreat among the rocks. Their food consists of fruits of different kinds, roots, herbs, and the bark and buds of trees. Their flesh is sometimes eaten, and is esteemed by the Indians as the greatest Inxury. They have three or four young at a litter, and their period of ges- tation is said to be 40 days. The Hedge Hog or American Porcupine, when full grown and fat, weighs about 16 pounds.
GENUS LEPUS .- Linnaeus.
Generic Characters .- Teeth, 28-Incis- ors 4, ho canines, grinders 5-5. The upper in- cisors are placed in pairs, two wedge-shaped with a longitudinal furrow in front, and two smal- ler ones intermediately behind ; the under incisors square, grinders with flat crowns and transverse lamina of enamel. licad rather large; ears long ; eyes large, projecting laterally ; fore feet with Give toes ; hind feet with four very long toes ; all the toes armed with moderate sized nails. which are slightly arched ; bottoms of the feet |
DESCRIPTION .- Color, above grayish fawn, varied with blackish brown and red- dish ; more red about the shoulders than elsewhere ; a whitish spot before the eyes and another behind the cheeks; breast and belly white; feet reddish before with the point of the foot fawn color ; upper part of the tail the color of the back, be- neath white, fur on the body white in winter, but the ears and tail are of the same gray color sunummer and winter. Length Il inches, head 33 cars 23, tail 2 inches.
IlISTORY .- This animal though strictly a Hare has acquired very generally in this country the name of Rabbit. Indeed the name of Rabbit is not only applied to this species, but also to the following,and this is distinguished by the appellation of Gray rabbit, on account of its not becoming so white in the winter as the other. This is the most common species of hare through- out the United States, and is also one of the most prolific species. It produces its young three or four times in the course of the year and has from from five to sev- en at a hirth. This animal has been sup- posed to form burrows in the earth like the European Rabbit, but this is probably a mistake. It is true they are sometimes found in burrows, but it is believed to be only in cases in which they have taken ref- uge in the holes of foxes or woodchucks.
THE VARYING HARE.
Lepus virginianus. - HARLAN.
DESCRIPTION .- General color, in its summer dress, reddish brown, darkest along the back, lighter about the should- ers, and passing into white on the belly. lairs on the upper parts bluish at their base, then light reddish yellow, and tip- ped with black. Chin and ears bluish white mixed with reddish brown, the lat- ter margined exteriorly, towards the tip, with black, and slightly edged with white ; orbits surrounded by reddish fawn ; fanks tinged with orange ; sides of the feet whi- tish ; soles covered with long hair of a
49
QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 2.
THE VARYING HARE.
THE MOOSE.
tawny yellow color. Ears and head of | lower, which are opposed to a callosity on equal length ; tail very short ; nails long. slightly arched, compressed at the base, and entirely covered by the hair. Incis- ors above and below nearly egnal, the for- mer slightly arched and marked by a lon- gitudinal groove. Length of the speci- men before me, which was taken in Sep- tember, from the nose to the root of the tail, 16 inches ; tail, including the fur, 1}; ears 33 ; hind foot, 53. Color, in its toin- ter dress, white, or nearly so, resulting from the hairs being bluish at their base, then yellowish fawn, tipped with white.
IlISTORY .- This hare is quite common in Vermont, and, in the winter season, is usually called the white rabbit. It is less prolifie than the preceding species, pro- ducing its young only once or twice a year, and having from 4 to 6 at a time. The young are able to see at birth, and are covered with hair. They are able to pro- vide for themselves in a very few days, af- ter which they receive but little aid from their mothers. The hares feed in sum- mer upon grass, juicy herbs, and the leaves and buds of shrubs, but in winter, when the snow is deep, they gain a pre- carious subsistence from the buds and bark of bushes and small trees. The bark of the willow, birch, poplar, and the buds of the pine, are with them favorite arti- cles of food. The hares are the most timid and defenceless of all quadrupeds, and no animals have more numerous or formidable enemies. They are pursued and destroy- ed in great numbers, by men and dogs, by eagles, hawks, and owls, and by all the carnivorous beasts of the forests ; and yet, notwithstanding this destruction, nature has sufficiently provided, in their great fecundity, for the preservation of the sev- eral species. When pursued, the Ameri- can rabbit soon becomes wearied, and to avoid being overtaken, takes shelter in some hole in the earth, in a heap of logs, or stones, or in a hollow log, but this spe- cies is so fleet as to be in no fear of being overtaken by its pursuers, and, therefore, does not seek concealment. It has been ascertained by measurement that it can leap 21 feet at a bound, and its body is so light in comparison with its broad furry feet that it is enabled to skim easily along the surface of deep snows, while the wea- ried hounds plunge in at every bound, and soon give up the hopeless pursuit. The skin of the hare is of no valne, but the flesh is considered nourishing food.
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