delicacy of its form. Its long and slim neck, small body and almost pointed head, give the animal the appearance of feebleness, which is only counteract ed by observing the animated eye, the playful movements, and the admirable celerity of its course when at full speed. It is said by hunters to evince : strong degree of animosity towards serpents, and especially to the rattlesnake of which it has an instinctive horror. In order to destroy one of these creatures, the deer makes a bound into the air, and alights upon the snake with all four feet brought together in a square, and these violent blows are repeated, till the hated reptile is destroyed.

The American Black Bear. This animal, which varies in color from & deep cinnamon to perfect black, is now only found in New England, among the remote mountains and ravines of Maine, N. Hampshire, and Vermont. In the two latter states it is extremely rare; it usually lives in surly seclusion, paying only an occasional visit to the haunts of men. He subsists on

fruits, and the young shoots and roots of vegetables. Of honey he is exceedingly fond, and as he is an expert climber; he scales the loftiest trees in search of it. Fish too, he delights in, and is often found in quest of it on the borders of lakes, and on the sea shore. When these resources fail, he will attack small quadrupeds, and even animals of some magnitude. This bear is distinct from any European species.

The Common Wolf. This fierce animal, once so common in New England, is now only found in those portions of it inhabited by the black bear. In Vermont, a premium of twenty dollars is paid by the state for each one that

is killed there, and it appears that during the year 1830, 280 dollars were paid from the treasury agreeably to this law. They seem to possess the same audacious character here as elsewhere; they descend from the mountains at night, enter the sheep-folds, and slay numbers of the flocks. They will never attack a man, except when pressed by hunger, nor then, unless several of them are assembled, and can make a united assault. This animal is probably a different species from the wolf of Europe.

The Fox. The red fox of America is common in New England, and is much hunted during the fall and winter by the sportsmen, who pursue him with packs of hounds. They are not mounted as in England, but go on foot, and shoot him when he comes within reach of a bullet, or buck-shot. He is also frequently taken in steel traps. He possesses all the art of his European brother, but his brush is finer, and he is altogether a superior animal. He is very common in the wooded districts of the northern fur countries, about 8,000 being annually imported into England from thence. This fur species preys much on the smaller animals of the rat tribe, but it is fond of fish- and rejects no kind of animal food that comes in its way. It hunts its food chiefly in the night. The gray and black fox, which are found in some parts of North America, are exceedingly rare in New England.

The Racoon. The racoon has never been found in the Eastern Continent, but is widely distributed over this. In New England, he is often seen in the woods, and the young men of the country frequently go in parties with dogs to hunt him at night. While eating, the racoon usually supports himself on his hind legs, and uses his paws to hold his food; he can open an oyster with the utmost dexterity. If water be near, he generally dips his food into it. By his pointed claws, he is able to climb trees with great facility. He runs up the trunk with the same swiftness that he moves over the plains, and frolics about the extremity of the branches with great security and ease. On the ground, indeed, he rather bounds than runs, and his motions, though singularly oblique, are yet always quick and expeditious. He may be tamed without difficulty, and is then very good natured and sportive; but he is as mischievous as a monkey, and seldom remains at rest.

The Hare. The animal, which is generally but erroneously called rabbit in this country, is a species of hare considerably inferior in size to that of England. It is abundant in New England, as in other parts of America. Large numbers are annually destroyed for the sake of their flesh and fur. It never burrows in the ground like the common European rabbit, but during the day time, remains crouched in its form, which is a mere space of the

size of the animal, upon the surface of the ground, cleared of grass, and sheltered by some plant. The best time for studying its habits is during moonlight nights, when it is to be seen sporting with its companions in unconstrained gambols, frisking with delighted eagerness around its mate, or busily engaged in cropping its food.

American Wild Cat. Wild cats are often shot in our woods, which are only the domestic species run wild. This is not an American animal, but was introduced by the European settlers. The proper American wild cat is called a lynx at Hudson's Bay, where it is a common animal. It is occasionally met with in New England, but is more abundant in Canada and the Western States. It reminds one strongly of the domestic cat, to which its general

aspect and movements are very similar. Its body is long, and it has a short tail curled backwards. Its residence is generally in woody districts, where it preys upon birds and squirrels, and other small animals.

Marmot or Woodchuck. This animal, which is usually called the Maryland marmot, is common in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and is sometimes found further N. It is still more abundant in the middle and western states. In some places, it does great injury to the farmers, as the quantity of herbage it consumes, is really surprising. It burrows in the sides of hills, and penetrates to great distances under ground. At the commencement of cold weather, it goes into its burrow, blocks up the door within, and remains torpid till the warm season.

Squirrels. If at the approach of autumn, a stranger is travelling on one of the by-roads of New England, he will occasionally be saluted from some neighboring tree, by a succession of sharp sounds, uttered with the greatest rapidity. While he is looking round to discover the cause, he will be at one moment inclined to laugh, at another to be angry. He will at length perceive, on one of the highest branches of the tree, a squirrel in violent agita

tion, looking down upon him, and seeming to utter a torrent of invective. Sometimes the little orator's throat appears to express a sort of elvish indignation, and then again to be filled with Billingsgate. It will require no great effo.t of imagination for the listener to fancy himsel. assailed by every epithet

which ridicule, defiance and contempt may suggest. This animal is the common red squirrel. The grey and ground squirrel are found in New England. but will be described in another place.

The Musquash, or Muskrat. The beaver, which once inhabited the marshy banks of the New England waters, has entirely disappeared, but the musquash remains in considerable numbers. It is of the size of a rabbit, and has the form of a rat. It is closely allied to the beaver, but is more familiar in its habits than that animal, being found at only a short distance from large towns. It may frequently be seen sitting on the shores of small muddy isl

ands, not easily to be distinguished from a piece of earth, till on the approach of danger it suddenly plunges into the water. It forms burrows on the banks of streams and ponds. It does not, like the beaver, lay up a store of provisIt is common ions for the winter, but builds a new habitation every season. in most parts of the United States, and its fur being valuable for hats, it is much hunted. It is peculiar to America.

The Skunk. This animal with which every farmer is well acquainted, is common in New England. It is thus described by Dr Godman. Pedestrians, called by business or pleasure to ramble through the country during the morning or evening twilight, occasionally see a small and pretty animal a short distance before them in the path, scampering forward without appearing much alarmed, and advancing in a serpentine direction. Experienced persons generally delay long enough to allow this unwelcome fellow traveller to withdraw from the path. It would be prudent to rest content with pelting this quadruped from a safe distance, or to drive it away by shouting loudly; but most inexperienced persons, the first time such an opportunity occurs, rush forward with the intention of running the animal down. This appears to be an easy task; in a few moments it is almost overtaken; a few more

strides, and the victim may be grasped by its long and waving tail; but that tail is now suddenly curled over the back, the animal's pace is slackened, and in one instant, the condition of things is entirely reversed; the lately triumphant pursuer is eagerly flying from his intended prize, involved in an atmosphere of stench, gasping for breath, or blinded and smarting with pain, if his approach were sufficiently close to admit of his being struck in the eyes by the pestilent fluid of the skunk.' This is secreted in a few glands, and when scattered upon the body of its enemies, or even in the air, is sufficient to disarm the violence of most quadrupeds, and induce man himself to avoid rather than to seek an encounter. This animal inhabits the whole of North America. It is generally found in forests, making its den in the hollow of an old tree. It feeds upon the young and eggs of birds, on small quadrupeds, and wild fruits.

The Weasel. The weasel is the smallest of the class to which it belongs, and is an active and handsome little animal. It moves by unequal leaps, and can spring several feet from the ground, or run up a wall without difficulty. When it enters a hen-roost, it never meddles with the cocks or old hens, but makes choice of the young chickens, which it kills with a single stroke on the head, and carries away one after another. The eggs it sucks with incredible avidity, making a small hole at one end, through which it licks out the yolk. It also climbs into pigeon-houses, and up to the nests of sparrows, where it commits great havoc. It may be tamed, and is then very good tempered, and exceedingly curious. Godman considers the common weasel of New England, and other parts of the country, to be the identical white ermine or stoat of Europe, but Richardson affirms that the European weasel is indubitably an inhabitant of America. One or the other of these naturalists must be mistaken, or both the European ermine and weasel are found here.

We might enumerate several other quadrupeds found in New England, as the otter, mink, &c.; but we shall leave them to be described in a more appropriate place.

The Wood or Summer Duck is the most beautiful bird of its kind in the world. It was named sponsa, or the bride, by Linnæus, from the crest which

adorns its head, resembling the wedding head-dress of the Swedish peasants. Its plumage is most brilliantly variegated. It passes the summer in the woods, but its favorite spots are the borders of ponds and lakes. It nestles in hollow trees, and when taken may be easily tamed.

A great variety of other ducks frequent the waters of New England, as