THE Grey Fox resembles the other in form, and magnitude, and appears to differ from it only in colour, which is of a beautiful silver grey.

THE Cross Fox resembles the other in form, and magnitude; but has a black streak, passing transversely from shoulder to shoulder; with another along the back, to the tail. The other parts of this animal are of a red, or more generally of a grey colour.

THE Black Fox is the largest, and most valuable of all. The fur of this fox is the most fine, soft, and rich, of any. One of the largest of the black foxes, was found to weigh twenty three pounds.

THE Fox is a very voracious animal; de, vouring all kinds of poultry, birds, and animals, which they can overcome. Flesh, fruit, honey, and every part of the farmer's dairy are devoured by him with great avidity, This animal is very prolific. The female is in season every year, in the winter; and generally produces in the month of April; the litter is generally from three to six.

THE CATAMOUNT, seems to be the same animal, which the ancients called Lynx, and which is known in Siberia, by the name of Ounce. In the form of its body it much resembles the common cat, but is of a much larger size. It is generally of a yellow grey colour, bordering upon a red or sandy; and is larger than our largest dogs. This seems to be the most fierce and ravenous of any animal, which we have in Vermont. Some years ago, one of these animals was killed at Bennington. It took a large calf out of a pen, where the fence

was four feet high, and carried it off upon its back. With this load, it ascended a ledge of rocks, where one of the leaps, was fifteen feet in height. Two hunters found the cat upon an high tree. Discharging his musket, one of them wounded it in the leg. It descended with the greatest agility, and fury; did not attack the men, but seized their dog by one of his ribs, broke it off in the middle, and instantly leaped up the tree again with astonishing swiftness, and dexterity. The other hunter shot him through the head, but his fury did not cease, but with the last remains of life. These animals have been often seen in Vermont; but they never were very numerous, or easily to be taken. Of their fecundity, I have no particular information. On account of their fierceness, activity, and carnivorous disposition, the hunters esteem them the most dangerous of any of our animals. The weight of one of them, was estimated by the hunter, at one hundred pounds. The length of his body was about six feet, that of the tail, three; the circumference of the body was two feet and an half, and the legs were about thirteen inches long.

WHAT is called the WILD CAT, is an ani, mal, in most respects similar to our common cats; but different in its disposition, and dimensions. It is much larger, stronger, and fiercer, than any of our domestic cats; and seems to be of the same disposition, and colour, as the wolf. One of the largest of them was found by the hunter, to weigh fifty seven pounds.

THE BLACK CAT does not appear to be distinguished from the former, in any other respect

than its colour. It is altogether black, and seldom grows to so large a size, as the former. It seems to be of a distinct species; is as fierce and ravenous as the other kind. These animals are frequently found in the woods; very wild, extremely fierce in combat, of great activity and strength; but never can be tamed, or made to associate with our common cats. They are valuable only on account of their furs. The black cat was called by the Indians, the Woollaneeg: The largest of which I have any account, weighed twenty three pounds.

ANOTHER animal which does not greatly dif fer in appearance from a wild cat, has been called the Wolverine. The body of this animal is about two feet and an half in length. It has a short tail, and is of the same colour as the wolf. This animal is of a very fierce, and carnivorous disposition, Concealing himself among the rocks and bushes, or taking a station upon the limb of a tree, he watches for the approach of prey. If the deer, or the moose comes within his reach, he darts upon their backs, fastens upon their neck, and with great dexterity opens their jugular vein with his teeth. This animal is scarce, and not to be found but in the northern, and most uncultivated parts of the state. I have no account of its fecundity, magnitude, or other particulars.

THE RACOON, in its shape or general form, resembles the fox, but has a larger body, with thicker and shorter legs. The feet have five long and slender toes, armed with sharp claws. The males have generally a large whitish stripe, and the females a smaller one, which runs across

the forehead. The tail is long, and round, with annular stripes' in it. This animal dwells in the retired part of the woods, runs up the trees with great agility, and ventures to the extremes of the boughs. Its fur is thick, long, and soft; and of a dark grey colour. The weight of one of the largest in Vermont, was thirty two pounds. It is often found in hollow trees, and its flesh is excellent food.

THE PORCUPINE, or Hedgehog, is not uncommon in Vermont. What is singular and most distinguishing in this animal, are the quills with which he is armed. These quills are about four inches in length; and of the size of the quills of a pigeon. When the porcupine is attacked by an enemy, he places his head between his fore feet, and erects these quills all around, in the form of an hemisphere. He has no power to eject them from his body, or dart them against his enemy, as has been frequently said. But they are so loosely inserted in his flesh, and of such a particular construction, that they are easily extracted, and like a barbed dart stick fast, and work themselves into the flesh of any animal that touches their extremities; nor can they be easily withdrawn, without tearing the flesh, but by incision. On this account they prove extremely dangerous to the dog, or to any other animal that makes an attack upon the porcupine. The colour of this animal, is grey His motion is extremely slow. The female produces her young every year; the time of gestation is about forty days, and she gener ally brings forth three or four at a birth. One of the largest of these animals, weighed sixteen

pounds: The flesh is said to be agreeable, and wholesome meat.

ANOTHER animal, which we frequently find in the fields, is the WOODCHUCK. This animal is about sixteen inches in length; its body is large, and round; its legs are short; and its fore feet are broad, and fitted for the purpose of burrowing into the earth. The colour of the woodchuck is brown, his fat is extreme, the flesh is wholesome and palatable food, his fur is not very valuable. This animal resides in a hole which he digs in the ground, and feeds upon grass, corn, beans, and other vegetables. The female generally produces four or five at a birth. One of the fattest which I have seen, weighed eleven pounds : I believe this was one of the largest size.

THE SKUNK is one of the most extraordinary animals, of which we have any account. It seems to be of the same species with the polecat, but is of a less size, and differs from it in several respects. Its hair is long, and shining, of a clouded or dirty white, intermixed with spots of black. Its tail is long, and bushy, like that of the fox. It lives chiefly in the woods, and hedges, but often burrows under barns and out houses. When undisturbed, this animal is without any ill scent, or disagreeable effluvia. Their natural evacuations are not more nauseous, than those of other animals. Whole nests of them will lie under the floor of a barn, and so long as they are undisturbed, no disagreeable odour will be perceived during the whole winter. Their flesh, when it is properly dressed, is sweet and nourishing. When pursued or attacked,