Game birds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mammal 
     
     absences. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ’The Carnivores. ’ 
     
    
   
   
    
     best timber for exportation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     73.—2. Acerines or Maples, include the Black sugar Maple, and the White sugar 
     
     Maple, both large and valuable trees affording the sap from which sugar is obtained; 
     
     another kind of maple, called the White Maple, whose wood is soft and little 
     
     esteemed; and the Striped Maple or Moose Wood. 
     
    
   
   
    
     74,—3. Corylaces. This valuable family derives its name from the husky coverings 
     
     upon its fruits. To it the Beech belongs, of which there are two varieties, the White 
     
     and the Red Beech. Beech has always been abundant on the Island, and forms a large 
     
     part of the wood used for fue|.—-The Oak is a member of the same family. There is 
     
     one small species of Red Oak on the Island, found on some of the higher ridges of 
     
     land. The tree for which the school-boy often looks—the hazel—nut—also belongs to 
     
     this family. It has given the name to the family, and is specially called, the Coryl. 
     
    
   
   
    
     75.—4. The Ash. There are two kinds of ash on the Island; the white Ash, and the 
     
     swamp Ash. The latter is prized by the Indians, by whom its wood is used in making 
     
     baskets, &c. Both have become scarce in most parts of the Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
     76.—5. Salicines. This family is spread over the world. There are two distinct 
     
     branches—the Willow, and the Poplar. Several species of willows are seen on the 
     
     Island, some of which have been introduced. Their growth is rapid, and the wood is 
     
     generally light. Of Poplars there are the Black, the White, the Trembling, the Balsam, 
     
     or Balm of Gilead, and the Lombardy Poplar. The last two are foreign trees. The 
     
     Lombardy Poplar is slender, tall and highly ornamental. 
     
    
   
   
    
     77.—6. The ornamental Sumach; and the graceful Elm, found occasionally on an 
     
     intervale, may properly complete this general sketch of the Botany of P. E. Island. 
     
     [pp. 57-58] 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Partridge. The most common is the Birch Partridge with spotted plumage. 
     
     Pigeons. Wild pigeons occasionally visit the fields in search of grain. They are 
     
     strangers from the south. [p. 71] 
     
    
   
   
    
     MAMMALS. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The insular position, and limited extent of Prince Edward Island, occasion a less 
     
     variety of wild Mammals, than is found in the neighboring provinces of Nova Scotia, 
     
     and New Brunswick. There, the Moose, the Caribao the Wolf, the Beaver, the 
     
     Racoon, Porcupine, and the Wolverine may be seen, of which there are no 
     
     representatives on the Island. [pp. 7273] 
     
    
   
   
    
     135.— 1. The Bear. This is the largest and most formidable wild animal on the Island. 
     
     It sometimes destroys sheep, but generally lives on berries and small shrubs. In 
     
     winter it retires to some cave or sheltered hollow, and loses for the most part all 
     
     powers of locomotion. Unless provoked by attack or impelled by hunger, the bear 
     
     seldom attacks man, but when roused is very formidable, and displays greater activity 
     
     and adroitness than might be expected from its heavy, clumsy figure. The flesh is 
     
     sometimes eaten. The Fur is very valuable. 
     
    
   
   
    
     136.—2. The Wild Cat. This animal is about 2 feet in height, and 3 feet in length. 
     
     Its color is light grey. The head resembles the head of a cat, whence its name. Like 
     
     the cat family, it preys upon small mammals, mice, birds, rabbits, &c. It is generally 
     
     caught in traps. 
     
    
   
   
    
     174