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Illinois. I enclose a memorandum
of some of the species. You need spe-
cially to mention. Many of them can
be grouped in a general expression of
their being now so rare that
whatever they may have been once,
they now need scarcely any notice,
such as bear, great wolf, Panther,
wild cat, &c. The weasels may
be referred to generally as having
carnivore habits of destroying poultry
&c. and then give any specific
mention you may have of abiding
places, & other peculiarities of skunks,
weasels, one or two, & mink. If
possums carry off chickens say so.
The shrews may be spoken of gene-
rally as beneficial by insectivorous
habits: the moles do but as spoil-
ing the symmetry of lawns &c. If
deer eat buckwheat, & grain, men-
tion this. But lay your chief strength
out on the rodents.

It is not worthwhile to lay
out your strength on systematic
classification. Take the species as
mentioned in Aud. & Bach. Dont