NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

WOODLAND JUMPING MICE

On September 7, Mr. Vernon Lunt, C. C. C. supervisor, working in the dense woodland about one-half mile south of the Tarn, came upon a globular nest made of leaves and dry grasses which was placed low in a brush pile. Upon investigating he found within this structure an adult and nine Woodland Jumping Mice (Napaeozapus insignis) - an uncommon species of small mammal in the Acadia National Park region. Mr. Lunt captured six of the youngsters, permitting the adult and three young to make good their escape, and brought the prize to my headquarters.

It would be difficult to imagine a more interesting or a more beautiful family group than this unusual sextette from the woods. As in other jumping mice the long tail and long hind legs are characteristic. In the woodland species, however, the tail is appreciably longer and is tipped with white - a distinguishing character. The bodies of my half-grown youngsters measured two inches in length while the tail alone measured exactly four inches in length. Their sides golden or buff orange; the underparts, feet, and tip of tail white; and the eyes black - these small rodents were as attractive as any fur-bearer I had ever seen. Unfortunately, though not unexpectedly, these youngsters did not take well to captivity and were consequently released in a few days.

-Arthur Stupka

Into the Beacon - On the morning of September 12 Mr. W. W. Wells, Lighthouse Keeper at Saddleback Ledge, found 11 dead birds at the foot of the tower. These had been killed on the previous night by striking the fixed white beacon whose rays are visible from the water for 18 miles. Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse, situated between Vinal Haven Island and Isle au Haut; at the southerly entrance to East Penobscot Bay, is approximately 25 miles southwest of Mount Desert Island, the home of Acadia National Park. Mr. Wells kindly mailed the 11 birds to me; they were as follows: 3 Red-eyed Vireos, 3 Magnolia Warblers, 3 Maryland Yellowthroats, 1 Northern Parula Warbler, 1 Flycatcher (probably the Yellow-bellied - the bird dead for several days when received).

-A. S.

Daylight Meteor - Ranger Louis R. Fowler reports seeing a meteor blazing over Cadillac Mountain at approximately 2:35 on the afternoon of September 26. Hundreds of observers reported seeing a similar phenomenon at the same time in this and other New England states.