Honey Bee (_Apis mellifera_): The well-known Honey Bee was brought to this country from Europe. It has now become a common “wild” bee as well as a domesticated species. You may find some wild-bee colonies in hollow trees, particularly on Castle Hill. INSECT COLLECTING—AN INEXPENSIVE HOBBY Insects are everywhere and it is easy to collect them. Practically no expense is required to produce a very beautiful collection. Some of the seaside insects are most unusual and not available elsewhere, so it would be well to start your collection right here. Some references that will help you are: Donald J. Borror and Dwight M. DeLong, _An Introduction to the Study of Insects_. New York: Rinehart, 1954. $10.00 Alexander B. Klots and E. B. Klots, _Living Insects of the World_. New York: Doubleday, 1959. $9.95 Su Zan Noguchi Swain, _Insects in Their World_. New York: Garden City Books, 1955. $2.95 Herbert S. Zim and Clarence Cottam, _Insects: A Guide to Familiar American Insects_. Rev. ed. New York: Golden Press, 1956. Cloth $2.50, paper $1.00 Chapter 6 MEETING THE MAMMALS Mammals are defined simply as warm-blooded animals that have hair and nourish their young on milk. They are considered the highest form of Earth life. They are common everywhere, but their secretive habits make observation difficult. You may consider yourself quite fortunate if you see even one or two of the mammals living on Castle Neck during a single visit here. In this chapter lengths given are measurements from the nose to tip of the tail. INSECT-EATING MAMMALS: SHREWS [Illustration: Short-tailed Shrew] Short-tailed Shrew (_Blarina brevicauda_) Dark, slate-gray body Length 4″ or 5″ Tail about 1″ This little mammal is a creature of damp areas and is generally associated with damp forests. It makes burrows just under the surface of the ground. It is the _only_ poisonous mammal in the United States and uses its venom to stun and kill its prey. However, the only result of a nip on your finger will be considerable swelling. Because of its insect-eating habit the Shrew is a most beneficial animal. [Illustration: Cinereus Shrew] Cinereus Shrew (_Sorex cinereus_) Grayish-brown body Length 3″ to 4″ Tail more than 1″ This is the most common shrew on the Neck. It is found roving about the salt marshes in search of insects. It hunts during the day as well as at night, generally keeping concealed under a grassy cover. WINGED MAMMALS: BATS