Mammal Study 237 



Observations i. Where have you seen a squirrel? Does the squirrel 

 trot along or leap when running on the ground? Does it run straight 

 ahead or stop at intervals for observation? How does it look? How 

 does it act when looking to see if the "coast is clear"? 



2. When climbing a tree, does it go straight up, or move around the 

 trunk? How does it hide itself behind a tree trunk and observe the 

 passer-by? Describe how it manages to climb a tree? Does it go down 

 the tree head first? Is it able to climb out on the smallest branches? Of 

 what advantage is this to it? 



3. Look closely and see if a squirrel follows the same route always 

 when passing from one point to another. How does it pass from tree to 

 tree? How does it act when preparing to jump? How does it hold its 

 legs and tail when in the air during a jump from branch to branch ? 



4. Describe the colors of the red squirrel above and below. Is there a 

 dark stripe along its side, if so, what color? How does the color of the 

 squirrel protect it from its enemies? Is its color brighter in summer or in 

 winter ? 



5. How are the squirrel's eyes placed? Do you think it can see 

 behind as well as in front all the time? Are its eyes bright and alert, or 

 soft and tender? 



6. Are its legs long or short? Are its hind legs stronger and longer 

 than the front legs? Why? Why does it not need long legs? Does its 

 paws have claws? How does it use its paws when eating and in making 

 its toilet ? 



7. Describe the squirrel's tail. Is it as long as the body? Is it 

 used to express emotion ? Of what use is it when the squirrel is jumping? 

 Of what use is it in the winter in the nest? 



8. What is the food of the squirrel during the autumn? Winter? 

 Spring? Summer? Where does it store food for the winter? Does it 

 steal food laid up by jays, chipmunks, mice or other squirrels? How does 

 it carry nuts ? Has it cheek-pouches like the chipmunk for carrying food ? 

 Does it stay in its nest all winter living on stored food like a chipmunk? 



9. Where does the red squirrel make its winter home? Does it also 

 have a summer home, if so, of what is it made and where built ? In what 

 sort of a nest are the young born and reared? At what time of the year 

 are the young born? How does the mother squirrel carry her little ones 

 if she wishes to move them? 



10. How much of squirrel language can you understand? How does 

 it express surprise, excitement, anger, or joy during the nut harvest? 

 Note how many different sounds it makes and try to discover what they 

 mean. 



11. Describe or sketch the tracks made by the squirrel in the snow. 



12. How does the squirrel get at the meats of the hickory nut and the 

 walnut? How are its teeth arranged to gnaw holes in such hard sub- 

 stances as shells? 



Supplementary reading Squirrels and Other Fur Bearers, John 

 Burroughs; American Animals, Stone & Cram; Secrets of the Woods, 

 Long; Familiar Life in Field and Forest, Mathews; Little Beasts of Field 

 and Wood; Cram; Wild Neighbors, Ingersoll; Familiar Wild Animals, 

 Lottridge. 



