120 MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SCIURUS. 



of South Carolina it is almost daily met with, although it can- 

 not be said to be an abundant species anywhere. I have al- 

 so seen it in Georgia, and have received specimens from Mid- 

 dle Florida and Alabama. 



Habits. — Although there is a general similarity of habit in 

 all the species of Sciurus, yet the present has some pe- 

 culiarities which I have never noticed in any other. The fox 

 squirrel, instead of preferring the rich low lands, thickly 

 clothed with timber, as is the case with the Carolina grey 

 squirrel, is seldom seen in such situations, but prefers ele- 

 vated pine ridges, where the trees are not crowded near each 

 other, and where there is an occasional oak or hickory inter- 

 spersed. It is also frequently found in the vicinity of rich 

 valleys, to which it resorts for the nuts, acorns, and chinque- 

 pins [Casianea pumila) which such soils produce. In some 

 aged and partially decayed oak, this squirrel finds a safe re- 

 treat for itself and mate. A hollow r tree of this kind is suffi- 

 cient for its purpose ; if nature has prepared a hole for it, it 

 occupies it ; if otherwise, it finds no difficulty in gnawing a 

 hole, — sometimes several, — for its accommodation. The tree 

 itself is however, in all cases, hollow, and it only gnaws 

 through the outer shell in order to find a residence, which re- 

 quires but little labour and skill to render it secure and com- 

 fortable. At other times it takes possession of the deserted 

 hole of the ivory -billed woodpecker {Picus principalis). — 

 The summer duck too is frequently a competitor for the same 

 residence; contests for possession occasionally take place 

 between these three species, and I have generally observed, 

 that the tenant that has already deposited its eggs or young 

 in such situations is seldom ejected. The male and female 

 summer duck unite in chasing and beating with their wings 

 any squirrel that may approach their nests, nor are they idle 

 with their bills and tongues, but continue biting, hissing, and 

 napping their wings until the intruded is expelled. On the 

 other hand, when the squirrel has its young in the hole of a 

 tree, and is intruded on either by a woodpecker or a summer 

 duck, it immediately rushes to its hole, and after having en- 

 tered, remains at the mouth of it, occasionally protruding its 

 head, and with a low and angry bark keeps possession until 

 the intruder, weary of the contest, leaves it unmolested. — 

 Thus, nature imparts to each species additional spirit and 

 vigour in defence of its young ; whilst at the same time the 

 intruder on the possession of others, as if conscious of the 

 injustice of his acts, evinces a spirit of pusillanimity and 

 cowardice. 



In the vicinity of this permanent residence of the fox squir- 



