MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SCIURUS. 225 



this species to confine its depredations to the hickory, ches- 

 nut, beech, oak, and maple, it would be less obnoxious to the 

 fanner ; but unfortunately for the peace of both, it is fond of 

 the green corn and young wheat, to which the rightful owner 

 imagines himself to have a prior claim. A war of extermina- 

 tion consequently ensues, and various inducements are held 

 out to tempt the gunner to destroy them. In Pennsylvania 

 an ancient law existed, offering threepence a head for every 

 squirrel destroyed, and in one year (1749) the enormous sum 

 of c£80Q0. was paid out of the treasury, in premiums for the 

 destruction of these depredators. In several of the northern 

 and western states the inhabitants, on an appointed day, are 

 in the habit of turning out on what is called a squirrel-hunt. 

 They arrange themselves under opposite leaders, each party 

 being stimulated by the ambition of victory, and of fastening 

 on the other the expense of a bountiful supper. The hunters 

 range the forest in every direction, and the accounts given us 

 of the number of squirrels brought together at the evening 

 rendezvous, are almost incredible. 



In addition to the usual enemies of this species in the 

 northern states, such as the weasel, fox, lynx, &c, the red- 

 tailed hawk seems to regard it as his natural and lawful prey. 

 It is amusing to see the skill and dexterity exercised by both 

 in the attack and defence. When the hawk is unaccompanied 

 by his mate, he finds it no easy matter to secure the squirrel ; 

 unless the latter be unconsciously pounced upon whilst on 

 the ground, he is enabled, by his dodgings and twistings 

 round the limb of a tree, to evade the attacks of the hawk for 

 hours, and frequently worries him into a reluctant retreat. — 

 But the red-tail, like other robbers, has learnt by experience 

 that he is most certain of his prey when hunting in couples. 

 He is frequently accompanied by his mate, especially in the 

 breeding season, and in this case the contest is soon decided. 

 They course rapidly, in opposite directions, above and below 

 the limb ; the attention of the squirrel is thus divided and dis- 

 tracted, and before he is aware of it, the talons of the hawk 

 are in his back, and with a shriek of triumph the latter bears 

 him off, either to the aery of his young, or to some low limb 

 of a tree, or to a sheltered situation on the ground, where, with 

 a suspicious glance towards each other, and an occasional 

 hissing and growling for the choice parts, the hawks devour 

 their prey. 



This species of squirrel has occasionally excited the won- 

 der of the populace by its wandering habits, and its singu- 

 lar and long migrations. Like the lemming (Lemmus Nor- 

 vegicus) of the eastern continent, it is stimulated, either 



Vol. III.— No. 29. n. s. 2 a 



