April 20, 1874. 

 Albert Todd, Vice President, in the chair. 



Publications received, laid upon the table. 



The following communication from Mr. Amos Sawyer, of 

 Hillsboro, Ills., was read and ordered to be inserted in the pro- 

 ceedings : 



THE METHOD ADOPTED BY SQUIRRELS FOR SECURING TIIKIR WINTER'S 

 FOOD. 



It should be our constant endeavor to correct errors wherever found, 

 even in so small a matter as the one to which I shall now direct your 

 attention. 



I had been puzzled to know why it was that during cold winters the 

 squirrels became poor, and not unfrequently starved to death, notwith- 

 standing that nuts of all kinds had been very abundant the previous fall. 

 I therefore concluded to watch the succeeding fall and see just how they 

 secured their winter's supply of food : and it was while hunting in the woods 

 that I made the discovery that the squirrels (I refer to the Gray and Fox) 

 do not lay up their winter's store of nuts in hollow trees, as all our natu- 

 ral histories teach: but take a nut in their mouth, and, descending to 

 within a few feet of the ground, jump from the tree, and where they touch 

 the earth bury the nut; and never more than one in a place. The wisdom 

 of this measure is pla 11 to be seen; for if they stored all their nuts in a 

 hole in a tree, the wood-mice, which abound in the timber, would be sure 

 to find and devour their supply, or some other squirrel appropriate them ; 

 whereas the other way they can lose but few during the winter. 



After cutting all the nuts from a tree, they turn their attention to those 

 that have fallen, but always climb a short distance up the trunk of a tree 

 and make their jump before planting : the object may be to better observe 

 if they are watched by an enemy, or, remembering how far they bound, 

 find it easier to get their food in the winter by repeating the jump : at all 

 events, where you find one nut, by going round the same tree in a circle 

 you will discover more, placed with almost geometrical precision the same 

 distance from it. I have never seen them recover their food, only store it, 

 so do not know what process they adopt. 



The only objection to their plan is that during severe weather in winter 

 they are unable to open their little caches, and if it continues for any length 

 of time they become poor in consequence. 



Although this may at first seem of little importance, yet by calling atten- 

 tion to the fact it will enable some author to correct the old and false idea, 

 when convinced that my statement- are correct. These mistakes arise 

 chiefly from the difficulty of making personal observations in order to con- 

 firm the conclusions of others. 



Too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of observing, and 

 reporting the result of such observation either in confirmation or denial of 



