no. 1656. NOTES ON I BRTEBR I TE8 FRO 1/ INDIANA -II Ml \ . 5(39 



SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS Gmelin. 

 GRAY SQUIRREL. 



The gray squirrel is very abundant on the University Farm, seem- 

 ing to delight in using the large oaks and tulip-trees for homes. In 

 the autumn of L906 the crop of acorns was very large. I estimated 

 that each of the large white oaks produced from two to eight thousand 

 acorns during that season. Eighty acres arc heavily wooded with 

 white oak- and nearly a hundred acres more have a considerable 

 growth of these trees. Before November 1 the immense crop of acorns 

 had been so completely garnered by the squirrels thai none were in 

 sight on top of the leave- and only an occasional one could be found 

 by the most careful search. 



SCIUROPTERUS VOLANS (Linnaeus). 

 FLYING SQUIRREL. 



Those squirrels were probably abundant, though not often seen. 

 One was caught in a trap at the base of a hollow tree. During the 

 summer, others were seen and heard in the evening, running about or 

 sailing through the air among the tree- near the house. 



TAMIAS STRIATUS (Linnaeus). 

 CHIPMUNK. 



Not ver\ abundant in the wood-. During the autumn they were 

 often heard giving their chipping call in the fields and open wood-. 

 The loud shrill whistle i^ most often heard in the spring, hut 1 have 

 never heard them chipping at that season. 



MARMOTA MONAX (Linnaeus). 

 WOODCHUCK; GROUND-HOG. 



Very abundant both in the woods and fields. They were -ecu run- 

 ning about late in ( October, but probably were not active later than the 

 end of thai month. 



They began to clean out and enlarge their hole- during the Last days 

 of February. On March .'> there was a heavy -now storm late in the 

 evening. Early next morning woodchuck track- were numerous in 

 the -now. showing where the animal- had been running aboul and 

 feed inc.'. 



When they venture out in such weather as this, it is difficult to see 

 any adaptive necessity for their hibernation. At such times they eat 



ferns, shrubs, and the tender -l ts of young tree-. Indeed, their 



food is verv similar at all times to that of the rabbit. The latter 



