496 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 192 8 



ALBINISM AND MELANISM 



Neither albinism nor melanism is common in this species. Bell 

 (1898) says, "Melanism and albinism, or any variation whatever, is 

 extremely rare. I obtained a specimen at Athabaska Lake which is 

 pure white beneath, from nose to tail, the second half of which is also 

 perfectly white." Adams (1873) writes: "On the reliable authority 

 of Mr. Boardman I learn that there is a district on the south coast of 

 the province [New Brunswick] where all the squirrels belonging to 

 this species are black." Quoting a letter from Mr, Savage, Mijler 

 (1900) says, "Mr. John Bergtold of Browmansville, Erie County, 

 N. Y., captured an adult and three young, all of which he kept alive. 

 The adult and two of the young were perfect albinos; the other 

 young was normal in color." Prof. J. N. Gowanloch, of Dalhousie 

 University, informs me that he came across a case of partial, or 

 "pie-bald," albinism in this species. Seton (1909) reports a pair 

 of albinos on the authority of Paul Doherty. 



HABITATS 



The red squirrel is at home throughout its range wherever there 

 are trees. The spruce forest, the pine forest, the maple-beech 

 woods, and the mixed forests were its original habitats, but it now 

 occurs in agricultural districts where the trees are reduced to farm 

 wood lots, groves, orchards, and groups of shade trees, as well 

 as in parks and in cities, towns, and villages where shade trees are 

 numerous. 



HOME RANGE 



It is not an easy matter to determine the exact home range of any 

 animal, but from my observations in the case of individuals which 

 had some diagnostic characteristic I should say that the home range 

 of the red squirrel is usually small, about two hundred and fifty 

 yards square. Seton (1909) puts the home range of this species at 

 less than ten acres, and says, " Many a one passes its whole life in an 

 orchard of from four to five acres." Seton quotes Paul Doherty 

 to the effect that a pair of albinos were always to be found within 

 80 feet of their nesting tree. Kichardson (1829) would imply 

 that the home range of this species is extremely restricted, as he 

 says " It does not appear to quit the tree beneath which it burrows 

 by choice, unless when it makes an excursion in spring in search 

 of a mate." This is, however, certainly erroneous. 



There is not any question but that, under unusual circumstances 

 such as scarcity of food, the red squirrel makes excursions some dis- 

 tance outside what may normally be regarded as its home range. 



