Red-squirrel 331 



ways of escaping; the first is by getting into a hole that is a snug 

 fit for itself and therefore impossible for the foe — not by any 

 means a safe resource, as the Marten may tear the entrance 

 a trifle wider, and then take the prey at leisure. The other is 

 the flying leap from the branches of one tree to another. The 

 Marten can leap quite as far as the Red-squirrel — that is, four or 

 five feet on the level — but its greater weight forces it to leap from 

 a point farther back, where the boughs are thicker, and this 

 difference is often the salvation of the hunted one. A Squirrel 

 knows all the far leaps that are found in its home woods. 

 If it sticks to them it may escape. But one that loses its 

 head and allows itself to be driven into strange territory, is 

 certainly lost. 



It has another foe to contend with, probably the worst 

 of all — that is the paralysis of fear. The very sight of the re- 

 lentless, blood-thirsty Marten on its trail will sometimes rob it 

 of all power, and render it an easy prey. 



The Weasels also are among the foes of the Squirrel. 

 They have not the activity of the Marten, but they can follow 

 the Squirrel into any hole, and their pertinacity makes up for 

 their inferior agility in the trees. 



We must also reckon among its enemies most of the 

 large hawks and owls. According to Fisher's Report,^ the 

 marsh hawk, Cooper's goshawk, redtail, redshoulder, broad- 

 wing and barred owl have been taken with parts of Red- 

 squirrel in their stomachs. To these we may safely add the 

 great horned owl, for it is known to kill Fox-squirrels; doubt- 

 less, therefore, the Red-squirrel also is on the list. 



Strange to say, we must include the sparrow-hawk, as the 

 following record will show: 



Portage la Prairie, April i6, 1886. — A male sparrow-hawk 

 was brought to me. In its stomach was a young Red-squirrel 

 and a song-sparrow, an extraordinary meal for so small a bird. 

 Possibly the sparrow-hawk was seeking for a home when it 

 discovered the Squirrel's nest with the young one, and yielded 

 to temptation. 



" Fisher's Hawks and Owls of U. S., 1893. 



