TALITY 



Red-squirrel 335 



This may mean that when at home it can count on support, 

 and abroad it fears an increase of foes, not that it is a conscience- 

 made coward. 



Applying the rule, that the age of an animal is about what 

 four times the period of growth, the Squirrel should be old iHE?"" 

 at six years. In captivity, when guarded from all dangers, attain? 

 it might last eight or ten years. I have no direct evidence! 

 However, I knew a Gray-squirrel that lived captive for eight 

 years and was fully grown when first caught. 



The Red-squirrel is a veritable Puck of the Pines— an men- 

 embodiment of merriment, birdlike activity and saucy roguery. 

 One may live for years near a wood that is the home of Weasel, 

 Skunk, and Hare without ever suspecting their presence, for 

 these sly creatures are silent and nocturnal. But the merry 

 Chickaree is a being of the sunlight, and as boisterous as it is 

 vigorous in work and play. 



It is well-known to all the world that shares its range, and 

 the map (p. 309) shows how very wide a range it is. In 

 various forms it covers North America, broadly speaking, 

 wherever the pine trees grow. 



V_ The rodents are very low in the scale of intelligence, but 

 the Red-squirrel ranks high in its class. It is gifted with a 

 burning curiosity, which, tempered by prudence and aided by 

 agility, is an excellent start on the road to knowledge. It 

 is an inveterate scold, and will follow a foe for the fun of 

 abusing him at a safe distance. When cornered in a hole it 

 fights desperately till the last, and will drive its powerful 

 ''buck teeth" right through the incautious hand that grasps 

 it, as I have several times discovered to my cost. It con- 

 siders itself very superior to its larger cousin, the Gray- 

 squirrel, and I take the Red-squirrel's view of the case. 

 Whenever their interests clash it is the Red-squirrel that 

 wins — in the end, not, I suspect, by any actual battle, but by 

 Its vigour, pluck, and pertinacious aggressiveness, which 

 enable it to wear out and drive the other away; although I 



