SQUIRREL FAMILY 



165 



at the approach of winter. There still hang a 

 few solitary nuts on each tree, and through a 

 large beech forest the number so left is consid- 

 erable. Rut the Gray Squirrel is not the only 

 claimant for the nuts ; the Red Squirrel and the 

 red-headed woodpeckers demand the lion's 

 share. The birds seem to think that these nuts 

 are exclusively their property, and vigorously do 

 they protest if a Squirrel appears. One deter- 

 mined woodpecker will sometimes send a Gray 

 Squirrel scampering after a few moments, for 

 the blows from that long sharp bill of his are 

 severe. The Squirrels, being the earlier risers, 

 are often feasting when the birds appear, but 



once, and certainly the Squirrel was " up to the 

 trick ;" for he eluded the hawk in the most 

 exasperating manner, chattering and barking the 

 while in a most impudent tone. " Qua-qua-qua- 



Photograph by Glen Corley 



"UP A STUMP" 



This Gray Squiirel has evidently found a table ready set to his 

 liking 



they beat a hasty retreat before these tri-colored 

 warriors. 



The Gray Squirrel has other enemies in feath- 

 ers, such as the goshawk and the red-tailed 

 hawk. A single hawk, however, can scarcely 

 catch a Gray Squirrel, especially if the Squirrel 

 remains on the tree trunk, which he probably 

 will be wise enough to do, thus being enabled, by 

 dodging, to evade the hawk's claws. The writer 

 never witnessed an encounter of this kind but 



Photutjriiph by H. i". Mlddleton 



READY FOR HOUSEKEEPING 



A pair of Gray Squirrels have just completed a handsome 

 home, and are ready to move in 



qua-qua-a-a !" The hawk was angry, the feath- 

 ers on its head and neck being ruffled as was its 

 spirit. At last it was obliged to retire, leaving 

 the Squirrel at his hunting. I have been in- 

 formed, however, that the Squirrel does not al- 

 ways get off so nicely, for sometimes the red- 

 tails hunt in pairs, and then the Squirrel has 

 no chance for his life. 



Grav Squirrels have a good ear for music, says 

 Dr. C. Hart Merriam. who mentions some ex- 

 periments with Squirrels which frequented a box 

 of nuts that his father supplied for them during 

 the winter : " They were extremely fond of 

 music, and it affected them in a peculiar manner. 

 Some were not only fascinated, but actually 

 spellbound, by the music-box or guitar. .\nd one 

 particularly weak-minded individual was so un- 

 refined in his taste that if I advanced slowly, 



