WESTERN GRAY SQUIRREL 



The Gray Squirrels of the griseus group are found in forested 

 areas where conifers and oaks grow. Most of their food is 

 derived from these trees in the shape of seeds. I have not 

 seen any records to show that they are ever found in numbers 

 to compare with the Eastern Gray Squirrels in the seasons of 

 their greatest abundance. My experience has been that only 

 a few will be seen in a given locality. Where they occur to- 

 gether with the large, grayish Ground Squirrels of the Otosper- 

 mophilus grammurus group, the hunters sometimes apply the 

 name Silver-gray Squirrel to these tree-climbing Squirrels. 

 The Western Grays have a much broader tail than their eastern 

 relatives and in life are among the handsomest of Squirrels 

 They spend a great deal of time running about on the ground 

 and do not rely upon the aerial highways through the branches. 

 They are keen of sight and hearing and take alarm easily. 

 Flattened out upon a limb, they are often able to escape obser- 

 vation from the ground, and if prevented from leaving a tree by 

 the usual methods of descent they make daring leaps from the 

 branches. They utter a hoarse bark which carries for quite a 

 distance. Although severe weather may confine them to their 

 nests for several days at a stretch, they do not hibernate; and, 

 since most of their range lies within the region of mild, open 

 winters, they do not store up large supplies of food. 



They build large, bulky nests of twigs or leaves in which to 

 rear the young and also use hollows in tree trunks as dwelling 

 places. The nests are usually placed well up in the trees. 

 The young number from one to four, two or three constituting 

 the average litter. The young may be bom any time from 

 April to August in the southwestern states, but doubtless the 

 season is shorter toward the northern part of their range. 



Aberti Group.— Tuft-eared Squirrels 

 ^^®^ Sqmrrel.— .Sc/«r«5 aherti aberti Woodhouse. Plate 



Resembling a heavy-bodied Gray Squirrel in size and pro- 

 portions, but differing in heavily tufted ears and in rusty 

 red dorsal band. General color of upperparts grizzled 

 gray; ear tufts blackish; broad dorsal band of chestnut or 

 rusty red; a well -developed black lateral line or band; upper 

 surfaces of hands and feet whitish; tail black, broadly tipped 

 with white on upper surface, white on under surface, with 

 basal band of iron-gray; underparts white. Total length 

 21 inches; tail vertebra?, 9 inches; hind foot, 2.75 inches! 



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