Section IV, 188V. [ 173 ] Trans. Eoy. Soc. Canada. 



XV. — Squirrels: i/icir Ihthitii anil h/iellùjence, irttJi Special Refereme to Feigviug. 

 By Dr. T. Weslev Mills, Professor of Physiology, McGill University. 

 With an Appendix upon the Chickaree or Bed Squirrel. By Dr. R. Bei.l. 

 Geological Surve}-, Ottawa. 



(Coinmmiicated by Dr. Bell, May 15, 1S87.) 



I. 



Until recently, the habits of animals seem to have been considered simply as inter- 

 esting manifestations of their life, but without any special reference to their relations to 

 the iutellectual part of the creatures concerned. But unless we assume that animals are 

 devoid of mind and true intelligence — an extreme and untenable position, — there must be a 

 possible science of comparative psychology, as there is of comparative anatomy and phy- 

 siology. The study of animal iutelligence is jDOSsible, interesting, and important, whether 

 we regard man as derived from some lower form and his intellectual as well as his physical 

 being the result of evolution ; or whether we consider that man stands wholly apart in 

 origin either as to body or mind. In the latter case, the study of the lower forms of mind 

 affords a useful contrast with its highest development as seen in man ; in the former, we 

 aim at the construction of a ladder by which we may climb from the simplest manifesta- 

 tions of consciousness to the highest performances of the most gigantic human intellect. 



I have selected the study of squirrel psychology as the subject of this paper, because 

 so little seems to have been written on the subject ; because these animals are open to the 

 observation of every one ; and chiefly becaiise I have been able to give special attention to 

 them myself. Their habits will be considered principally, but not exclusively, from the 

 psychological standpoint ; and I shall apply the comparative method, making such refer- 

 ences to the habits and intelligence of other rodents as seem to throw light on those of the 

 squirrel. While some attention has boon paid to other species of squirrels, my studies 

 have been chiefly on the Ground Squirrel (Tamirnt Lysleri) and the Red Squirrel {Scii/rus 

 Hudsonius). 



These species, in many respects, form a contrast to each other. The Chipmunk, Chip- 

 ping Squirrel or Hackee, has his abode underground in a specially constructed burrow ; 

 the Red Squirrel, or Chickaree, lives in nests in trees ; and the intelligence of the latter 

 seems to be altogether of a much higher order than in the Ground Squirrel. This was 

 -abundantly illustrated in my experiments with an ordinary wire rat-trap, having a spring 

 door. The trap was scarcely laid down near the haunts of the Chipmunk before one 

 entered it, in fact before my eyes ; and there was never any difficulty in securing as 

 many as were wanted. On several occasions, when one had escaped in the room, on 

 placing a small apple in the cage, the creature reentered it almost at once. 



Very different was it with the Red Squirrels ; at first they entered the trap, but not 

 afterwards. They approached it, sometimes two or three together, ran round it on the 



