INTELLIGENCE OF SQUIERELS. 179 



known note of the Chipmnnk, from which it has derived its name, is the only one I have 

 heard from it. After stvidying a colony of Red Squirrels for some weeks last summer, I 

 came to the conclusion that they have a capacity of vocal expression much greater than 

 is commonly believed. Their usual "barking," or trilling, seems to be the commonest, the 

 most instinctive, and not largely expressive of anything beyond general satisfaction ; but, 

 I found that, under excitement, there were many other tones, associated with great 

 complexity of emotion, which I am not prepared to analyse, but which there can be little 

 doubt the creatures themselves employ as a means of intercommunication. Under marked 

 excitement, as the result of repeated interferences, I have heard a Eed Squirrel so mingle 

 tones of a musical kind that, a stranger arriving on the spot, would certainly have been 

 deluded into the belief that he was listening to some bird, or rather, to an excited pair of 

 birds. The musical character of this combination, together with its continuity and 

 complexity, would, perhaps, justify the designation "song" One of the writers on 

 musical mice, refers to their singing but little in certain instances, except when excited, 

 which is a point of analogy with the Chickaree. 



It would appear, therefore, that it is likely that throughout the order Eodentia, a 

 genuine musical appreciation and executive capacity exists, and, in some instances, in a 

 A^ery high degree ; and that apart from this, there is also considerable ability displayed 

 in the expression of states of emotion, at least, by vocal forms. Manifestly, the degTee to 

 which animals can express their psychic states — and, especially, in vocal forms — is a 

 matter of the greatest importance, and I have already elsewhere [Popular Science Monthly, 

 March, 188'7) expressed my conviction that animals have a power of communicating with 

 each other, altogether beyond what has been generally surmised. The subject is beset 

 with great difficulties, and calls for the closest observations. 



II. 



I propose, in this second part of my paper, to discuss the subject of feigning in 

 animals, and shall give, as a basis for my views in the case of the squirrels, an account of 

 two Chickarees, in which such behavior was strikingly manifested. 



Case I. 



I was standing near a tree in which a Red Squirrel had taken up a position, when a 

 stone thrown into the tree was followed by the fall of the squirrel. I am unable to say 

 whether the squirrel was himself struck, whether he was merely shaken off, or how to 

 account exactly for the creature's falling to the ground. Running to the spot as quickly 

 as possible, I found the animal lying apparently lifeless. On taking him up, I observed 

 not the slightest sign of external injury. He twitched a little as I carried him away and 

 placed him in a box lined with tin, and having small wooden slats over the top, through 

 the intervals of which food might be conveyed. After lying a considerable time on his 

 side, but breathing regularly, and quite free from any sort of spasms such as might follow 

 injury to the nervous centres, it was noticed that his eyes were open, and that when they 

 were touched, winking followed. Determined to watch the progress of events, I noticed 



