188 BELL ON INTELLIGENCE OF SQUIERELS. 



that they come out and run about on fine days in any month. They make nests, sometimes as large 

 outside as a bushel measure, of moss, leaves and a few small sticks, in the branches of trees in thickets, 

 at moderate heights above the ground. These they ajjpear to inhabit principally in the autumn and 

 spring. 



Brekding. — The Indians have sometimes told me that the squirrels have their young in the nests 

 just referred to, but I have not verified this statement myself. Their season of heat is said to be the 

 early spring, just when the snow begins to melt. They rear but one family each year. 



Size and Colouring.— Throughout the vast northern region of coniferous forests inhabited by 

 the Chickaree, between the Atlantic Ocean and Mackenzie Eiver, the animal presents great uni- 

 formity of size and colouring. It is considerably larger than the varieties to the south and west, and 

 the colour, instead of being decidedly rufous above, as in the familial- Red Squirrel of civilised regions, 

 is of a gray-fulvous tinge. Melanism and albinism, or any variation whatever, is extremely rare. I 

 obtained a specimen at Athabasca Lake, which is pure white beneath from the nose to the tail, the 

 second half of which is also perfectly white. 



Enemies. — The marten seems to be the prii cipal enemy of the northern Chickaree, although 

 they occasionally fall a prey to the lynx; and they also appear to keej) a watchful eye on the mink, 

 the fisher and the weasel. 



Feigning. — As to the Chickaree's habits of feigning, I may mention a case which came under my 

 observation on Lake Superior. Being detained one day by a head wind, mj^ men amused themselves 

 by capturing, alive, a mink and a Chickaree, both of which they put into an empty box with bars in 

 front. The squirrel seemed to dislike the presence of the mink more than he did his captivity, and 

 crouched in a corner with his head drooping and his eyes shut, as if very sick or totally disabled. After 

 the mink had got over his first fright and begun to take in the situation, he ventured to attack the 

 squirrel, which immediately displayed great courage and activity, completely mastering his enemy 

 for the time. Next morning, however, the poor squirrel was found dead with his throat cut. 



