Occasional Papers of the Museimi of Zoology 19 



As late as 1875 I saw many of the species, about one-half of 

 the black phase. 



Its call is a high, shrill chatter, which may be heard quite a 

 distance, and which is distinguished by hunters from the call 

 of the red squirrel or fox squirrel. J. Austin Scott witnessed 

 a migration in the fall of 1840, when hundreds of gray and 

 black squirrels crossed the Raisin River near Adrian. They 

 came from the south and were so exhausted from swimming 

 across the river that the boys killed many with clubs. He 

 counted 30 in one small tree near the water's edge. 



Sciurus niger riifiventer. Western Fox Squirrel. — When 

 Michigan was first settled the species was rare and was con- 

 fined chiefly to the southern part of the state, where it occurred 

 in the oak openings, which seem to be its favorite habitat.^ 

 With the cutting of the heavy timber it has gradually extended 

 its range, occupying all of the more open forests, and it has 

 become very common, even entering the cities, where it has 

 become semi-domesticated. 



W. J. Beal* states that in Lenawee County there were no 

 fox squirrels in the early days, but later they came in from 

 the south. At my home in Lodi Township I never saw one 

 until about 1875, and they were rare for several years after 

 that. 



This is our largest squirrel, furnishing sport and food for 

 hunters. One albino taken in the county is in the collection 

 of the Museum of Zoology; and one partly melanistic indi- 

 vidual, taken near Ann Arbor, November 12, 1910, has the 

 whole underside jet black. 



The call is hoarser than that of the gray squirrel, but 

 although not so high in pitch may be heard for some distance. 



3 Robert Kennicott, U. S. Patent OMcc Report, p. 56, 1856. 

 ^ Mich. Piofieer Coll. 



