22 RODENTS OP IOWA 



The fact has also been pointed out by some, that "squirrels," 

 probably including the present species, seek out and feed upon 

 acorns in which living larvse of the Oak Weevil (Balaninus sp.) 

 are developing. In such cases the fox squirrel, along with others, 

 acts as an element in the control of this insect pest. Considering 

 its habits in general, this squirrel should be protected and encour- 

 aged to nest in our parks and woods ; and the toll that it may exact 

 in the destruction of a few birds must be included in the great 

 scheme of Nature for maintaining a proper balance among animals. 



The fox squirrel is reported as common or abundant by observ- 

 ers in practically all parts of the state, but the numbers diminish 

 somewhat towards the extreme western and eastern portions. In 

 almost any locality where the woods are not too dense these animals 

 are most abundant. Of late years a general sentiment toward the 

 protection of this species has sprung up with the result that in 

 our public parks and even along city streets which are fairly well 

 furnished with shade trees the fox squirrel is not uncommon and 

 often breeds. In eastern Iowa, particularly in northeastern Iowa, 

 considerable tracts of dense woodland still remain, and such are 

 not frequented so much as are the central prairie woodlands. 

 Thence toward our western border even sparsely wooded areas are 

 much less frequent, so that this feature of the topography also 

 seems to have some effect upon the distribution of this animal. 

 John Spurrell of Wall Lake writes that this form first appeared in 

 that locality about 1904, so that the wave of dispersal seems to be 

 towards the west. At Sibley, in Osceola county, this form is re- 

 ported to have appeared only within the last three years. 



If a list of locality records were prepared for this species it 

 would probably include every county in the state so that a com- 

 plete record would seem superfluous. It has been reported in prac- 

 tically all of the sixty-two counties visited during the preparation 

 of this paper. Specimens are at hand also from many localities. 



NORTHERN GRAY SQUIRREL. GRAY SQUIRREL. 



Sciurus carolinensis leucotis (Gapper). 



Sciurus leucotis Gapper, Zool. Journ., V, 206, 1830. 



Description. — Summer: General color above grayish with a faint 

 tinge of brownish along middle of back, at the sides of the body 

 just behind front legs, on the ears and about the head and face; 

 under parts white or whitish, sometimes with a rusty tinge on back 



