134 The Gray Squirrel 
would occur over the same route, but parts might 
be crossed by other migrations starting from different 
points. ‘Then there were the lesser migrations, with 
fewer numbers—caused by a failure of nuts in certain 
sections—that extended over distances from sixty to 
two hundred miles. Everywhere the squirrels left 
desolation behind them in the path of these migra- 
tions, the nut, fruit, and grain crops being sometimes 
ruined. So destructive were they that we find on the 
statute books in many States rewards offered for each 
gray squirrel killed. 
Every man’s hand was against them, and through- 
out the whole year they were shot and trapped when- 
ever possible. In addition to this, regular hunts were 
organized, in which the whole male population took 
part, hundreds of squirrels being killed in a single day. 
On a small scale these squirrel hunts were quite 
common in Central New York as recently as 1840, 
and even to this day they occur in parts of the 
country. My great-uncle, Wesley H. Lottridge, de- 
scribed to me one of these hunts, in which he partici- 
pated. 
The hunt took place in the town of Columbus, New 
York, in the month of October, 1850. My uncle 
was appointed captain on one side, and “Uncle” 
John Richer, captain of the other. According to 
