78 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE 
Siz—E aNnpd CoLourine.— Throughout the vast northern 
region of coniferous forests inhabited by the Chickaree, 
between the Atlantic Ocean and Mackenzie River, the 
animal presents great uniformity 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 familiar Red Squirrel of civilised regions, is 
of a grey-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. 
Enemirs.—The marten seems to be the principal enemy 
of the northern Chickaree, although they occasionally fall a 
prey to the lynx, and they also appear to keep a watchful 
eye on the mink, the fisher, and the weasel. 
Frianrnc.—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, 
my 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 situa- 
tion, 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. 
