aiul tli.^ have also Ik-cii .l.^l-clcl dcpivlal in;; in llir 

 |...iilli-.v yard. 



i;at wggs, muDS, ducks anu chickions. 

 Kcfciring to tlie Kwl Hqiiiriel's bill of fare Dr. C. 

 Jlart Mei-riam* says: 



"The propensity to suck the eggs and destroy the young of 

 our smaller birds Is the worst trait of the Red Squirrel, and 

 Is In itself sufficient reason for his extermination, at least 

 aljout the habitations of man. I have myself known him to 

 rob the neats of the Red-eyed Vli-eo, Chipping' Sparrow, Robin, 

 Wllson'a Thrush, and Ruffed GrouKO, and doubt not that 

 thousands of eggs are annually saerifled, in the Adirondack 

 region alone, to gratify this appetite. Therefore, when abun- 

 dant, as he always Is during the springs that follow good nut 

 year.s, his Influence In checking the Increase of our Insectivor- 

 ous birds can hardly be overestimated. Dr. A. K. Fisher In- 

 forms me that on three occasions he has known these Squir- 

 rels to destroy young Robins. • • • • j have long 

 been aware that this animal was an occasional depredator of 

 the poultry yard, and find, in a journal written twelve years 

 ago, a note to the effect that a case had come to my knowl- 

 edge where one was caught In the act of killing both chickens 

 and ducks." 



Numerous letters and answers to circulars I'eceived 

 at this Department from farmers, sportsmen anil ])onl- 

 terers testify to the destruction of different l<iiids of 

 wild birds, especially Kobins and Cliirpinf; Sparrows, 

 by Red Squirrels; and at least a dozen persons have 

 written about Squirrels destroyiiifj young chickens or 

 Ihc yoiiiif; of (li)iiiestic pigeons. 



'J'HK FfJX SQtJIRRKI.. 



