302 Monograph of the Genus Sciinnis, 



fact that those parts in the male which in one season are greatly enlarged, 

 are in the other equally diminished, and that in young males especially, 

 they are drawn into the pchns by the contraction of the muscle. As a 

 proof of thisj a friend, who was a strenuous believer in this spiteful pro- 

 pensity ascribed to the squirrel, was induced to test the inquiry by an ex- 

 amination of a suitable number of specimens. He obtained in a few 

 weeks upwards of thirty males; — in none of these had this mutilation 

 taken place. Two however, out of this number were triumphantly 

 brought forward as evidences of the truth of the doctrine ; on examina- 

 tion it appeared that these were young animals, with the organs perfect, 

 but concealed in the manner above stated. 



" It is generally believed that this species lays up a great hoard of food 

 as a winter supply ; it may however be reasonably doubted whether they 

 are so provident in this respect. The trees in which they conceal them- 

 selves in winter are frequently cut down, and no supply of provisions is 

 ever found in their nests. In following their tracks in the snow they can- 

 not be traced to any hoards buried in the ground. I have moreover ob- 

 served them during a warm day in winter coming from great distances 

 into the open fields, in search of a few dry hickory nuts which were still 

 left suspended on the trees; if provisions had been laid up nearer liome, 

 they would hardly have undertaken these long journeys, or exposed them- 

 selves to so much danger in procuring a precarious supply. In fact, this 

 species, in cold climates, seldom leaves its nest in winter, except in a warm 

 sunny day ; and in this state of inactivity and partial torpidity, itrequires 

 but little food. 



"This squirrel feeds upon the various nuts, seeds, and grain which are 

 periodically sought for by all the species of this genus, but it seems to 

 prefer the shell-bark {Carya alba) and the several species of hickory, to 

 any other kind of food. Even when the nuts are so green as to afford 

 scarcely any nourishment, the northern grey squirrel is seen gnawing off 

 the thick epidermis, which drops to the ground like rain, and then, with 

 its lower incisors, makes a small linear opening in the thinnest part of the 

 shell, immediately over the kernel. When this part has been extracted it 

 proceeds to another, till in an incredible short space of time, the nut is 

 cut longitudinally on its four sides, and the whole kernel secured, leaving 

 the portions of the hard shell untouched. Were, however, this species 

 to confine its depredations to the hickory, chestnut, beech, oak, and maple, 

 it would be less obnoxious to the farmer ; but unfortunately for the peace 

 of both, it is fond of the green corn and young wheat, to which the right- 

 ful owner imagines himself to have a prior claim. A war of extermina- 

 tion consequently ensues, and various inducements are held out to tempt 

 the gunner to destroy them. In Pennsylvania an ancient law existed, 

 offering three pence a head for every squirrel destroyed, and in one year 

 (1749) the enormous sum of ^8000 was paid out of the treasury, in pre- 



