n 



there are a dozen of these in a square yard. 

 This scattering of the sap-filled cones, together 

 with the bringing of each into contact with dry 

 foreign substances, secures ventilation and as- 

 sists the sappy cones to dry and cure ; if closely 

 piled, many of these moist cones would be lost 

 through mould and decay. 



The numbers of cones hoarded for winter by 

 each squirrel varies with different winters and 

 also with individuals. I have many times counted 

 upwards of two hundred per squirrel. During 

 years of scanty cone-crop the squirrels claim 

 the entire crop. The outcry raised against the 

 squirrel for preventing far extension, by con- 

 suming all the seeds, is I think in the same class 

 as the cry against the woodpecker; it appears a 

 cry raised by those who see only the harm with- 

 out the accompanying good. The fact is that 

 many of the cones are never eaten; more are 

 stored than are wanted; some are forgotten, 

 while others are left by the death of the squirrel. 

 Thus many are stored and left uneaten in places 

 where they are likely to germinate and produce 

 trees. John Muir too believes that the Doug- 



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