I OUR GRAY SQUIRRELS II 



doubt, when I think of the rat), little is proved, 

 and even Dr. Mills places the general intelligence 

 of the red, the flying, and the ground squirrels 

 superior to that of our gray, which he concedes 

 to be deficient in docility. 



Nevertheless, these animals within a certain nar- 

 row range of acts and motions are certainly saga- 

 cious ; and they are somewhat teachable. It took 

 our squirrels a very short time to learn that cracked 

 nuts of several varieties, grains of corn, and other 

 edibles were to be had on the window-sills. The 

 squirrels know, furthermore, that the nuts are 

 placed there from the inside, and if, as occasionally 

 happens, the sill is empty, they will often stand up 

 and tap upon the glass, as if to attract notice to 

 their hunger. 



Moreover, they know very well when the family 

 meal-hours come around, and will present them- 

 selves at the windows pretty regularly then, since 

 they have learned to expect more than ordinary 

 attention at that time ; and they do so even when, 

 occasionally, the meal is omitted, so that no noise 

 or odors of preparation could have apprised them 

 of the time. The Doctor has had a few advance 

 timorously to take food from his fingers, as the 

 tame squirrels on Capitol Hill in Richmond, and 

 in some other city parks, will do from almost 

 any one. 



It is plain that they recognize all of us as ac- 

 quaintances from their indifference to our presence, 



