14 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 



more than double their numbers every six 

 months. 



The explanation is that the young leave us on 

 coming to maturity. As a rule, their family had 

 moved from the house where they were born to 

 new quarters as soon as the young could take care 

 of themselves, and here a new litter would soon be 

 forthcoming. 



These family flittings are often amusing specta- 

 cles. Sometimes the mother transports her kit- 

 tens when blind and hairless, carrying them in her 

 teeth ; but generally she waits until they are able 

 to travel. I recall one instance where early in the 

 morning a mother had got her kittens down from 

 the old nest to the end of a bridge that ran across 

 to the chinquapin, in which her new home was to 

 be. But to go out on that bridge was too much 

 for the youngsters. She would run ahead, and 

 one or two of them would creep after her a few 

 yards, then suddenly become panic-stricken and 

 scramble back. Again and again did the little 

 mother, with endless patience and pains, counsel 

 and entice them, until at last one was induced to 

 keep a stout heart until he was safely over. Then 

 ensued another interval of chattering and repeated 

 trials and failures, and so the second and third were 

 finally got across. It was now noon, and the poor 

 squirrel looked quite fagged out, her ears drooped, 

 her fur was ruffled, her movements had lost their 

 verve, her tail hung low, and her cries became 



