BISMARCK, THE RED SQUIRREL 



limbs in some mysterious way, never stopping, 

 like the gray squirrel, to measure distances 

 before a leap. If he misses and falls, he usu- 

 ally catches by a claw to some twig, thus 

 saving himself. If he falls to the ground, 

 it does not harm or disconcert him. He is 

 up the tree in a jiffy, spitefully saying things 

 that sound to the listener very much like 

 swearing. 



From the middle of April to the first of 

 September the male squirrel leads a jolly, 

 rollicking life. He is as restless and noisy 

 as a schoolboy, and as full of fun. He will 

 hang head down, holding on by his hind 

 claws, just for the fun of the thing. In the 

 tree-tops he is king. He rules the blue jays 

 and crows, and races them out of the pine-trees 

 whenever he feels disposed. He hazes the 

 gray squirrel, but does not unsex him as al- 

 leged. This silly tale is on a par with snakes' 

 stingers and hoop snakes. Any one that has 

 had the opportunity to observe squirrels the 

 year round, knows that chipmunks, red squir- 

 rels, and gray squirrels show the same appear- 

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