A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



it, from observation of the wild things. To 

 some of these wild things I am caterer, pro- 

 tector, and friend. They do not object to 

 my presence when engaged in domestic affairs, 

 so my ability to pry into their secrets is in- 

 creased in ratio to the confidence accorded me. 

 The red squirrel is one of the wild things 

 which I have thoroughly studied because I 

 have had the opportunity to do so. When 

 a writer asserts that the red squirrel is a poor 

 pro\ider, and without family ties, I know 

 that his observations have been haphazard, 

 and that he does not understand the life his- 

 tory of the little animal of which he writes. 

 The male squirrel assists his mate to fill a 

 storehouse for family use and then hides 

 stores for himself on territory which he owns. 

 Most observers see the squirrel hiding nuts 

 here and there, and jump to the conclusion 

 that he is improvident. When there are nuts 

 the red squirrel lays up a store for his family 

 and for himself, so that he and his family 

 are well fed through the winter. There are 

 no emaciated red squirrels in the spring, 

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