120 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 



[No. 55 



Half -grown young just out of the nest similar to summer adults, but more 

 olive gray above and paler orange below. 



Measurements. Adult of about average size: Total length, 310 mm; tail, 

 125; foot, 50; ear (dry), 20. 



Distribution and habitat. This darkest and most richly colored of 

 the small tree squirrels occupies the humid coast region of Oregon, 

 and north through the coast region of Washington (fig. 20) . Speci- 

 mens from as far south as the mouth of the Rogue River are typical 

 of the species, but in the Umpqua and Willamette Valleys they show 

 a tendency to paler coloration and a gradation toward the form occu- 

 pying the Cascade Mountains. While not usually found in the open 

 valley country, they are abundant throughout the heavily forested 

 coast ranges of the State. 



General habits. Like all of the chickarees, these are bright, active, 

 and at times noisy little denizens of the forest. From their homes in 

 hollow trees or their leafy nests among the branches they range 



through the woods, each 

 squirrel or each family 

 claiming its own terri- 

 tory, and usually defend- 

 ing its premises from in- 

 trusion in a vigorous 

 manner. At times they 

 come out along the rail 

 fences or travel from tree 

 to tree a short distance 

 from the timber ? but usu- 

 ally they keep within easy 

 reach of trees or large 

 bushes, which are their 

 only protection against 

 numerous enemies. As a 

 chickaree sits on the 

 branches of a tree eating 

 a nut or shelling the seeds 

 from a cone, its eyes and ears are keenly alert for danger or tres- 

 passers. If a squirrel of another family approaches, it is vigorously 

 chased away, and often far beyond the boundary that could right- 

 fully be claimed. If a larger enemy appears, a vigorous scolding or 

 long chattering announces to other squirrels a possible danger. As 

 one passes through the quiet forest he will occasionally hear a low 

 chirrrr from the treetops, which is neither a warning of danger nor 

 a complaint of aggression, but seems more of a conversational nature. 

 At certain times in the year, especially in the spring and before the 

 young are out of the nest, the animals are mainly silent and are 

 rarely seen, but as soon as the young are out, they are noisy and 

 active for the rest of the summer, and especially so during the storing 

 season of autumn. 



Breeding habits. The young of the Douglas's squirrel, usually 4, 

 but sometimes as many as 6 or T are brought forth in warm nests 

 apparently at irregular times during the summer. At Portland, 

 Fisher collected a female on June 24, 1897, which contained 7 small 

 embryos, and at Tillamook, on June 30, 1897, he took another which 

 contained 4 large embryos. There are other records of embryos 



FIGURE 20. Range of four forms of the spruce 

 squirrels or chickarees in Oregon : 1, Sciurus doug- 

 lasii douglasii ; 2, S. d. cascadensis; 3, . d. albo- 

 limbatua; 4, 8. hudsonicus richardsoni. Type lo- 

 calities circled. 



