No. 4.] BIRDS ON THE FARM. 153 



pull or dig up the young corn about as fast as a crow. 

 They are the very incarnation of mischief. The red squirrel 

 is perhaps the more mischievous, but the gray squirrel is 

 not far behind it. It may be this spirit of mischief that 

 impels them to break up the nests of birds. That they do 

 tliis is not open to doubt, A pair of gray squirrels was seen 

 in the "robin roost" in July, 1900. They were not mo- 

 lested, and soon became so confiding that they built a nest 

 in a dove cote in the barn the ensuing winter, incidentally 

 driving out all the pigeons, who left never to return. 



Two broods of young ones Avere raised in the barn ; then 

 nest building was begun in the pines. The squirrels in- 

 creased rapidl}^ and in 1902 six or eight pairs were breed- 

 ing in the vicinity. Red squirrels were also quite plentiful. 

 The gray squirrels made frequent attempts on the nests of 

 both jays and robins ; but, as both birds alwaj^s joined forces 

 to repel the common enemy, the squirrels were frequently 

 driven off. They Avere not seen to accomplish their object, 

 but no doubt they did so in some cases. The actions of the 

 birds told that they well realized the danger, and were 

 determined to conquer or die. The gray squirrels are not 

 so active as the reds ; but either of them are likely, when 

 opportunity oilers, to eat birds' egg's or kill the young. 

 Mr. F. H. Mosher writes me from Hyde Park, N. Y., that 

 the squirrels there upset birds' nests quite wantonly ; also 

 that they bite oif the heads of young birds and throw the 

 bodies to the ground. It is difficult to judge how universal 

 such habits are among squirrels, but where they are ob- 

 served, it is safest to kill the squirrels at once. 



I have dwelt at some length on the habits of the creatures 

 that contribute to restrain the increase of birds, that we 

 may fully realize the importance of protecting birds against 

 these enemies. If the smaller birds are to resume even 

 their normal numbers, a different policy must be pursued 

 from that heretofore adopted. Bird protection means some- 

 thing more than the ordinary interpretation of the term. 

 If we wish to protect the smaller liirds, we must banish or 

 destroy their natural enemies. How this is to be done, 

 and just Avhat its effect will be if it succeeds, is the next 



