BRISTOL 



THE GRAY SQUIRREL 273 



bring some of his scattered hidden treasures to the home tree. 

 In the winter often whole weeks go "by without his poking his 

 head out. 



These squirrels sometimes make their nests in the branches 

 of trees. While the leaves are still on the trees they cut off twigs 

 and earn- them to some convenient notch. To watch them 

 construct the nest is very confusing. It seems as though they 

 simply scramble over the mass, packing and entangling it together; 

 there seems to be no special entrance ; they just push their way 

 into the center and escape wherever it is easiest to part the twigs. 



The bushv tail serves as a balance and also as a parachute 

 to this great leaper. When one falls, the legs are spread far 

 apart and the loose skin over the ribs is stretched and flattened 

 out. It would seem only a step from that condition to the para- 

 chute of the flying squirrel. The tail is also an object of great 

 pride to the owner, as is shown by the abashed demeanor of the 

 little animal when a portion of his brush is lost. Hiawatha gives 

 him the name of Adjidaumo because of his frisky' tail in the air : 



"And the squirrel, Adjidaumo 

 Frisked and chattered very gaily, 

 Toiled and tugged with Hiawatha 

 Till the labor was completed. 

 Then said Hiawatha to him, 

 'O, my little friend, the squirrel, 

 Bravely have you toiled to help me; 

 Take the thanks of Hiawatha. 

 And the name which now he gives you ; 

 For hereafter and forever 

 Boys shall call you Adjidaumo, 

 Tail-in-the-air the boys shall call you.' " 



The first litter of young is seen in March in the warmer parts 

 of the country and later in the more northern states. Mating 

 is for only one season and during the time before the baby squirrels 

 arrive the mother usually expels the male squirrel from the nest. 

 The young are blind and helpless and remain in the nest for a 

 month when they begin to awkwardly scramble about their door- 

 way. At this age they have some very pretty little ways. Their 

 chief characteristic is inquisitiveness. The world is so fine and 

 new and there are so many wonderful things to see ! Sometimes 

 they will seem to clasp each other around the neck with their 

 arms and will often scratch and stroke one another. 



Gradually the young gain strength and confidence and it is 

 then one can see how the liveliness of the young can surpass even 



