THE SQUIRREL. 153 



lack of game. As an example of this, I will quote a 

 passage from a newspaper which I have every reason 

 to believe to be quite authentic. It is an account of a 

 sporting expedition which took place in the county of 

 Shefford (Canada), near a village called Frost. The 

 inhabitants of this place assembled at the Golden Eagle 

 Tavern to consult how best to destroy the vast number 

 of wild creatures which threatened destruction to the 

 harvest of the vicinity ; and it was resolved that the 

 marauding birds and quadrupeds should be made the 

 subject of a kind of massacre of St. Bartholomew. 

 Two leaders were appointed to organize the slaughter, 

 and each of these selected seventy -five companions, 

 who for an entire week went shooting under their 

 orders. Messieurs Asa B. Foster and Augustus Wood 

 were the leaders ; and on the 19th of April 1856 the 

 game was counted, and the following was the tale : 



Foster's party. Wood's party. 



Foxes 50 50 



Sparrowhawks 50 25 



Crows 60 100 



Woodpeckers 720 420 



Polecats 270 120 



Black and gray squirrels 660 673 



Red and striped squirrels 41,620 33,150 



Weasels 80 20 



Jays 2,570 1,860 



Owls 160 140 



Blackbirds 3 2 



Pigeons 1 



46,243 36,561 



36,561 



Grand total 82,804 head.' 



