367 



Mr. B. F. Shaffer, Nittany, Centre Oo., Pa., says: 



"Saw a Red Squirrel eating the brains' of a young Robin. 

 These squirrels are a great nuisance where plentiful. They kfll 

 different kinds of wild birds and suck their eggs, and they also 

 sometimes catch young poultry." 



Mr. H. M. F. Worden, of Harrisburg, and a gentle 

 man who has been one of the most earnest advocates 

 in the Commonwealth for better laws to protect game, 

 fish and insectivorous birds, says: 



"For some time 1 doubted the statement that the Red Squirrel 

 would catch and kill young birds, but recently I know that a 

 pair of these squirrels killed and devoured a nest of young 

 robins. I have also learned, on making inquiry among some 

 of my friends who are well acquainted with Chickarees in 

 their native haunts, that these mammals often destroy young 

 birds, and, in the course of a year, do a good bit of damage." 



SOGMOEi OF HIS PURSURERS. 



The Red Squirrel has his own troubles and must not 

 only keep his eyes open for men and boys with guns, 

 or traps set for his destruction, but he has to be on the 

 alert for Hawks and Owls which often catch him in an 

 unguarded moment. Red Squirrels, in common with 

 other species of the Squirrel family, are often de- 

 stroyed by the forest fires which almost every year, in 

 this State, consume thousands of dollars worth of 

 property, besides destroying a great amount of animal 

 life. 



ADDITIONAL FACTS OF HIS LIFE HISTORY. 



Dr. C. Hart Merrlam makes the following remarks, 

 which portray in a most pleasing and entertaining 

 manner, much that is of interest: 



"The Chickaree combines qualities so wholly at variance, so 

 unique, so incomprehensible, and so characteristic withal, that 



