504 



the Hues of the Phihidelphia and Erie Railroad, in 

 Cameron, Elk and \\'aii'en counties, as well as in a 

 few other sections of the Commonwealth. 



THE SQUIRRELS. 



The game laws of Pennsylvania protect two species 

 of Squirrels ^\hich are designated by the common 

 names of Fox, Gray and "Black." Tlie Gray Squirrel 

 and the Black Squirrel are very generally regarded 

 by sportsmen as different species. Naturalists, how- 

 ever do not so consider them, but call the black in- 

 dividuals melanistic examples of the Northern Gray 

 Squirrel, (Sciurus carolinensis* leucoiis). The gray 

 form and their black-coated relatives are some years 

 very abundant in different sections in the hard wood 

 districts along the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad 

 from Williamsport to Warren. In the seasons of 1896 

 and 1897 individuals of this species, particularly those 

 with gray coats, were very abundant at different points 

 along the Northern Central Railroad from Williams 

 port to Elmira. 



Besides the Squirrels named in the last above para- 

 graph we have the Flying Squirrel, a species and sub- 

 species of the Red Squirrel, and one species and a 

 geographical race of the Chipmunk or Striped Ground 

 Squirrel. These animals feed on nuts (mast), seeds, 

 roots, buds, berries and fruits; they eat cereals, but. 

 with the exception of the Gray Squirrel, which, in 

 some sections and in certain years is quite plentiful, 

 they do but little .damage to the farmer in the way of 

 destroying his crops. Squirrels, however, do not live 

 exclusively on a vegetable diet; they catch insects and 

 some of them often dovour the o<:[(;fi and vnung of birds. 



