and ihvy have also boeii dcU-ctcd (U'lticdatin.i; in IIk' 

 poultry yard. 



EAT BGGS, BIRDS, DUCKS AND CHICKExNS. 



Referring- to tlie Red Squirrel's bill of fare Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam* says: 



"The propensity to suck the eggs and destroy the young of 

 our smaller birds is the worst trait of the Red Squirrel, and 

 is in itself sufficient reason for his extermination, at least 

 about the habitations of man. I have myself known him to 

 rob the nests of the Red-eyed Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Robin, 

 Wilson's Thrush, and Ruffed Grouse, and doubt not that 

 thousands of eggs are annually sacrified, in the Adirondack 

 region alone, to gratify this appetite. Therefore, when abun- 

 dant, as he always is during the springs that follow good nut 

 years, his influence in checking the increase of our insectivor- 

 ous birds can hardly be overestimated. Dr. A. K. Fisher in- 

 forms me that on three occasions he has known these Squir- 

 rels to destroy young Robins. * * * * j have long 

 been aware that this animal was an occasional depredator of 

 the poultry yard, and find, in a journal written twelve years 

 ago, a note to the effect that a case had come to my knowl- 

 edge where one was caught in the act of killing both chickens 

 and ducks." 



Numerous letters and answers to circulars received 

 at this Department from farmers, sportsmen and poul- 

 terers testify to the destruction of different kinds of 

 wild birds, especially Robins and Chirping Sparrows, 

 by Red Squirrels; and at least a dozen persons have 

 written about Squirrels destroying young chickens or 

 the young of domestic pigeons. 



THE FOX SQUIRREL. 



This, the largest of all our Squirrels, is known by 

 some as the "Cat Squii'rel,'' a mime which I have 



*The Vertebi-ates of the Adirondack Region of northeastern 

 New York, p. 117. 



