90 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



in a single evening. They seldom discharge when first caught. 

 I have found a trap made by a sapling bent down to a figure 

 four catch, and baited with a dead bird or a fowl's offal, suc- 

 cessful ; but the best of all, in my judgment, is a large box-trap 

 set in the animal's path or before his burrow. This trap closes 

 completely, and when the skunk is caught in it he remains quiet 

 without discharging. The trap still closed, should then be im- 

 mersed in water until the animal is drowned, when he should 

 be removed and the trap set for further duty." 



The squirrels have in many localities, in consequence of their 

 great numbers and depredations, been regarded as pests, and 

 we confess that in too many instances some of the species have 

 well earned the title ; but all should riot be condemned because 

 of the mischief done by the few, and full allowance should be 

 made for the benefits which all the varieties render in some 

 way. We have in New England several species, and their 

 habits and characteristics are well marked. The largest of 

 these species is the common gray squirrel, and it is very gen- 

 erally distributed throughout the Atlantic States ; with its con- 

 geners, the fox squirrel and black squirrel, it is well known. 

 Its food consists almost entirely of nuts ; and it is to this fact 

 that the multiplication of our forest trees is very largely in- 

 debted ; for its habit of burying the different nuts as a provision 

 against the necessities of winter, covering them to the depth of 

 two inches or more, in the rich forest-mould, secures for them 

 the most certain germination. This squirrel is a very liberal 

 provider for its future wants ; and all who are conversant with 

 its habits know how busy it is in burying these nuts, from the 

 time of their early ripening until the ground is covered with 

 snow. 



Now, these nuts are not placed in one deposit, or two, or half- 

 a-dozen ; for accident might destroy such caches ; or they might 

 be placed by heavy falls of snow or thick formations of ice 

 beyond the reach of the depositor, who would then be left 

 without food through the most inclement season of the year. 

 No ; by an exercise of the highest instinct, if not actual reason, 

 they are buried each by itself in every available spot in the 

 woods, whether on the hillside, or beneath a fallen and rotten 

 trunk of a tree, or on the edge of a swamp — anywhere, that it 

 may be found when occasion calls for it. And all know how 



