Our Squirrels. l8l 



of pines and hemlocks. For, preferring the dark shades of these evergreens 

 for its home, it naturally cats its food in them : and all who have paid 

 much attention to the different phenomena of Nature have doubtless 

 noticed, that, when a patch of pine-woods is cut off, a growth of oak, 

 hickory, and chestnut, almost invariably springs up ; that is, if such trees 

 are growing anywhere within the distance of half a mile from them. This 

 new groNVth is almost always to be attributed to the little red squirrel, who 

 had buried the nuts from wliich it grew for its winter food. 



In sections where nothing but the various pines are growing, their seeds 

 furnish the principal food of this animal ; and I have often found, in my 

 wanderings in the North, large piles of the coverings of these seeds at 

 some favorite feeding-log of this little animal. 



It is not in planting nuts that this squirrel is valuable alone ; for, as it is 

 not afraid to approach the gardens and orchards of its human neighbors, 

 the choice apples and pears and cherries which it seizes and carries off to 

 its forest-home, to be eaten in leisure there, often produce, from the seeds 

 tlie little robber drops, a fine new variety or seedling that is oftentimes 

 fully worth propagating. We have often found, in our woods, trees that 

 had been planted by these squirrels, that were bearing fruit as choice as 

 that growing on trees in the carefully-tended garden and orchard from 

 which they originally came. 



Unfortunately for it, the taste of the red squirrel for ripe fruits is well 

 known ; and, in the neighborhood of orchards, its services in the forest are 

 often forgotten : but, in more retired localities, it is usually spared by the 

 farmer, who regards it as a funny, jovial fellow, full of good nature and 

 pleasant companionship. 



The Little Striped Squirrel ( Ta7nias siriatus), Linn^us. — This is 

 probably one of the best known and least popular of all our squirrels, and 

 in most localities is really a nuisance. It prefers an open to a wooded 

 countr}^, and usually takes up its home in or beneath a stone wall, or pile 

 of rocks in a field or pasture. 



Early in the spring, as soon as the rays of the sun have penetrated to 

 its subterranean home, it makes its appearance ; and, as soon as the first 

 corn is planted, it begins its depredations. It follows the rows of newly- 



