50 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



In fact it is only in the fir forests that one sees them at all in these days ; 

 they seem to have completely forsaken or been driven from the great hollow 

 beeches that they used to frequent. 



Many a time, in the pre-war days, have I found a squirrel's drey at the 

 top of some fir-tree, containing a family of little ones. On one occasion I put 

 my hand into the hollow of a dead pine thinking that a stock Dove in- 

 habited it, only to find a squirming mass of young squirrels who came 

 tumbling out, and climbed up the bark of the tree with extraordinary alacrity. 



As a rule the family numbers from three to five, so it might seem difficult 

 to say exactly why they should have become so rare in certain localities. I 

 am of the opinion that such a deplorable state of affairs is entirely due to the 

 importation of the American Grey Squirrel. 



A few years ago, when the native Red Squirrel so often delighted us with 

 the graceful ease with which it darted along the slimmest larch branches, 

 or leapt from the top of one outstretched limb to the next, the Grey Squirrel 

 was practically unknown ; and I well remember my excitement when I first 

 saw one. 



But to-day these little animals which are still very popular in the 

 London parks have increased to an almost incredible extent. They were 

 of course imported into this country, and liberated in the hope that they 

 would become established as a breeding species, and have responded so gener- 

 ously to the confidence which was placed in them that they have not only become 

 established, but so firmly that they are now considered to be far too numerous, 

 as well as being it is said destructive to various trees. 



The pity is that these two varieties of squirrel do not seem to be on amic- 

 able terms with one another, and it is a significant fact that it is only in those 

 situations where the Grey Squirrel is seldom or never found, that one may 

 expect to see a Red Squirrel to-day. 



I have seen scores of grey squirrels recently ; I have not seen a single 

 red one. 



