142 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



by the actions of captives to be mentioned 

 presently; but if so it presents a curious 

 anomaly to the rule, for it is certain that the 

 large northern species, although dwelling in 

 much colder regions, where proper food is ap- 

 parently scarcer, does neither, but goes abroad 

 every evening, no matter how severe may be 

 the cold, to get its subsistence, and fares well. 

 The young are born in early spring, and when 

 about six weeks old begin to appear at the door 

 of their house, playing about like kittens under 

 the watchful care of their mother. 



"And what a lovely little mother she is! She 

 takes the greatest care of them from the time they 

 are born. She tucks them under her, pulls the cedar 

 bark over them and blocks up the entrance on cold 

 days to keep them warm. If you put your finger 

 into the hole she will rake all the babies out of harm's 

 way with her front paws, and then with her nose she 

 will make a determined effort to push your finger 

 out of the hole again. Failing in that, she will not 

 bite you, as a red squirrel would have done at the 

 beginning, but she will probably take your finger 

 gently in her teeth, as though to ask you please to 

 be a gentleman and refrain from causing her any 

 further annoyance. 



' ' Even if you remove the young ones from the nest 

 she will not bite you, but she will come out after 



