The Red Squirrel 161 



houses must indeed be tight if they are to keep 

 him out. These various highways are his race- 

 courses, for he is very sportive with his kind. Often 

 you may see one chasing another over an old rail fence 

 or through tree tops. The chickaree being a very expert 

 climber and swift runner, the race is exciting indeed. 

 It is wonderful what long leaps these squirrels make, and 

 upon what slender branches they are able to travel. 

 The reds are probably the fleetest and surest-footed 

 of the squirrel family. Most of these races take place 

 between the males, from May until September. I 

 never saw such a race as I observed last year in August, 

 in the tops of four large apple trees. Three squirrels 

 took part in it, and it was plainly a game of tag through 

 the tree tops, resembling the old game of cross-tag. 

 One chased the others, the pursued keeping close 

 together; sometimes, however, they would become 

 separated, and the one not being chased would rest 

 a little until the other two came his way, when he 

 would join in, and away they would speed. This 

 fast pace was kept up for perhaps ten minutes, then 

 a short pause, and then the game began again, this 

 time with a new pursuer. I watched them at least a 

 half hour, and then all of a sudden they left the tree 

 tops for the old rail fence, and raced back to the 

 forest. 



