3,58 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



SCIURUS MIGRATORIUS. MIGRATORY GRAY SQUIRRELS. 



DIMENSIONS. 



" An old male in winter pelage. INCHES. LINES. 



Length of head and body 12 6 



" tail (vertebrae) 11 



tail to end of hair 14 



Height of ear 7 



" ear to end of fur 9 



Heel to end of longest nail 2 6 



Length of fur on the back 8 



Weight 1 pound 6 ounces." AUDUBON. 



LOCALITY. 



This species is the common gray squirrel of the North ; it is 

 found in considerable abundance throughout the wild districts of 

 the Eastern States, and is very numerous in the mountainous 

 regions of Pennsylvania, but does not exist farther south than the 

 northern counties of Virginia. 



HABITS. 



The gray squirrel has few characteristics different from the 

 whole genus as before described, 



They are much sought after as pets by our youth, as they bear 

 confinement with great good-humor, and soon become quite recon- 

 ciled to a captive's life. Although mild and gentle, they are rather 

 uncertain in their disposition, and will at times bite their keepers 

 very severely. This species was formerly so abundant in the 

 agricultural districts of Pennsylvania that they committed great 

 depredations by invading the grainfields. To such an extent was 

 this havoc carried during the period of the early settlements, that 

 an ancient law existed, offering a reward of six cents for every 

 squirrel destroyed; and Audubon informs us that in the year 

 1749 the bounty paid out of the treasury, in consequence of this 



