340 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAISr, 



of this species, Audubon remarks: "It is stimulated either by 

 scarcity of food, or by some other inexplicable instinct, to leave 

 its native haunts, and seek for adventures or for food in some, 

 to it, unexplored portion of our land." 



At such times, they collect together in multitudes, and move 

 oft" in immense droves; nothing can stop them in their progress 

 onwards, and they never hesitate to swim the widest rivers that 

 oppose their march. Great numbers are necessarily drowned 

 in these bold undertakings, as well as destroyed by their 

 enemies. 



The circumstance of Squirrels crossing rivers during their 

 migration proves the indomitable energy of character that these 

 active little creatures possess, as they are not at all partial to 

 water in any form, and always keep within doors during a 

 storm ; and if they should accidentally wet or even soil their 

 feet, they immediately stop to dry them by passing them through 

 their bushy tails several times. 



Godman remarks on this subject: "While travelling through 

 the State of Ohio, in the Autumn of 1822, we had an opportunity 

 of witnessing something of this sort. Parts of the country 

 appeared to swarm with Squirrels, which were so numerous 

 that, in travelling along the high road, they might be seen 

 scampering in every direction; the woods and fields might be 

 truly said, in the country phrase, to be ' alive with tJiemJ A 

 farmer who had a large field of Indian corn near the road, in- 

 formed us that, notwithstanding the continued exertions of him- 

 self and his two sons, he feared he should lose the greater part 

 of his crop, in addition to his time and the expense of ammu- 

 nition used in killing and scaring off the little robbers. This 

 man and his sons frequently took stations in difierent parts of 

 the field, and killed Squirrels until their guns became too dirty 

 longer to be used with safety ; yet they always found, on return- 

 ing, that the Squirrels had mustered as strongly as before." 



The following extract, taken from Porter, will also give a 

 good idea of their numbers in Pennsylvania during a season of 

 plenty. " These pleasant little fellows are at some seasons as 

 scarce as specie; at other times they migrate in millions. A few 

 seasons since, they pervaded the Northern part of Pennsylvania 



