THE RED SQUIRREL. 121 



securely alone. In the sharp competition for 

 food everywhere prevailing many have been 

 the plans and devices to secure it, to keep it, to 

 use it to the best purpose. Mankind has often 

 stumbled by accident upon discoveries and 

 inventions that have proved of great service, 

 and doubtless in the animal world below him 

 the same thing has occurred. If an animal were 

 to hide a portion of food not then needed, it 

 would be an act that might save his life, and, if 

 it became a habit in his descendants, might pre- 

 serve the species to which he belonged. As a 

 matter of fact, many meat-eating animals do 

 hide portions of their food not needed at that 

 time. We have all seen or known of dogs bury- 

 ing meat bones for future use, and weasels and 

 other creatures do the same. I have seen a tame 

 crow hide portions of food, even covering them 

 with a chip, and taking much pains to do it 

 well. Very often he did not return for it, be- 

 cause he had an abundance elsewhere. His act 

 was an inherited habit, the surplus bit of food 

 suggested and prompted the hiding it. This 

 habit, or now called instinct, of hiding or stor- 

 ing food by animals may have originated acci- 

 dentally. Any ravenous, hungry creature seiz- 

 ing his portion, or a good deal more, and run- 

 ning, as the hens do, to a place of safety, would 



