28 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



pheasant in a squirrel's mouth ; but we have no doubt 

 that the bird was picked up dead. The squirrel's 

 alarm-cry reminds us of the sound produced from the 

 hole in the body of a rubber doll ; it is amusing to see 

 how he stamps his fore-feet while uttering this cry, as 

 if doing his best to frighten away his human intruder 

 by a show of force and fury. 



Squirrels always seem to be among the happiest of 

 wild animals. They have few foes, and none to equal 

 their agility and speed in the tree branches. The 

 stoat is a good climber, and if he were to attack the 

 squirrel's nest there would be small chance for the 

 young ones ; but stoats rarely climb so high. In the 

 bitterest weather the squirrel is secure in his drey ; he 

 dreams away the hard days, while around him birds 

 and animals die of cold and hunger. His only trouble 

 seems to be that hazel-nuts are sometimes blighted. 



v 



We know an old keeper who believes that squirrels 



eat everything eatable in a wood, and that nothing 



does more damage to his interests. He 



The reviles squirrels bitterly, saying that they 



Squirrel's , ,. 



Appetite stea ^ as manv * h ls precious eggs as rats ; 



the eggs of small birds too, and, on 

 occasion, nestlings. There seems no end to his 

 accusations. He declares squirrels will take straw- 

 berries and apricots if they have the chance, and that 

 they eat mushrooms and dig up truffles. A favourite 



