460 THE GREY SQUIRREL. 



The Grey Squirrels are also natives of North Ame-^ 

 rica : v/here they do much mischief in the planta- 

 tions, but particularly among the maize ; for they 

 climb up the stalks, tear the ears in pieces, and eat 

 only the loose and sweet kernel which lies quite in 

 the inside. They sometimes come by hundreds upon 

 a maize-field, and thus destroy tlie whole crop of a 

 farmer in one night. In Maryland therefore, some 

 years ago, every pcr$on was compelled to procure 

 and exhibit apnually four fresh Squirrels ; the heads 

 of wdiich, to prevent deceit, were given to the sur- 

 veyor. In other provinces, every one who killed a 

 Squirrel received from the public treasury two-pence 

 on delivering up its head. Pennsylvania alone paid, 

 from January 1749 to January 1/50, no less a sum 

 than eight thousand pounds, currency, in rewards for 

 the destruction of these animals ; consequently in 

 that year as many as 640,000 must have been killed. 



This species resides pringipally among the trees ; 

 in the hollows of which it makes its nest, with straw, 

 moss, and other materials : and feeds on acorns, fir- 

 cones, maize, &c. as well as on various kinds of fruit. 

 It is said to amass great quantities of provision for 

 winter ; which it deposits in holes that it prepares 

 beneath the roots of trees, and in other places. 



When these animals are sitting" on a bough, and 

 perceive a Man approach, they instantly move their 



tails backward and forward, and make a chattering 

 noise with their teeth. This renders them peculi- 

 arly odious to sportsmen, who often lose their game 

 by the alarm they thus create. 



The flesh of the Grey Squirrel is eaten by some 



