378 



FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



S\A\LL PeJ DEfA^JlVIEfd-]-. 



4JQJ~A11 communications and contributions intended for this depart- 

 ment should be addressed to HOWARD I. IRELAND, Concordville, 

 Delaware County, Pa. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



SQUIRRELS. 



Of all the four-footed inhabitants of our woods, from the 

 fleet-footed deer down to the winter-sleeping wood-mouse, 

 perhaps no one of them is so much admired on account of 

 the gracefulness of its shape, or the beauty and softness of 

 its fur, as the Squirrel. Every variety of this species comes 

 in for a share of this dangerous popularity ; fatal alike to 

 their liberty and happiness. One of the principal reasons 

 why Squirrels are so universally sought for as pets is because 

 they are so easily tamed, and of so little trouble after being 

 domesticated. 



Each hickory-nut, chestnut, and oak grove is generall} - 

 inhabited by some variety of these semi-wild rodents ; while 

 nearly every stone wall throughout the State of Pennsyl- 

 vania is tenanted by Ground Hackies and Chick-er-ees. So 

 abundant in some sections of the State are the last two va- 

 rieties that they are a nuisance to the farmer, and are shot 

 and trapped without compunction. 



Sometimes Squirrels are captured when young by persons 

 possessing large yards, kept until tame, and then liberated. 

 They seldom return to their native haunts, but remain about 

 the house of their master, building their nests in the trees of 

 the yard, and soon becoming so accustomed to the sight of 

 man as to descend from the trees and take nuts from his 

 hand. 



Squirrels belong to the Kodentia, or gnawing animals ; 

 so called because of the habit of gnawing or cutting into 

 fine particles the substances upon which they feed. They 

 live in spring on buds and young shoots, and the nuts left 

 of last Autumn's gathering ; during the summer on numer- 

 ous forest fruits and the cones of the pine; but autumn is 

 their feeding and harvesting time ; then the little harvesters, 

 as soon as the first frosts open the burrs and hulls, congregate 

 in immense numbers to gather these nuts for winter use, 

 when the trees shall refuse them sustenance. They now 

 become quite fat, and hundreds of them fall beneath the gun 

 of the sportsman to grace the table of the epicure. Their 

 flesh is pronounced exquisite in quality and delicious in 

 flavor, especially that of the gray Squirrel. 



During the winter they generally live in hollow trees, 

 so a9 to be protected from the cold storms ; but as soon as 

 the fickle smile of spring becomes fixed they venture forth, 

 and construct a nest in the branches of trees. The place 

 generally selected for this purpose is a stout branch where it 

 joins the stump ; or oftentimes the fork of two branches. 

 The nest is constructed of twigs and leaves, and the inner 

 part is lined with fine grass or moss. It is shaped like an 

 orange, more or less flat at the top and bottom, and at the 

 top or side is a small aperture, barely large enough to admit 

 the body of the little animal. This opening is often, though 

 not always, shaped like a cone, and so arranged as to ef- 

 fectually exclude the most violent summer rains. Besides 

 this nest the Squirrel has a store-house for nuts and acorns, 

 generally in the same tree in which the nest is built. These 

 hoarded provisions are used only when all other food fails. 



About the first of May, in a nest as described above, the 

 female brings forth her young, from four to five in number. 



These are carefully nursed and cared for by her until they 

 are able to provide for themselves. Squirrels have but one 

 litter yearly, and they seldom breed in confinement. 



Their paws are furnished with sharp nails, adapted for 

 rapid climbing. The tail is long and bushy, and is, indeed, 

 the largest part of them. It answers the purpose of an um- 

 brella to keep the sun and rain off; and, it is also said, that 

 when desiring to cross a stream they will get on a chip, ele- 

 vate their tail, and let the wind waft them to the opposite 

 shore. The following anecdote from Goldsmith's Animated 

 Nature will illustrate this more clearly : 



" In Lapland the Squirrels change their habitations, and 

 remove in vast numbers from one country to another. The 

 Squirrels, upon approaching the banks of a river, and per- 

 ceiving the breadth of the water, return, as if by common 

 consent, into the neighboring forest, each in quest of a piece 

 of bark, which answers all the purposes of boats for wafting 

 them over. When the whole company are fitted in this man- 

 ner they boldly commit their little boats to the waves, every 

 Squirrel sitting on its own piece of bark, and fanning the air 

 with its tail to drive the vessel to the desired port. In this or- 

 derly manner they boldly set forward. But it too often hap- 

 pens that the poor mariners are not aware of the dangers of 

 their navigation, for although the edge of the water is gener- 

 ally calm, in the midst it is always more turbulent. There 

 the slightest additional gust of wind oversets the little sailor 

 and his vessel together. The whole navy, that but a few 

 minutes before rode proudly and securely along, is now 

 overturned, and a shipwreck of two or three thousand sails 

 ensues. This, which is so unfortunate for the little animal, 

 is generally the most lucky accident in the world for the 

 Laplander on the shore, who gathers up the dead bodies as 

 they are thrown in by the waves, eats the flesh, and sells the 

 skins for about a shilling the dozen." 



GRAY SQUIRREL. 



The different varieties of Squirrels are numerous. Among 

 the most common is the Gray Squirrel, which, in the days of 

 our grandfathers, were so plentiful that they committed 

 great devastation on the corn, often destroying whole crops. 

 But now they are quite scarce, though they are yet to be oc- 

 casionally found in the woods. This is the kind generally kept 

 for a pet, and for game is more esteemed than any other on 

 account of the delicate flavor of its flesh. In the fall of the 

 year, when chestnuts are ripe, they become very fat, and 

 it is then they are shot for the table and the market. 

 Thej* are about the size of a half-grown wild rabbit. Their 

 fur is long, soft, and of a grayish color ; it is sometimes used 

 for making ladies' furs. The tail is covered with long gray 

 hairs, often variegated near the extremity. A similar va- 

 riety is found in the north of Europe. It is easily tamed, 

 and makes a most playful and mischievous pet. 



FOX SQUIRREL. 



The Eox Squirrel is found in the pine forests of the 

 Southern States. The color is black and gray, or oftentimes 

 mottled, and some have white noses. It often reaches a 

 length (including tail) of thirty-five inches, and is the largest 

 variety in the United States, with the exception of a kind 

 of Gray Squirrel found in Virginia. It is not often confined 

 as a pet. 



CAT SQUIRREL. 



A variety of Squirrel, called the Cat Squirrel, is found in 

 the thick forests of the north. The fur of this Squirrel is 



