CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. 87 



the habits of the latter, we are particularly impressed with the pecu- 

 liarities of the present species. Its bark has not the depth of tone of 

 that of the Northern species, and is more shrill and querulous. Instead 

 of mounting high on the tree when alarmed, which the latter always 

 does, the Sc. Carolinensis generally plays roimd the trunk, and on the 

 side opposite to the observer, at a height of some twenty or thirty feet, 

 often concealing itself beneath the Spanish moss {TUlandsia Usneoides) 

 which hangs about the tree. When a person, w^ho has alarmed one of 

 these Squirrels, remains quiet for a few moments, it descends a few feet, 

 and seats itself on the first convenient branch, in order the better to ob- 

 serve his movements. 



It is, however, capable of climbing to the extremity of the branches, 

 and leaping from tree to tree with great agility, but is less wild than the 

 Northern species, and is almost as easily approached as the chickaree, 

 (Sc. Hudsonius.) One who is desirous of obtaining a specimen, has only 

 to take a seat for half an hour in any of the swamps of Carolina, and 

 he will be surprised at the immense number of these squirrels that may 

 be seen running along the logs or leaping among the surrounding trees. 

 A great many are killed, and their flesh is both juicy and tender. 



The Carolina Gray Squirrel is sometimes seen on high grounds, 

 among the oak and hickory trees, although its usual haunts are \ovf 

 swampy places, or trees overhanging streams, or growing near the mar- 

 gin of some river. In deep cj-press swamps, covered in many places 

 with several feet of water during the whole year, it takes up its constant 

 residence, moving among the entwined branches of the dense forest 

 with great facility. Its hole, in such situations may sometimes be found 

 in the trunk of a decayed cypress. On the large tupelo trees, {Nyssa 

 aqtmticfi,) which are found in the swamps, many nests of this species, 

 composed principally of Spanish moss and leaves, are every where to 

 be seen. In these nests, or in some woodpecker's hole, they produce 

 their young. These are five or six in number, and are brought forth in 

 March ; it is well ascertained also that the female litters a second time 

 in the season, probably about mid-summer. 



This species has one peculiarity which we have not observed in any 

 other. It is in some degree, nocturnal, or at least crepuscular, in its ha- 

 bits. In riding along by-paths through the woods, long after sunset, we 

 are often startled by the barking of this little Squirrel, as it scratches 

 among the leaves, or leaps from tree to tree, scattering over the earth 

 the seeds of the maple, &c., which are shaken ofi" from the uppermost 

 branches, as it passes over them. 



This species is seldom, if ever, seen in company with the Fox Squirrel, 



9 



