128 HUDSON'S BAY SQUIRREL, CHICKAREE, ETC. 



reigns amid the trees, interrupted by the sprightly querulous cry of the 

 Chickaree, and would pause with us to look at him as he runs along the 

 rocky surface of the ground, or nimbly ascends some tree ; for in these 

 woods, once no doubt, abounding in both beasts and birds, it is now a hard 

 task to start anything larger than a robin, or a High-hole, (Picits auratus.) 

 The Hudson's Bay Squirrel is fearless, and heedless, to a great degree, of 

 the presence of man ; we have had one occasionally pass through our 

 yard, sometimes ascending an oak or a chesnut, and proceeding leisurely 

 through our small woody lawn. These little animals are generally found 

 singly, although it is not uncommon for many to occupy the same piece 

 of wood-land, if of any extent. In their quick, graceful motions from 

 branch to branch, they almost remind one of a bird, and they are 

 always neat and cleanly in their coats, industrious, and well provided 

 for the cold of winter. 



In parts of the country, the Chickaree is fond of approaching the far- 

 mer's store-houses of grain, or other products of the fields, and occasion- 

 ally it ventures even so far as to make a nest for itself in some of his out- 

 buildings, and is not dislodged from such snug quarters without undergo- 

 ing a good deal of persecution. 



One of these Squirrels made its nest between the beams and the rafters 

 of a house of the kind we have just spoken of, and finding the skin of a 

 peacock in the loft, appropriated the feathers to compose its nest, and 

 although it was destroyed several times, to test the perseverance of the 

 animal, it persisted in re-constructing it. The Chickaree, obtained this 

 name from its noisy chattering note, and like most other Squirrels, is fond 

 of repeating its cries at frequent intervals. Many of the inhabitants of 

 our Eastern States refuse to eat Squirrels of any kind, from some preju- 

 dice or other ; but we can assure our readers that the flesh of this species, 

 and many others, is both tender and well-flavoured, and when nicely broil- 

 ed, does not require a hunter's appetite to recommend it. 



The habits of this little Squirrel are, in several particulars, peculiar ; 

 whilst the larger Gray Squirrels derive their sustenance from buds and 

 nuts, chiefly inhabit warm or temperate climates, and are constitution- 

 ally fltted to subsist during winter on a small quantity of food, the Chick- 

 aree exhibits the greatest sprightliness and activity amidst the snows 

 and frosts of our Northern regions and consequently is obliged, dur- 

 ing the winter season, to consume as great a quantity of food as at any 

 other. Nature has, therefore, instructed it to make provision in the sea- 

 son of abundance for the long winter that is approaching ; and the quan- 

 tity of nuts and seeds it often lays up in its store-house, is almost incre- 

 dible. On one occasion we were present, when a bushel and a half of 



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