35 



no longer subjected to the ravages of the wolf and are pro- 

 tected by the enforcement of rigid game laws, the Deer is 

 still to be found in considerable numbers in a wild state. 



Tradition says that, ' Thirty Deers' Ridge,' a rough, rocky 

 and still uninhabited ridge in the lower part of the county, 

 received its name from the presence of a band of deer which 

 once ranged there. 



Sciurus hudsonicus loquax Bangs. Southeastern Red 



Squirrel. 



This mischievous little rodent is the most abundant of the 

 squirrels of the county; and his quaint, jerky motions, 

 together with his bold and saucy manner, render him per- 

 haps the best known of our smaller mammals. The Red 

 Squirrel is found wherever sufficient timber exists to afford 

 him an opportunity of exercising his climbing propensities, 

 but he is perhaps more at home in the neighborhood of ever- 

 green growths. He is more, carnivorous in his diet than is 

 generally supposed, as birds' eggs and even young birds at 

 times enter into his bill-of-fare. He is wonderfully fond of 

 the seeds of pears, and much damage is sometimes done to 

 the fruit grower by the inroads he makes upon this fruit, for 

 not content with cutting enough to satisfy his immediate 

 appetite, he seems to take great delight in wantonly cutting 

 off the growing fruit and allowing it to fall to the ground, 

 where it remains untouched. 



The Red Squirrel is found abroad at all times of the year, 

 even during severe winter weather. At this season I have 

 observed them in greater abundance in the vicinity of hem- 

 lock groves, and they then largely subsist upon the hearts of 

 the cones of this tree. The appearance of the Red Squirrel 

 during the coldest weather would seem to indicate that this 

 species does not, as is frequently asserted, lay up a store of 

 food for use during the winter ; but if so, the process is not so 

 .systematically carried out as by the Chipmunk. 



