the white pines of the north, biting off 

 the scales in order to get at the seeds in 

 a similar manner. The scales scattered 

 about the foot of the tree often betray 

 them to the squirrel hunter." 



The Western Fox Squirrel, which we 

 illustrate, inhabits the forests of the en- 

 tire area drained by the Mississippi river 

 and its tributaries, and is the largest of 

 the tree squirrels in the region which it 

 inhabits. In length the fully adult West- 

 ern Fox Squirrel varies from twenty-two 

 to about twenty-eight inches, including 

 the tail, to the end of the hairs. It varies 

 much less in its coloration than do the 

 northern and southern forms, "the prin- 

 cipal variation being to dusky, annulated 

 with rusty beneath, or with the whole 

 ventral surface black." There is, how- 

 ever, a geographical variation in color, 

 the palest individuals being found on the 

 eastern edge of the plains. Some of 

 these are nearly white below and much 

 lighter above than the typical form, 

 which inhabits the Mississippi Valley 

 and is a decided rufus in color. It has 

 been shown by Professor J. A. Allen that 

 there is "a gradual transition in the color 

 of the under parts from pale yellowish- 

 white, through pale fulvous, deep ful- 

 vous, and ferruginous, to bright reddish- 



orange, in passing from the plains and 

 the more northern localities to the 

 swampy regions of the Lower Red River 

 in Louisianna. While the upper parts 

 show a less striking change in depth of 

 color, there is a correspondent darkening 

 of the dorsal surface through the larger 

 amount of black and the brighter tint of 

 rufous." 



Our picture well .-illustrates the reason 

 why these pretty animals — the Western 

 Fox Squirrel and its relatives — were giv- 

 en the generic name Sciurus. The an- 

 cient Greeks, always appreciating the 

 beautiful, were fully aware of the at- 

 tractive habits and graceful poses of 

 these little animals. To them no< name 

 was more significant than their words 

 skia, meaning shade, and oura, meaning 

 tail. The compound of -these two words 

 skiouros was their name for squirrel, and 

 freely translated it means, "He who is 

 under the shadow of his tail." No more 

 appropriate name could have been se- 

 lected by Linnaeus for the group of tree 

 squirrels, and it still is and always will 

 be the generic title used by scientists. 

 The name illustrates the squirrel's char- 

 acteristic posture while resting, or while 

 in an attitude of watchfulness. 



Seth Mindwell. 



THE MOTHER PRAIRIE CHICKEN. 



In the animal breast there is no in- 

 stinct stronger than the maternal in- 

 stinct, when the creature is put to the 

 proof. 



If there is an exception, it is the in- 

 tuitive impulse of self-preservation — the 

 "first law of Nature." But the mother- 

 love of the offspring has, in innumerable 

 instances, impelled the beast and bird to 

 forget the instinct of mere self-preserva- 

 tion in defending its young. This is 

 shown by the eagle that will risk life in 

 defending its young from molestation. 



Bui the same instinct is often mani- 

 fested by birds that arc noted for being 

 wild, timid and wary. Take, for exam- 

 ple, our extreme western Prairie Chicken 



— those that make their habitat in the 

 northwestern Pacific coast states. 



Under almost all circumstances, the 

 Prairie Chicken is a very wild bird and 

 very difficult to approach except by 

 stealth. As it is very wary and suspi- 

 cious, it is hard to approach the creature 

 without its knowledge. Instantly on dis- 

 covering its natural enemy, the bird is 

 off on the wing and out of reach. 



Of course, during the "close" season 

 these beautiful game birds are exempt 

 from danger. This is during the breed- 

 ing season, and extends up until the 

 young broods are more than half grown. 



While the mother is sitting, and in 

 fact until the chicks are able to scurry 



90 



