I OUR GRAY SQUIRRELS 9 
and then swing back and forth with the greatest 
glee, just like boys who discover a grape-vine in 
the woods or a dangling rope in a gymnasium. 
These and many similar antics seem to be done 
“just for fun.” 
The kittens continue to be nursed by the mother 
until they have grown to be almost as heavy as 
herself. It seems impossible that her system can 
stand such a drain, —in fact she does grow weak 
and thin, — and my neighbor, who has been an ex- 
tremely close observer of their economy for several 
years, has come to the conclusion that the mother 
weans the kittens gradually by giving them food 
which she has regurgitated, or, at any rate, has 
thoroughly chewed up in her own mouth. 
No animal is more motherly than one of these 
parent squirrels, and it is delightful to watch her 
behavior when the nearly grown brood has begun 
to make short excursions, and is undergoing in- 
struction. All the other families in the grove take 
an interest in the proceedings, and chatter about it 
at a great rate; but if one comes too near and at- 
tempts any interference in the instruction, he is 
likely to be driven away most vigorously by the 
jealous mother. Every morning lessons in climb- 
ing and nut-hunting are given, and pretty scenes 
are enacted. The pride of the little mother as she 
leads her train out on some aerial path is very 
noticeable. They are slow and timid about follow- 
ing. Squirrels must learn to balance themselves 
