1 OUR GRAY SQUIRRELS II 
doubt, when I think of the rat), little is proved, 
and even Dr. Mills places the general intelligence 
of the red, the flying, and the ground squirrels 
superior to that of our gray, which he concedes 
to be deficient in docility. 
Nevertheless, these animals within a certain nar- 
row range of acts and motions are certainly saga- 
cious; and they are somewhat teachable. It took 
our squirrels a very short time to learn that cracked 
nuts of several varieties, grains of corn, and other 
edibles were to be had on the window-sills. The 
squirrels know, furthermore, that the nuts are 
placed there from the inside, and if, as occasionally 
happens, the sill is empty, they will often stand up 
and tap upon the glass, as if to attract notice to 
their hunger. 
Moreover, they know very well when the family 
meal-hours come around, and will present them- 
selves at the windows pretty regularly then, since 
they have learned to expect more than ordinary 
attention at that time; and they do so even when, 
occasionally, the meal is omitted, so that no noise 
or odors of preparation could have apprised them 
of the time. The Doctor has had a few advance 
timorously to take food from his fingers, as the 
tame squirrels on Capitol Hill in Richmond, and 
in some other city parks, will do from almost 
any one. 
It is plain that they recognize all of us as ac- 
quaintances from their indifference to our presence, 
