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THE SQUIRRELS— SQUIRRELS PROPER. 



truly omnivorous. A peculiarity of some, which are 

 too weak to undertake extended wanderings or resist 

 the cold of winter, is that they gather provisions and 

 store them in concealed chambers. The Rodents 

 are the architects among mammals; for some of 

 them construct really ingenious dwellings, which 

 have been admired by men since the earliest times. 

 Not a few Rodents become tprpid for the winter, 

 spending the season in a lethargic sleep during 

 which life is maintained by the absorption of the fat 

 abundantly accumulated in their bodies during sum- 

 mer, which is gradually consumed. All voluntary 

 activity pertaining to life is entirely suspended, and 

 even the involuntary functions are, in every respect, 

 at a low ebb during this period of torpor. 



Much Harm In proportion to their small size, the 

 Caused by the importance of the Rodents is very 

 Rodents. considerable; for they are our most 

 harmful and dangerous enemies. Were it not for 

 the fact that they too have to contend with an 

 innumerable army of foes, and are subject to epi- 

 demics and diseases to a great degree, they would 

 reign over the earth and devastate it. The inces- 

 sant war which is being waged against them does 

 not always counterbalance their amazing fecundity. 

 The assertion seems surprising, but is nevertheless 

 true, that a pair of Rodents can have a progeny of 

 one thousand descendants within one year. It is 

 possible to feel really friendly to only very few 

 members of this numerous order, and of these few 

 still fewer are worthy of domestication. The skin 

 and flesh of the Rodents render them of greater 

 economic importance than any good qualities of 

 character they may possess. 



^be Squirrels. 



FIRST FAMILY: Sciurid^. 



In the first family we place the Squirrels, compris- 

 ing two sub-orders, the True Squirrels and the Mar- 

 mots. The body of the True Squirrel {Sciurince) is 

 elongated, the tail is also long with its fur evenly 

 parted lengthwise along the upper surface. The 

 eyes are large and prominent, the ears may be either 

 small or large, scantily covered with hair or fur- 

 nished with tufts. The fore-legs are perceptibly 

 shorter than the rear pair. The fore-paws have four 

 toes and one rudimentary thumb, the hind paws have 

 five toes. 



Squirrels The Squirrels are found in all parts 

 are Almost of the globe, with the exception of 

 Universal. Australia; they extend tolerably far 

 north and are found in the hottest parts of the 

 south. They live in lowlands and on heights, sev- 

 eral species frequenting plains as well as mountains. 

 Natural woods or plantations of trees form their 

 favorite haunts and by far the majority of these ani- 

 mals lead a truly arboreal life, while some take up 

 their abode in subterranean burrows of their own 

 digging. 



Movements AH Squirrels are lively, quick and 



and Habits of nimble in their movements both in 

 Squirrels. the trees and on the ground. Only 

 the Flying Squirrels are not at ease upon the surface 

 of the earth, but, on the other hand, they are pos- 

 sessed of the faculty of making exceedingly long 

 leaps, which are, however, only taken in an obliquely 

 descending direction. The mode of locomotion of 

 the majority of the Squirrels is a series of jumps, 



the animals stepping on the entire sole of the 

 foot. Nearly all of the species are excellent climb- 

 ers, and leap from one tree to another, covering 

 long distances. In sleeping they assume curled up 

 positions, preferably selecting comfortable resting 

 places; they therefore find retreat in subterranean 

 burrows or in hollows of trees, or in nests, which 

 they have partially reconstructed or entirely built 

 themselves. Those which live in cold countries 

 migrate at the approach of winter or hibernate unin- 

 terruptedly; they therefore gather large or small 

 supplies of provisions, to which they have recourse 

 in case of need. Their vocal expression consists of 

 a whistle and an indescribable growl and hiss. 



The Young Most species seem to produce young 



Squirrels and more than once a year. During the 

 Parents. breeding season a male frequently 

 lives for some time with the female and occasionally 

 helps -her to build the more or less complicated 

 dwelling, which is expected to harbor the offspring. 

 The number of the young of one litter ranges be- 

 tween two and seven. The little ones make their 

 appearance blind and nearly naked, and stand in 

 need of a warm bed and careful tending. Squirrels 

 taken olit of the nest young may be tamed without 

 especial difficulty, but in old age the intractable, 

 sulky temper, which seems peculiar to niany Ro- 

 dents, almost always shows itself, and they become 

 vicious and addicted to biting. 



Though all Squirrels have a predilection for vege- 

 table food and at times live exclusively, on it, yet, 

 like many other Rodents, they do not disdain flesh, 

 but attack small mammals, zealously hunt for birds 

 and ruthlessly plunder their nests. Though the 

 skins of several species of Squirrels are used as fur, 

 and the flesh is frequently eaten, this slight useful- 

 ness cannot compensate for the destruction wrought 

 by these animals to our plants and among useful 

 birds. 



THE SQUIRRELS PROPER. 



By far the majority of the members of the sub- 

 order belong to the species of the Tree Squirrels 

 {Sciurus), absent only in Australia. All its varieties 

 correspond so closely in form, structure, habits and 

 character that it is entirely sufficient to describe the 

 Common Squirrel and its habits, in order to gain an 

 insight into the life of the whole tribe. 



The Common The Common Squirrel {Sciurus vul- 

 Squirrel and its garis) is one of the few species of 

 Traits. Rodents with which Man has entered 



into friendly relations. In spite of many disagree- 

 able qualities, it is a welcome visitor in our houses 

 and impresses even poets as a sympathetic creature. 

 The ancient Greeks were fully cognizant of its 

 attractive qualities, and to them we are indebted for 

 the name by which the Squirrel now goes in science. 

 That Greek name signifies: "he who is under the 

 shadow of his tail," and every one who knows the 

 meaning of the word Sciurus, must involuntarily 

 think of the lively little creaUu^^as it sits on the 

 loftiest branches of the trees'j^Bfcte^erman poet, 

 Ruckert, has sung about the cMJJjpiittle animal 

 in a way that naturalists can not hope to surpass. 

 Physical Features T^^e body of the Squirrel is about 

 of Common ten inches long, the tail'eight inches; 

 Squirrels. the height at the shoulders is four 

 inches and the weight of an adult animal is a little 

 over one-half a pound. The fur is subject to mani- 

 fold diversification, according to the season — whether 

 summer or winter — and the latitude and consequent 



