CHAP. I OUR GRAY SQUIRRELS 23 



known as an incorrigible nest-robber and bird- 

 catcher, killing fledglings as well as sucking eggs : 

 sometimes, no doubt, his misdeeds have been laid 

 at the door of the innocent gray ; and wise robins 

 take no chances. The flying-squirrel is likewise 

 overfond of birds' eggs. 



In another point my observations were at vari- 

 ance with the books, which credit this squirrel 

 with somewhat nocturnal habits. Ours were often 

 abroad late into the dusk, and were out with the 

 dawn : but certainly they were never outside their 

 houses during the night, even in bright moonlight. 

 Merely wet weather does not daunt them, but a 

 heavy downpour of rain naturally drives them to 

 cover. They never take a water-bath, so far as 

 I know ; but they are fond of rubbing and roUing 

 in loose sand, by way, I suppose, of ridding their 

 fur of vermin. 



In winter they are more active, if possible, than 

 in summer, racing about the trees at a furious rate, 

 as if invigorated to fresh activity by the keen air. 

 Yet the book-writers insist that their habit is other- 

 wise, and have described extensively their alleged 

 hibernation. Certainly our Connecticut squirrels 

 neither hibernate nor become torpid. During the 

 twenty-five years they have been under close ob- 

 servation here in New Haven there has never been 

 a day — excepting very sleety ones, perhaps — 

 when they did not appear. 



The same denial must be made in respect to the 



