I OUR GRAY SQUIRRELS J 



Usually four kittens arrive in one litter, blind 

 and helpless, and during the first month remain 

 within the nest, closely attended by the mother, 

 who permits no other squirrel — even her pre- 

 sumed mate — to come near her. Each family, 

 in fact, pre-empts a tree, and their sense of prop- 

 erty is so strong that usually a trespasser will 

 depart with little resistance, as if conscious of 

 being where he has no right. Old males will 

 sometimes kill their young, so that the mother 

 does well to keep all at a distance. 



At the end of a month the young are half grown, 

 and begin to scramble awkwardly about their door- 

 way, yet the mother won't let them leave the nest 

 until she thinks they are fully ready. 



One morning in the middle of October I ob- 

 served that a family of four young squirrels was 

 venturing forth from a box just outside my study 

 window. They were not more than six weeks old, 

 and were very timid. It was not often that more 

 than two or three would appear at once, and one 

 of these seemed much farther advanced than the 

 rest, while another was very babyish. Their prime 

 characteristic was inquisitiveness. What a fine and 

 curious new world was this they had been introduced 

 to ! How much there was to see ! How many de- 

 lightful things to do ! They ceaselessly investigated 

 everything about them with minute attention, and 

 had very pretty ways, such as a habit of clasping 

 each other in their arms around the neck. They 



