42 The Gray Squirrel 



would occur over the same route, but parts might 

 be crossed by other migrations starting from different 

 points. Then there were the lesser migrations, with 

 fewer numbers — caused by a failure of nuts in certain 

 sections — that extended over distances from sixty to 

 two hundred miles. Everywhere the squirrels left 

 desolation behind them in the path of these migra- 

 tions, the nut, fruit, and grain crops being sometimes 

 ruined. So destructive were they tliat we find on the 

 statute books in many States rewards offered for each 

 gray squirrel killed. 



Every man's hand was against them, and through- 

 out the whole year they were shot and trapped when- 

 ever possible. In addition to this, regular hunts were 

 organized, in which the whole male population took 

 part, hundreds of squirrels being killed in a single day. 



On a small scale these squirrel hunts were quite 

 common in Central New York as recently as 1840, 

 and even to this day they occur in parts of the 

 country. My great-uncle, Wesley H. Lottridge, de- 

 scribed to me one of these hunts, in which he partici- 

 pated. 



The hunt took place in the town of Columbus,- New 

 York, in the month of October, 1850. My uncle 

 was appointed captain on one side, and " Uncle " 

 John Richer, captain of the other. According to 



