SQUIRRELS 
ORMERLY gray and blacksquirrels wereas 
common throughout our country as is the 
red squirrel today, and even more so; but 
~ these larger specieshave beenhunted tosuch 
an extent that we rarely see the gray 
squirrels except as protected creatures in 
parks; and the black squirrel has dis- 
appeared except in a few localities. The red squirrel 
has, because of its small size and greater cunning, 
escaped this sad fate. 
The red squirrel is just a playful, natural-born 
rascal, but perhaps the most attractive rascal in the 
animal world. He is a great thief, and would much 
rather steal his food than to gather it, even though it 
caused him more effort. In fact, he enjoys strenuous 
effort always, especially in a bad cause. The chip- 
munk, white-footed mice, gray squirrels, and espec- 
ially the blue-jays, are the victims of his thieving. 
He will spend a whole morning watching a blue jay 
or a chipmunk in order to discover where they hide 
their stores; but if one of them tries to steal his stores 
it is quite another matter, and he becomes so indig- 
nant that he scolds for an hour after. 
The gray squirrel is not so quick mentally or physi- 
cally as is his red cousin, neither is he so mischievous 
or suspicious. Although he lives in holes in trees he 
wishes plenty of room, and so hollows out a good sized 
nest which he beds down with leaves. Several may 
live together in such a nest. They also make nests 
in summer among the branches of trees; these they 
build of leaves and small branches in layers, fodied 
with leaves to protect from rain. 
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