SQUIRRELS 



see how rapidly they manage it. The fragments 

 of cones cast aside collect about the stump until 

 it is fairly covered up and buried from sight ; and 

 these mounds of little reddish brown chips are to 

 be seen scattered about the woods at frequent 

 intervals, indicating by their presence the com- 

 parative abundance of squirrels. 



They eat also the seeds of the pitch pine and 

 spruce ; but I am inclined to think that they pre- 

 fer those of the white pine when these are to be 

 obtained. The little cones of the hemlock retain 

 their seeds all winter ; so, after the harvesting of 

 the pine cones is over for the season, the squirrels 

 turn their attention to these. On still winter days 

 you may see them springing about among the 

 elastic branches, clinging to the very tips of the 

 finely divided sprays at a perilous height in their 

 endeavours to reach the cones that are hung on 

 such exasperatingly slender twigs, hardly large 

 enough even for a squirrel's foot to grasp ; and 

 not infrequently a misstep will send one of them 



