184 GNAWING ANIMALS 



can find any real "sport" in "potting" squirrels out of the 

 tree-tops. 



Take the common gray squirrel, for example. It is one 

 of the most beautiful and graceful of our native mammals. 

 It is practically harmless, and as soon as it learns that it is pro- 

 tected, it becomes so tame as to be a delightful companion on the 

 farm. Thousands of American farmers would fight, were it 

 necessary, to save their squirrels from slaughter. Except the 

 red squirrel, all tree squirrels should be protected, both by 

 public sentiment and by law. 



Excepting the chickarees, the squirrels which live in the 

 tree-tops are considerably larger than those of other groups, 

 and their tails are much longer. Their characteristic colors 

 are gray, rusty brown, yellow, and black, and as a rule they 

 are devoid of spots or stripes. They are very strong and 

 active climbers, and keen of eye and ear. 



The Gray Squirrel^ is chosen as the leading type be- 

 cause it represents an average size, the most frequent color, 

 and is widely distributed. This is the most prominent squir- 

 rel of southern Canada, New England, and the eastern and 

 southern states, southward to Florida. It ranges westward 

 to Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Above, its color is clean 

 iron-gray, which in Southern specimens is mixed with dull 

 yellow. The lower surface is white, varying to yellowish 

 brown. Usually it nests in hollow trees, but when crowded 

 for room builds an open nest of green leaves, or strippings of 

 cedar bark made into a round ball. The young are usually 

 five in number. 



' Sci-u'rus car-o-li-nen'sis. 



