SCIUROPTKRIS \'OLl'CKl.l.A. 20I 



The modifications of structure that adapt it to its habit of hfe 

 arc 1)}' no means so great as in the case of the mole or bat, and yet 

 it is not less inseparably associated with an almost exclusively 

 arboreal existence than are these others with the special conditions 

 of their en\-ironment. 



bdN'imj;' Scjuirrels make their nests in the hollows of trees, 

 frequently taking- possession of deserted woodpecker's holes. They 

 are easih' arousc-d antl dri\en out b)- hamm(!rinLi' a^-ainst the trunk. 

 I have thus expelled the occupants of as man\- as half a dozen nests 

 in a single da)''s hunt. Their progeny must bc^ brought forth early 

 in April, for on the 30th of April, 1878, Dr. C. L. Bagg and nnself 

 took three half-grown )oung from a woodpecker's hole, about fifteen 

 feet above the ground, in a decayed stub. The}- did not seem at 

 all frightened, but were tame and gentle from the l)eginning. and 

 m\- sister and I kept two of them alive:. At night the\- were ex- 

 cessively active and i)la\ful, but, unless disturbed, would sleep 

 during the greater part of the da\-. The)' preferred to remain 

 upon our persons, and one used to sleep in my pocket. At fu'st it 

 could jump but a short distance, and if placed upon a chair or table 

 became ver\- unhapp)' and would come to the ah^c nearest the 

 place where I was standing and cry to be taken. If I extended 

 my arm and approached it, the little creature, trembling with 

 delight, would stand on its hind legs and leap u])on ni)- hand ; 

 thence, either running up m)- sleeve or down my neck, it would 

 nestle in m\- bosom and sleep for hours, or until forcibl\- removed. 

 Prof. V. If. King, in a recent communication, records an ex})erience 

 with the Noung of this species that calls to mind man)- of the actions 

 and })eculiarities of those that I have had. He says : " 1 have never 

 known wild animals that became so perfectly familiar and confiding 

 as these )-oung scpurrels did; and they seemed to get fiu* more 

 enjoyment from pla\ing upon m)- person than in any other place, 

 running in and out of pockets, and l)etween my coat and vest. 

 After the frolic was over thev alwavs esteemed it a great favor if 



