NATURAL HISTORY. 



ROBBERS, GOOD AND BAD. 



Washington, D. C. 



Editor Recreation: There seems to be 

 some difference of opinion regarding cer- 

 tain propensities of the red squirrel, pine 

 squirrel, or chickaree, Sciurus hudsonicus. 



When I was a boy in a country town in 

 Maine, belief was current among the young- 

 sters that red squirrels persecuted gray 

 squirrels. Stories were prevalent that gray 

 squirrels had been seen chased by chick- 

 arees. It was affirmed, too, that sometimes 

 male gray squirrels had been shot which 

 bore peculiar mutilations inflicted presum- 

 ably by their red congeners. This proves 

 nothing, but there was doubtless some 

 ground for the belief, for country boys are 

 keen observers of the habits of animals. 



That red squirrels occasionally, at least, 

 rob birds' nests of the eggs and young, I 

 am positive. On more than one occasion 

 I have seen them do it. Close behind our 

 house is a deep, thickly wooded gulch, the 

 home of numerous chipmunks and red 

 squirrels. Near the house is a small orch- 

 ard, and in front a row of maples and horse 

 chestnuts in which robins, redstarts, thistle 

 birds, etc., build their nests. I recall dis- 

 tinctly on one occasion hearing a great com- 

 motion among the birds, which I ascribed 

 to the presence of a cat, but on my mother's 

 assertion that it was a red squirrel after the 

 birds' nests, I proceeded to investigate the 

 matter. No cat was in sight, but a red 

 squirrel with a recently hatched robin in its 

 mouth ran down the tree and across the 

 orchard to the gulch. In a little while it, 

 or another, returned, but was frightened 

 away. Many times after that I witnessed 

 similar occurrences. To the present day, 

 my mother informs me, red squirrels will 

 hardly allow birds to rear a brood in these 

 trees. 



Hawks and owls have a reputation, 

 founded on fact, of destroying birds' eggs 

 and young. Crows also must be included 

 in the same category. They used to rob 

 the nests of eggs and young in these same 

 trees, coming even into the door yard for 

 the purpose, and more than once I have 

 shot a black robber with a young bird in 

 his beak. Hawks, owls, bluejays and crows, 

 all have their redeeming traits and, accord- 

 ing to those who have carefully studied their 

 habits, do more good than harm. 



I have no grudge against the red squirrel, 

 and dp not advocate his slaughter or exter- 

 mination on account of his occasional fancy 

 for eggs and dainty tidbits in the shape of 

 young robins. Yet where squirrels are 

 abundant they doubtless do much harm in 

 the way mentioned, and I know no good of 

 them except that they are pretty and cun- 

 ning, though saucy little rascals. 



I would not kill a skunk on account of 

 his unsavory reputation or because he oc- 

 casionally regales himself on fresh eggs and 

 spring chickens. There are persons who 

 claim that the skunk, like the bluejay and 

 crow, is more beneficial than harmful, cit- 

 ing the large number of beetles and other 

 insects eaten by them. But I have no doubt 

 that game birds, particularly those that nest 

 on the ground, suffer more from depre- 

 dations of skunks than from any other ani- 

 mals. I could cite many instances that have 

 come under my observation. However, 

 skunks do not confine themselves to a 

 strictly carnous diet. I have known patches 

 of sweet corn to have been broken down 

 and the depredations ascribed to coons. It 

 was afterward ascertained that skunks were 

 the culprits. W. C. Kendall. 



INDICTING THE CHIPMUNK. 



Blue Mountain Lake, N. Y. 



Editor Recreation : I should like to add 

 a little of my personal observation to the 

 red squirrel and chipmunk discussion. 

 There are no gray squirrels in this region 

 except in years when they are migrating 

 from West to East; but the whole country 

 is overrun with red squirrels. Two years 

 ago I killed 3 male gray squirrels that had 

 been emasculated by the reds, 2 of them 

 within a few days. I have often seen the 

 reds chasing them in other sections. 



Last year I got a choice strain of leghorn 

 eggs, the chicks from which I brought into 

 the dooryard to keep from the hawks. 



There were several chipmunks around 

 the house and my children had been in the 

 habit of feeding them. The second time I 

 fed the chicks I was surprised to see a chip- 

 munk seize one by the neck and, after giv- 

 ing it a shake, attempt to drag it away. It 

 is needless to say I killed the chipmunk. 

 The next day I was away and my wife had 

 the same experience, and got a neighbor 

 to kill the chipmunk while it was dragging 

 off the chicken. The first week 5 chip- 

 munks were killed, and I had 4 chicks left 

 out of 14. It seems to me if chipmunks kill 

 chicks like that they may be largely respon- 

 sible for the small number of grouse we 

 have. I have often noticed that there are 

 many more grouse around settled commu- 

 nities where the boys have a chance to trap 

 and shoot the squirrels, than in wilder re- 

 gions where you would naturally expect to 

 find more birds. I think one of the best 

 ways to preserve birds of all kinds is to kill 

 every red squirrel and chipmunk you see. 



C. L. Stanton. 



Halifax, N. S. 

 Editor Recreation: Anent the question 

 of birds' nests being robbed by squirrels, 



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