Concord, Massachusetts
1894
Oct.11 to
Nov.21
(No 3)
Gray Squirrel, no Red Squirrels, and only two or three
Chipmunks. Yet the crop of chestnuts have been exceptionally
large and general. There have been, to be sure, a large
family of Red Squirrels in the butternut trees near the
Gr. Keyes place. I counted six in these trees at
one time last week and the boys have shot one
or two more then to my certain knowledge. Possibly
the Red Squirrels have avoided the Ball's Hill woods
because there are no pine seeds this year and there
may be more Gray Squirrels there than I have
supposed for I did see a good many of their
tracks (especially on Holden's Hill) where the ground
was covered with snow a week or two ago.
[margin]Squirrels[/margin]
  The Gray Squirrel is, I think, much shyer and
more retiring in autumn than at other seasons.
It may be well to note that three of these beautiful
animals have taken up their abode in the big
lindens on our place in Cambridge. One of them
appeared there in August when the pears were
ripening and we saw all three together early in
October. They [delete]will[/delete] are living in the hole formerly
occupied by the Red Squirrels in the linden at the
east end of the house. They are very tame &
appear to be on terms of certain friendliness with one
another. While the pears were on the trees they
made frequent trips into the garden for them. Now
they are depending on our bounty. I have
not yet heard any of them utter any sound.
They have taken many leaves into their hole
presumably to line it. These leaves were chosen with
much care & many were rejected after being taken up
and examined.
[margin]Three Gray
Squirrels take
up their
abode in the
Cambridge lindens[/margin]