THE OUTDOOR WORLD. 



t97 



until the middle of March, when the grass and clover begin to sprout 

 that they are seen at all commonly. By the first of June young the 

 size of gray squirrels are to be seen about the meadows. On July lo, 

 1884, one in black pelage was captured. 



Sciurus fjtger ciiiereus. Northern Fox Squirrel. — Mr. Gilbert C. 

 Merritt once informed me that he had killed several fox squirrels in 

 the Chappaqua hills about the year 1850. Of late none have been 

 heard of, even in that wild region. 



Sciurus carolinensis leucotis. Gray Squirrel. — Periodically common. 

 Some years hundreds are killed during the open season, while on the 

 following year not over a dozen will be secured. They are excessively 

 fond of hickory nuts, and early in September begin to eat the still par- 

 tially green nuts. It is at this time that they are most easily taken. 

 At daybreak the hunter attracted by the sound of falling shucks can 

 easily approach under cover of the thick canopy of leaves, locate the 

 animal by the moving branches, and shoot it before his presence is 

 known. 



Sciurus hudsonicus. Red Squirrel. — Common. With the exception 

 of the house cat and sharp-shinned hawk, the red squirrel probably 

 kills more young birds than any other animal. Repeatedly I have seen 

 them eating young robins, and have killed several while attempting to 

 plunder the wren boxes near the house. About the middle of April 

 the young are born, and are usually three or four in number. When 

 the animals are numerous they do considerable damage to the pear and 

 apple crop by cutting off the green fruit for the purpose of eating the 

 seeds. In the winter while searching for food they form extensive run- 

 ways in the nut groves under the snow, and when spring comes and 

 enough of the snow has melted so these minature paths can be seen, 

 they look not unlike a railroad model of one of our populous states. 



Sciuropterus volucella. Flying Squirrel. — Common. In the day 

 time they remain quietly in hollow trees, bird houses, out buildings, hay 

 lofts, or garrets of houses, and as dusk approaches come out of their 

 hiding places and start off on foraging expeditions. 



The animal is unusually attractive and when taken early in life 

 makes a tame and interesting pet. Sometimes, as with red and gray 

 squirrels, litters of young appear late in the fall. On one' occasion a 

 friend of the writer found four young scarcely as large as house mice 

 on October 17. 



Mus inusculus. House Mouse. — Common in the corn and rye fields 

 as well as around buildings. 



Mus decumanus. Common Rat. — Common. 



Peromyscus leucopus. White-footed Mouse. — Common. This 



