138 GREY SQUIRREL. 



Mr. Pennant also allows that it is a native of 

 South as well as North America. In the latter it 

 is in some years so extremely numerous as to do 

 incredible damage to plantations, especially those 

 of maiz or Indian corn ; for which reason it is 

 one of the proscribed animals among the colon- 

 ists. A reward of no less than three pence per 

 head having been sometimes given for every one 

 killed; and this, says Mr. Pennant^ proved such 

 an encouragement, as to set all the idle people in 

 the province in pursuit of them. Pensylvania 

 alone paid^ from January, 174-9/ to January, 

 1750^ no less a sum than 80001. of their cur- 

 rency ; but, on complaint being made to the de- 

 puties, that their treasuries were exhausted by 

 these rewards, they were reduced to one half. " 



How improved," adds Mr. Pennant, must the 

 state of the Americans be, in thirty-five years, 

 to wage an expensive and successful war against 

 its parent country, which before could not bear 

 the charges of clearing the provinces from the 

 ravages of these insignificant animals !" This 

 species resides principally among trees, in the 

 hollows of which it makes its nest, with straw, 

 moss, &c. feeding on acorns, fir-cones, maiz, &c. 

 as M^ell as on fruits of various kinds. It is said to 

 amass great quantities of provision for winter, 

 which it deposits in holes which it prepares be- 

 neath the roots of trees, &c. It is a difficult ani- 

 mal to kill ; changing its place on the trees with 

 such expedition, as generally to elude the shot of 

 the quickest marksman. It is said to be easily 



