16 Bulletin Wisconsm Natural History Society. [Vol. 6, Nos. 1 — 2. 
gray squirrels are common, and at such times seem to outnumber 
the other squirrels ; then for a period of years they will be scarce, 
only to return when there is a crop of their favorite food. 
Gray squirrels are sociable little fellows and if unmolested will 
make their homes in trees in the streets and parks of cities. Sev- 
eral towns throughout the southern part of the state have squirrels 
running about the streets, most notable of which is Fort Atkinson ; 
here, at times, six or eight may be seen playing together The two 
forms hypophwus and leucotis both occur in Fort Atkinson ; here, 
also, melanistic specimens were seen, the only black squirrels I 
have observed in southern Wisconsin. 
Gray squirrels are reported from Forest County, but the most 
northern records I have are Adams and Dunn Counties. 
Sciurus hudsonicus loquax Bang-s. 
Southern Ked Squirrel ; Chickaree. 
Red squirrels are apt to make their appearance in any section 
of the state where conditions favor their welfare, but their true 
home is the north where they dwell chiefly along the streams, 
lakes and swamps at the edge of the woods. Chickarees prefer 
hemlock groves, but are not averse to mixed woods of pine, cedar, 
larch or birch. When they occur in the southern part of the state 
they are usually found in larch swamps or groves of bur oak. Red 
squirrels are erratic in occurrence, but not to such an extent as 
gray squirrels. They do not hesitate to swim across rivers, and 
I have frequently seen them swim through rapids which would 
baflle many aquatic animals. On one occasion I saw a red squir- 
rel in North Pelican Lake swimming from one point of land to 
another fully ninety rods distant, and so skillful was he in his ef- 
forts that at a distance I mistook him for a mink. 
Sciurus niger rufiventer Geoifrey. 
Western Fox Squirrel. 
Fox squirrels are not as abundant as formerly ; even the past 
ten years have shown a decrease in their numbers in all the sections 
