AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
243 
nest part, immediately over the kernel,) a small linear 
opening is first made, which at length admits the points of 
the lower front teeth. These are now inserted, and the 
hole enlarged by breaking off successive pieces of the 
snell in the direction of the kernel. A hickory-nut is 
thus frequently cut down on four sides from end to end, 
leaving the intermediate thick portions untouched. After 
satisfying his hunger the Squirrel generally buries the su- 
perfluous food; previous to the approach of winter large 
hoards of nuts and grain are collected and secured in the 
ground for future use. Their nests are at no great distance 
from these store-houses, and are built of small sticks and 
leaves in the top branches of forest trees, or in hollows of 
their trunks, except in the case of a few species which in- 
habit burrows at all times. All the Squirrels are peculiar- 
ly cleanly, and are frequently seen to rub their heads and 
faces with their fore paws as if for the purpose of washing. 
When they accidentally step into water they make use of 
their bushy tail for the purpose of drying themselves, pass- 
ing it several times through their hands. 
“ Like most of the animals belonging to this order, they 
are very prolific, and multiply until from their numbers 
large districts of country are injuriously overrun by them. 
They then invade and literally lay waste the corn-fields, 
consuming vast quantities of grain, and destroy nearly as 
much as they eat by breaking it down and scattering it on 
the ground. On such occasions the farmers in thinly set- 
tled districts severely suffer, and are deprived of a large 
share of the fruits of their industry. The efforts of a whole 
family are occasionally insufficient to drive off or destroy 
these busy plunderers, as new crowds appear to be con- 
tinually arriving to renew the depredation. 
u While travelling through the state of Ohio, in the 
autumn of 1822, we had an opportunity of witnessing 
something of this sort. Parts of the country appeared to 
swarm with Squirrels, which were so numerous, that, in 
travelling along the high road, they might be seen scam- 
pering in every direction; the woods and fields might be 
truly said, in the country phrase, to be ‘alive with them.’ 
A farmer, who had a large field of Indian corn near the 
road, informed us, that notwithstanding the continued ex- 
ertions of himself and his two sons, he feared he should 
lose the greater part of his crop, in addition to his time 
and the expense of ammunition used in killing and scaring 
off the little robbers. This man and his sons frequently 
took stations in different parts of the field, and killed 
Squirrels until their guns became too dirty longer to be 
used with safety; yet they always found, on returning, 
that the Squirrels had mustered as strongly as before. 
During this journey we frequently met Squirrel-shooters 
heavily laden with this game, which, in many instances. 
they had only desisted from slaying from want of ammu- 
nition or through mere fatigue. 
“Fortunately for the farmers these animals are not at 
the same time equally numerous in different parts of the 
country. We found the Squirrels, in 1822, most numerous 
throughout the country lying between the Great and Lit- 
tle Miami rivers; they became evidently fewer as we ad- 
vanced towards Chillicothe, and beyond that place were 
so rare as to be seldom seen. During some seasons they 
appear to move in mass, deserting certain districts entire- 
ly, and concentrating upon others. In such migrations 
vast numbers are drowned in crossing the rivers, and num- 
bers are also destroyed by beasts and birds of prey, and 
various other causes.” 
THE MOCKING-BIRD. 
Among the many novelties which the discovery of 
this part of the western continent first brought into notice, 
we may reckon that of the Mocking-bird; which is not 
only peculiar to the new world, but inhabits a very con- 
siderable extent of both North and South America; hav- 
ing been traced from the states of New England to Bra- 
zil; and also among many of the adjacent islands. They 
are, however, much more numerous in those states south, 
than in those north, of the river Delaware; being general- 
ly migratory in the latter, and resident, (at least many of 
them,) in the former. A warm climate, and low country, 
not far from the sea, seem most congenial to their nature; 
accordingly we find the species less numerous to the west 
than east of the great range of the Alleghany, in the same 
parallels of latitude. The berries of the red cedar, myr- 
tle, holly, Cassine shrub, many species of smilax, together 
with gum-berries, gall-berries, andaprofusion of others with 
which the luxuriant swampy thickets of those regions 
abound, furnish them with a perpetual feast. Winged in- 
sects, also, of which they are very fond, and remarkably 
expert at catching, abound there even in winter, and are 
an additional inducement to residency. 
The precise time at which the Mocking-bird begins to 
build his nest varies according to the latitude in which 
he resides. In the lower parts of Georgia he commences 
building early in April; but in Pennsylvania rarely be- 
fore the 10th of May; and in New-York, and the states of 
New-England, still later. There are particular situations 
to which he gives the preference. A solitary thorn bush, 
an almost impenetrable thicket; an orange tree, cedar, 
or holly-bush, are favourite spots, and frequently select- 
ed. It is no great objection with him that these happen, 
