THE GRAY 
SQUIRREL. 
LjAST of the Missouri River the 
1% Gray Squirrel is found almost 
I everywhere, and is per- 
l— haps the most common 
variety. Wherever there is timber it 
is almost sure to be met with, and in 
many localities is very abundant, espe- 
cially where it has had an opportunity 
to breed without unusual disturbance. 
Its usual color is pale gray above and 
white or yellowish white beneath, but 
individuals of the species grade from 
this color through all the stages to jet 
black. Gray and black Squirrels are 
often found associating together. They 
are said to be in every respect alike, in 
the anatomy of their bodies, habits, 
and in every detail excepting the 
color, and by many sportsmen they 
are regarded as distinct species, and 
that the black form is merely due to 
melanism, an anomaly not uncommon 
among animals. Whether this be the 
correct explanation may well be left to 
further scientific observation. 
Like all the family, the Gray Squir- 
rels feed in the early morning just 
after sunrise and remain during the 
middle of the day in their hole or 
nest. It is in the early morning or 
the late afternoon, when they again 
appear in search of the evening meal, 
that the wise hunter lies in wait for 
them. Then they may be heard and 
seen playing and chattering together 
till twilight. Sitting upright and 
motionless on a log the intruder will 
rarely be discovered by them, but at 
the slightest movement they scamper 
away, hardly to return. This fact is 
4 ken advantage of by the sportsmen, 
and, says an observer, be he at all 
familiar with the runways of the 
Squirrels at any particular locality he 
may sit by the path and bag a goodly 
number. Gray and Black Squirrels 
generally breed twice during the spring 
and summer, and have several young 
at a litter. The young mature in 
August and September. 
We have been told that an incident 
of migration of Squirrels of a very 
remarkable kind occurred a good many 
years ago, caused by lack of mast and 
other food, in New York State. When 
the creatures arrived at the Niagara 
river, their apparent destination being 
Canada, they seemed to hesitate before 
attempting to cross the swift running 
stream. The current is very rapid, 
exceeding seven miles an hour. They 
finally ventured in the water, how- 
ever, and with tails spread for sails, 
succeeded in making the opposite 
shore, but more than a mile below the 
point of entrance. They are better 
swimmers than one would fancy them 
to be, as they have much strength and 
endurance. We remember when a boy 
seeingsome mischievous urchins repeat- 
edly throw a tame Squirrel into deep 
water for the cruel pleasure of watching 
it swim ashore. The "sport" was soon 
stopped, however, by a passerby, who 
administered a rebuke that could 
hardly be forgotten. 
Squirrels are frequently domesti- 
cated and become as tame as any 
household tabby Unfortunately Dogs 
and Cats seem to show a relentless 
enmity toward them, as they do toward 
all rodents. The Squirrel is willing 
to be friendly, and no doubt would 
gladly affiliate with them, but the 
instinct of the canine and the feline 
impels them to exterminate it. We 
once gave shelter and food to a strange 
Cat and was rewarded by seeing it 
fiercely attack and kill a beautiful 
white Rabbit which until then had 
had the run of the yard and never 
before been molested. Until we shall 
be able to teach the beasts of the field 
something of our sentimental humani- 
tarianism we can scarcely expect to see 
examples of cruelty wholly disappear. 
no 
