THE FOX SQUIRREL. 
T?5) I ALLOCK states that the 
I — j I migrations of Squirrels have 
f ' I never been satisfactorily ex- 
I iff L , plained. What instinct, 
he asks, brings together 
such immense droves of these animals 
from all parts of the country and causes 
them to move with solid phalanx 
to distant localities, overcoming all 
opposing obstacles ? A few years since 
there was witnessed a wonderful sight 
by inhabitants of Pike County, Pa. 
An immense army of Squirrels arrived 
at the banks of the Delaware river late 
one night, and commenced its passage 
by swimming the next morning. The 
whole population turned out, and boys 
and men equipped with large grain 
sacks and clubs killed them by 
thousands. They kept coming in a 
continuous stream throughout the 
morning, and passed on to the woods 
beyond. Nothing could deflect them 
from their course, and they were 
evidently bound for a fixed point. A 
similar instance occurred some twenty- 
five years ago, where a vast assemblage 
crossed the Mississippi. While these 
migrations are obviously caused by a 
scarcity of food, it probably is not the 
only motive which induces them to 
undertake long journeys. The southern 
Fox Squirrel inhabits the Southern 
States from North Carolina to Texas. 
It is the largest and finest of our North 
American Squirrels. Its color is 
oftenest gray above and white below, 
but it is also found of all shades of 
fulvous, and sometimes a deep shining 
black ; its ears and nose are always 
white. The Western Fox Squirrel 
occurs in the Mississippi valley ; its 
color is a rusty grey, and its ears and 
nose are never white. 
Squirrels feed in the early morning, 
and disappear from eight to nine 
o'clock, remaining in their holes dur- 
ing the mid-day hours. They appear 
again in the late afternoon to feed. 
During the early morning and late 
evening the hunter secures his prey. 
The little fellows are very shy, but one 
may seat himself in full view and if 
he remains without motion little 
notice will be taken of him by the 
Squirrels. The season for hunting 
them is in fall and winter, although 
a great many are taken in August 
when young and tender. 
An important factor in the pursuit 
of this animal is the small Cur-dog 
trained for the purpose. He will run 
ahead through bush and wood, tree a 
Squirrel, and after barking sharply, 
wait for the master to put in an 
appearance. A Squirrel thus treed 
will run up the trunk a short distance, 
and curling himself down on a limb, 
will watch his canine pursuer, unmind- 
ful of the approach of the two-legged 
animal bearing a gun. When quite 
young and inexperienced, a good bag 
can sometimes be made without a Dog. 
They are very skillful in secreting 
themselves from view, when treed by 
the hunter, but the presence of the 
Dog seems to utterly upset all calcula- 
tions of concealment, for knowing the 
inability of the Cur to do them harm 
they will sit on a limb and not attempt 
to hide. The cruel method of smoking 
out, as practiced by the farmers' sons 
in winter, when the Squirrels are 
snugly curled up in their nests will not 
be described in this article. 
55 
