134 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE oF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
diligent scratching. They would roll on their backs on the bottom 
of the cage or stretch out at length in the sun on the porch. The 
female was much more excitable than the male. 
One day I gave them a stag beetle. As soon as it was dis- 
coyered by the male squirrel he picked it up in his mouth, holding 
it crosswise by the thorax, but almost immediately threw it from 
him in evident alarm. The beetle had scratched him with his 
long clawed legs. However, the squirrel renewed the attack and 
shortly devoured the beetle. | 
They were much given to play. I have seen the male sit with 
his legs folded under him in a restful manner while the female 
played with a crust of bread on the bottom of the cage, rolling. 
over and over as a kitten with a ball. She would also prance about 
the crust and poke it with a fore paw, as if she expected it to move. 
Then the pair would have a good-natured wrestling match. 
Returning to our wild and semiwild Staten Island gray squirrels, 
let us hope that they will receive protection. This has been 
accorded them by many families who have been pleased to have 
them as neighbors and have enjoyed their company. 
The Oriental Sycamore Injured by Cold? 
Witi1Am T. Davis 
The severe winter of 1917-18 will long be remembered on Staten 
Island and its vicinity. Its baneful effect on our local vegetation 
in killing or injuring many trees and lesser plants was commented 
upon in the PRocEEDINGs of this society for Oct. 1918 under the 
heading of The Cold Winter of 1917-18 and Its Effect upon | 
Vegetation on Staten Island, N Y. At that time the statement 
was made that the oriental plane tree or sycamore (Platanus ori- 
_entalis) had suffered to some extent, and that several had been 
killed on Hamilton Av. near St. George and on Bay St., Clifton. 
Since that account was written, more of the introduced plane trees 
1 Read at the regular meeting of the Institute October 20, 1923. 
