Part 5

This is regarded as the typical species among the tree squirrels, and its character and that of the common species of American squirrels are very similar. The attitudes of the animals are familiar to all who have watched the antics of squirrels in their arboreal homes. It is widely distributed throughout all of Europe and across the Caucasus and Ural through southern Siberia to the Altai and eastern Asia. Brehm says it is not equally common everywhere or every year. Its favorite haunts are dry, shady forests with high trees and it is as much averse to dampness as to sunshine. When fruit and nuts are ripe it visits the gardens of villages, but only when they are connected with the forest by small tracts of trees or bushes. It will not attempt to forage far from the protection of the trees. Where there are many pine cones the squirrel makes its permanent home, and builds one or several habitations, usually in old crows' nests, which it improves very ingeniously. If it intends to make only a short stay, it uses the forsaken nests of magpies, crows, or birds of prey, just as it finds them, but the nests which it intends to serve as a permanent sleeping-place, a shelter against bad weather or a nursery, are built new, though the materials collected by birds are often utilized. It is said that every squirrel has at least four nests, though nothing has been definitely proven as to this. Hollows in trees, especially hollow trunks, are also frequented by them and occasionally built in. The open-air nests usually lie in a fork, close to the main trunk of the tree; the bottom is built like one of the larger bird's nests, while above there is a flat conical roof, after the manner of magpies' nests, close enough to constitute a perfect protection from the rain. The main entrance is placed sideways, usually facing east; a slightly smaller loop-hole for escape is found close to the trunk. Moss forms a soft lining inside. The outer part consists of twigs of various thicknesses, intertwined. Brehm says this squirrel especially likes to use the firm bottom of a forsaken crow's nest, filled with earth and clay, as a base upon which to construct a nest of its own.

A famous naturalist, describing this little creature, says that it is one of the principal ornaments of a forest. In quiet, fine weather it is incessantly active, keeping as much as possible to the trees, which at all times afford it food and cover. Occasionally it will deliberately descend a tree, run to another tree and climb that; doing this often in pure playfulness; for it need not touch the ground at all, unless it wishes to do so. He calls it the monkey of the woods of temperate climes, and it is possessed of many attributes which remind one of that capricious inhabitant of the warmer zone. There are probably few mammals which are possessed of such constant briskness and remain for so short a time in the same place as the squirrel does in tolerably fair weather. It is ever going from tree to tree, from top to top, from branch to branch; and even on the ground it is anything but clumsy or out of place. It never walks or trots, but always proceeds in longer or shorter bounds, and so quickly that a dog can hardly overtake it, and a human being has to give up the pursuit after a short time. "It glides up even the smoothest trees with wonderful ease and speed. The long, sharp claws on the toes stand it in good stead, for it hooks them into the bark, all four feet at once. Then it takes a running start for another leap and darts further upward; but one bound succeeds another with such rapidity that the ascent proceeds uninterruptedly, and looks as if the creature glided up the tree. Usually it ascends to the top of the tree without pausing, not infrequently reaching the highest point; then it goes out on one of the horizontal branches and generally jumps to the tip of a branch of another tree, covering in these jumps distances of four or five yards, always in a downward direction. How necessary the bushy tail is for leaping has been demonstrated by cruel experiments, which consisted in cutting off the tail of some captive squirrel. It was then seen that the mutilated creature could not leap half so far as one having a tail. The squirrel is an excellent swimmer, though it does not go into the water willingly."

The squirrel eats fruit or seeds, buds, twigs, shells, berries, grain, and mushrooms. The seeds, buds, and young shoots of fir and pine trees form its principal food. It bites pine cones off at the stem, comfortably sits down on its haunches, lifts the cone to its mouth with its fore-paws, and turning it constantly around, it bites off one little scale after another with its sharp teeth, until the kernel is reached, which it takes out with its tongue. Hazel nuts are a favorite dainty with it. Bitter kernels, like almonds, for instance, are poison to it; two bitter almonds are sufficient to kill it.

When food is abundant the squirrel lays by stores for less plenteous times. In the forests of southeastern Siberia it stores away mushrooms. "They are so unselfish," says Radde, "that they do not think of hiding their supply of mushrooms, but pin them on the pine needles or in larch woods on the small twigs. There they leave the mushrooms to dry, and in times of scarcity of food these stores are of good service to some roaming individual of their kind."

Four weeks after the breeding-season the female gives birth to from three to seven young, in the softest, best located nest; the little ones remain blind for nine days and are tenderly nurtured by the mother. After they have been weaned the parents leave the young to their fate. They remain together for a while, play with each other and soon acquire the habits of their parents. By June it is said the female has another family, and when they also are so far grown up that they can roam around with her, she frequently joins her first litter, and one may see the entire band, sometimes consisting of from twelve to sixteen members, gamboling about in the same part of a wood.

The squirrel is a very cleanly animal, licking and dressing its fur unceasingly.

The finest squirrel skins come from Siberia, and the farther east they are procured the darker and more valuable they are. The back and under part of the furs are used separately. Russia and Siberia annually furnish from six to seven million skins, valued at about one million dollars. Most of these skins are manufactured in Russia and exported to China. Besides the skins, the tails are employed as boas, and the hair of the tail makes good painters' brushes. The flesh is white, tender, and savory, and is much esteemed by epicures.

"IN ORDERS GRAY."

E. F. MOSBY.

Very demure is the soft gray of the catbird's garb, but under it is hidden a spirit ever ready for frolic and fun. His liquid, shining eyes are very innocent, yet they are full of mischief. He always looks to me as if he had a secret--one, however, that he is willing to share with any friendly looker-on. Not even the chat takes a more genuine delight in sport. Hide-and-seek is a favorite game with the whole tribe, and in their shadowy gray, how they glide through the branches and lurk in the thick leaves! What mischievous peering out, sometimes clinging to a tree-trunk like a nuthatch, sometimes sitting absolutely still and almost invisible on a bend of a crooked bough! When discovered, a wild and reckless chase ensues; they skim in rapid flight over the level fields, or dash through the shrubbery in excited pursuit.

The catbird dearly loves to tease. I often saw one hide near the approach to an orchard oriole's nest, watching him with shining eyes of mischief. He never actually molested the oriole, and would fly away to some slender, swinging twig, after he had succeeded in startling the nest owner into a state of nervous alarm, so that he would complain to his mate for a half hour. The little scamp seemed thoroughly to enjoy his fright. He has keen vision, and darts down with wonderful swiftness on a worm far below his perch, while he can wheel and turn with surprising ease in pursuit of any victim. One of his most amusing performances is the way in which he nips off a shining, juicy blackberry with his sharp beak, glancing at you as if to ask, "Did you want that? You can't have it," and presto! the prize vanishes down his throat, and he hops to another cluster with an air of triumph. I love the little fellow in spite of his squawks and whims and naughty tricks. He looks so neat and trim with his soft gray and velvety black, and has such a pretty way of running along a bough with quick, short, pattering steps like a little child's, and such lovely, clear, musical tones when he chooses to be good, that it is hard to resist him. He has also a very warm heart for his mate and nestlings, and for his comrades as well. A gentleman relates that on one occasion, going too near a catbird's nest, the little owner aroused the others by his sharp cries, and they made such an attack upon him that he had to defend his face with his hat. They fear nothing when the nest is in danger.

The first alarm-note is usually a sort of _cluck! cluck!_--rather low and anxious. I saw my nephew one day take a young bird just out of the nest in his hand. Instantly the parents flew to him with their disturbed note. He put it down and went away, and a gray cat appeared. The place rang with the anguished cries of _snake! snake!_ and the "taunt song," for so it seemed, was taken up by others in the depths of the woods. We did not succeed in saving all the brood from the stealthy cat, and it was pitiful to hear the birds lamenting. In a frenzy the mother-bird drove off furiously a Carolina wren that came to see what the trouble was, and even a female cardinal, that added _her_ cries of resentment at her rough handling, until the whole bird world seemed in turmoil. The male cardinal appeared to answer his mate in soothing tones, but neither approached again the mourning catbirds.

Last summer there was a most beautiful singer in my neighborhood that added to his own melodies a marvelous mimicry of other birds. In one morning I have heard him repeat over and over the _aoli_ of the wood thrush, the cardinal's notes, the songs of the indigo bird, the Maryland yellow-throat, the yellow-throated vireo, and the orchard oriole. Sometimes there would be a contest in song between the oriole and the catbird. The first was always the one to cease first, but each usually looked very dissatisfied--a ruffled ball of feathers at the end.

The loveliest experience was hearing on a spring morning a song so liquid, so sweet, so varied, and yet so low, scarce above a whisper, that it seemed a dream. I stole to the window--and there sat my little bright-eyed singer in shadowy gray, singing, as if all to himself, a _shadow-song_.

INDEX.

VOLUME VI.--JUNE, 1899, TO DECEMBER, 1899, INCLUSIVE.

Animals, Pet. As Causes of Disease, 26

Animals, When, Are Seasick, 192

Babies, Wee, 161

Bats in Burmese Caves, 32

Bee and the Flower, 164

Beetles, 92-94

Bird, The Flown, 61

Bird Lovers, Two, 212

Bird Notes, 187

Bird Study, The Psychology of, 53

Bird Worth Its Weight in Gold, 206

Birds, Accidents to, 77

Birds, Mounting of, 86

Birds, Honey, 116

Birds and Ornithologists, 80

Birds, Nebraska's Many, 84

Birds in Town, 89

Birds, Twilight, 67

Birds Gathered His Almond Crop, 228

Birds, Young Wild, 71

Birds, Traveling, 73

Birdland, Stories from, 229

Birdland, The Tramps of, 195

Bobolink, 215

Boy, Little, What the Wood Fire said to a, 173

Canaries, 166-167

Canon of the Colorado, The Grand, 106-107, 120

Charley and the Angleworm, 12

Cheeper, A Sparrow Baby, 103

Chewink, 158-160

Child-Study Literature. A Contribution to, 85

Chipmunk, The, 177-179

Christmas Once Is Christmas Still, 233

Coca, 202-203

Color Photograph, A Study of, the 216

Common Minerals and Valuable Ores, 191

Cowbird, 224-225

Cruelty, The Badge of, 128

Cuba and the Sportsman, 140

December, 229

Dog, The Pointer, 49-51

Earth, How Formed, 110-111

Eggs, Birds', Why and Wherefore of the Colors of, 152

Emperor's Bird's Nest, The, 48

Fashion's Clamor, 200

Feather, Changes in Color, 2

Finns, Bird Lore of the Ancient, 186

Flower, the Bee and the, 164

Forests, 97-99

Fowls, Farm-yard, 118-119

Hawk, John's, 42

Hawk, Red-tailed, 208-209

Home, Returning, 115

Humming Bird, A Rare, 145

In Orders Gray, 237

Indirection, 23

Insect Life Underground, 92-94

Iron Ores, 189-191

Jim and I, 149

June, A Day in, 8

Lady's Slipper, The, 146-148

Lilies, Water, 82-83

Lurlaline, 85

Lyre Bird, 218-219

Marbles, 62-63

Mandioca, 72

Maryland Yellow Throat, 214-215

Mayflowers, The, 37

Minerals, 74-75

Mississippi, The, 174

My Neighbor in the Apple Tree, 1

Narcissus, The, 198-199

Nature, Accordance of, 80

Nature Study; How a Naturalist Is Trained, 41

Nature Study in the Public Schools, 79

Nest, A Metal Bird's, 32

Nest Story of a, 188

Niagara Falls, 142-143

Oak, The Brave Old,102

Oil Wells, 122-123

Oologists, A Suggestion to, 20

Optimus, 109

Ores, 70-71

Ovenbird. The; Golden-crowned Thrush, 90

Park, Forest, 61

Paroquet, The, 169

Paroquet, Carolina, 170-171

Peach, The, 182-183

Perch, The Yellow, 86-87

Philippine Islands, Plant Products of the, 115

Pictures, The Influence of, 78

Plant, A Fly-catching, 29

Pointer, The, 49-51

Prophet, Ted's Weather, 180

Raven and the Dove, 36

Rocks, Terraced, Yellowstone Park, 110

Robert and Peepsy, 221

Rooster, That, 132

Rooster and Hen, 118

Science, Out-Door, 24

Sea-Children, The, 79

Seal, Threatened Extermination of the Fur, 181

Seasick, When Animals Are, 192

Shells and Shell Fish, 58-59

Squirrel, European, 234-235

Sportsman, Cuba and the, 140

St. Silverus, Legend of, 228

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, Letter from, 77

Summer, Indian, 176

Swan, White, 84

Taffy and Tricksey, 17

Thrush, The Hermit, 104

Tea, 154-155

Towhee, 158-160

Trees, Awesome, 67

Trees, Curious, 44

Trees and Eloquence, 30

Transplanting, A, 210

Trout, Brook, 135-139

Viceroy, Transformatian of the, 183

Warbler, Black-Throated Blue, 46-48

Warbler, Blue-Winged Yellow, 22

Warbler, Chestnut-Sided, 38-41

Warbler, Golden-Winged, 26

Warbler, Maryland Yellow-Throat, 214-215

Warbler, Mourning, 34-35

Warbler, Myrtle, 14-15

Warbler, Western Yellow-throat, 10-11

Whip-poor-will, The, 66

Wildcat, 230-233

Winter Time, 212

Wish-ton-wish, 162

Wood, The Edge of the, 68

Woodpecker, How It Knows, 144

Woodpecker, Pileated, 217

Woods, Our Native, 205

Woods, Polished, 130-131

INDEX.

=Figures in black-faced type indicate Illustrations.=

Acorns, Two. Vol. v, 210

African Folk Lore. Vol. iv, 12

Ah Me! Vol. iv, 113

Alaska, Birds of. Vol. iv, 95

Almond. Vol. v, 26, =27=

Almond, Flowering. Vol. iv, 193, 195

All Nature. Vol. iv, 37

Anhinga, or Snake Bird. Vol. ii, =26=, 27

Animal World, In the. Vol. iv, 136

Animals and Music. Vol. iv, 159 Among. Vol. v, 185 Count, Can? Vol. iv, 180 Hibernation of. Vol. v, 84 Pet, as Causes of Disease. Vol. vi, 26 Rights. Vol. iv, 225 Some Propensities of. Vol. iv, 81 Taming the Smaller Wild. Vol. v, 127 The Talk of. Vol. iv, 140 Water and. Vol. iv, 84 When, Are Seasick. Vol. vi, 192

Antelope, The Pigmy. Vol. iv, =94=, 95

Apple Blossoms, Vol. iv, =36= Blossom Time. Vol. iii, 153

Arbutus, The Trailing. Vol. v, 229

Armadillo. Vol. iv, 146, =147= As a Pet. Vol. iv, 12

Athena, the Birth of. Vol. v, 29

Audubon, John James. Vol. ii, 161 Society, One. Vol. iii, 234

Autumn. Vol. iv, 132

Aviaries. Vol. iii, 121-122

Avocet, American. Vol. ii, 14, =15=

Azalea, The. Vol. v, =143=

Azamet, the Hermit, and His Dumb Friends. Vol. iv. 33

Babies, Wee. Vol. vi, 161 Baboon. Vol. v, 217, =218=

Bat, Black. Vol. iv, =170=, 171 The Hoary. Vol. v, =166=, 167 Red. Vol. iv, =170=, 171

Bats in Burmese Caves. Vol. vi, 32 Tame. Vol. iv, 168

Bee and the Flower. Vol. vi, 164

Bees, About. Vol. v, 17

Beetles. Vol. vi, 92, =94=

Bird, A Little. Vol. iv, 162 Courtships. Vol. iv, 164 Day. Vol. iii, 82 Day in the Schools. Vol. i, 129 Life, Destruction of. Vol. v, 109 Lovers, Some. Vol. iii, 81 Lovers, Two. Vol. vi, 212 Miscellany. Vol. ii, 195, 235 Notes. Vol. vi, 187 of Paradise, the King. Vol. iv, 124, =126=, 127

Bird, Only a. Vol. iii, 73 Study, The Psychology of. Vol. vi, 53 Superstitious. Vol. iii, 132, 172 Song. vi Vol. i, 187 Song. Vol. ii, 1, 41, 81 Songs of Memory. Vol. iii, 124 Study, The Fascinations of. Vol. iii, 164 The Flown. Vol. vi, 61 The Mound. Vol. iii, 114 Worth Its Weight in Gold. Vol. vi, 206

Birds. Vol. iv, 168

Birds, Accidents to. Vol. vi, 77 and Animals of the Philippines. Vol. iv, 48 and Farmers. Vol. i, 213 and Ornithologists. Vol. vi, 80 Answer. Vol. iii, 83 as Shepherds. Vol. v, 20 Carry Seeds, How. Vol. v, 37 Defense of Some. Vol. v, 211 Foreign Song Birds in Oregon. Vol. iii, 123 Foretell Marriage. Vol. iv, 16 Gathered His Almond Crop. Vol. vi, 228 Hints on the Study of Winter. Vol. iii, 109 Honey. Vol. vi, 116 in Captivity. Vol. ii, 121 Interesting Facts About. Vol. iii, 100 in the Schools. Vol. iii, 20 in Garden and Orchard. Vol. iv, 153 in Storms. Vol. iv, 163 in the Iliad. Vol. iv, 234 in Town. Vol. vi, 89 Migratory. Vol. v, 37 Mentioned in the Bible. Vol. iv, 48 Mounting of. Vol. vi, 86 Nebraska's Many. Vol. vi, 84 of Alaska. Vol. iv, 95 of Bethlehem. Vol. ii, 223 of Passage. Vol. ii, 173 of Prey, Useful. Vol. iv, 88 Pairing in Spring. Vol. iii, 189 Reasoning Powers of. Vol. iv, 43 Story. Vol. ii, 224 Sleeping-places of. Vol. iv, 164 that Do Not Sing. Vol. v, 188 The Return of the. Vol. i, 101 Traveling. Vol. vi, 73 Twilight. Vol. vi, 67 Wild, in London. Vol. iv, 92 Young Wild. Vol. vi, 71

Birdland, Stories from. Vol. vi, 229 The Tramps of. Vol. vi, 195

Bittern, Least. Vol. iii, =46=, 47

Black Bird, Red-winged. Vol. i, 64, =69=, 71

Blue Bird. Vol. i, 75, =76=, 78, 96 Mountain. Vol. ii, =203=, 205

Blue Bird, The. Vol. v, =181= The First. Vol. v, 181

Boarder, A Transient. Vol. v, 101

Bobolink. Vol. i, 92, =93=, 94

Bobolink. Vol. vi, 215

Bobolink's Song. Vol. iv, 61

Bob White. Vol. iii, 16, =18=, 19, 34

Boy, Little, What the Wood Fire said to the. Vol. vi, 173

Brazil Nut. Vol. v, 26, =27=

Brook, A Book by the. Vol. iv, 39

Buddha, The Youth of. Vol. iii, 237

Bunting, Indigo. Vol. i, =172= Lazuli. Vol. ii, 196, =198=, 199

Butterflies. Vol. iv., =63=, =103=, =145=, =183=, 223 Love to Drink. Vol. iv, 182 Are Protected, How. Vol. iv, 62

Butterfly, The. Vol. iv, 142 Trade, The. Vol. iv, 22

Butternut, The. Vol. v, =94=, 96

Cactus. Vol. iv, =210=, 211

Canaries. Vol. vi, =166=, 167

Canon of the Colorado, The Grand. Vol. vi, =106=, 107, 120

Captives Escape. Vol. ii, 116

Catbird. Vol. i, 183, 184, =186=

Charity of Bread Crumbs, The. Vol. v, 115

Charley and the Angleworm. Vol. vi, 12

Chat, Yellow-breasted. Vol. ii, 236, =238=, 239, Vol. iv, 149