Transactions of the Linnaean Society of New York Volume 1-3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ...frivolous the Red Squirrel may appear to the casual observer, he is, nevertheless. a most industrious animal. Unlike most of his associates. and many of our own species, he is not content with the enjoyment of present plenty, but takes pains to provide against a time of future need. Vhen the summer has grown old, and the mellow days of early autumn cast a glow of color over the sumac and Woodbine, the prudent Squirrel has commenced to gather the provision for his winter's use. Impatient to make sure his store, he does not wait for the nuts to ripen and fall, but cuts the stems by which they hang, till many lie scattered on the ground below. He then descends and collects them in a heap between, or near, the roots of the trees: or, if he thinks them here too exposed, carries them ' directly to some hollow log or stump. Later in the season, when the mast is fully ripe. and the danger from mould is past, he fills the hollows of the limbs and trees about his nest, and often secretes reserve hoards in his burrows in the earthi In the evergreen forests he lays up large supplies of cones. I have seen him, even before the middle of September, engaged in gathering those of the white pine (Pinus strobus). At this early date he cuts the yet green cones from the branches. and, when a sufficient number have fallen, takes them to some hiding-place to ripen for his winter's fare. He eats the little buds that may be found scattered sparingly along the small branches of the spruce, and, in order to obtain them easily, _ bites off the terminal twigs and drags them back where the limb is large enough to allow him to sit comfortably on his haunches while feeding. Under single trees, both in the great forest and on our own lawn, I have found enough twigs to...