New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
FRIENDLY SQUIRRELS.
THEIR WISDOM AND PLAYFULNESS

in the most marked manner. She occupied notch
in pine tree overlooking the auditorium all summer.
Here she reared her brood OF little ones, chrpng to
them and scoldng the robins, their natural enemies,
in the most vxen.sh fashion. Neither the thunders
OF the organ at the musical festival nor any Of tho
exercises at the auditorium, seemed TO disturb her
housekeeping The moment the crowds began to gather
after Jones's arrival however, she began TO move
her family of four halfg squirrellings ono ~
one to q distant tree, tArryng them in her mouth Dy
the neck as a cat carries its kittens. AS soon as
sam Jones had gone, almost before the last echoes
Of his southern accents had died away, she moved
back again to her old home in the notch Of the pine
tree.
IL is curious TO the familiarity Of wild creatures
Of wood any OF the settlements where they
are protected from human tOrmentors with guns UT
brute marauders in the shape of cats and dogs. In
Round Lake the wOodthrush has become almost
household bird. II is familiar than the robins.
The young birds do not hesitate to come on the
plazzas at the cottages and peer in through the
windows. II requires perfect quiet to attract these
proverbally shy birds, but they let alone they
will finally to the feet or perch on the cnair OK
certain ones whom they atracted-for they are
decided in their likes and dslikes. Not every ono
possesses winsOmeness enough to draw the laverock
fra the ea, or bring down the thrush from tho
pines. This thrush is not to be COMPOUNDED win the
brown thrasher," which is not an uncommon resi-
dent among the haunts Of men,
The scarlet tanager another rare shy biro winch
has been won by gentleness. II may be frequently
seen at nesting time among the pines ana "oodeu
shores Of the lakes OF Saratoga County. Last sum-
mer the tanagcrs were especially friendly. In one
instance a half grown hedgng flew down from It's
nest and perched the Of one OF the cottaeers
who was watching it. and the mother bird came
down and fed IL where II was without rear
OF molestaton from its human friend. A dis
tingiished naturalist who spent some time az
Round Lake last summer expressed the greatest as
Punishment at the familiarity Of these shy wild birds.
There are no wood companions after all, more
fascinating than the gray squirrels who live In high
nine trees They soon learn 10 visit cottages buiit
among their woods and win their way INTO all hearts
by their beauty and grace. After long acquaintance
with him one forced into the belief that the average
gray squirrel is vain peacock and conscience
less flaud lie a clear example OF the indVinnai
VINO makes his living by his Wits but he wins your
regard all the same No one can resist the pleading
of his great brown ewes the sanctmonious way IN
which he crosses his paws on his breast OF inc
beauty Of his pumed tail which he extends over MS
head when he comes to your cottage o'or
Alleging. Nearly every family in certain
cottage settlement last summer kept basKes
of nuts on the for the squirrels ana ey
soon learned 10 come in and help themselves lhey
are natural adopts in social graces, they never CROSS
your threshold in your presence without pausns
moment before you. posed on their hind legs, WIN
their forepaws crossed and their beautiful tails wav-
ing around them, and having made their pretty
obesance they proceed to the basket OF nuts some
times a spirit Of frolic to possess them. and
they will 90 like a fash all around the walls Of the
cottage plunging into the down pillows OF the paror
lounge and again: the backs OF rocking CHAIRS
pausing an instant perhaps to enjoy the motion and
then seeming to be everywhere al once then they
fy in the most exasperating manner to the top OF
the pine tree. They can often be coaxed into your
Ian, 10 aat puts from
care to be handled when very tame and arc
likely TO resent such attempts at familiarity by
vicious bite of their sharp teeth
They would often carry away nuts last summer
from the basket on the table and bury them in
different parts Of the room, under the edge Of the
rug among the down pillows Of the sofa. in
the fold Of a dress skir If sitting quietly.
one day last summer squirrel came in and dropped
a nut in each OF friends rubber shoes left stand
ing on the piazza The pgeonholes of large writ
ing desk which stood in the parIor apparently
a constant Of curiosity to the squirrels. ana
several times nuts were found buried among the
papers in its In all their fr0lcking about
the house they never did the least mischief. They
seemed like fairies than actual creatures Of
flesh and blood.
The weaknesses in the gray squirrels character
arise from his epicurean tastes and his Incidence and
frivoity. He is very fond OF birds eggs; he will
follow distressed little chippy bird about till she
dare stay away from her longer; then having
found the nest he will mercessly devour every egg
she leaves it again. The battles between
the squirrels and robins every long and
furious. After papa squirrel has made meal OF
robins eggs he has sly way Of sliding away rub
bling his with his paw as If nothing had happened
The robins usually find him out, however, and then
the battle begins in earnest. He is match
for them. He promptly away for besides
being a sneak, he is coward but he sell
dom gets far without receiving punishment from
the sharp beaks of his enemies, these not IN.
commonly knocking him out OF the pine tree The
gray squirrel contrary to the general belief. is not
provdent lie is too lazy and full OF fun 10 lay aside
winter stores. Some natualiStS tell that this is
because he lies in partial stupor in winter. The
gray squirrels that live among the pine trees at
Round Lake are wide awake all winter There they
sub,st on the fed 10 them by the superintendent
Of the grounds, and they follow the chipmunk and
steal from the store which this industrious little
creature lays up for himself The chpmunk is not
as handsome the gray squirrel, but his moral
character is excellent. He is friend Of thu
farmer and he does not rob birds nests.
1t is his plebeian lie does not eat
single mt dainty, bury IL with great show Of
frugslity place whore it will never be Of the
slightest to him. He stufs in a VICAR. business
like manner many nuts he get into the ample
pouches in HIS mouth and carries them off e his store
house in his burrow at the foot of tree. rho
gray squirrel treats him with contempt in the sum.
mer. but is willing 10 live of him in the winter.
The mother squirrel is the dantest little matron IN
the world she begins TO down from the pine
trees with her brood Of four FIVE musings in the
month of May. The witcherv Of her when she
plays with these babies is delightful especially in
teaching them leap from tall tree TO another.
She shows far more courage than her lege lord and
has been known to attack a cat in defence OF her
babies All her genteness and kittenish ways
pass away, and She becomes tgerish
little vixen when her brood is endangered. AZ
such times she shows the power Of her tongue; she
will lie full length against the trunk Of a tree, her
head downward but erect. and chatter in the most
slrewish tones. that sound suspciously like SOUR
rels' billingsgate.
clamor OF squirrels near the house called IT'S
occupants TO the door last summer There seemed
to be an indignation meeting among them. There
were several living at fun length the tree trunks