The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-05-27
a NEST OF SQUIRRELS.

The Cute Antics OF AN Interesting Young
IsroO,i-
One morning In the middle of October
observed that family of four young
squirrels was venturing forth from II
box just outside my study window.
They were not more than six weeks
old, and were very tinid. 1t was not
often that more than two or three
would appear at once, and one of these
seemed much farther advanced than
the rest, while another was very baby
ish. Their prime characteristic was i'm
quisitiveness. What u fine and curious
new world was this they had been i'm
troduced to! How much there was TO
see! How many delightful things
TO dol They ceaselessly investigated
everything about them with minute
attention, and had very pretty ways.
such as a habit of clasping each other
in their arms around the neck. They
frequently scratched and stro<cd one
another Once saw one diligently comb
ing another's tail with his forefeet.
Young red squirrels, of which we also
had n family or two, play somewhat diff
ferently, having peculiar way of regu-
larly boxing with their fore paws
Gradually they gain strength and con-
fidence, and then you will see how far
the liveliness of the young can surpass
even the tireless activity of old squir-
rels. Both old and young are exceed
ingly fond of play, springing from
the ground as IL in high
jumping match, and turning regu-
laf e. IN, l,,,t Ian,
most amusing thing is this: Finding
place where the tip of a tough branch
hangs almost To the ground, they will
leap up and catch it, sometimes with
only one hand, and then swing back
and forth with the greatest glee, just
like boys who discover n grapevine in
the woods or n dangling rope in gym
nasium. These and many similar antics
seem to be done Just for fun"
The kittens continue to be nursed by
the mother until they have grown To he
almost as heavy as herself. 1t seems
impossible that her system can stand
such drain-in fact she does grow weak
and thin-and my neighbour who has been
an extremely close observer of their
economy for several years, has come to
the conclusion that the mother wcans
the kittens gradually by giving them
food which she has regurgitated. or, at
any rate, has thoroughly chewed up in
her own mouth.
No animal is more motherly than one
of these parent squirrels, and il is de-
lightful to watch her behavior when
the nearly-grown brood has begun to
make short excursions, and is under
going instruction. All the other fami-
lies in the grove take an interest in the
proceedings, and chatter about il ut u
great rate, but If one comes too near
and attempts any interference in the in
struction, he is likely to be driven away
most vigorously by the jealous mother
Every morning lessons in climbing and
nut-hunting are given, and pretty scenes
are enacted. The pride of the little
mother as she leads her train out on
some aerial path is very noticeable.
They are slow and timid about following
Squirrels must learn to balance them
selves on the plant limbs by slow de-
grees. 1t is many long day after they are
able To chase one another up and down
and under and around rough oak
trunk in the liveliest game of tag ever
witnessed before they can skip about
the branches and leap from one TO the
other with confidence in their security.
The patient mother understands this,
and encourages them very gently To
TRY, try again" | remember one such
lesson. The old one marched ahead
slowly, uttering low notes, as II To say:
Come on, my dears. Don't be afraidr'
Every little while she would stop and
the two well-grown children following
would creep up 10 her, and put their
arms around her neck in the most hu-
man fashion, AS if protesting that il
was almost too hard task
This loving-kindness is extended Ia
other young squirrels whenever no
question of family rivalry intcrfercs, -
Ernest Ingersoll, in llarper's Magazine.
ColOrs I'm Hats.
n -