Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-25
YOUNG soulRRELs.
urowing Animals That Act Very mneh
Like Very Young children.

uIowing Amin ais That Act Very sfueh
Like Very Young children.
Ono morning in tho middle Of DC.
tober / observed that n family OF
four young squirrels was venturing
forth from a box Just outside my
study window. They were not more
than six weeks old, and were very
timid. II was not often that more
than two or three would appear at
once. and one Of these seemed much
further advanced than the rest while
another was very babyish Their
prime characteristic was inquisitiyo-
ness. What a fine and curious new
world was this they had hcon intro
duccd tol How much there was to
seol How many delightful things
to dol
Thoy ceasclc,sly investigated every
thing about them with minute ntten-
ton, and had very pretty ways, such
as n habit Of clasping each other in
their arms around the neck. They
frequently scratched and stroked ono
another. Onoo | saw one diligently
combing nnothor's tail with his fore
feet Young red squirrels, Of which
we also had family or two, play
somewhat differently, having a pc
culiar way Of regularly boxing with
their fore paws.
Gradually they gain strength and
confidence, and then you will SEQ
how far tho liyclinc5s OF tho young
can surpaS even tho tircless activity
of old squirrels. Both old and young
arc exceedingly fond Of play, spring
ing from the ground as IL In high
jumping match and turning regular
somenaults; but the most amusing
thing Is thisi Finding a place whore
the tip Of tough branch hangs al.
most 70 the ground, they will leap
up and catch II, sometimes with only
one hand, and then swing back and
forth with the greatest glcc, just like
boys who discover a grapevine IN tho
woods or dangling rope in n gym.
nasium. These and many similar
antics seem TO DO done lust for fun"
The kittens continue to DO nursed
by the mother until they have grown
10 be almost IA heavy ms herself. IL
sccms impossible that her system can
stand such drlin-in fact, she does
grow weak and thin-and my neigh.
Dor, who has been an extremely
close observer Of their economy for
several ycans, has come TO the con.
clusion that the mother wcans the
kittens gradually by giving them
food which sho regurgitatcd or, ut
any rate, has thoroughly chowod up
in her own mouth.
No animal is moro mothcrly than
one Of these parent squirrels, and it
Is delightful 10 watch her behavior
when tho nearly grown brood has
begun to make short excursions and
~ undergoing instruction. All tho
other families in tho grove take an
interest In tho proceedings and clint
ter about ut a great rate; but IL ono
comes too near and attempts any in
reference in tho instruction, no Is
likely to DO driven away most vigor-
ously by tho Jealous mother. Every
morning lessons in climbing and nus
hunting aro given. and pretty scenes
arc enacted. Tho pride of the little
mother IA she leads her train out on
some aerial path Is very noticeable.
They arc slow and timid about fol.
lowing. Squirrels must learn to bal.
ancc themselves on tho plant limbs
by slow degrees.
II IL many long day after they
are able 10 chase one another up and
down and under and around rough
oak trunk In the livelicst gamo OF tag
ever witnessed before they can skip
about tho branches and leap from
ono 10 another with confidence in
their security. The patient mother
understands this, and encourages
them very gently to try, try again"
remember one such lesson. Tho
old one marched ahead slowly, utter.
ing low notes, as II TO say; Come
ON, my dears. Don't b. afraidr
Every little while she would stop,
and tho two well grown children fol-
lowing would creep up to her, and
put their arms around her neck in
tho most human fashion, as II pro-
testing that it was almost too hard q
task.
This loving kindness Is extended TO
other young squirrels whenever no
question of family rivalry interiors;.
l. i ~