Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-03-25
YOUNG solIIRReLs.
Growing Animals That Act Very Much
Like very Young Children.

Growing Animals That Act Very Much
Like Very Young Children.
One morning in the middle of Oc-
tober / observed that 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. It 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 inquisitive-
ness. What fine and curious new
/ world was this they had been intro
duced tol How much there was to
seel How many delightful things
to dol
They ceaselessly investigated every
thing about them with minute atten-
ton, and had very pretty ways, such
as a habit of clasping each other in
their arms around the neck. They
frequently scratched and stroked one
another. Once | saw one diligently
combing another's tail with his fore
feet. Young red squirrels, Of which
we also had a family or two, play
somewhat differently. having a pc
culiar way of regularly boxing with
their fore paws.
Gradually thoy gain strength and
confidence, and then you will see
how far the hyelness of the young
can suTpass even the tire!ess activity
of old squirrels. Both old and young
are exceedingly fond Of play, spring
ing from the ground as If in high
jumping match and turning regular
someTsaults; but the most amusing
thing is this: Finding place where
the tip of a tough branch hangs al
most to the ground, they will leap
up and each il, sometimes with only
one hand, and then swing back and
forth with the greatest glee, just like
boys who discover grapevine in the
woods or dangling rope in a gym
nasirlm These and many similar
antics seem to be done lust for fun.
The kittens continue to be nuIsed
by the mother until they have grown
to be almost as heavy as herself. 1t
seems impossible that her system can
stand such a drain-in fact, she does
grow weak and tlin-and my neigh
Dor, who has been an extremely
close observer of their economy for
several years, has come to the con
clusion that the mother weans the
kittens gradually by giving them
food which she regurgitated, OF, at
any rate, has thoroughly chewed up
in her own mouth.
No animal is more motherly than
one of these parent squirrels, and it
is delightful to watch her behavior
when the nearly grown brood has
begun to make short excursions and
is undergoing instruction. All the
other families in the grove take an
interest in the proceedings and clat-
ter about at a great rate; but if one
comes too near and attempts any in
reference in the instruction, he is
likely to be driven away most vigoT
ously 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 fol
lowing. Squirrels must learn to bal
ance themselves on the plant limbs
by slow degrees.
1t is many long day after they
are able to chase one another up and
down and under and around a rough
oak trunk in the liveliest game of tag
ever witnessed before they can skip
about the branches and leap from
one to another with confidence in
their security. The patient mother
understands this, and encourages
them very gently to try, try again. "
l remember one such lesson. The
old one marched ahead slowly, utter
ing low notes, as if to say: Come
on, my dears. Don't be afraid !"
Every little while she would stop,
and the two well grown children fol
lowing would creep up to her, and
put their arms around her neck in
the most human fashion, as if pro
testing that it was almost too hard a
task.
This loving kindness is extended to
other young squirrels whenever no
question of family rivalry interferes.
ERNEST Ingersoll in Harper's.