New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
AN INFANT SQUIRREL.
soJr 1xTrRrsT1NG "REMINISCENCES.


Few people know how baby squirrel looks Even
IN Round Lake where the wild gray squirrei mas
become partially domesticated. il is rare 'n", ~
a squirrel that is not at least haIi-sio"n' 49,.
summer nests OF the gray Squirrel ""e'. 80,
rear their Young are bull, in the topmost prahc"es
OF the highest pine trees and for all Prac".'' pun
noses or observing the young. they are as ihacces
sibe as If they in an unknown" io.'
longest ladder the boldest nest-huh''ns W.! .
roach them Occasionally, however 'he w'suo'" o'
tho souirrel has lapses; and one season gray
,rI h,,ut its nest In the parlor-chi,nney OF
oco, bouse, and reared her babies there she leit
and was as while the mouse was occup'e" a.
r sha had been in tree of the forest prme'di' io'
the kindly household gave her gentle welcome. Inc!
refused to start fire in the fireplace. such as theE
had been accustomed in the damp days OF sum-
mer until her little family could be reared expecting
in the fall when the young were grown, 20 nave 'he
nest removed But the elements were not so kind
and violent storm washed two Of the babies down
the chimney into the fireplace. They were queer
looking creatures like miniature kittens, blind ana
helpless. and no. much larger than iul-srowh
mouse. Their tails sleek and mouse-Ke AS
are most very young animals they were iar from
attractive. The little mother squirrel thought other-
wise: for when they were exposed to her view on
the lawn she carried them off triumphanty IN her
mouth as a carries her kittens. to the nest IN
the chimney which she had repaired
In ten DAYS more the squirrels had opened their
eyes They had acquired thick. downy coat OF
proportions that they could 'live under the SHADOW
OF them" true 10 their Greek name "hen a
squirrel Is taken at this time ana brought up ~
hand or adopted by some domestic amman VI VIC
family they become most fascinating pets having
perfcct confidence in their fosier-parents beau
tfu Maltese cat was once induced TO adopt squir-
rel baby by removing OF her kittens ana
never appeared notice the difference. she nurse"
and caressed the squirrel with the same tenderness
she bestowed on her kittens. licking OF It's
her
done II she had her misglyngs catly pride pre-
ven,ed her from showing It, The two seemed 10 De
on the best Of understandings for the year they
remained together
4 little squirrel brought mp by hand not only
has a supreme confidence in his human protectors
but comes to them in the most toucning manner
with all his troubles and pcrpleXities. lie Is a
mos, affcctlonatc pet. caressing your hands with
his tongue Ike a cat and rubbing his do"hy niue
head against your check. The nes,-buidinS feVer
is sure to come over him. though he mas never
saen a squirrel or known squirrels nest since he
left his mother in blind babyhood lie cohe''s
all manner of rags and papers for THIS reinAihaoe
| structure Nothing IS downy and soft Tor
the winter nest. Like all Intelligent pui'derS q.
modern times. he abundance OF paper To Seai
M cracks and sheath his nest from the co'u'
| when he was building a nest our pet squirrel was
tho ideal of tlreless energy Patiently and surely
he would roll up an entire sheet OF newspaper into
/ a convenient little wad which he couId carry ia
| his mouth The fever for nest-buiIdlnS seehleu
! ers, To come 10 him when he some OF his
! friends cuttng cotton wadding into squares 10 tie
over the tops of canned fruit Jars iie h'i oe'"
! sitting on the kitchen table apparently watching
/ the entire process Of canning. When 'hese uo"'S
ubi,e so,,res were cut and laid in pile MS eyes
rs,ened with intelligence. lie seized coupe "'
! once in his mouth and sprang away with them 10
remote corner Of the attic caves and began buiid-
ing enerratcaly. He selected soft pieces or WOOL
from the patchbag brought in dry leaves from ou'-
side tore bits tissue paper In pieces or tne nest
ard then he rolled up newspaper 10 PAD inc C'A'AS
OF the
c,,oo be had heen In the house he had slept in
! q basket Of cotton under little white merino
shawl This shawl ne regarded as ms spec'"'
property. He attempted 10 convey IL 10 MS neS',
| but II was too cumbrous. SO he called 10 one u
| the children OF the household. indicating clearly
what he wanted. and while he carried one END she
! held ND The other and thus IL vas iriuinphhh'Y
| conveyed 10 the nest After TINS the c"h'''"
offered him bits 0, woollen cloth. issue-paper ana
other things to assist the building; some ne re-
icctcd others he joyfuiy accepted II was lu'hS
| 10 notice the air o, importance with "hich ne
| sat on the edge OF his nest. nodding eNcitedIy'
| when he perceived 2 bit OF WOO! or paper that he
| could use He occasionally purioined small Wooi
| articles. like mttens: once he took silver DTao'
| let. and he had passion for tooih-Drushes MI
these articles he concealed In his nest II" "s''i
| the tooth-brushes TO gnaw on. doing no damage III
| this direction around the house.
! When he was i'll 'and he had several periods OF
| serious indisposition before he went ont into 'h'
| woods he would crawl up on the lap o! one o. inc
family and nestle there most pinui c'' y.
suffering. one whole day before ms ne, hes' MI NJ
built. he lay IN his basket 0, wool % poo i.s m.s
of the children sat by him ana put nri cy chunpy
little hand in the basket ior hum to nestle asalnS,
\othing i'm nature Is more touching than IN" utter
| confidence that sick and dying animals show IN
their human protectors. often crawling TO The irct
Of those who have loved them in HE to breathe
Bu; this squirrel lived He lived to learn the Joy
| of climbing the pine trees He would call BACK 10
inc children at first from the heights OF the Trees
as If he expected them TO follow. ana II TOOK some
as "I The rs Gay he went outdoors he
became terribly frightened lie Iost ms way, tnu
when at last he found the ia'iiar M @ nous ~, T 1tn
the depths OF his nest 1t was many houis oelo,,
he would leave IT, and several days before ne couh
/ be induced 10 go outdoor again 10 au1 10 nIS
| embsrrassrDents the Wild squirrels outside resented
his intrusion. They had often peefed az MN 'ui.
ously when he was at pay IN ac ne D %Tove p Io
| ,h. house on every opportunity. IL was several
months before he able TO obtain a safe roofing
III Uhy v does the average book natural history
e,I rcneat the idea that the gray squirrel Is IN
a e,a,e Of martial Information in winter! Ihefe is
| hardly a day throughout the winter season "hei
H. gray SQUIRRELS in Central Park may mol be seen
at PLAY In the In the colder cnate OF Srrs ara
,r,, ~ ,bc cottage doors begging for food. They
hmrrow in the snow. disappearing in the great bank
| and emerging some distance away. They pay IN
The snow Clad hemlocks and eat the snow evidently
10 oucnch their thirst. II these squirrels are M
bcrnutine no they are the most active sleeping AMI,
mais hal ever were known. The red squirrel and
| chIpmunk undoubtedly lay up store OF 1000 an an
are in dormant state durns i, w r rabbit He laws
~ ne - sior, hut depends his wits. often robbng
his more provident but less interesting "e's"'o''
.rrJrfcJtL NOSES AND EARS.