The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-12
sAUcY RED SQUIRREL.
Nature Kind In Giving Weapons Of
Defense.

Nature Kind In Giving Weapons Of
Defense.
Dame Nature has been unusually kind
to the red squirrel. She has provided him
with the powerful weapons OF orense and
defense. She has set in his muscular
jaws long cruel teeth which are whetted
TO a keen edge on the hard-shelled nuts.
She has conferred on him claws sharp as
needles, and a muscular system which
seemingly IS controlled by an electric
current There is q wicked wild fire il
his bright eye that stamps him the
bravest wild thing OF the forest He VIII
fight TO the death. He whips the great
cousin, the gray squirrel, without effort,
and is a match for the large stoat.
When pursued by a deg. he makes a
dash for the nearest tree. which he
mounts. calling out. 'chickaree. as soon
as he is out Of danger. He does not, ike
the gray squirrel, seek a hiding place in
the top OF the tree. No, he is far too bold
TO hide from dog. He stops on low
limb. Just out OF reach, and fairly boiIs
over with rage and fury. He barks. spits
and sputters, he makes furious rushes,
as II he intended 10 come right down the
tree and whip that dog" He violently
his hind feet, a picture OF fmpudent.
fiery energy.
Every movement Of this little squirrel
Is accomplished without apparent muscu-
lar energy. He seems 10 float up a tree.
II you are near enough you may hear
the pricking Of his claws on the bark,
but you cannot detect q muscular effort
he flashes along the limbs n some mys-
ferrous way, never stopping Ike the gray
squirrel. TO measure distances before
leap. II he misses and falls, he usually
catches by q claw TO some twig, thus
saving himself II he falls TO the ground
il does not harm or disconcert him He
is up the tree in Jiay. spitefully saying
things that sound to the listener very
much like swearing.
From the middle OF April 70 the first
Of September the mail squirrel leads a
Jolly. roIlic1ing life. He IS as restless and
noisy as a school boy, and IS ful LOT fun
He viii hang head down, holding on BY
his hind claws. Just for the fun OF the
ching. In the tree tops he is a king. He
rules the blue-jays and crows. and races
them ont Of the pine trees whenever he
feels disposed.
The gray is no match for the red IN the
tree-top IN a trial for speed He usually
KEEPS the ground where his Ions leaps
give him the advantage over his fiery lit
tie foe. Many a sprintiug match Of this
kind takes place IL my dooryard. II red
surprises a gray squirrel stealing food.
he sounds his war cry. and in mad rush
IS on the gray before he can make Of
with the bit OF food which he has appro-
rriated. The gray. finding that ne IS hard
pressed. runs around the cabin with the
red hot GO his heels Round ard round
they 50. the gray silent the red yelling
ike a little demon. When the gray has
had several narrow escapes. he drops the
food and retreats ulmolested The red
picks up the food ana takes Il q 2 fav-.
orite Iunb. where he 6evours IT. talking
20 himself meanwhile. about that gray
thief Forest ana Farm
GRAND LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTH-
las. KANSAS CITY. KAN. NAY
e. TO e.
one fare Tor the round ZIP. Via the
Missouri Pacific railway. Tickets ca
sale Nay 18Th TO 2nd. inclusive Final
return limit Mav e5yh. The Missouri
Pacllc IS the only Ire FROM this terri
tory running into Kansas City. kan
GERMAN BAPTIST MEETING. In
coin. NEB.. SIS ROUND TRIP.
ROCK ISLAND ROUTE