The sun., 1902-01-26
HUNTING BLACK SQUIRRELS.
4 SPECIES THAT HAUNTS ONLY
THE DEEPEST WOODS.
Found Now Chieny In One Region OF the
southwest-Its Disappearance From
Other Statcs--Difucuities OF Shooting
II It-.Distinct From Other Squirrels.

| iCitStH VI IlOIlitIn hOuth-
western Arkansas the black squirrel is
found in considerable numbers. 1t is
not believed that the little animal is 10 be
met with elsewhere in this country save in
! isolated instances.
Forty years ago it was common enough
in the upper States Of the middle West
fifty years ago II inhabited Virginia, West
Virginia and southern Pennsylvania, and
soyenty-five years ago II was killed often
in western New York Its disappearance
from its northern ranges and concentration
in this comparatively unsettled part Of
the world has puzzled naturasts, yet the
explanation is simple.
OF all squirrels the black is the most go
cretive II dislikes the light II is happy
only when in deepest. darkest thickest
woods. Its color fits it best for conceal
ment in shadows.
1t is not friendly or sociable II does
not consort with other members Of its
tribe. 1t is not a squirrel OF civlation.
II does not frequent trees close 10 houses;
nobody can make pet of II; II is savage
and solitary.
1t retreated before the advancing set
Elements as the wild pigeon retreated.
and as the prairie chicken is retreatinc.
As the woods were felled and dark places
cleared up il went southwark. II was
not a good migrant and many perishcd
AZ they went Like the red Indian. il num-
bers now only thousandth part of it's
forror multitudes. Within the century
IL will become extinct.
There are still extensive forests In Amer
lea, but except in the Lake Superior re-
gion. where the squirrel does not exist, and
near Puget Sound they are Of pine and
the black squirrel does not i've in the pine
lands. Those trees are too far apart and
there is too much light among them.
The home Of this beautiful species is con-
fined 10 swamps and sem-swamp where the
boles are within four feet Of each other
and the branches interlock and thick vines
Chamber and Spanish moss waves like mas
sive gray boards. Unlike the northern saur-
rel, IL never builds its nest in the forks of
branches but always in hollow trees. where
only snake is able to get at its young, and
II is not a roamer.
II will pass its life within a mile Of the
place where IL was born. A black squirrel
seen in tree one day will be found within
a hundred yards of that tree on the follow
ing day and for many days 10 come
These squirrels are not as active a tho |
gray or the fox squirrel. trusting for pro-
lection almost wholly To their ability to |
hide. They show rare skill in selecting |
shelter and are difficult 90 dislodgc.
gray squirrel will get on the side of a |
tree opposite to n man. peer around the |
trunk curiously and shift all day as he |
shifts. A branch shaken vigorously or n |
stick raped against the base Of tree will |
start il flying
Two men by taking each a side Of tree
may thus say the gray squirrel without
trouble, but the black chooses a point high
up, where it will be hidden, save for the
tip Of one erect ear or "A waving tail. and
will lie there to be shot at for an hour with
out moving a muscle Once il has found
an ambush Of this kind the hunter can 20
up the tree after IL. or he can let il alone
There il no squirrel which is 80 hard 10
-ee. Many Of the trunks Of swamp trees
are nearly black and against their haik
his animal is practically indis,ingui,h-
able. Darling up a trunk with great "a
pidity, il will stop suddenly and fattsn
out A waving branch intervenes for
moment aud the man with the gun has
lost his game
liis only chance then il 10 -ocrete him
self aud watch patiently that part Of the
rec IN which he fancies the quarry ls hid
ng After half hour he may b. rewarded
Dy seeing an apparent knot. eNcre-oenoe
lr piece Of smooth bark dctach t-,lf and
move CAUTIOUSLY upward
Among squirrel hunters who choo-n sidr-
and shoot Tor a prize the gray counts for
lNe poluls the fox fur twenty-five aud
.he black Tor hftN Ii.s valuation II ptf .
in D. uut b"causr % H. rsaro,. but b,.cau-r
4 L. difficult to hHd aHd kIll
II INCREASES here D"cau-e % d. little hunted
u" n'gtu"s let % al1ur br'ausr hey r--
gard q With ih. suprf-ilfI.u with which
h"N honor black cat or "a b.arA ben Be-
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-saiIi'-. never Nl-ii- thr irlt-, b. uYf often
s"'.u BOO suuAFh' ami De- sblr frHm Uusr iu
ail up, ih"y give u partnrirhp WITH thr
sAIl utr
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