The labor standard., 1922-02-15
GRAY SQUIRRELS
 BRED IN ENGLAND
Introduction of American Variety of Rodents in Parks Causes
 Some Difficulty.
DESTROY NESTS OF WARBLERS
Spread From London and Are invading Country Over Wide Areas-Drive Out Red SquirreIs-Popu-
 lar in Parks.

London. - American gray squirrels, which have been introduced into Eng land, are causing some difficulties, ac- corCing to the Times, which remarks ill an editorial:
 'The introduction of North Ameri- can gray squirrels into this country has had an unexpected success, which, if we may judge from many letters sent to us, has not gained universal ap- proval. English visitors to Central park, New York, have often been de- lighted by the bold and coniding hab- it's of these little rodents, which seem never to have acquired the red squir- rel's distrust of man. Doubtless there have been several attempts to acclima- tize them in this country, but their definite establishment is recent.
 introduced Into Park.
 '.Some dozen years ago the Zoolog ical Society of London obtained num- Der of individuais from private col lection in Dedfordshire, for the purpose of inducing them to breed at liberty in the gardens in Regents park. They were first given the relative freedom of a large open-air inclosure, from which, when they had become accustomed to receive tribute from visitors, they were allowed to pass in and out by a rope bridge to a tree. 1t was anticipated and indeed hoped, that they would spread from the gardens to the park. The office of works took a benevolent interest in the experiment and re- strained visitors from taking dogs, ex- th<,y i1a
 After two or three years, in which they seemed to be disappearing, they suddenly became ubiquitous, forming q charming addition to the sparrows and wood pigeons, hitherto the only crea- lures attracting popular attention. The gray squirrels are plainly happy and equally plainly give happiness to the London population two weighty req sons for their presence in the London parks.-But it Is alleged against them that they destroy the nests of warblers, a railing accusation easier to bring than to justify. In fact, there is room for both; possibly q few nests have been destroyed, but the squirrels ire dispensers of nuts most abound, where as Iu0 sly SiHSiuS DlTuS CONct lIc iHOAt secluded, thickets. Careful observers of birds are inclining to the opinion that tha~ avian pst:a..lsesvrs.ilnnrex in numbers and in variety, and that 1t might improve still more were some small and suitable sanctuaries to be in closed.
 Spread to Country.
 .'On the other hand, the gray squir- rels, whether by taking advantage of tubes and busses or by deliberate hu- man connivance, hdve spread from London and are invading the country over very wide areas. They are said to drive out the red squirrel, to raid gardens, and to add to the anxieties of the pheasant breeder. We hope that fuller inquiry will not sustain these charges. On general grounds we doubt if creature with so marked 8 preference for living as sturdy beg gar will settle down to the hardships of predatory and hunted life. The biological problems following on the introduction of an animal to a new country are interesting, and we admit fully that there has often been no middle way between complete failure and disastrous success"