Evening star., 1943-12-07
This and That
BV Charles E. TrdceUeU.

Spread of the black squirrels in the
washington area is good news to all
friends of these small animals.
Reports come in to this column of
many of these specimens being seen in
increased numbers, and especially Of
their appearance in locations where
none of them was seen before.
Centers for the melanistic forms of
the gray squirrel in the past have been
Chevy Chase Circle, Takoma Park,
Silver Spring and Arlington.
Now they seem to be increasing and
tanning out over adjacent territory
Increased bird feeding and conservation
Of wild life in general are probably
responsible. The time may come when
squirrels will be as much of a nuisance
as rabbits in some places.
The black squirrel is simply the
melanistic form of the common gray
squirrel.
His black is something like that of the
black cat, seldom being a deep. intense
true black, but more likely to be under
shot with reddish
His appearance and habits are exactly
like those of the gray form. In nature
he is likely to be more suspicious, and
does not mix well with his more normal
cousins.
The latter is probably due to the deep
suspicion with which all animals
including man-look at the abnormal
even in the slightest degree.
In our own neighborhood In nearby
Maryland We have seen many more
black squirrels in the past two wears
than in the entire 10 years previously.
None of these has remained in the
yard long. Nor have they come much
to the bird-feeding station, which is
frequented by from half dozen to a
dozen gray squirrels at all times.
AS has been pointed out here many
times, squirrels are not unmiXed bless
ngS at feeding stations designed pi-
marily for the birds. They do not keep
the Wlntering songsters from eating, nor
90 they harm them, but they consume
so much seed themselves that thev run
up the bills considerably.
They also scatter the seed around in
thelr search for the sunf1ower seeds.
They like cantaloupe seed, which is
now belng used as replacement for
sunf1oWer, owing to the high price of the
latter.
The real rarity would be an albino
squirrel
They do exist, but are seldom seen.
NO doubt they must feel their strange
ness even more than the black ones.
These forms of the gray animal alwavs
attract attention, but in the eyes of the
discriminating friend of animals they
rather attract attention to the good
qualities of the entire tribe.
The squirrels we have with us alwavs
especially in city where there are many
oak trees. Such trees, in all their forms
are 1aVorltes OF this sprightly animal.
No doubt the prevalence of oaks helps
account Tor the number of squirrels.
X X
Rabbits are the Easter animaI-mavbe
IN tlme some one will suggest the grav
squirrel as the Christmas animal, to take
the place of the reindeer.
Reindeer have gone out, we believe
even for Santa Claus.
Santa must use an airplane. if he
doesn't use an automobile
so there is room for a real Christmas
animal from the small fellows. and we
nominate the squirrel, tail and all.
Nothing would look better on the
CHRISTMAS tree, one may submit, than a
squirrel.
Certainly nothing would be more at
home there.
What would happen. then, to the gay
glass balls and the tinsel? Well. YOU
know what would happen if squirrel
plunged in among them. But such deco
rations are going out. along with REIN
deer-the modern streamlined Christmas
tree could stand squirrel or two, We
feel sure.