F i j i t e . 17,
S ;®( I f t K TJ S ■ "vjj. l l B § '; è 5 l i u s . [59.] 3. S c i u b ü s H u d s o n iu s . (Pennant.) The Chickaree.
Genus, Sciurus. Linn.
Escurieil commun ou Aroussen. Sagard-Theodat, Canada, p. 746.
Common Squirrel. Forster, Phil. Trans., lxii. p. 378. An. 1772.
Sciurus vulgaris, var. E. Erxlebein, Syst. An. 1777*
Hudson’s Bay Squirrel. Pennant, Arctic Zool., vol.’i. p. 116. Hist, of Quadr., vol. ii. p. 147-
Common Squirrel. He ARNE, Joum., p. 385.
Ked Barking Squirrel. Schoolcraft’s Joum., p. 273.
Red Squirrel. W a r d e n , United States, voL i. p. 330, No. 54.
Sciurus Hudsonius. Ejusdem, vol. i. p. 231, No. 56. Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 663. Harlan,
Fauna, p. 185. (The Sc.. Hudsonius of Gmelin is a Pteromys.)
Ecureil de la Baie d?Hudson. F.. Cuvier, Hist. Naturelle des Mammifères.
Hudson’s Bay Squirrel. God m a n , Nat. 'Hist., vol. ii. p. 138.
Chickaree. United States. Aroussen. Hurons. Anhekcootchass, C r é é Indians.
P l a t e x v i i .
This squirrel is an inhabitant of the forests of white spruce, which cover a
great portion of the surface of the earth in the fur countries. The limits of its
range to the southward have not been mentioned by American writers, but they
say that it is common in the middle states. • It is found as far north as the spruce
trees extend, that is, to between the sixty-eighth and sixty-ninth parallel of
latitude, and it is one of the most numerous animals in the northern districts. It
digs its burrows, generally at the root of one of the largest and tallest trees it can
select, and forms four or live entrances, around which very large quantities of the
scales of spruce-fir canes are in process of time accumulated. It does not come
abroad in cold or stormy vveather, but even in the depth of winter it may be seen,
during a gleam of sunshine, sporting among the branches of its tree. On the
approach of any one, it conceals itself behind a branch, but soon betray? its
position by the loud noise it makes, somewhat like the sound of a watchman’s
rattle, and from whence it has obtained the expressive appellation of Chickaree.
When pursued and harassed it makes great leaps from tree to tree, but as
soon as it observes the way clear, it descends to the ground and seeks shelter
in its burrow. It does not appear to quit the tree beneath which it burrows, by
choice, unless when it makes an excursion in the spring in quest of a mate. In
the fur countries it subsists chiefly, if not entirely, on the seeds and young buds of
the spruce-fur. In the winter it collects the cones from the tree and carries them
to the entrance of its burrow, where it picks out the seeds beneath the snow.
Like the English squirrel, it makes hoards on the approach of severe weather.
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