File:Birds and nature (1904) (14751713285).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature161904chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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dergo a- seasonalchange in colors, but this change seemsto be for protection rather than sexualornamentation. Squirrels are noted for their cleanli-ness. They are constantly licking anddressing their fur, which is always inan immaculate condition, and looks as ifit had been carefully combed. Squirrels usually feed upon a vegetablediet, but they are also very fond of fleshand will often attack the smaller rodents.They will also hunt for birds and robtheir nests. They are almost constantlysearching for food, and nearly all thespecies cache all that they do not needfor immediate use. Food may be hid-den almost anywhere but the usual placesare the holes in trees or under their ex-posed roots, in one of their nests, increvices in the bark, and in holes in theground which the animals have exca-vated themselves. These holes are us-ually dug in rather secluded places andthe stored food is carefully covered. Itis said that in the forests of Siberia thesquirrels store mushrooms in a most pe- 86
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culiar manner. A writer says: Theyare so unselfish that they do not thinkof hiding their supply of mushrooms, butpin them on the pine needles or in larchwoods on the small twigs. There theyleave the mushrooms to dry, and in timesof scarcity of food these stores are ofgood service to some roaming individualof their kind. All their-senses are especially well de-veloped. Even when asleep in theirnests, a suspicious sound will awakenthem and they are immediately alert andactive. Even the early Latin and Greekwriters appreciated the keenness of theirpowers of perception. Pliny says: Thesquirrel, also, has the power of foresee-ing storms and so, stopping up the holeat the side from which the wind blows,it leaves the other side open. Regard-ing their habit of storing food, he says :It appears, therefore, that some animalslay up a store of food for the winter,while others pass the time in sleep, whichserves them instead. While timid, theyalso have a vein of curiosity. It is in-teresting to wa

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