Show YOUNG SQUIRRELS Growing Animals TI Thu Ad Act Very LIke tike V el Very ry Y YO O Young S Children One morning in tA tHe middle of October October October Oc Oc- Oc- Oc tober I observed t that t a family of ot four young squirrels was vas venturing forth from a box just outside my study window They were not more mora than six sit weeks old and were very timid It was not of often ton that more moro than two or three would would appear at once and one of these e seemed much further advanced than the tha rest while another was very babyish Their prime was inquisitive inquisitive- ness What a fine and nd d curious curious' new world was this the they l ad d b been cn introduced intro intro- introduced tro- tro to I How mU much h there was to see seel I How Row many N Delightful a things to do I They ceaselessly investigated everything every every- thing ng about them w wi wll h minute atten attention tion and had bad very pretty jetty tty ways such as a habit of clas clasp g each ch other in m their arms around Pm he o neck They frequently scratched nd stroked on one another Once I sad ono one diligently combing another's Mothers t il with his fore foro feet foot Young red squirrels of which w we also had a firmly or two play somewhat differently having a peculiar pe pa peculiar culiar way of reo rec fly boxing with their fore tore paws 1 Gradually they they strength and confidence and th ti tf see soo you will see how far the of of the young can surpass oven tl tit tireless less eless activity of old squirrels Bot Do old and young are ore exceedingly fon fond af f f play springing spring spring- ing fug from the ground 5 s if in a n high jumping match and ing regular somersaults but th most Dost amusing thing is this P. place whore the ilie tip of a tough lt ch hangs almost almost almost al al- most to the grown ground they hey will leap up and catch it son sorn IIi imes with only one ono hand and then E ring ving back and forth with the great greatt t glee just like boys bors who discover a in the tho woods or a pe in hi a gym gym- These an and many similar imiL r antics seem to be bo don t f just just for fun The kittens contin to be nursed by tho mother until t have grown to tobo bo be almost as hea herself It seems impossible tha er system can stand such a dram drain fact drain fact she sho does grow glOw weak and thin thin Mid d my neighbor neighbor neigh neigh- bor bar who has been beO an extremely close observer of the economy for sever several i years h. has co coil to the tho conclusion conclusion con con- that tho the or r weans tho the 1 kittens l jog wing giving them food 1000 y ted or at t to o i I cho Y e d up up J No o animal is is m o moi-o horly man manone tan none n- n one of these parent squirrels and it itis itis is delightful to watch her behavior when the nearly grown brood has begun to make short e excursions andis andis and find is undergoing instruction All the theother theother other lather families in the grove take an interest in tho the pro proceedings gs and clatter clatter clat lat ter tel about at a great 14 rate i but if one ono comes too near and attempts any interference interference in in- in the ins instruction he is likely to be bo driven away away Y most vigorously vigorously vigor Vigor- by the tho jealous other E Every ery morning lessons in climbing and nut hunting are g given and ancl pretty scenes are arc enacted The pride of the little mother as ns she leads h her r train out outon on some aerial path is v very ry notice noticeable ible They are slow and nd timid about fol fol- fol lowing Squirrels must mt learn tot al- al ance anco themselves on tho the pliant limbs by slow degrees es I It is many a long flay after they are able ablo to chase one another upland down and under and around round a rough oak t. t trunk in tho liveliest game of tag ever witnessed before they can skip about the branches and leap from one ono to another with confidence in their security Tho The patient mother understands this and encourages them very gently to try try again I remember one such lesson The Theold Theold Theold old one marched ahe ahead slowly uttering uttering uttering utter utter- ing low notes as as' if to say Come on my dears Dont Dint I 1 be afraid I Every little while shot she would stop and the two well vell grown children following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing would creep I up to her and put their arms around her neck in inthe inthe inthe the most human fashion fashion as us if pro pro- protesting protesting testing that it was almost too hard a n task I This loving kindness kindness is extended to other young s whenever no question of or family rivalry interferes Ernest Ingersoll els el's in Harpers rp lS |