26 JULY 1930, Page 15

A large amount of curious information is reaching me about

that charming but murderous alien, the grey squirrel. Its boldness and consequent fondness for the haunts of men seem to have altered in some degree its feeding habits. Like sonic dogs (I know two who delight in eating both gooseberries and' blackberries) it is becoming more and more of a fruit-cater, though not, I fear, less and less of a flesh and egg-eater. To the tale of its ravages among the greenhouse peaches must he added several records of its newly acquired fondness for strawberries, and ordinary nets are no protection whatever. It must be one of the most] generally omnivorous of all animals. Flesh of many sorts, eggs, nuts, fruit and even green peas all appear in its dietary ; and it seems to resemble that genius in natural history, Mr. Frank Buckland, who could not be prevented from experimenting in new and curious foods. Yet perhaps many of the mammals are more catholic in taste than is generally inferred by biologists from the nature of their teeth. They learn new habits rather beyond the scope of original nature.