I've received over 20 emails telling me about the black Gray Squirrels as a 
result of my inquiry below, but the one from Gene Scarpulla was the most 
informative and I thought while not about birds, it may be of interest to 
many of us who see these fellows while waiting for our feathered friends to 
show up.  Thanks Gene.

Winger
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eugene J. Scarpulla" <>


> Winger,
>
> I have observed a large population of "black" Gray Squirrels on the 
> Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  My employees have occasionally observed 
> "black" Gray Squirrels on the Baltimore County side of Liberty Dam, south 
> of Liberty Road.
>
> I did a historical search in John L. Paradiso's Mammals of Maryland (North 
> American Fauna, Number 66, United States Department of the Interior, 
> Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 1969, 193 pp.) and found the 
> following information.
>
> "A melanistic color phase occurs frequently in this species."
>
> "Melanistic squirrels were introduced and liberated in the National 
> Zoological Park and are still frequently seen there.  Of these, Bailey 
> (1923, p.109) says:
>
> 'The first shipment of 10 (black squirrels) was from Rondeau Provincial 
> Park, Morpeth, Ontario, 18 May 1906; and these squirrels were immediately 
> liberated in the northwestern part of the zoo where they were very much at 
> home.  They have since been constanly (sic) in the park, especially from 
> the vicinity of the great flight cage to the Klingle Valley and they have 
> spread northward to Cleveland Park and nearly to Chevy Chase.'
>
> Five of the 31 skins of gray squirrels in the National Museum collection 
> from the District of Columbia show melanistic tendencies."
>
> Gene
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>
>
> I noticed a jet black squirrel among the several Gray Squirrels in the 
> area. I believe I've seen black Gray Squirrels in DC.  Is this just a 
> local aberration or are they a subspecies?
>