DOMESTIC PETS. — THE COMMON SQUIBREL. 249 



Isome'book. I pretended, of course, to punish the offenders, and tried to 

 look angry, — raising my voice as if in fury. A long wand of cedar in my 

 hand, gave warning of the rod in pickle. But who could be cross with such 

 merry little tricksters ? Not I. So whistling to the little offenders, a signal 

 that they might descend, (they invariably flew for refuge into the tops of the 

 crimson curtains,) down they would come to breakfast, dinner, or tea ; first 

 running along my arm, and licking my cheek with fond affection and a veiy 

 rough tongue. To describe the gambols and playfulness of my little friends 

 would be impossible. They were as varied as, to me, they were delightful. 

 One of my pets was always to be found under my pillow, whither he retired, 

 a la bonne Jieure, accompanied by two or three Spanish nuts. On going to 

 roost, I looked for my silk-coated playfellow as a matter of course ; there he 

 was, tucked up so cosily beside his nuts ! A kiss from him was indispens- 

 able; and I returned it with interest before placing him in his own little bed 

 for the night. Did we not love each other ! 



Here, let me observe, that the Squirrel can be, and is, very spiteful, if 

 teased or annoyed by a stranger. A cruel boy or girl plaj'ing any tricks with 

 him, would pay a severe penalty for their rashness. I always encouraged 

 my Squirrels to defend themselves in this way ; and never punished them 

 for practising, successfully, " the art of self-defence." When they do bite, 

 be it known, it is " Skuggy — Jiis mark ! " 



Not being willing to trench too much upon your valuable space, I will now 

 cry a truce to anecdotes (how many hundreds could I relate !) of the Squirrel, 

 and say a few words about the rotary cages against which Mr. Mcintosh 

 and Sir George Head have spoken in such dispraise. I do so deferentially 

 to those gentlemen, and would modestly give my reasons for a difference of 

 opinion. 



The Squirrel is a lively animal. In a state of nature he is for ever flying 

 from tree to tree. A life of quietness is to him a life of misery. Mercury 

 himself was never more mercurial. I have tried the " quiet house," alluded 

 to by Mr. Mcintosh. The inmate has scaled its walls, turned somersaults 

 in it, exerted all his powers to create a perceptible movement in it. Disap- 

 pointed and vexed, I have ever found him retire to his inner chamber, and 

 there mope. 



To satisfy mj^self fully on this point, I have frequently placed cages of 

 both descriptions on the floor; first letting all my playfellows scamper off in 

 the wild pursuit of liberty. Anon, I have seen them return, one by one, to 

 the rotary cages, and therein perform, with the most evident delight, a series 

 of revolutions at railway speed. All this testified the immense pleasure they 

 derived therefrom. They sought it eagerly, constantly, and habitually. Their 

 performances over, they would stop the wheel, run up my legs, salute my 

 cheek, and dance a minuet on my head. 



The ci'uelty of a rotary cage consists in placing a uild Squirrel in it, and 



SI 3 



