248 DOMESTIC PETS. — THE COMMON SQUIRREL. 



offer a few comments upon one of its Papers, — the opening one, which treats 

 of the SquiiTel. I am anxious to secure a patient hearing, whilst I enlarge a 

 little upon his good qualities ; also to enter upon a friendly defence of what 

 our good friend, Mr. Mcintosh, so remorselessly repudiates under the 

 cognomen of " treadmills." Gently, good Sir ; gently ! 



The Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has ever been one of my special pets. My 

 habitation is ornamented by a variety of his tribe, formerly choice com- 

 panions of many a happy hour, but now alas ! looking down with inexpres- 

 sive eyes from behind a screen of transparent glass. There they hang — " in 

 memoriam ! " Nor would I remove any of these, or other of my much-loved 

 pets, thus embalmed for memory to dwell on. They recall " the light of other 

 days " so sweetly, that I seem, while gazing on them, to live that part of my 

 happy life over again. 



Pets of all kinds are to be commended, whether they be selected from the 

 lower World or the higher. We must love something. And the more of love- 

 able things, the bettef, say I. Our hearts were made to love. Love is the 

 fulfilling of every law — human or divine. 



But of " dumb pets indoors " I am becoming shy. They generally meet 

 with some sad fate, and it is disastrous to see them perish without being 

 able to save them. I cultivate them now in the garden ; invite them to enter 

 my window, and to make my house their home. " Tenants at will " are they. 

 They enter and depart as their fancy dictates. I love my little guests 

 dearly, and they love me ; and as the season is now at hand when I shall 

 have lots of them to j)rovide for, my Christmas will (D.V.) pass merrily. But 

 to the Squirrel. 



Let all j'our readers who would have a pet Squirrel, procure a young one. 

 Those sold in our London streets, and by tricky dealers, are, for the most 

 part, old ones, with their teeth filed down to prevent them biting. They are of 

 a spiteful disposition, and not easily reconcileable to a cage. Young ones 

 are readily tamed by a person possessed of an affectionate heart ; and once 

 tamed, they are won for ever. Their master or mistress may do anything 

 with them. They will take no offence, show no resentment, but bear all in 

 good part. Who amongst us will submit to teasing thus patiently, — and 

 show a loving spirit under similar provocation? Should we not bite? 

 Question ! 



In my earlier days, whilst leading a life of single-blessedness, and keeping 

 house on my own account, I made Squirrels my associates. They had the 

 free and undisturbed inin of my bachelor rooms. And fine games they plaj'ed 

 up ! My newspapers were, of course, reduced to the smallest of " vulgar 

 fractions," and scattered all over my Turkey carpet. All sorts of small orna- 

 ments were transferred from the mantel-shelf to the top of my long crimson 

 curtains ; lumps of sugar were planted in cveiy conceivable odd corner ; 

 bread, butter, and biscuits, too, were ever discernible behind the cover of 



