1884-85-] Edinburgh Naturalists' Field Club. 257 



Orchis incarnata L. Gosford Links, 

 Habenaria viridis Br. Gosford Links. 



Listera cordata Br. Fir wood on Bavelaw Burn near Balerno. 

 Neottia Nidus-avis L. Caribber Glen. 

 Galanthus nivalis L. Amiston ; naturalised. 

 Milium effusum L. Caribber Glen. 

 Melica nutans L. Caribber Glen. 

 Melica uniflora Retz. Caribber Glen. 

 Aspidium angulare Willd. Pease Dene. 



Botrychium Lunaria S\v. On a mound midway between West 

 Linton and Dolpliiuton, in great abundance. 



XII.— NOTE ON TEE SQUIRREL {SOIURUS EUROP^US). 



By Mr JOHN THOMSON, Stobo. 



{Communicated by The Secretary, March 26, 1885.) 



Though now so common in most parts, the Squirrel, as is well 

 known, was at a period not so very remote unknown in Scot- 

 land, having been introduced from England only in the early part 

 of the present century. In the parish of Stobo, Peeblesshire, where 

 the following observations were noted, the animal seems to have 

 made its first appearance about the year 1825. A forester who had 

 lived in the district for the better half of a century related to me 

 that, about the year just mentioned, while engaged one day with his 

 assistants in the woods, their curiosity was aroused by the sight of 

 a strange little creature, which ran up a tree in making its escape. 

 One of the men, whose proclivities tended towards natural history, 

 but who was unaware of the leaping powers of the animal, climbed 

 up the tree with an eye to its capture, but it is almost needless to 

 remark that his somewhat quixotic attempt was not crowned with 

 success. It is more than probable that this individual specimen 

 was among the first of its order to arrive in the district. 



Few quadrupeds are more pleasing, amusing, and interesting in 

 their habits ; yet to see the Squirrel in the full enjoyment of life, a 

 little stealth is necessary, because if you come within his range 

 of vision, his actions are restrained, and, though you may not 

 think so, his eye is always upon you. When you come iipon one 

 unobserved, and watch him for a little, his movements are seen to 

 be much more lively and sportive: he frisks and gambols along the 



