loS S Q^ U I R R E L. Class L 



we may add a third application of the form of the 

 tail : thefe naturalifts tell us, that when the fquir- 

 rel is difpofed to crofs a river, a piece of bark is 

 the boat, the tail the fail. 



Manners. This animal is remarkably neat, lively, adive, 

 and provident -, never leaves its food to chance, but 

 fecures in fome hollow tree a vaft magazine of nuts 

 for winter provifion. In the fummer it feeds on 

 the buds and young fhoots; and is particularly fond 

 of thofe of the fir and pine, and alfo of the young 

 cones. It makes its neft of the mofs or dry leaves, 

 between the fork of two branches ; and brings 

 four or five young at a time. Squirrels are in heat 

 early in the fpring, when it is very diverting to fee 

 the female feigning an efcape from the purfuit of 

 two or three males, to obferve the various proofs 

 they give of their agility, which is then exerted in 

 full force. 



Descrip. The color of the whole head, body, tail, and legs 

 of this animal, is a bright reddifh brown : the belly 

 and bread white : the ears are very beautifully or- 

 namented with long tufts of hair, of a deeper 

 color than thofe on the body : the eyes are large,- 

 black, and lively: the fore teeth, ftrong, fharp, and 

 well adapted to its food: the legs are fbort and muf- 

 eular: the toes long, and divided to their origin; 

 the nails ftrong and Iharp ; in fliorr, in all refpedls 

 fitted for climbing, or clinging to the fmallefl: 

 boughs: on the fore- feet it has only four toes, with 



a claw 



