Squirrels of B, America. 439 



The colour is deep reddish brown on the whole of the upper 

 surface lips, chin, throat, inside of legs and belly white. There 

 is sometimes a black line running from near the shoulders along 

 the sides to near the thighs. 



It is in some parts of the country called the Chickaree, and its 

 habits are thus sketched by the learned authors of the quadrupeds 

 of America. 



" The Hudson's Bay squirrel is fearless, and heedless, to a great 

 degree, of the presence of man ; we have had one occasionally 

 pass through our yard, sometimes ascending an oak or a chesnut, 

 and proceeding leisurely through our small woody lawn. These 

 little animals are generally found singly, although it is not un- 

 common for many to occupy the same piece of wood-land, if of 

 any extent. In their quick, graceful motions from branch to 

 branch, they almost remind one of a bird, and they are always 

 neat and cleanly in their coats, industrious, and well provided for 

 the cold of winter. 



" In parts of the country, the Chickaree is fond of approaching 

 the farmers store houses of grain, or other products of the fields, 

 and occasionally it ventures even so far as to make a nest for itself 

 in some of his out-buildings, and is not dislodged from such snug 

 quarters without undergoing a good deal of persecution. 



" One of these squirrels made its nest between the beams and 

 the rafters of a house of the kind we have just spoken of, and find- 

 ing the skin of a peacock in the loft, appropriated the feathers to 

 compose its nest, and although it was destroyed several times, to 

 test the perseverance of the animal, it persisted in re-constructing 

 it. The Chickaree obtained this name from its noisy chattering 

 note, and like most other squirrels, is fond of repeating its cries 

 at frequent intervals. Many of the inhabitants of our Eastern 

 States refuse to eat squirrels of any kind, from some prejudice or 

 other ; but we can assure our readers that the flesh of this s})ecies, 

 and many others, is both tender and well-flavoured, and when 

 nicely broiled, does not require a hunter's appetite to recom- 

 mend it. 



"The habits of this little squirrel are, in several particulars, pe- 

 culiar ; whilst the larger gray squirrels derive their sustenance 

 from buds and nuts, chiefly inhabit warm or temperate climates, 

 and are constitutionally fitted to subsist during winter on a small 

 quantity of food, the Chickaree exhibit the greatest sprightliness 

 and activity amidst the snows and frosts of our Northern regions 



