90 Mr. J. E. Harting on Forest Anwials. 



naked and blind, towards the end of May or beginning of 

 June, when there is a good screen of leaves, be it observed, 

 to conceal the nest and its owners. 



The bill of fare of the squirrel is a very varied one : 

 beech-mast, acorns, nuts, young bark (especially of the 

 birch), the cones of larch and other pines, leaf-buds and 

 tender shoots, mushrooms, fungus, and even truffles are 

 all eaten in turn. In search of many of these it often 

 descends to the ground, and hunts for and digs up the 

 truffle by scent. It lays up a winter store of provisions in 

 some hole of a tree, not relying upon one such hole, how- 

 ever, but filling several in case of accident. Occasionally 

 at least, if not habitually, squirrels will take birds' eggs; 

 and I have noted the testimony of an eye-witness to the 

 fact that they will sometimes also carry off, kill and eat 

 young birds. 



In May, 1879, Mr. Thomas Bagnall, of Milton Ernest 

 Hall, Bedford, saw a squirrel in his avenue carry off, kill, 

 and partially devour a full-fledged young Starling, the 

 remains of which he succeeded in recovering. 



During a great part of the winter, when the red fur 

 perceptibly changes to grey, the squirrel lies up in a semi- 

 torpid state, coming out on a fine day to feed on some of 

 its stores, and then retiring again. 



In answer to the question whether squirrels are injurious 

 to trees, I must reply, '' Yes ; to some trees ; chiefly in 

 plantations of Scotch fir, larch, and occasionally spruce." 

 They attack trees in the spring, between April and June, 

 when the sap is in full flow, biting off the outer bark, and 

 consuming the inner. This stops the flow of sap, which 

 there becomes dry and resinous, and the first high wind 

 blows the top off. 



In the same haunts as the squirrel we may find that 



beautiful little animal, the Dormouse. It is shy and retired 



in its habits, and must be noiselessly approached if one 



would observe its movements. It is partial to woods where 



there is a thick undergrowth to conceal it, and amongst 



which it makes its nest ; but this is sometimes placed on 



the ground. '•= 



* The Zoologist, 1872, ^. 2,908. 



