THE PREVOST SQUIRREL 1 87 



tail, extended behind, forcibly suggests a weasel 

 or marten on the prowl. Sciu^ms prevosti never 

 carries its tail over its back like the common English 

 squirrel, and even when feeding still trails it 

 straight out behind, a plume of glossy sable or 

 shining brown. These animals are fond of basking 

 in the sunshine, squatting on a branch with arched 

 back, toes drawn in, and tail dangling. They will 

 lie in this attitude for half an hour at a time, 

 motionless but wide awake ; apparently the sable 

 fur thus absorbs the maximum quantity of heat. On 

 rousing itself the squirrel runs rapidly about, the 

 nostrils twitching continually and the body jerking 

 from side to side In an abrupt and irregular fashion. 

 It descends head foremost, often by scrambling along 

 the lower surface of a branch. If alarmed or puzzled 

 at anything it utters a curious grating sound, which 

 may be feebly imitated by rapidly running the fingers 

 along the wires of a bird cage. When several are 

 kept in adjoining pens the various captives become 

 very noisy at twilight ; on catching sight of a fellow- 

 prisoner one of these animals will set up a loud and 

 long continued squeaking, shrill in tone and rapid in 

 utterance. It^ companion immediately replies, and 

 if several are kept together the noise is considerable. 

 At twilight, these animals seem to remember 

 that "beds are not made." Grasping a bundle of 

 hay in their mouths they rapidly twist it up with their 

 tiny paws, and retreating under their couch can be 



