THE PREVOST SQUIRREL 1 89 



a Spacious outdoor cage will come running up to 

 him to be fed. Individuals kept alone amuse them- 

 selves by running to and fro on the floor of their 

 cage just behind the wires, or scamper helter skelter 

 about their apartment, taking wires and branches, 

 shelf and floor in a brilliant series of improvised 

 gymnastics. In order to study them to the best 

 advantage, such pets must be carefully fed ; although 

 they will eat the dry food supplied by the dealers, 

 it is not the best diet. It must be remembered 

 that Prevost's squirrel is largely frugivoroiLs, de- 

 stroying in its own country great quantities of durian 

 and other fruit, and cleaning out even cocoanuts 

 after biting a circular hole in them. Oranges, 

 bananas, and figs are readily taken, and it is 

 wonderful to note the rapid improvement effected by 

 a fruit diet on newly-arrived animals purchased from 

 the dealers. The coat becomes sleek and shining, 

 and the maroon portions take a purple gloss; the 

 strong, active animal bounces about its cage in the 

 best of health, dropping to the floor with a resounding 

 thud that speaks eloquently of its increased weight 

 and high condition. These animals require a very 

 large and roomy cage, in order to take sufficient 

 exercise; otherwise they become liable to the fatty 

 degeneration of the viscera so common amongst 

 captive animals, the present writer having found 

 several such deposits in the liver of this species. 

 A male Prevost's squirrel formerly under observa- 



