108 COMMON BR IT [SIT ANIMALS 



Claus^ and brings presents to those whom he favours. 

 From its red colour it is associated in Norse myth- 

 ology with the great god Thor, and in the ' Edda^ we 

 read of the great ash-tree Ydrasil, whose branches 

 embrace the world, on the crown of which sits an 

 eagle; under its roots lurks the serpent Nidhogr, 

 while between them the squirrel, ever running up and 

 down, seeks to sow dissension." 



Traditions of ancient forests are kept alive in many 

 parts of the country by old sayings, that the squirrel 

 could pass from tree to tree for great distances 

 without descending : 



" From Blaem Point to Hilbree 

 Squirrels in search of food 

 Might then jump straight from tree to tree. 

 So thick the forest stood." 



These lines refer to the extent of Wirral Forest. 



The Beaver. 



We have heard of beaver hats, and beaver fur is 

 familiar to many. Some know that the fur grows 

 on the back of an animal that builds a wonderful 

 home in the banks of a river, but few are very clear 

 as to where the beaver comes from, or whether it is 

 or is not an inhabitant of Britain. Topsell, a writer 

 on natural history before quoted, says : " For giving 

 great ease unto the gowt the skinnes of beavers 

 burned with drie oynions " are excellent. Castorein, 

 a drug prepared from the anal glands of the beaver, 

 was, until recently, included in the Pharmacopoeia. 



