SQUIRRELS 7 



His home is in the trunk of some old birch or 

 maple, with an entrance far up amid the branches. 

 In the spring he builds himself a summer-house 

 of small leafy twigs in the top of a neighbor- 

 ing beech, where the young are reared and much 

 of the time passed. But the safer retreat in the 

 maple is not abandoned, and both old and young 

 resort thither in the fall, or when danger threat- 

 ens. Whether this temporary residence amid 

 the branches is for elegance or pleasure, or for 

 sanitary reasons or domestic convenience, the 

 naturalist has forgotten to mention. 



The elegant creature, so cleanly in its habits, 

 so graceful in its carriage, so nimble and daring 

 in its movements, excites feelings of admiration 

 akin to those awakened by the birds and the 

 fairer forms of nature. His passage through the 

 trees is almost a flight. Indeed, the flying squir- 

 rel has little or no advantage over him, and in 

 speed and nimbleness cannot compare with him 

 at all. If he miss his footing and fall, he is sure 

 to catch on the next branch ; if the connection 

 be broken, he leaps recklessly for the nearest 

 spray or limb, and secures his hold, even if it be 

 by the aid of his teeth. 



His career of frolic and festivity begins in the 

 fall, after the birds have left us and the holi- 

 day spirit of nature has commenced to subside. 



