SQUIRREL. — Sciih'us Eurojicem 



Every one is familiar with the lively little English Squirrel, which makes the 

 woods joyous with its active gambols, and is too often repaid for its gaiety by 

 being captured and compelled to make sport for its owner within the narrow 

 precincts of a wire cage. 



This little animal is plentiful in many parts of England, and, indeed, is 

 generally found wherever there is a tolerably large copse or a wood of moderate 

 dimensions. 



The nest of the Squirrel is an admirable specimen of natural architecture, and 

 is almost invariably placed in the fork of some lofty branch, where it is concealed 

 from the view of any one passing under the tree, and is out of the reach of any 

 ordinary foe, even if its situation is cbscovercd. Sometimes it is built in the 

 hollow of a decayed bough, but is always admirably concealed from sight. In 

 form it is nearly spherical, and is made of leaves, moss, grass, and other sub- 

 stances, woven together in so artistic a manner that it is impermeable to rain, 

 and cannot be dislodged from its resting-place by the most violent wind. 



The food of the Squirrel is usually of a vegetable nature, and consists of nuts, 

 aconis, wheat, and other fruits and seeds. 



ISO 



