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the ground with a sagacity unsurpassed by the trained setter or 

 spaniel of the sportsman. I recollect coming downstairs one 

 morning, and spying through the staircase window one of their 

 number energetically at work on the stem of a tree distant from 

 my point of observation not more than ten or a dozen yards. The 

 squirrel as he worked kept his head downwards — an attitude very 

 unusual with this animal. Calling the attention of some of the 

 household to his apparently inexplicable proceedings, we decided 

 not to disturb the little worker, but after breakfast to go and 

 examine the trunk of the tree upon which he was operating with 

 such apparent earnestness. To our gratified astonishment, we 

 found that he had been sticking little balls of food, first partially 

 softened and formed into pellets about the size of a pigeon's egg, 

 which were visible here and there attached to the bark of the tree. 

 Many of these balls were supported in their position by resting 

 upon patches of moss or lichen that grew upon the surface of the 

 bark. The food consisted of portions of boiled potatoe, or other 

 victuals, purloined from the breakfast of the poultry. On many 

 subsequent occasions they were observed disposing of their eatables 

 in the same way. This was a characteristic of the squirrel to 

 which I had never seen any reference. 



I had frequently found myself called upon to defend my sprightly 

 acquaintance from the charge of stealing and sucking the eggs of 

 game and other birds; and sometimes I felt as though my pleading 

 had been vain. One day when I was roused from my labours in 

 the 'flower garden by an unusual noise of alarm among the poultry 

 in the adjoining wood, I peered over the wall, where I saw the 

 larger of the squirrels running along the surface of the ground with 

 his bushy tail at full stretch behind him. This attitude gave him 

 very much the appearance of a miniature fox in full chase. He 

 was making his way through the midst of the fowls apparently with 

 an egg in his mouth. I own I was shocked for the moment, and 

 awaited the result of his conduct with feelings of anxiety. Presently 

 I saw him ascend the trunk of a fine silver fir tree in the wood, 

 where he disappeared from view among the topmost branches. 

 Before long I saw him again descend, and cross to the thorn 



