234 RODENTIA. 



woods, the Squirrel jumps from branch to branch, and 

 from one tree to another, with the greatest ease. Its 

 special favourites are the pine, fir and beech trees. 

 The cry of the Squirrel is of a chuckling character, and, 

 when disturbed, it erects its ears, and bristles up its tail. 

 At times it becomes the prey of the Goshawk, or Cat. 



It is diurnal in its habits ; it makes hoards, and 

 partly hibernates, awaking at intervals to partake of 

 its stores. It swims well. Dr. Buckland says its flesh 

 is very good eating. 



It is a favourite pet, but it is cruel to keep it con- 

 stantly revolving in a circular cage, as is so often the 

 case. The price of a live Squirrel is 3s. to 5s. 



The food of the Squirrel consists of fir cones, w^al- 

 nuts, acorns, beech and other nuts, buds of the larch 

 and young trees. It is said to be very fond of fruit, 

 such as raspberries and strawberries, and some natu- 

 ralists say it eats young birds. It picks off the husks 

 of nuts with its powerful incisor teeth. 



The Squirrel breeds from February to April. 

 The young, when born, are blind, and destitute of 

 hair, and look like young rats. It has 6 to 8 teats, 

 and produces 3 or 4 young at a time. 



The Squirrel in England, and some parts of the 

 continent, is from 6 to 8 inches long, not including the 

 long bushy tail, which is another 6 inches. The ears 

 are long and bushy. The feet are furnished with sharp 

 claws. When adult, the colour is deep reddish-brown, 

 and lighter underneath ; when young, the back is red. 

 The long hairs of the tail are lighter than the rest of 

 the body, and sometimes even white. In the north of 

 England the animal assumes a grey coat in winter, as 

 it does in Russia. White specimens are sometimes 

 found, and black are b}" no means uncommon. 



