NORTHERN OCEAN. 387 
them, but without fuccefs; for though feveral of 
them were fo familiar as to take any thing out 
of my hand, and fit on the table where I was 
writing, and play with the pens, &’c. yet they 
never would bear to be handled, and were very 
mifchievous; gnawing the chair-bottoms, win- 
dow-curtains, fafhes, &c. to pieces. They are an 
article of trade in the Company’s ftandard, but 
the greateft part of their fkins, being killed in 
Summer, are of very little value. 
The Grounb SquiIRRELs are never found in TheGround 
the woody parts of North America, but are very sare 
plentiful on the barren ground, to the North of 
Churchill River, as far as the latitude 71°, and 
probably much farther. In fize they are equal to 
the American Grey Squirrel, though more beau- 
tiful in colour. They generally burrow among 
the rocks and under great ftones, but fometimes 
on the fides of fandy ridges; and are fo provi- 
dent in laying up a Winter’s ftock during the 
Summer, that they are feldom feen on the furface 
of the fnow in Winter. They generally feed on 
the tufts of grafs, the tender tops of dwarf wil- 
lows, 5’c. and are for the moft part exceedingly 
fat, and good eating. They are eafily tamed, 
and foon grow fond; by degrees they will bear 
handling as well as a cat; are exceeding cleanly, 
very playful, and by no means fo reftlefs and im- 
Borst of confinement as the Common Squirrel. 
_ Mice are in great plenty and variety in all Mice of ves 
\ ia of Hudfon’s Bay; the marfhes being inha- Heo 
Cc 2 bited 
