Penfylvania> near Germantown. 323 



to make fometimes an opening or hole to 

 the furface of the ground from one of thefe 

 branches. The advantage they have from » 

 hence, is that when they ftroll about for 

 food, and the hole is ftopt up through 

 which they went out, they may not expofe 

 themlelves to be caught, but prefently find 

 the other hole, into which they may re- 

 treat : but in autumn, when the leaves fall 

 from the trees, or fometime after, it is di~ 

 verfion to fee the confirmation they are 

 fometimes in when purfued ; for their holes 

 being eafily covered with the great fall of 

 leaves, or by the wind, they have a great 

 deal to do, to find them on a fudden : they 

 then run backwards and forwards, as if 

 they had loft their way : they feem to know 

 the places where they have made their fub- 

 terraneous walks, but cannot conceive where 

 the entrances are. If they be then purfued, 

 and one claps his hands, they know no 

 other refuge than that of climbing upon a 

 tree -, for it is to be obferved that thefe 

 fquirrels always live under ground, and ne- 

 ver climb upon trees unlefs purfued, and 

 unable in the hurry to find their holes. 

 This kind of fquirrels is much more nume- 

 rous in Penfyhania, than in any other pro- 

 vince of North America through which I 

 have travelled. Its length is commonly fix 



X 2 inches, 



