NATURAL HISTORF. 115 



The morning came when neighbour Hodge, 



Climbed like a squirrel to his dray, 



And bore the worthless prize away." COWPER. 



356. Why do squirrels lay up stores of provisions ? 



Because in the winter nuts, acorns, beech-nuts, the seeds of pines, 

 peas, beans, and other large seeds upon which they live, cannot 

 be found. 



3f>7. Thtre does not appear to be much truth in the common saying, that 

 squirrels are great planters of the oak, by the acorns which they bury in 'the 

 ground and are afterwards unable to find out ; for, when an animal has the instinct 

 of hiding any substance as a supply of food, it has, as a matter of course, the instinct 

 of finding it again ; and that a squirrel should range the forest, burying acorn after 

 nco^n in places where they would be apt to germinate, is very incredible. Tha 

 store is always placed in dry situations, where it can be preserved from growing.* 



It was said of old that " squirrels also foresee a tempest coming, and where the 

 wind will blow : for looke in what corner the wind is like to take a stand ; on that 

 side they stop up the mouth of their holes, and make an overture on the other side 

 against it."+ 



358. Why are some of the members of this tribe called "flying 

 squirrels ? " 



Because the skin of their sides is capable of great extension, and 

 being attached to both the anterior and posterior extremities, is 

 capable of being spread out, and answering the purpose of a 

 parachute. There is a bony appendage to the hind feet, which 

 furnishes an additional support to this membrane, in the extended 

 springs made by the animal from one tree to another. These flying 

 squirrels seem to differ physically in nothing from the squirrels, 

 properly speaking, except in the flying apparatus, and the bony 

 appendage which supports it. 



359. Why has the souslik^ pouches in its cheeks? 



Because this pretty little rodent lays up for the winter seeds, 

 acorns, nuts, &c., which they convey to their borrows. Having no 

 other means of transporting them, their feet being all employed in 

 their movements, and their teeth ill-adapted to holding nuts while 

 the body is in motion, they are provided with little pockets or 

 pouches in their cheeks, in which they carry their winter's store U 

 burrows. 



Partington's " Cyclopaedia." + Holland : " Plinle." 



J Cuvier's " Regne Animal." } Spermophitus cilillua. 



