SQUIRRELS, RATS, PORCUPINES, ETC. 305 



equal to the wonderful feats of agility that they 

 habitually practise whilst at large. Two species, 

 Pteromys inornatus, and Sciuropterus jimbriatus, are 

 very common on the Simla Hill, often spending their 

 days in the roofs of houses ; and there are few 

 more attractive entertainments than that of watch- 

 ing them when setting out on their nightly ex- 

 cursions. There are excellent points for observing 

 them on many roads, and especially at certain 

 points on the long, winding one that leads from 

 the Mall down to Annandale. In order to see 

 them it is only necessary to take up a position 

 at dusk at one of the points at which they have 

 to cross the road in descending the hill, and to 

 keep quite still. Very soon scuffling sounds will 

 be heard in one of the overhanging trees, and then 

 a dark object crosses overhead to one that leans 

 out over the depths of the khad. Once it has 

 reached such a point, the squirrel ascends until it 

 has nearly reached the top of the tree, and then runs 

 outward to the end of a branch, where it again 

 comes into view as a dark mass among the foliage. 

 Suddenly the mass seems to enlarge and unfold, 

 and in a moment shoots out into the air, and sails 

 downwards through clear space to land on the 

 lower part of a tree far below, and there begin to 

 ascend anew in preparation for another flight. The 

 journey down the hill looks enviably easy, but the 

 toil of the return must be very great, as in it no 



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