THE DOUGLAS SQUIBKEL 



231 



sudden rush, all teeth and eyes, as if about to eat 

 you up. But, finding that the big, forked animal 

 does n't scare, he prudently beats a retreat, and sets 

 himself up to reconnoiter on some overhanging 

 branch, scrutinizing every movement you make 

 with ludicrous solemnity, (lath 

 ering courage, he ventures down 

 the trunk again, churring and 

 chirping, and jerking nervously 

 up and down in curious loops, 

 eyeing you all the time, as if 

 showing off and demanding 

 your admiration. Finally, grow 

 ing calmer, he settles down in 

 a comfortable posture on some 

 horizontal branch commanding 

 a good view, and beats time with 

 his tail to a steady " Chee-up ! 

 chee-up ! " or, when somewhat 

 less excited, "Pee-ah!" with the 

 first syllable keenly accented, 

 and the second drawn out like 

 the scream of a hawk, repeat 

 ing this slowly and more em 

 phatically at first, then gradu 

 ally faster, until a rate of about 150 words a min 

 ute is reached ; usually sitting all the time on his 

 haunches, with paws resting on his breast, which 

 pulses visibly with each word. It is remarkable, 

 too, that, though articulating distinctly, he keeps 

 his mouth shut most of the time, and speaks through 

 his nose. I have occasionally observed him even 

 eating Sequoia seeds and nibbling a troublesome 



TRACK OF DOUGLAS 

 SQUIRREL ONCE DOWN 

 AND UP A PINE-TREE 

 WHEN SHOWING OFF TO 

 A SPECTATOR. 



