248 November 1748. 



fuch numbers from the higher parts of the coun- 

 try, the winter enfuing was uncommonly rigor- 

 ous and cold, and for that reafon they always 

 look upon their coming down as a fure fign of 

 fuch a winter. Yet this does not always prove 

 true, as I experienced in the autumn of the year 

 1749 : at that time a great number of fquirrels 

 came down into the colonies, yet the winter was 

 very mild, and no colder than common. But it 

 appeared that their migration was occafioned by 

 the fcarcity of nuts and acorns, which happened 

 that year in the higher parts of the country, and 

 obliged them to come hither for their food. 

 Therefore they generally return the next year to 

 the place from which they came. 



SOME people reckon fquirrel flefh a great dainty, 

 but the generality make no account of it. The 

 fkin is good for little, yet fmall ftraps are fome - 

 times made of it, as it is very tough : others ufe 

 it as a furr lining, for want of a better. Ladies 

 fhoes are likewife fometimes made of it. 



THE Rattle-fnake often devours the fquirrels, 

 notwithflanding all their agility. This un- 

 weildy creature is faid to catch fo agile an one, 

 merely by fafcination. I have never had an op- 

 portunity of feeing how it is done : but fo many 

 credible people affured me of the truth of the 

 faft, and afferted that they were prefent, and 

 paid peculiar attention to it, that I am almoft 

 forced to believe their unanimous accounts. The 

 fafcination is effected in the following manner: the 

 fnake lies at the bottom of the tree upon which 

 the fquirrel fits ; its eyes are fixed upon the little 

 animal, and from that moment it cannot efcape; 



it 



