DWELLINGS 1625 



art, are constructions of the same nature; that is to 

 say, they are formed of interlaced sticks. This ani- 

 mal builds its home to shelter itself there in the bad 

 season, to pass the night in, and to rear its young. 

 Very agile, and not afraid of climbing, it places its 

 domicile near the tops of our highest forest trees. 

 Rather capricious also, and desiring change of resi- 

 dence from time to time, it builds several of them; at 

 least three or four, sometimes more. The materials 

 which it needs are collected on the earth among fallen 

 dead branches, or are torn away from the old aban- 

 doned nest of a crow or some other bird. The squir- 

 rel first builds a rather hollow floor by intermingling 

 the fragments of wood which it has brought. In this 

 state its dwelling resembles a magpie's nest. But the 

 fastidious little animal wishes to be better protected 

 and not thus to sleep in the open air. Over this foun- 

 dation he raises a conical roof; the sticks which form 

 it are very skilfully disposed, and so well interlaced 

 that the whole is impenetrable to rain. The house 

 must still be furnished, and this is done with Orien- 

 tal luxury; that is to say, the entire furniture consists 

 of a carpet, a carpet of very dry moss, which the 

 squirrel tears from the trunks of trees, and which it 

 piles up so as to have a soft and warm couch. An 

 entrance situated at the lower part gives access to the 

 aerial castle; it is usually directed toward the east. 

 On the opposite side there is another orifice by which 

 the animal can escape if an enemy should invade the 

 principal entrance. In ordinary times also it serves 

 to ventilate the chamber by setting up a slight cur- 

 rent of air. The squirrel greatly fears storms and 



