CLASS MAMMALS: ORDER RODEKTIA. 



99 



Fig. 163. 



Sciuridse. The Squirrels have clavicles, and hence 

 their fore feet as hands. 

 Their bushy tail aids 

 them in leaping, the 

 hairs spreading out and 

 breaking their fall. They 

 provide for winter by 

 hiding nuts, which they 

 skillfully cut from the 

 stock. In the coldest 

 weather they remain in 

 their nests in a semi- 

 torpid state, but with 

 the first mild day are 

 gamboling among the 

 trees or skipping along 

 the fences. 



The Southern Fox 

 Squirrel has the ears and 

 nose white, the Western 

 dark or black ; while the 

 body is gray, black, mot- 

 tled, russet, or orange. 

 The Gray Squirrel is the 1 

 most abundant in New 

 England and the Middle 

 States, the black variety 

 prevailing in Western 

 New York.* The Flying 

 Squirrel has an extension 



* Congregating in great num- 

 bers, they venture into unknown 

 regions in an undeviating course, 

 swimming broad rivers (not spil- 

 ing over on a piece of bark as 

 fabulously related), sweeping 

 through fields and forests, till,. the 

 imperious but inscrutable instinct 

 satisfied, they scatter and find Sciurus caroliiwnsis, 



homes. Gray Squirrel Black variety of Gray. 



use 



Sciurus vuljnnus, Southern Fox Squirrel. 



