176 NOTES BY THE WAY. 



sidewise, his eyes glistening, his form crouching. 

 Seeing no escape in any other direction, " he took a 

 flying leap into space, and fluttered rather than fell 

 into the abyss below. His legs began to work like 

 those of a swimming poodle-dog, but quicker and 

 quicker, while his tail, slightly elevated, spread out 

 like a feather fan. A rabbit of the same weight 

 would have made the trip in about twelve seconds ; 

 the squirrel protracted it for more than half a min- 

 ute," and " landed on a ledge of limestone, where 

 we could see him plainly squat on his hind legs and 

 smooth his ruffled fur, after which he made for the 

 creek with a flourish of his tail, took a good drink, 

 and scampered away into the willow thicket." 



The story at first blush seems incredible, but I 

 have no doubt our red squirrel would have made the 

 leap safely ; then why not the great black squirrel, 

 since its parachute would be proportionately large ? 



The tails of the squirrels are broad and long and 

 flat, not short and small like those of gophers, chip- 

 munks, woodchucks, and other ground rodents, and 

 when they leap or fall through the air the tail is 

 arched and rapidly vibrates. A squirrel's tail, there- 

 fore, is something more than ornament, something 

 more than a flag ; it not only aids him in flying, but 

 it serves as a cloak, which he wraps about him when 

 he sleeps. Thus, some animals put their tails to 

 various uses, while others seem to have no use for 

 them whatever. What use for a tail has a wood- 

 shuck, or a weasel, or a mouse ? Has not the mouse 



