136 COMMON SQUIRREL. 



The Squirrel feeds on the buds and young shoots 

 of trees, and is said to be particularly fond of those 

 of the fir and pine : it also collects great quantities 

 of nuts, which it deposits in the hollows of trees for 

 its winter food, together with beech-mast, acorns, 

 c. Dr. Pallas also assures us, that those of Si- 

 beria collect various kinds of fungi for this pur- 

 pose. In a state of captivity, nuts form its prin- 

 cipal food, but it will also eat a great variety of 

 fruits and other vegetable substances, and is de- 

 lighted with sugar and various sweets. 



In some parts of Siberia the Squirrel is found 

 entirely white, with red eyes. About lake Baikal 

 it is often entirely black, or black with the belly 

 white : and in some parts of Europe, and particu- 

 larly in our own country, it is occasionally found 

 with the tail milk-white, and all the other parts 

 of the usual colour. 



The Squirrel is an animal which in a state of na- 

 ture can seldom have occasion to visit the water 

 for the purpose of drinking, like other quadru- 

 peds, and can obtain a sufficient supply of dew 

 and rain from the leaves and the hollows of trees. 

 It has even been supposed to have a dread of water ; 

 and it is affirmed by Gesner, from Glaus Magnus, 

 and others, that when it wishes to pass a river or 

 lake, in order to reach the trees that lie beyond, 

 instead of swimming, it gets on a piece of bark, or 

 other convenient substance, and elevating its tail 

 to catch the wind, is thus transported to the oppo- 

 site side. Some writers have affirmed that the 



