THE S QJJ I R R E L. ' 99 



in Lapland and the north, fqulrrels remove by thoufands from one 

 country to another, travelling diredlly forward, neither rocks, forefts, 

 nor waters can (top them. We are told by Klein and Linnasus, that on 

 approaching a breadth of water, they return into the neighbouring foreft, 

 each in queft of a piece of bark, which as a boat may waft him over ; 

 then boldly committing their little fleet to the waves, each fits on its 

 own piece of bark, fanning the air with its tail to drive it forwards. 

 In this orderly manner they often crofs lakes feveral miles broad ; often 

 too the poor mariners are not aware of the dangers of their navigation, 

 for if the edge of the water be calm, the middle is more turbulent. 

 There the fiighceft additional guftof wind overfets the little failor and 

 his vefTcl, rums the whole navy, and fliipwrecks two or three thoufand 

 fail, to the great joy of the Laplander on fhore, who gathers up the 

 dead bodies thrown in by the waves, eats the flefh, and fells the Ikins. 



The fquirrel is eafily tamed, and becomes very familiar i, loves to lie 

 warm, and will often creep into a pocket or the bofom. 



THE FLYING S QJJ I R R E L 



IS lefs than a common fquirrel, its (kin very foft, elegantly adorned 

 with dark and light-grey fur ; has large prominent black and very 

 fparkling eyes, fmall ears, and very fliarp teeth. When not leaping, 

 its tail lies clofe to its back ; but when fpringing, is moved from fide 

 to fide. 



It is amazing to fee it at one bound dart many yards, from one tree 

 to another, in which they are afilfted by a peculiar formation of the (kin, 

 extending from the fore-feet to the hinder j when the animal ftretches its 

 fore-legs forward and its hind-legs backward, this fkin is fpread out be- 

 tween them, fomewhat like that between the legs of a bat ; by this in- 

 creafe of furface, the little animal floats in the air till the force of its firft 

 impulfe ceafes, then gradually defcends. This fkin, when at reft, is 

 wrinkled up on the fides ; when the limbs are extended, forms a kind of 

 web between them of above an inch broad on either fide. Though thus 

 fitted for leaping, feldom exerts its powers ; is eafily tamed, but apt to 

 break away; not fond of nuts or almonds, like other fquirrels, but 

 chiefly pleafed with the fprouts of birch and cones of the pine. 



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