NATURAL HISTORY. 317 



The flying squirrrel is easily tamed ; but he often 

 iiies ; and he must be kept in a cage, or tied with a 

 small chain. He feeds upon bread, fruit, and seeds : 

 he is remarkably fond of the buds and shoots of the 

 birch and pine trees : he does not seek after nuts and 

 almonds, like the squirrel. He makes a bed of leaves, 

 in which he buries himself, and upon which he lies in 

 the day time, and leaves it in the night, or when press- 

 ed by hunger. As he has little agility, he becomes 

 easily the prey of martins, and other animals, which 

 climb up the trees ; so that the species is not greatly 

 multiplied, although they have commonly three or 

 four young at a time. 



THE GREY SQUIRREL. 



THE grey squirrel is found in the northern parts of 

 both continents, and is in shape like a common squir- 

 rel, but larger : the colour of his hair is not red, but 

 light, or deep grey ; and his ears are not so hairy to- 

 wards the extremity, as those of our squirrels. Ma- 

 ny authors think the species is different in Europe and 

 America ; that the grey squirrels of Europe are of 

 the common kind, and that they change their colour 

 according to the season, in the northern climates. 

 Without denying this assertion, which does not, how- 

 ever, seem sufficiently proved, we consider the grey 

 squirrel of Europe and America as the same animal, 

 and as a distinct species, separated from that of com- 

 mon squirrels, which are found in the northern parts of 

 both Continents, being of the same size, and of the 

 same colour ; that is, of a red, more or less bright, ac- 

 cording to the temperature of the country. 



