NATURAL HISTORY. 319 



is still reason to believe them to be different animals. 

 We have seen all the varieties in the king's cabinet. 

 The squirrel of Barbary has the head and forehead 

 more crooked, the ears longer, the tail more bushy than 

 the palmist ; he is more like a rat than a squirrel : the 

 squirrel of Barbary has four white stripes, and the 

 palmist has no more than three: the white stripe Is 

 on the palmist's back-bone ; on the contrary, that of 

 the squirrel of Barbary on the same part of his body 

 is brown and red : these animals, indeed, have very 

 nearly the same habits, and are of the same nature as 

 the common squirrel: they are both of a pretty figure: 

 their coat with white stripes is more valuable than that 

 of the squirrel : their shape is shorter, their body light- 

 er and their motions quicker: the palmist, and the 

 squirrel of Barbary, dwell on trees like the common 

 squirrel, but the Swiss squirrel lives upon earth, and 

 like the field mouse, forms a retreat that the water can- 

 not penetrate. He is also less docile and less gentle 

 than the two others. He bites without mercy, (except 

 be is lately tamed,) and he is more like a rat, or a field 

 mouse, than a squirrel, by instinct and nature. 



