THE SQUIRREL. 109 



ther as to resist the impressions 'of the most violent 

 storm ; in this nest there is a small opening at the top, 

 just large enough for the little creature to enter ; but 

 over it there is a kind of canopy, or cone, which pro- 

 jects out beyond the ingenious dwelling, and com- 

 pletely secures the aperture from the rain. In this re- 

 treat the tender parent brings forth and cherishes her 

 young, though it is sometimes attacked by a most ra- 

 pacious foe. The martin, unable to form a dwelling 

 for itself, frequently makes incursions upon the squir- 

 rel's abode, and first destroys the ingenious architect, 

 and then takes possession of her house. 



The squirrel is never found in open fields, or in low 

 copses of underwood ; but chooses its residence 

 amongst the tallest trees, and never descends to the 

 ground but when driven thither by a storm. In Lap- 

 land, and the cold countries to the North, they change 

 their habitation at winter's approach ; and travellers of 

 known veracity positively declare, that thousands mi- 

 grate in bodies at a time : neither rocks, rivers, or fo- 

 rests impede them ; and if they find the waters too wide 

 for them to attempt to pass, the whole company re- 

 turns to some neighbouring forest, to provide them- 

 selves, separately, with a piece of bark. In this man- 

 ner the little fleet puts out to sea, each fanning the air 

 with its bushy tail ; but it often happens that these ad- 

 venturous mariners are unable to contend with the 

 fury of the waves ; and, instead of reaching the wished- 

 for port, are suddenly entombed in a watery grave. — 

 Their lifeless bodies are washed upon the shore, and 

 the Laplander seizes them as a desirable prize ; for 

 their flesh is esteemed as a great delicacy, and he dis- 

 poses of their skins for a penny each. 



