1 68 LLOYD'S NATURAL HLSTORY. 



ber, that they then gradually elongate, attain their extreme 

 development in spring, and remain un-shed till June. In the 

 northern regions of Europe the grey colour in winter is more 

 decided, and the fur of denser and finer texture." Bell adds 

 that towards the end of summer the tail not unfrequently 

 becomes more or less decidedly cream-coloured. A variety 

 inhabiting the Alps and Pyrenees is characterised by the back 

 being dark brown, mottled with yellowish-white, while the 

 under-parts are pure white. 



Distribution. — The distribution of the common Squirrel is 

 extensive, ranging from Ireland across Europe and Asia, 



Skull of Squirrel. 



north of the Himalaya as far as Japan, while in the opposite 

 direction it embraces Northern Italy in the south and Lapland 

 in the north. It will be obvious, however, that, from the nature 

 of its habits, the animal is only found in more or less well- 

 timbered districts. Throughout the whole of England the 

 Squirrel appears to be pretty generally distributed in suitable 

 localities. According to the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, there 

 appears, however, to be some degree of probability that the 

 existing breed has not inhabited the Lake district for much 

 more than a century. Whether, however, the animal was 

 originally indigenous to the district, and was destroyed by the 

 felling of the forests, and afterwards again introduced, or 

 whether it was originally unknown there, has not been decided. 



