THE SQUIRREL. 155 



back, is beautifully feathered with long bushy hairs, and 

 adds considerably to the beauty of his appearance. 



"He lives among the birds, which share with him 

 their leafy home ; and high up on the gnarled branch of 

 some aged oak he may be observed seated upon his 

 haunches, his plumed tail shading his back, holding the 

 mealy acorn or the rough-husked beech mast to his 

 busy jaws with his fore paws. 



" It is stated that the squirrel rarely descends to the 

 earth, even to quench his thirst; which it is further 

 alleged that he allays by drinking the dew off the 

 leaves and branches. During the severest winters he 

 lives his usual active existence, leaping from branch to 

 branch in search of seeds or nuts. His nest is an 

 ingenious piece of architecture. It is always dry, even 

 in the wettest weather ; and to effect this, the opening, 

 which is placed at the top, is capped by a cone-shaped 

 roof, which effectually excludes the rain from the aper- 

 ture. This nest is usually composed of small twigs 

 interlaced with moss, the whole being very compact 

 and cleverly put together. 



" They also live in holes which age and the corrod- 

 ing influences of the weather may have worn in 

 trees. 



"During summer the squirrel hoards up quantities 

 of hazel-nuts, etc., in the hollows or crannies of his 

 tree. This granary he visits in the winter, and draws 

 upon the stores which his forethought has provided. 

 The voice of the squirrel is shrill and inharmonious, 



