HARE KIND. 14-7 



However, this is a calamity that but seldom 

 happens ; and, of all other animals, the squirrel 

 leads the most frolicksome playful life j being 

 surrounded with abundance, and having few ene- 

 mies to fear. They are in heat early in the spring ; 

 when, as a modern naturalist says, * it is very di- 

 verting to see the female feigning an escape from 

 the pursuit of two or three males, and to observe 

 the various proofs which they give of their agility, 

 which is then exerted in full force. Nature seems 

 to have been particular in her formation of these 

 animals for propagation ; however, they seldom 

 bring forth above four or five young at a time, 

 and that but once a-year. The time of their ges- 

 tation seems to be about six weeks; they are preg- 

 nant in the beginning of April, and bring forth 

 about the middle of May. 



The squirrel is never found in the open fields, 

 nor yet in copses or underwoods ; it always keeps 

 in the midst of the tallest trees, and, as much as 

 possible, shuns the habitations of men. It is ex- 

 tremely watchful : if the tree in which it resides 

 be but touched at the bottom, the squirrel instant- 

 ly takes, the alarm, quits its nest, at once flies off 

 to another tree, and thus travels, with great ease, 

 along the tops of the forest, until it finds itself 

 perfectly out of danger. In this manner it con- 

 tinues for some hours, at a distance from home, 

 until the alarm be passed away ; and then it re- 

 turns, by paths that to all quadrupeds but itself 

 are utterly impassable. Its usual way of moving 



* British Zoology. 



