The Wit of the Wild 



r 



other animal in structure, but is so generalized 

 that some paleontologists believe it represents, 

 better than any other existing species, the an- 

 cestral type from which the varied tribes of 

 squirrels and squirrel-like rodents have de- 

 scended. It stands in a group of its own, the 

 Haplodontia. 



The sewellel is about the size of a muskrat, 

 and reddish-brown in color, with a very short, 

 brush-shaped tail, very small eyes, and a 

 Warm, close fur, of which the Indians made much 

 use, as also they did of that of the pika, the 

 women fashioning baby-clothes and winter un- 

 dergarments by stitching together these delicate 

 pelts, as well as making of them blanket-like 

 robes. All the mountain Indians are (or used 

 to be) very fond of its flesh; and Dr. George 

 Suckley, one of the earliest naturalists to in- 

 vestigate the fauna of the Columbia Valley, 

 roasted one and " found it excellent, tasting 

 much like chicken." 



They are shy and cunning, however, and now- 

 adays, at any rate, are trapped only with much 

 difficulty; when chased by dogs, they fight so 

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