220 WOODLAND CREATURES 



yet common instead of being nearly exterminated 

 and the bigger birds of prey were plentiful, it 

 had formidable foes to contend with. The marten 

 in particular must have taken heavy toll, for 

 it was a tree dweller like the squirrel, and 

 nearly as wonderful a climber, combining 

 marvellous activity with the persistence and 

 blood-thirstiness of the weasel tribe. 



It has been suggested by Professor Poulton 1 

 that it was to such foes the squirrel owes its 

 beautiful feathery tail. The argument is that 

 this organ, being the most conspicuous part, 

 would be the first portion to catch the eye of 

 an enemy, but if the squirrel was seized by it, 

 it would be able to wriggle away unharmed, 

 leaving only a wisp or two of fur in its enemy's 

 claws. So in each generation the squirrels with 

 the finest tails would be preserved. With all 

 deference to the authority in question I cannot 

 but think the theory far-fetched. Why is it 

 that the marten likewise has a thick bushy tail, 

 which, like that of the squirrel, is somewhat 

 flattened in shape ? I incline far more to the 

 theory that a broad bushy tail is an assistance 

 to creatures leading an arboreal life, enabling 

 them to balance easily as they run along the 

 slenderest twigs, and aiding them as they leap from 

 bough to bough. It is certainly significant that 

 many tree-haunting animals have fine large tails. 



A curious thing about the squirrel is, that 

 though it has few or no natural foes in this 



* Professor Poulton in Essays on Evolution, p. 325. 



