THE SQUIRREL 227 



down to the ground, when the reason for its 

 cautious movements was obvious it carried 

 something in its mouth. The squirrel looked 

 this way and that, evidently to see if the 

 " coast was clear," and then ran across the 

 lawn, passing close beneath the window, when it 

 was apparent that the burden was a young one. 

 It was a mother moving her family to a new nest. 

 The squirrel raced across the grass so quickly 

 it was difficult to see exactly how she carried the 

 little one, but I think she held it as animals 

 generally hold their young, namely by the 

 " scruff of the neck." At any rate she carried 

 it in her mouth with its little red tail curled 

 over her neck. She disappeared into the plan- 

 tation on the farther side of the lawn, but I 

 remained at my post and waited to see if she 

 came back. In a few minutes she returned, 

 having left her load behind her, bounded across 

 the grass, and ran up the fir tree. It is note- 

 worthy that a squirrel in a hurry does not run, 

 but proceeds by leaps, and even when carrying 

 her baby this squirrel leapt along in the usual 

 fashion. She had not been long up the spruce 

 before she came down again with another 

 youngster, and the previous performance was 

 repeated, the little squirrel being carried across 

 in the same hurried way. A third visit was paid 

 to the fir tree, and yet a third young one removed, 

 after which, though I waited for a long time, 

 she was seen no more it was evident she had 

 transferred all her family 



