S1O NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Squirrels' nests. 



squirrel places itself upon a piece of bark, and 

 erecting its tail to catch the wind, uses it as a 

 sail, and thus boldly commits itself to the mercy 

 of the waves. 



During the spring these animals seem peculi- 

 arly active; pursuing each other among the trees, 

 and exerting various efforts of agility. In the 

 warm summer evenings they may also be ob- 

 served in a similar exercise. They seem to dread 

 the heat of the sun ; for during the day, they 

 commonly remain in their nests, and make their 

 principal excursions in the evening, or at night. 



The nest of the squirrel is generally formed 

 among the large branches of an umbrageous 

 tree, where they begin to fork off into small ones. 

 After choosing the place where the timber be- 

 gins to decay, and where a hollow may the more 

 easily be formed, the animal begins by making a 

 Tdnd of level between these forks ; and then, 

 bringing moss, twigs, and dry leaves, it bin<ls 

 them together with such art and firmness as to 

 resist the most violent storm. This is covered 

 on all sides ; and has but a single aperture at the 

 top, just large enough to admit the little animal; 

 and this opening is itself defended from the wea- 

 ther by a kind of canopy, formed like a cone, so 

 as to throw off the rain. The nest thus formed, 

 is very roorny, soft, and every way commodious. 

 The provision of nuts and acorns is seldom 

 found in its nest; but in the hollows of the tree, 

 carefully laid up together, and where it is never 



