MAMMALS. 127 



came home from the City he used to overhaul 

 my pockets for Spanish nuts, with which he 

 mounted to one of my shoulders and sat up to eat. 



One day I borrowed a ferret in order to dis- 

 lodge a troublesome rat that had taken up its 

 abode underneath my fowl-house, and happened to 

 unbag him in the presence of the squirrel. At sight 

 of the attenuated white thing he ran up a window- 

 curtain, and seating himself at the end of the pole 

 supporting it, began to swear dreadfully and kick 

 his seat just like an angry rabbit. 



It is a very pretty sight to see squirrels in the 

 autumn leave the woods and come down into the 

 fields after acorns. They do not carry their tails 

 over their backs when upon the ground, but 

 indulge in a peculiar undulating method of pro- 

 gression, which cannot very well be mistaken for 

 that of any other animal. 



Hedgehogs are common enough, and very easy to 

 study when they come forth from their hiding-places 

 in hedgerows and woods in the evening time. I 

 remember once, whilst lying up for rabbits on the 

 edge of a very large wood in Cumberland, seeing 

 them come out into an open pasture in surprising 

 numbers. They are easy enough to photograph in 

 their favourite attitude when under observation ; 

 namely, that of a prickly ball, as represented on 

 the previous page ; but a patient and silent wait is 

 generally necessary to secure a picture^ showing 

 their heads and feet. 



