ON THE OLD DROVE ROAD. I? 



his steps hurriedly, ran a few feet up a tree 

 close by, and gazed at me. 



The Squirrel is best seen in the autumn when 

 gathering nuts for his winter's provisions. You 

 wonder how the tiny branches bear his weight, 

 and how he knows to an inch how far to pro- 

 ceed along the branch before he springs to 

 another. His leaps are astonishing. "Soon after 

 Squirrels made their first appearance in Nairn- 

 shire, I recollect crossing the hill between the 

 Glen of Holme and the streams of the Find- 

 horn. While on the top of the braehill one 

 of the men accompanying me, but a little 

 distance away at the time, was startled 

 by his sheep dog becoming very excited, 

 and barking at ' a queer wee beastie ' 

 among the heather. The beastie, to avoid its 

 persecutor, and seeing no other place of refuge 

 in that treeless region, at once made for the 

 man himself, and at one bound gained the 

 crown of his bonnet, to the poor fellow's dis- 

 comfiture, for he deemed himself assailed by 



