78 SQUIRRELS. 



Tribe of Squirrels. 



20. The squirrels are recognised by their long, bushy tail, and 

 by their lower incisor teeth, which are very much compressed. 

 (Plate k.jig. 7.) Their head is large, their eyes projecting and 

 animated, and their form light ; their anterior extremities, which 

 often serve them for conveying food to the mouth, are sustained by 

 strong clavicles, and are provided with only four fingers which 

 are armed with hooked nails, while the posterior extremities have 

 five. These animals, which are remarkable for their agility, live 

 on trees and feed upon fruits. 



21. They are divided into Squirrels properly so called, Flying- 

 Squirrels, fyc. 



22. SQUIRRELS PROPERLY so CALLED, Sciurus, have the hairs 

 of the tail directed from the sides, giving it some resemblance to 

 a large feather. There are many species on both continents ; in 

 France, the Common Squirrel, Sciurus Vulgaris, is met with 

 in great numbers, and in the climate of that region, preserves its 

 colours (a lively red on the back, and white on the belly ;) but in 

 the north, during the winter, it acquires a beautiful bluish ash 

 colour, (producing the fur called minever, when taken from the 

 back only, and vair by the French when it consists of the whole 

 skin.) Sometimes there are black squirrels ; less frequently snow 

 white with red eyes ; and more rarely still, spotted with black 

 and white. 



23. These lively, graceful little animals inhabit the forests, 

 and make their nests upon the highest parts of the loftiest trees ; 

 they build them in a spherical form, of flexible twigs and moss, 

 and leave an opening in the upper part, taking the precaution to 

 cover it with a sort of conical roof, which prevents the ingress of 

 rain. In this nest they pass a part of the day : they sally forth 

 in the evening, at which time they are gay, jumping from branch 

 to branch, and uttering a pretty sharp whistle. During the sum- 

 mer, squirrels are occupied in making provision for the winter ; 

 it is remarked that they have a great propensity to hide what 

 ever food may remain after feeding. The trunk of a hollow 

 tree is their usual store-house, to which they recur when the 

 fruits upon which they feed grow scarce ; they know how to dis- 



20. How are Sqninels recognised ? How many toes, or fingers have they 

 on the fore, and how many on the hind paws ? What do Squirrels feed on ? 



21. How is the tribe of Squirrels divided ? 



22. What is minever? 



23. What are the habits of Squirrels ? Wheie and how do they build their 

 nests ? Are their limbs all of the same length ? What is the character of 

 their voice ? 



