SQUIRRELS. 



73 



habits of all the species appear to be very similar. Belonging to a group in which 

 the first upper premolar is present, this little animal is so well known by appearance 

 to all, that but few words need be devoted to its description. The general colour 

 of the head and body is brownish red above, and white beneath ; the whole tail 

 being of the same hue as the back. In summer, the edges of the ears are smooth, 

 but in winter they are tipped with a thick fringe of hair. In winter the squirrel in 

 England is greyer than in summer ; and in the more northern and eastern parts of 

 its habitat, the grey tint, especially in winter, becomes much more marked, while 

 in Japan the colour is nearly black. Drab-coloured squirrels occur in Siberia ; and 

 white or pied specimens are occasionally met with. In some parts of England the 

 tail is not unfrequently cream-coloured in autumn. The total length of the animal, 



Distribution. 



THE EUROPEAN SQUIRREL (\ nat. size). 



exclusive of the hairs at the end of the tail, is about 15 J inches, of which 7 inches 

 are taken up by the tail. 



The geographical range of the European squirrel is very exten- 

 sive, comprising almost the whole of Europe, Northern Africa, Asia 

 Minor, and Asia north of the Himalaya, as far eastward as Japan. Indeed, 

 Ireland and Japan respectively mark the western and eastern boundaries of its 

 range ; while its extreme northern and southern limits are indicated by Lapland 

 and the north of Italy. In the south of the latter country, and likewise in the 

 Caucasus and the Crimea, the squirrel is, however, quite unknown. 



Like other members of the genus, this species of squirrel is mainly 

 diurnal and arboreal in its habits, but seldom descending to the 

 ground, and when aloft leaping from bough to bough with surprising agility. The 

 extent of these flying leaps shows that the " flight " of the flying squirrels is but 

 an ultra development of this mode of progression. Its chief food consists of nuts, 



Habits. 



