308 HISTORY OF 



the next tree with amazing facility. It has an ex'remely sharp 

 piercing note, which most usually expresses pain ; it has another 

 more like the purring of a cat, which it employs when pleased ; 

 at least it appeared so in that from whence I have taken a part 

 of this description. 



In Lapland, and the extensive forests to the north, the squir- 

 rels are observed to change their habitation, and to remove in 

 vast numbers from one country to another. In these migrations 

 they are generally seen by thousands, travelling directly forward ; 

 while neither rocks, forests, nor even the broadest waters, can 

 6top their progress. What I am going to relate appears so ex- 

 traordinary, that were it not attested by numbers of the most 

 credible historians, among whom are Klein and Linnteus, it 

 might be rejected, with that scorn with which we treat imposture 

 or credulity : however, nothing can be more true than that when 

 these animals, in their progress, meet with broad rivers, or ex- 

 tensive lakes, which abound in Lapland, they take a very extra- 

 ordinary method of crossing them. Upon approaching the banks, 

 and perceiving the breadth of the water, they return, as if by 

 common consent, into the neighbouring forest, each in quest of 

 a piece of bark, which answers all the purposes of boats for 

 wafting them over. When the whole company are fitted in this 

 maimer, they boldly commit their little fleet to the waves ; every 

 squirrel sitting on its own piece of bark, and fanning the air with 

 its tail, to drive the vessel to its desired port. In this orderly 

 maimer they set forward, and often cross lakes several miles broad. 

 But it too often happens that the poor mariners are not aware of 

 the dangers of their navigation ; for although at the edge of the 

 water it is generally calm, in the midst it is always more turbu- 

 lent. There the slightest additional gust of wind oversets the 

 little sailor and his vessel together. The whole navy, that but 

 a few minutes before rode proudly and securely along, is now 

 overturned, and a shipwreck of two or three thousand sail en- 

 sues. This, which is so unfortunate for the little animal, is gen- 

 erally the most lucky accident in the world for the Laplander on 

 the shore ; who gathers up the dead bodies as they are thrown 

 in by the waves, eats the flesh, and sells the skins for about a 

 shilling the dozen.' 



The squirrel is easily tamed, and it is then a very familiai 



1 CEuvres de Rpg'iKird 



