THE SQUIRREL. 87 



The true Squirrels, -which may be regarded as the types of this family, are distinguished by their 

 slender and graceful forms, and their long and generally bushy tails, the latter character having 

 originated their classical name of Sciurus, as a compound of two Greek words, indicating their 

 habit of carrying their tails thrown up, so as to shade the back. Our COMMOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus 

 vulgaris) may serve as a good example of this division of the family. It is too well known as a 

 pet to need any detailed description ; its elegant form and graceful movements, the rich brownish- 

 red colour of its upper surface, contrasting with the white of the belly, and the beautifully-pencilled 

 or tufted ears, which, combined with its bright black eye, give it such a lively appearance, must be 

 familiar to every one. "When full-grown, the Squirrel measures from eight to ten inches in length 

 of body, and has a tail seven or eight inches long. British specimens are generally smaller than 

 those from the Continent of Europe. It A-aries considerably in colour with the seasons, especially 

 in northern regions ; but even in Central Europe and in Britain the fur of the sides and back becomes 

 mixed with a certain quantity of greyish-white hairs in the winter, whilst in Lapland and Siberia the 

 whole upper surface acquires a grey tint at that season. In the summer also the ear-tufts diminish, 

 or altogether disappear. In the Alps and Pyrenees, there is a variety having the back of a dark 

 brown colour, speckled with yellowish-white. This has been described as a distinct species, under the 

 name of Sciurus alpinus. 



The Common Squirrel is a widely-distributed species. It is abundant all over Europe, except, 

 according to Pallas, in the Crimea, and extends beyond the Ural Mountains through the whole length 

 of Southern Siberia to the Altai and the Amoor region. It occui's in the Caucasus, and probably in 

 Persia. Everywhere it haunts the woods and forests, living chiefly upon the trees, among the branches 

 of which it displays the most astonishing agility. On the ground to which, however, it does not 

 often descend it is equally quick in its movements. If alarmed under these circumstances, it dashes 

 off to the nearest ti-ee with lightning-like rapidity, and by the aid of its sharp claws rushes up the 

 trunk till it has reached what it considers a safe elevation, when the little sharp face and bright eyes 

 may be seen peeping at the intruder, apparently in triumph over his supposed disappointment. 



The food of the Squirrel consists chiefly of nuts, beech-mast, acorns, and the young bark, 

 shoots, and buds of trees. In eating the former articles, they are held in the fore-paws, which thus 

 supply the place of hands, and the strong incisors soon make a way through the outer shells into 

 the contained kernels, which alone are eaten ; for in all cases in which the kernel is coated with a 

 coarse brown skin (as in the common hazel-nuts), the Squirrel carefully removes every particle of this 

 from the portions on which he feeds. The bark, buds, and young shoots of trees seem generally to 

 be attacked by the Squirrel when he finds a deficiency of other and more congenial nourishment ; 

 but this is so regulai-ly the case in the spring of the year, that these animals actually cause a great 

 amount of damage to the trees in forest regions. Hence, not unnaturally, the Squirrel is regarded 

 in forest countries as a most mischievous little animal, whose depredations are not to be condoned 

 on account of its elegant appearance and lively habits. As another unamiable quality, may be 

 mentioned its habit of plundering birds' nests and eating the eggs, which appears to be established 

 upon unquestionable evidence. In some northern regions the inhabitants turn their Squirrels to a 

 more profitable use than putting them, as we so often do, into a sort of treadmill. In Lapland and 

 some parts of Siberia, especially on the banks of the Lena, these animals are killed in great numbers 

 for the sake of their grey winter-coats, which, however, are not equal in beauty to those of the 

 North American Grey Squirrel. 



The Squirrel passes the greater part of the winter in a torpid state, lying coiled up in some hole 

 of a tree, where its long bushy tail is of service in keeping it warm and comfortable. On fine and 

 warm days, however, it rouses itself from its slumbers ; and, as if foreseeing the occurrence of such 

 days, it lays up in the autumn stores of nuts, acorns, and beech-mast, upon which it can feed when 

 it wakes during the winter. This winter provision is not laid up all in one place, but stored away 

 in several different holes in trees surrounding the place of its own retreat. 



Squirrels appear to be strictly monogamous, pairing for life, and constantly inhabiting the same 

 dwelling. The young, three or four in number, are produced in June, and for their reception the 

 parents prepare a very beautifully constructed nest, formed of interlaced moss, leaves, and vegetable 

 fibres, which is placed either in the hole of a tree, or in the fork between two branches. The young 



