372 



V ERTEBRATA. 



reloped, and the fur is softer and fuller. In July, and not till then, the summer change is per- 

 fect This species is found generally in Europe and the north of Asia. 



"This animal," says Pennant, "is remarkably neat, lively, active, and provident; never leaves 

 iis food to chance, but secures in some hollow tree a magazine of nuts for winter provision. In 

 the summer it feeds on the buds and young shoots, and is particularly fond of those of the fir and 

 pine, and also of the young cones. It makes its nest o\' the moss or dry leaves, between the fork 

 of two branches, and brings tour or five young at a time. Squirrels have their pairing time earli 

 in the Bpring, when it is very diverting to see the female feigning an escape from the pursuit of 

 two or three male-, and to observe the various proofs they give of their agility, which is then ex- 

 erted in full for This species is a great favorite in a state of domesticity, maintaining all its 

 pleasing airs and graces, and becoming quite tame and familiar. It is a common pet in cages, 

 and ha- been known to be SO attached to its master as to follow him through the fields, and even 

 the Btreets of a town. 



The Little Gra? Sqi errel, of Northern Europe, has been supposed by many naturalists to 

 be a mere variety ^i' the preceding. Its fur is exceedingly soft and light, and is of a beautiful 

 gray, tinged with fawn. As if conscious of this beauty,it spends much time in dressing its fur. 

 It lives on nuts, and has a sharp cry, which often betrays it to the hunter. 



The Alpine S^i irrel, S. Alpinus, is found in the Alps and Pyrenees; it is of a deep brown, 

 above spotted, with light fawn; below it is a pure white. In size and habits it resembles the 

 common squirrel. 



The Caucasian Squirrel, S. Caucasicus, is found in the Caucasian Mountains and in Asia 

 Minor. Its color is a grayish-brown above, and yellowish-brown below. 



The Madagascar Squirrel, S. Madar/ascarensis, is nearly twice the size of the European squir- 

 rel: it is nearly black above, and yellowish-white beneath. The tail is the length of the body. 



TOE llAUDAUY SQIIRREL. 



The Barbae? Squirrel, £. Oetulus, is about the size of the European squirrel, being nearb 

 ten inches in length. It i< grayish-brown, with four white longitudinal bands along the back, b 

 inhabits Northern Africa, and lives on the palm-trees. The S. cepapi is yellow above, marked With' 

 blackish-brown; below it is yellowish-white ; length fifteen inches, with the tail. It is found ii 

 Southern Africa. There are also in Africa the S. Abyssinicus and S. annulalus, which an 

 thought by Ehrenberg to differ from the common s.purrels, and to constitute a distinct genus, to 

 which he gives the name of Xerus, 



