288 THE SQUIRREL. 



upon the scum of dead May-flies, which hatch 

 out in such countless millions on many of these 

 waters. 



But whatever the squirrel may be abroad, what- 

 ever isolated examples we may find of individual 

 criminals at home, this creature is a joy to behold, 

 an ornament to our suburban parks, where old 

 city clerks, pausing on their way home for a 

 wistful glimpse of the country, are reminded of 

 the quiet woods by a vision of his russet coat 

 among the branches. 



SIZE, AND LENGTH OF LIFE. 



Taking the average of ten dead specimens I 

 have measured, I arrive at the following dimen- 

 sions : From tip of nose to root of tail, 8-3 inches ; 

 length of tail, 6'8 inches. This appears to be about 

 the average. 



I have no data bearing on the length of life 

 of the squirrel, but such information as exists 

 on the subject indicates that a squirrel has passed 

 the zenith of its powers at eight years, and that 

 it seldom lives to see ten. 



COAT. 



The coat seems to fade considerably as summer 

 advances, particularly the tail. The winter coat 

 comes in November earlier in the Highlands. 

 By the end of November the ear-tassels are fully 

 formed. The spring coat is assumed not earlier 

 than May in the north of England and in Scotland, 

 to which area my close observations are limited. 



