598 



THE BLACK SQUIRREL. 



width in the centre. The inside of the limbs is a pale chestnut, and the paws are 

 jetty black. The tail is remarkably bushy, reminding the spectator of a fox's " brush," 

 and is generally of the same color as the back, but grisled with yellowish-white hairs, 

 which are thickly sown among those of the darker hue. 



In length it is about two feet, of which the tail occupies one moiety. The word 

 Macrdtis is of Greek origin, and signifies Long-eared. 



The BLACK SQUIRREL has most appropriately been named, for the whole of its fur 

 with very slight and variable exceptions, is dyed with the deepest jet. 



Even the abdomen and under parts of the body, which in almost all quadrupeds are 

 of a lighter hue than the back, are in the Black Squirrel of the same sable tinge, with 

 the exception of a few small tufts of white hairs which are scattered at wide and irreg- 

 ular intervals. A few single white hairs are also sown sparingly upon the back, but 

 are so few in number as to escape a mere casual glance. The tail is also slightly 



LONG-EARED SQUIRREL, Sclurus Macrotls 



flecked with these white hairs. The total length of this animal is about two feet ten 

 inches, the tail being about thirteen inches in length, measured to extremity of the fur. 

 When the creature spreads its tail to its full width, it measures nearly five inches in 

 diameter in the largest part. 



The Black Squirrel is a native of many parts of Northern America, and is tolerably 

 common in some localities, though very scarce in others. It is a curious fact, that it 

 vanishes before the advent of the common northern Grey Squirrel, and in many in- 

 stances has been driven from some of its private haunts and supplanted by the more 

 powerful intruder. It seems to be rather a timid animal, as it has been observed to fly 

 in terror when threatened with the anger of the Red Squirrel (Stiurus Hudsbnius^) 

 Despite its cowardice, it is rather a fierce creature when captured, biting savagely at 

 its opponent, and is not very easily tamed. One of these animals which was partially 

 domesticated, was always noted for its evil temper, and justified the opinion that had 

 been formed of its disposition by biting a piece from a servant's hand as cleanly as if 

 it had been cut with a chisel. The injury was of so severe a nature that the man was 

 obliged to go into a hospital for some weeks. 



