386 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The spring is the season of love with Squirrels. 

 At that time the males pursue the females, and ex- 

 hibit wonderful proofs of agility; whilst the latter, 

 as if to make trial of the constancy of their lovers, 

 seem to avoid them by a variety of entertaining 

 sallies; and like true coquets, feign an escape, by 

 \vay of enhancing the value of the conquest. They 

 bring forth four or five young at a time. 



The Squirrel is of a bright brown colour, inclining 

 to red; the breast and belly are white; the ears are 

 ornamented with long tufts of hair; the eyes are 

 large, black, and lively; the fore teeth strong and 

 sharp; the fore legs are curiously furnished with 

 long stiff hairs, which project on each side like 

 whiskers. When it eats, it sits erect, and uses its 

 fore feet as hands to convey food to its mouth. 



The tail of the Squirrel is its greatest ornament, 

 and serves as a defence from the cold, being large 

 enough to cover the whole body; it likewise assists 

 it in taking leaps from one tree to another; and we 

 may add a third application of it, which would seem 

 altogether improbable, were we not assured of it by 

 Linnaeus and other naturalists: In attempting to 

 cross a lake or river, the Squirrel places itself upon 

 a piece of bark; and erecting its tail to catch the 

 wind, boldly commits itself to the mercy of the 

 waves. The smallest gust of wind is sufficient to 

 overset a whole navy of these little adventurers; 

 and in such perilous voyages many hundreds of 

 them are said to perish. 



Of the Squirrel there are several varieties ; some 

 of which are to be found in almost every country; 

 but they abound chiefly in northern and temperate 

 climates. 



