A DIGRESSION ON SQUIRRELS 



driven on and on until he was brought to 

 our quiet little settlement in a tame, tem- 

 perate land? 



Poor creature, he had done no wrong. 

 In devouring the innocent little beings of 

 the grove he had merely followed out the 

 instinct of self-preservation; he only asked 

 a livelihood. But he was as much out of 

 place as a man born in advance of his cen- 

 tury, as a human being with thoughts too 

 great to be understood by his fellows. If 

 only one could have sent him back again to 

 his northern home! 



I understand that these creatures are 

 willing to make friends with men. He 

 might perhaps have been caught and 

 tamed, but his fate would then have been 

 that of a captive, and, no matter how kindly 

 treated, he would have felt the fetters. 

 After all, the quick shot was merciful. 



Now he is simply a specimen. His beau- 

 189 



