THE EUROPEAN SQUIRREL. 305 



Pennant says, that in some parts of Wales there is a variety 

 with a " crearn-coloured tail." The Rev. W. Herbert says, that 

 many of the squirrels in the north of Hampshire have " white 

 tails 5" and Mr. Jesse says, several with tails of that colour 

 have been noticed in the park of Sir Thomas Winnington, in 

 Worcestershire, and in that of Sir R. Phillips, in Pembroke- 

 shire ; and that one with " a grey tail" was shot at Pain's Hill, 

 near Cobham, in Surry. 



The squirrel is a very .active animal, especially during the 

 warmer months of the year, when the celerity and certainty 

 with which it leaps from bough to bough are truly wonderful. 

 It is the gayest and prettiest enlivener of our woodland scenery ; 

 and in its amazing leaps presents us with an example of agility 

 and gracefulness unrivalled among our native mammals. Being 

 exceedingly timid and watchful, the slightest noise or movement 

 alarms it. When disturbed it springs off immediately from tree 

 to tree, till it has removed itself far away from the seat of 

 danger. 



In the spring, squirrels feed chiefly upon the green bark of 

 young trees, tender shoots, and leaf-buds. At other times they 

 feed on the fruits of the pine, the fir, the larch, and other 

 coniferous trees. They also feed on the birch, and probably 

 the alder. In the autumn they feed also on acorns, beech-mast, 

 chesnuts, walnuts, filberts, apples, and other common fruits. 

 They sit upright when eating, and use their front feet or paws 

 to convey and hold the food to the mouth. Previous to cracking 

 nuts they turn them round in their paws, until they have got 

 them in such a position that the softest and most yielding 

 portion, that is the apex of the shell, is brought in contact with 

 the lower incisors, with which they scrape an opening to the 

 kernel. 



Mr. Charles Coward says, that during three successive years 

 he has observed that the squirrel is occasionally carnivorous 

 In the spring of 1836, he left some young kingfishers on a table 

 in a room along with three half-grown squirrels. On his return, 



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