310 THE EUROPEAN SQUIRREL. 



goats or coneys, being tender and sweet. Some counteth them 

 dainties."* 



The upper fur, when obtained from the north of Europe in its 

 winter dress of a bluish grey colour, is known by the name 

 of petit-gris, or miniver ; but when the white fur of the belly 

 is attached to that of the back, it is called vair. What are 

 termed yellow fitch pencils, are painting-brushes chiefly composed 

 of hairs from the tails of our common squirrel ; and Dr. Ure 

 has published a very minute and interesting account of the 

 process pursued in their manufacture. 



THE GREAT-TAILED SQUIRREL. 



(Sciurus magnicaudatus , Harlan ; S. macrourus,-\ Say.) 



This species, which is the most common on the Missouri, 

 is one foot ten inches and a quarter in length, including the 

 tail which measures eleven inches and a quarter. Say, its 

 original discoverer, gives the following description of it, and 

 which is at variance with the characters of the animals generally 

 so called in the English and continental museums, and which 

 are probably varieties of other species : 



" The body above, and on each side, is of a mixed grey and 



* Panzoologia (1661), p. 123. 



f The Sciurus macrourus of Gmelin, is the beautiful large Indian squirrel 

 (S. maximus), which is destitute of pencils to the ears. 



