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THE AMERICAN BLACK SQUIRREL. 



in colour from the winter ones, except that they are not so 

 intensely black. There are a few scattered white hairs on the 

 back and tail ; but small tufts of them on the under surface, 

 resembling those on the body of the minx (Mustcla Bison). 



We learn from Dr. Bachman, that those which he fre- 

 quently saw in the northern parts of New York, possessed all 

 the sprightliness of the northern grey squirrel, which they 

 resembled in their barking and other habits ; appearing to 

 prefer valleys and swamps to drier and more elevated situa- 

 tions. He observed them often stop to drink at a stream 

 not far from his favourite seat under a rock, and instead of 

 lapping the water they protruded their mouths a considerable 

 depth into it, and drank greedily. They would afterwards sit 

 upright, and, with tail erect, busy themselves for a quarter of 

 an hour in wiping their faces with their paws, the latter being 

 also occasionally dipped in the stream. 



THE LESSER FLYING SQUIRREL. 

 (Pteromys volucella, Cuv. ; Sciurus volucella, Linn.) 



This pretty little creature inhabits the temperate regions of 

 North America. 



The length of the head and body is usually about four inches 



