334 lewis' ameeican sportsman. 



spectively resort, according to circumstances. The fact of these 

 industrious little animals providing themselves with more grana- 

 ries than one for the guarding of their treasures is a striking 

 example of that instinct which we so often see displayed in the 

 inferior works of creation, for their storehouses are often dis- 

 covered b}'- the keen -scented hog, and the whole devoured at a 

 single meal. Strange Squirrels, of a larger variety, will also 

 sometimes locate themselves near one of these deposits, and not 

 only rob it of all its provender, but even deny the anxious 

 owner the privilege of sharing in the general division; a drift 

 of snow, or some other mishap, will occasionally cover one up 

 for weeks at a time. In either of such emergencies as we have 

 described, the poor Squirrel would have but a slim chance to 

 get through the "Winter if he had not provided himself with 

 other secret stores. 



Squirrels are all very cleanly and nice in their habits and 

 general appearance, and are seen frequently in the course of a 

 day rubbing their faces with their paws, as if on purpose to 

 wash them off". 



THEIR ACTIVITY AND STRENGTH. 



Squirrels are possessed of great muscular power, and leap 

 with surprising agility and precision from tree to tree; and, 

 Avhen hotly pursued and unable to reach the adjoining tree so 

 as to effect their escape, will not hesitate to drop themselves 

 from tremendous heights to the ground, and then make off with 

 rapid bounds to the next favorable cluster of trees that stand in 

 his path. 



Audubon remarks "that the Squirrel is admirably adapted to 

 a residence on trees, for which nature has designed it. Its fin- 

 gers are long, slender, and deeply cleft, and its nails very acute 

 and greatly compressed ; it is enabled to leap from branch to 

 branch, and from tree to tree, clinging to the smallest twigs, and 

 seldom missing its hold. When this happens to be the case, it 

 has an instinctive habit of grasping in its descent at the first 

 object which may present itself; or, if about to fall to the earth, 

 it spreads out in the manner of the fl3'ing Squirrel, and thus, 

 by presenting a greater resistance to the air, is enabled to reach 



