Squirrel Ground Mole. 215 



for both animals live in companies in the win- 

 ter, build houses for their families, and are 

 hunted for their fur. 



47. The muskrat does not, however, lay up stores for 

 the winter like the beaver, but simply makes a way under 

 the snow by which it may go in and out for water and the 

 roots upon which it feeds. 



48. There is a very small animal, the size of a big, fat 

 mouse, which burrows and lives in the ground all the time. 

 It is the GROUND MOLE. 



49. Unlike the beaver and 'the muskrat, it keeps always 

 just under the surface of the ground : and, although it 

 annoys farmers by raising long ridges in their fields and 

 gardens, it does more good than harm in eating up worms 

 and insects. 



50. There is another very industrious little 

 animal, which is like the beaver in laying up 

 food for the coming winter, in the shape of nuts 

 and acorns. Do any of you know its name? 

 Yes, it is the SQUIRREL. It makes a funny 

 appearance as it eats, using its paws for hands, 

 and sitting up as you do at the dinner-table. 



51. Squirrels are found in almost every country in the 

 world; and sometimes they will migrate by thousands. 

 (Migrate means to seek a new home). 



52. It is said that neither rocks nor rivers nor forests 

 nor mountains will stop them ; and that if they find a river 

 too wide for them to cross, they will go back into the 

 forest and provide themselves each with a piece of bark, 



