168 Proceedings of the Boyal Physical Society. 



(And feares to be devoured by the streame), 



Thus helpes her weakness by a stratagem. 



On blocks or chips, which on the waves doe flote, 



She nimbly leaps : and making them her boate, 



(By helpe of winds, of current, and of tide) 



Is wafted over to the other side. 



Thus, that which for the body proves unfit, 



Must often be acquired by the wit* 



But our author, though aware of the fact that they cross 

 streams, here awards too much credit to the squirrel's sagacity. 

 It will travel miles to find a bridge, and prefer that mode of 

 crossing to risking being " devoured hy the streamed 



Broader kyles or arms of the sea, or deep sluggish streams, 

 without shallow fords or bridges, appear almost always to 

 afford a barrier to their progress, or the larger rivers, with a 

 great body of water. Nearly all quadrupeds can swim if put to 

 it, but it is remarkable that I have never yet met with any per- 

 son who can say that he has seen a squirrel voluntarily enter 



* This old tale has descended from a very early date, even to the present 

 time, as there are still people living whom I have heard relate it as an exist- 

 ing fact in the natural history of the squirrel, even to the detail given by the 

 early writers, of its carrying a supply of food in its mouth, "to prevent 

 famine whatsoever befall them." Olaus Magnus describes it in his description 

 of Scandinavia, and the tale is taken up by Gesner (" ■N^at. Hist.," Zurich, 

 1820). It is repeated in the above emblem (1634). Translated from Gesner 

 by Topsell ("Hist, of Four-footed Beasts," 1658). Quoted again by the 

 author of "The Gentleman's Kecreation," 4th edition, 1697. 



I here quote Topsell's account, which fairly represents the legend : 

 " If they {i.e., squirrels) be driven to the ground from the trees to creep 

 into hedges, it is a token of their weariness, for such is the stately mind of 

 this little beast, that while her limbs and strength lasteth, she tarryeth and 

 saveth herself in the tops of tall trees, then being descended, she falleth into 

 the mouth of every cur. The admirable wit of this beast appeareth in her 

 swimming or passing over the waters, for when hunger or some convenient 

 prey of meat eonstraineth her to pass over a river, she seeketh out some 

 rinde or small bark of a tree which she setteth upon the water, and then goeth 

 into it, and holding up her tail like a sail, letteth the wind drive her to the 

 other side, and this is witnessed by Olaus Magnus in his description of 

 Scandinavia, where this is ordinary among squirrels by reason of many rivers, 

 that otherwise they cannot passe over, also they carry meat in their mouth to 

 jirevent famine whatsoever befal them, and as peacockes cover themselves with 

 their tails in hot summer, from the rage of the sun as under a shadow, with 

 the same disposition doth the squirrel cover her body against heat and cold " 

 {op. cit., pp. 509, 510). 



